Last Night in Kiev

So tonight is our last night in Kiev until this weekend. We are supposed to pick up Tetyana on Friday even though our 10 day wait is up on Thursday. We can't pick up the court degree until Friday. Yana, our facilitator is traveling with another family to Lviv and we hope she will be back before Friday. Adoption is very secretive here and sometimes it is hard to get straight answers. We were told we could 'expedite' the passport and not wait the 5 days but now we hear we should change our airline tickets to Sunday, April 13th or just stay until our original return date of the 15th. This just totally stresses me out! Drew says I am over reacting but I just want go home! So we wait until Friday to see what Yana finds out about the passport, I guess. Yana will not discuss costs or 'expedite' fees over the phone. I think Ukrainian's think "Big Brother" is listening in on every phone conversation. I can't get a straight answer of how much our court costs were and how much we need to pay.

We have to leave first thing in the morning because President Bush is coming here to meet with Ukraine's president and they are closing off all of downtown to all traffic. Our driver is also raising his rate for the return trip. I feel like we are being taken advantage of at every turn right now just because we don't speak and understand the language.

Yesterday we went to the Monistary where the caves are. There are Monks who are buried there from 1000 years ago. We went to the ticket counter and the ticket person rattled something off in Russian. We had no idea what she was saying so we handed her our calculator and waited for the price. $90 Ukrainian and with that we could take pictures. I think we spent $50 on just the ability to take pictures! So we head into the monistary and the woman asks us if we have or want an English speaking guide and we say we do. She runs up to another ticket booth and cuts everyone in line off and tells the ticket person something we don't understand and leaves. We just stand there and the ticket woman askes me for more money and I pay her and she gives me the same exact tickets I already have! So we take them back to the entrance and the woman says the same thing...do you want a English guide? By then I am ready to leave and some sweet couple takes mercy on us and asks us in ENGLISH what the problem is. We explain it to them and the guy goes back to the ticket counter and cuts everyone in line off and then back to the entrance where he gives the woman all of our tickets. She says in plain English "ahead and to the left for the tour guide"!!!

The tour was facinating and the churches are beautiful and have so much history. Had we not had the guide we wouldn't have been able to appreciate all that we saw. Luke on the other hand, was not as impressed by all of the paintings/fresco's and just wanted to see "the dead people wrapped in toilet paper". So our tour guide tells us how to get into the caves and says goodbye to us. We think this is simple, just follow the crowd. We get our candles because the caves are dark and head into what we think is the entrance because we only see one door. After pushing past a heard of people that are going against us we figure out we went in the exit! On the way out of the exit, I moved in a way that made Luke poke himself in the eye with his (unlit) candle.

We finally find the entrance to the caves along with the rest of what seems like everyone in Kiev!! Do not go to the caves on the weekend! We light our candles and head into the very narrow hallways. At first I was worried about Luke having a candle, but my worry has been replaced with severe fear that I will be caught on fire by the person behind me. The lack of personal space is just the same down in the caves. I can smell peoples hair burning! We see the first monk in his glass case and Luke is gravely (pun intended!) disappointed that they are not mummies in toilet paper but they are covered from head to toe in their garb. I was getting more and more worried by the moment that we were going to catch on fire and we all blew out our candles and left!

There was a very neat place there called the "Micromini Museum". Google it. It was very cool and unbelievable!

Today we went to the WW II museum that was closed! It took a phone call to Yana to translate to us that it was closed! See the pattern here?

Another thing for PAP's to be aware of when they come to Kiev....TGIFridays is way over priced! We ordered 2 hamburgers, chicken fajitas (which tasted so good!!!), two glasses of wine and 4 cokes (no free refill's) and the bill was $100 US! I did however very much appreciate the clean bathroom and the paper towels!

So that is what the last couple of days has looked like for us. We hope that are drive back to Cherkasy is a safe one!

In Kiev

We have made it to Kiev in one piece. I think Drew thought we may not make it. We were planning on taking the bus/van here but when our normal driver asked us if we were taking the bus and Drew replied 'yes' the driver held up his hands as if he were praying for us!!! Drew promptly called Yana to work out the price for him to drive us! Chicken!!!

