Spain- 4 Ukraine- 0 = OUCH!!!

I wake up this morning, check the Tivo, and notice that my team lost to Spain 4-0. Ouch. You would think that having one of the world's premier strikers (Shevchenko) would make a difference.... What is my Ukrainian connection? I lived in Kiev Ukraine for two years in the early nineties, right after the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is a much different place now then when I was there. For example- when I first arrived in the winter of 1993 the exchange rate for their transitional currency was 9,000 to one U.S. dollar. When I left in the summer of 1995, it was 800,000 to one U.S. dollar and climbing. There was no heat, Russia had turned off the gas pipeline to Ukraine, and there was a cholera outbreak. I remember waiting in line to buy food, and really learning what it means to be hungry. It sounds like a dismal time, huh? In fact it was the best time of my life. why was i there? I was an LDS missionary, and I was able to really help people out. I am proud of the fact that I took part in helping establish the first school for children with disablilities in Kiev. I learned to speak Russian fluently, and Ukrainian semi-fluently. I miss the many friends I made while I was over there, and I am trying to figure out a way to go visit. Ukraine has come a long way in just ten years. So...I guess I shouldn't feel too bad that they lost. It was an achievement just getting to the cup.