Mika Comes to Visit

Something that we have always talked about ever since we moved to England, actually became a reality:)

My cousin, Katia who lives in Ukraine, and I have discussed many-many times how we could send one of her sons to visit us here in England for a couple of weeks. It was obvious a very daring and complicated affair to complete as getting a UK visa for a child is not a simple fit. We also knew that if our hard worked paid off, her son, Mika, would experience a trip of a lifetime.

After a few weeks of waiting, a miracle did happen-Mika got a visa and his mom quickly purchased tickets for him to fly BY HIMSELF to the UK. We all were sooo excited!

Alex and I picked Mika up from Heathrow airport and drove home listening to all his stories about his life and school. It was nice that I could speak Ukrainian when he needed a break from all the English around him. I also told him to tell me whenever he saw things that he'd never seen before.

Mika slept in the same room as Mark. Alex slept in our "reading room" because he was still not feeling well. He ate all our weird food and especially liked enchiladas:))

For the first few days, the boys played a lot of football in the backyard. Our neighbor's kid is very good at football as well as Mika, so they had a great time challenging each other.

Our snack times were quite frequent with these three growing boys. 

Mika brought two awesome hats to the boys as presents. They matched each other looking very stylish:)

On one of the first evenings after dinner we took Mika for a walk through the village. At first, we walked over to the Brampton church across the street, walked through its graveyard which is always fascinating and just wondered around the building. 

Alex looks miserable in this picture as well (feeling the chills). We finally took him to the doctor the following day, I think.

Six months apart! Katya is just half a year older than Mika. 

We kept walking on our village High Street to show Mika a real British village. It was also strange to him that we went out after dinner "just for a walk". I think the British are great examples in how we should walk more--I love it! But I have to be honest, they do have some very pretty and walkable places to enjoy. 

Mika stayed with us for three weeks and it was great! Most the time the kids played outside but we took a few day trips to places nearby to show him England. So those stories are still to come.

Good night for now.

Lyana.