European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 16, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Visiting a Munich dreamworld a i t 1.a j a. A a Story and photos by Steve Taylor Munich Bureau s currying from shelf to shelf never before had they seen anything like this. So Many choices so Many  full of wonder touching and feeling their Way through the selections they nearly danced their Way through the store in Munich West Germany. 6 enc there was Only one Choice they could make. Their first shopping trip outside the soviet Union Over the two fourth graders left empty handed. Quot they were just overwhelmed by the number of choices Quot Rosemary Nelson said. Quot they told me if there had Only been one doll it would not have been a  that scene is being played out All Over Europe As �a2ie� h be opened their Homes and hearts to More than >200 soviet children who have been living under the Cloud of the chernobyl nuclear meltdown. Two of those families hosting soviet children for 30 Days Are from Munich a american military Community. The effects of that nuclear Accident four years ago Are still Felt vividly throughout the chernobyl Region. A it s just awful to think what those kids Are going r�lj9h Back there Quot said James Nelson senior professor of russian at the foreign language training Center in Munich. He and his wife Rosemary along with sgt. 1st class Craig and Lydia Holley Are sponsoring two children. 1 to visit of soviet children was coordinated by Enesco the United nations educational scientific and cultural organization in Paris. Mrs. Holley heard of the Effort from a private group in Munich the committee for East West organization that is sponsoring 30 children from the chernobyl area. For the children it s a Welcome respite. Health officials said that a 30-Day vacation in areas with clean air and water and nutritious food will help restore the children s weakened immune systems. Overwhelmed by the problem of treating thousands of people affected by radiation the soviet government initiated the request for help a they needed to get the children out of there Quot Nelson  a a for the children in Munich it s a visit to a dream world Yelena Grishko 8, and Svetlana Smoly Ariva 9, come from Narovl a about 60 Miles Northwest of chernobyl. It s a Small town that sits nearly dead Center in a Region. That was the hardest hit by the radiation that spread Over the area after the Accident. Though the soviet government has evacuated nearly 200,000 people about 77,000 still live in the area 22,000 Are children aged 6-12. The two children stayed with the Nelsons for the first half of the visit and will be guests of the Holley for the last two weeks before returning Home later this month. The girls who said they still can t drink the water or eat fresh fruit or vegetables that grow in the area of their Homes have been stunned by the amount of consumer goods available in the West. Once i he subject of children s make believe songs the West has become a reality. Yelena and Svetlana said at Home they sing of Distant shores Quot America America Tomato juice. America America a piece of the Earth. America America land of miracles land of  and while the two school girls View americans Quot like Normal people Quot that land of wonders a whether America or Western Europe a takes a Little getting used to. Their first shopping excursion left them with nothing there were too Many choices Quot mrs. Nelson said. To act a Mon reaction it the Nelsons who have lived in the soviet Union said that when adults come to the West they react the same Way Yelena and Svetlana have been gorging themselves with fresh fruit something the Nelsons think was not included in their diet Back Home where food shortages Are common. Y mrs. Nelson said the girls have both a sense of Pride a a Jabeir entry As Well As feelings of embarrassment about the current situation. Both said they had eaten bananas before but tried to open them from the Wrona end she said. A the girls understand Why they Are in Munich. Quot yes we know says Svetlana. Quot How do we explain it Quot asks Yelena Quot Well. It s because we got radiation Quot replies Svetlana r even with an Uncertain future the Young soviets seem Happy. Yelena tells a Story accompanied by her skilled use of a paper Napkin with which she creates shapes to illustrate Points of the tale. At one supposedly funny part which did t translate too Well she looks up and chuckles to mrs. Nelson Quot Tell him to write i m a  not All of the children Are getting along in the West As Well As Svetlana and Yelena. Many Are in Homes where a language Barrier has loomed like a Large Wall Between the two cultures. Most temporary Foster Homes Lack Russia speaking parents like the Nelsons and Holley. Mrs. Holley a Captain in the army Reserve who has a degree in russian studies from Princeton and studied at be Tusk n Institute in Moscow says that Many of the children have been withdrawn unable to talk with their hosts. The problems go beyond language. Health problems Are another concern in a letter to prospective Quot parents Quot in Munich organizer Gudrun Leeb said that even after our years there has not been much improvement in the environment around chernobyl. Quot growing signs of sickness can be seen Quot she wrote. The selection of who would come and who would stay was not made by the soviet government however. The soviet ambassador to Enesco has stated publicly that the selections were made by the people in the children s hometowns using criteria determined by the world organization of the scouts movement. One reason that Yelena and Svetlana were end because they Are a a students at their school the girls said. Health was another. Healthier in. Dren who Are thought to have the Best Chance at y Type of recovery were Given preference. The it May have been the intention to sen healthy Ren one 5-year-old visiting in Munich has leukaemia and will undergo treatment at the University of Munich. Others May follow. There May a Reacy he consequences for to m la on a b the two families Are attempting make arrangements for testing at the University of Page 14 a a a the stars and stripes monday july 16, 1990 a a a  Lunf Rai i i it program is becoming More widespread and much of it has been requested by the soviet parents. The children Are covered by temporary private medical insurance which covers medical exams but would not cover any Long term treatment if that were needed. Besides head and thyroid problems leukaemia is common in children exposed to radiation. Quot if these kids pc leukaemia they re  Nelson said. He Speaks from experience. His 9-year-old daughter Nika born in the soviet Lunion was treated in Munich five years ago for leukaemia cause unknown but is now in Complete remission. Nelson said that because of the Lack of treatment available in the soviet Union Quot if it s touch and go for us it impossible for  Quot both the Nelsons and the Holley want to see those Uke Jwj a heal a problems remain for proper treatment while the Assumption is that these children will stay Quot the details of How this will happen Are still unknown Nelson said. Quot you can t Send kids with leukaemia Back into a radiation zone Holley said. Quot it s a death sentence Quot a a a meanwhile Yelena and Svetlana enjoy the Bounty of the West still undecided on that doll after a second shopping trip to one of Munich a larger department stores luf sch n 3 0avafian restaurant is also a highlight though the Bill raises eyebrows and causes much discussion in animated russian. When Nelson asks later if they miss their Homes and relatives and Are anxious to return no translation is needed body language says they do not like the idea even though the words say they do miss their families and would like to return someday. But on a happier note what do they like most about West Germany smiling Bolh reply simultaneously Quot everything Quot be Ena left top photo watches As Svetlana examines a Young Street magicians bag of ticks above the girls Check out the toy Section of a Munich department store