Letter from Urkaine

Alex received this letter from Ukraine today. We had sent a treat to a friend of his at the orphanage with some friends of ours going back to adopt from the same orphanage. They brought the letter home with them last Saturday and Alex picked it up today.
I assumed it was from Sasha-the boy we sent the treats too. Alex assumed the same thing too. Of course we knew it was written by and adult-probably the teacher. I think Russian is a beautiful written language, don't you?
I asked Alex what it said. He said it asked when he would be visiting?
Me: Is that all?
A: I don't know how to translate.
Me: Well, you don't have to translate word for word, just tell me in your words what it says.
A: I can't say words. I don't know.
Me: (Trying to be helpful) Well, does he say anything about the Swedish Fish we sent?
A: Oh. Yes. He say thanks for candies.
Me: That's all? This big long letter and that's all it says.
A: (Frustrated) Yes.

I go to the computer and fax it to our translator friend. Alex asks what I'm doing. I told him I don't think he can understand it and I'm getting it translated for him, he rushes into my arms and hugs me nodding.
I knew it. I knew he couldn't read it.
The letter is from his "class" written by his teacher. Here is what it says:

Hi our dear Losha,
We are always waiting for your letters, but never receive what we expect. We love you and remember you. How is your life? What interesting happens? How are your studies? You look very beautiful and grown up in the pictures. Please write us; you promised that you would write us letters.
Everything is good with us. There are a lot of new kids in the class. Now we are also studying English. Danya studies at Dnipropetrovs’k. He visited us. He has really changed—he is grown up and now does karate.
Please write to us and tell us how you spend your free time. Do you have a lot of friends? What grade are you in school?

Summer is coming soon and we will go and relax on the sea. Do you remember how wonderful it was? We all send you a kiss and a hug. Goodbye. We are waiting for your letters.

Yours,

5B Class

Wow.

Makes it sounds like living in an orphanage is pretty nice huh? Relaxing at the sea? And NOW they start learning English? Nice. I know I'm a little jaded as this is the teacher that hit my boy, made him walk naked through his class room and repeatedly told him he was stupid. Yet, she's sounding like a loving, kind teacher that really misses and loves him. Whatever. You can just go.....relax by the sea! Alex DOES remember how wonderful orphan life was. Everyday. It haunts his memories. Grrr.....I think I could take this lady out right now-good thing we're half a world away.
Alex's response to the translated version of the letter?
"Nice." he says. (I think he thought the letter would be mean or threatening.)
He doesn't know who this Danya is she's talking about.
And then he gave me a smile and went off to do his homework.
There was a picture enclose of him playing with some sort of toy village with some other children-I would scan it but my colored scanner's on the fritz. He looks so tiny and his shirt says-in English-"Survive" or "Survival". I thought that was pretty ironic.
Anyway, I won't say anything to Alex about my desire to knock this teachers block off but I had to share it all with my bloggy friends.
Thanks for letting me vent!
Alex just brought in his blessing journal. This is tonight's entry:
I am glad I have good life in America, in Ukraine I had bad life.