the villagers were often ill and depressed. when palina was eight experts from the capital minsk came to her school and did health tests on the children. the experts told them to stop picking the mushrooms in the forest because they were badly contaminated. when she was ten the experts returned with news of a charity that helped children like her have holiday abroad. they asked palina if she would like to go to lreland and stay with a family in limerick. palina felt a bit nervous about leaving home and she did not speak a word of english but she decided to go