Right now, I am somewhere over the Black Sea, sitting on a plane filled with junior Ukrainian soccer players and Turkish businessmen. I'm not sure which group the body odor is coming from, but I think I'll give the Turkish businessmen the benefit of the doubt. I just finished my plastic-wrapped tuna sandwich and "Homemade Apple Cake," compliments of Turkish Airlines. I was thinking about asking the man sitting next to me if he can add more Turkish words to my vocabulary. So far I know how to say hello and...no...never mind...I can't remember how to say goodbye. So far I know how to say hello. But anyway, the guy looks kind of sleepy, so I've decided to take this time to write a quick note.
How did I get here? Well, let's see...another trip to the mountains for New Year, a tour of Uzhgorod, a tour of L'viv and reunion with Ukrainian friends, a six hour train ride, a few days back at the orphanage, a fifteen hour train ride, a few days with wonderful people in Kiev...and now a two hour flight to Istanbul. It's difficult for me to process these weeks. They've been a wonderful time filled with holidays (New Year, Ukrainian Christmas on January 7th, and "Old New Year" on January 14th), celebrations, old and new friendships, and interesting conversations. I plan to come back to western Ukraine for a few days in February, to pack my things and say my goodbyes...but I can't want to focus on that right now. My plane is beginning its descent, my ears are popping, and I am very much hoping to see my sister when I land in Istanbul.
Anyway, much love from Ukraine's best 15-year-old soccer players, the Turkish businessmen, and yours truly.
Cara
Update: This was a quick note written on the plane earlier this evening. I did fly into the Asian side of Istanbul, where (after some minor visa confusion), I was able to meet my sister without any problems. We are now safe and snug in our hostel (back in Europe), and I am very ready to sleep! If I could say "Goodnight!" in Turkish I would...
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