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 muchroom in the forest because they were badly contaminateed. when she was ten the experts returned with news of a charity that helped chidren like her have holidays abroad. they asked Palina if she would to go to ireland and stay with a family in Limerick. Palina felt a bit nervous about leaving home and she didn't speak a word of english, but she decided to go.