The end of the Ukrainian adventure

I left you on my previous post after my horrendous train journey! [The picture above just does not show how small that cabin was! and that was before we got all our baggage in!] Let me continue my story this time from Northern Ireland. After arriving in Volochisk at 5am to a 3 course meal cooked by nella I went to Khmelnitsky for team talks and met some people from camp which was cool. The next day I decided to go for a run. I thought best to stick close to the church so came up with a circuit around the church- After running around it 3-4 times I got bored and decided to run across the bridge towards Pid Volochick where there is petrol station and run back. As I was approaching the bridge a man was crossing with a wheel barrow he spoke to me in russian in which I just said drobe dien [good day] and planned to run on but he blocked my path! He was in front of me his wheel barrow to my left and the railings of the bridge to my right- I was slightly trapped. He started to talk to me in russian talking about a Ukrainian football team dynamo Kiev and I said in russian that I didn't speak russian and didn't understand what he was saying- but this didn't seem to make much difference to the guy- he carried on telling me his name and acting out to me that he wasn't married and tried to give me his phone number using his fingers! Rachel by this stage is getting slightly freaked! Tries to edge away but Victor won't let me! He then starts to mention Margaret Thatcher by this stage im continually telling him I don't speak Russian and don't understand. He then comes up with the brain wave of writing his phone number in the sand!
And after he has finished he starts to do push ups in the middle of the road!! I didn't want to run off and annoy the guy as I didn't know what may happen- I tried to signal that I needed to go.. He then grabbed my hand! So I acted cool and shook it as if that was his intention! He then KISSED my hand! I finally got away from him he took off up the road with the wheel barrow and I ran on to the petrol station [Dear knows what he was saying to me] After a couple more laps around the church. I saw him standing on the other side of the road he runs across with his wheel barrow and starts running down the road after me!! Getting freaked out I sped up and took a short cut to the church! The rest of the trip Gordon and co thought it was very humorous to mention wheel barrows as often as possible even during church services with the on going sound effect of the wheel of the wheel barrow squeaking!
I returned from my run traumatized and wreaked wanting a shower when Nella set down in front of me a huge bowl of hot muesli followed by an omelet- boy I felt ill after that!
In the afternoon we visited the 3 clubs that were started since the summer camp which was really encouraging- although they were all held in buildings that would be condemned here- there's certainly no child protection either! Sunday was spent going round church services in the sister churches of Volochisk. It was a privilege to meet the congregations and to fellowship with them not to mention the laughter of the 4 of us having to sing! I will never be able to sing 'There is a redeemer' or 'Faithful one' again with out thinking of this trip!
Monday I went for another run praying that I would not bump into Victor again- This time the run wasn't as eventful although I did get chased by a goose!! The rest of the day was spent traveling back up to Kiev thankfully this time in a mini bus and not the inferno ukrainian train!
We came so close to missing or flights- We left the centre of Kiev after Nicoli nearly bought out a Christian bookshop at 1.45pm we arrive at the airport at 2.20pm the flight was at 2.45pm we had to run to check out, through customs and passport control and literally run to the place was like being in a movie. All that training came in handy! I'd forgotten how much I love it in Ukraine I had a fantastic time, its also good that i enjoyed it outside the team atmosphere and even with people I wouldnt usually socialise with- Can't wait for the summer. The country really does seem to be on the up since Yushchenko started as president- He has tripled teachers salarys, doubled pensions, stopped police taking bribes, and won't let factories be closed down so people won't lose their jobs. The people seem to be on a real high and feel that since the orange revolution and Yushchenko coming into power that Ukraine is turning a corner and is on the up. Here's to the lost keys, Richard, err err err err err and my freaking class orange revolution t-shirt.