We are in a great apartment....better than we have had. We have a dishwasher, microwave, washer, wireless internet (I am sure I am pirating it!), and even a towel warmer in the bathroom!!! Best part is I will be able to sleep with my husband in the same bed! We hope to have this same apartment next weekend too.

We ate at McDonalds again this afternoon when we got into town. I was waiting for our food when I heard a man say to his son "put your trash in here" in ENGLISH!!! I about tackled the guy! LOL Next thing I knew he was telling us where we should visit and fun things for kids to do here. He works for the Air Force but we aren't sure what he does. He has a family here with him and they invited us to their home. Maybe will have some time to go over and Luke will have someone his age to play with.

We found the "O'Hana" restaurant in the park. They were giving pony rides and had an inflatable slide along with a playground full of equipment we either will never see in America, or has been taken away for safety. We will bring both kids back here next weekend for sure!

Boca, Boca (bye, bye!)

Video Of The Kids

In this video, Tetyana is counting to 7 and I am trying to have her say "my name is Tetyana" but she is tired of saying this I think. Luke has completly lost his mind and is acting like a total goof or maybe a BRAT which means brother in Ukrainian! One of her favorite things to say is "Stwap Looke" which is "stop Luke".

Off To Kiev

Well we have decided to go to Kiev for the weekend. Aerosvit (Ukrainian airline) will not change our tickets over the phone with our travel agent for some reason. We are worried to wait and do it next weekend when we return to Kiev for the last leg of this journey because there may not be any seats. Luckily, we are only 2 hours away. We were told to hire a driver or the taxi that takes us to the orphanage daily, would be $240 one way!!! So we are taking a "van" that supposed to carry about 15 people or so for $7 US each way. Should be interesting.

We are feeling a bit worn out. I think I have complained to everyone I know through email! I think we are all just home sick. We are going on 3 weeks here and still have 13 days. Even Tetyana is tired of being cooped up in the tiny room.

Today Drew and Luke tried to take Tetyana out to the play ground and the orphanage staff went crazy! They say she is sick with a cold! This afternoon the doctor came in our visiting room and promptly closed the window...she was very dramatic about it. It was funny! Today, it was absolutely beautiful outside. I think it may have been nearly 60 degrees! The doctor gave Tetyana almost a complete physical! They are fanatics about catching a cold here! During our whole afternoon visit she did not cough or sniffle once! It is pretty crazy. We just can't wait to take her out of here.

I told Drew a couple of days ago I think Tetyana really understood the whole court thing and that we are here parents because she is beginning to test us! Nothing bad....like I tell her not to play with the computer keys and she keeps doing it even when I say no/neyt. Today, I had to move the computer away from her and tell her no. She stopped right away then but I think just like all kids, she is trying to figure out if we mean business and just how much she can get away with.

She did something that melted my heart today...we were looking at all of the pictures we took so far here and when there was a picture of Drew and I she pointed at herself saying "you are mine". It was so sweet! She is being taught some English by someone at the orphanage. She is counting to 7, saying our names and bye bye. Her accent is so thick, I could not figure out that she was saying our names until she said it a few times. I have some video of her and Luke that I am going to try to post. They were having fun together!

Cherkasy Petsmart!

Today we had our usual 3 hours in between visits to roam around and try to find something to do. We ended up at the outdoor market again and came across the pet store of Cherkasy. Mind you, it was snowing! I couldn't believe how  many birds and hamsters were in these tiny cages!! We saw one boy buy a hamster and they put the hamster in beer bottle with wood shavings in the bottom of the bottle! Of course, Luke wanted to buy them all and try to bring them back home! He thinks 
Tetyana needs a pet too!

Return Date

We finally have some idea of when we will be home....April 10th!!! This actually gives us a couple days of cushion just in case something takes longer than we thought. Coach Mark, put Luke on the schedule for the April 12th game! I think he will be tired but will be at practice on the 11th! The only thing we are concerned about is getting our return flight changed and adding Tetyana. We have business class tickets on Aerosvit (what a joke that is!) so we need one for Tetyana too. I have heard sometimes the airlines like to give you trouble. I wish we would have used Delta now and had real business class! We will want a taste of America as soon as we leave the airport here!

I made a calendar for Tetyana to count down the days and tried to write it with Ukrainian letters. Who knows what I wrote! :) But when I showed it to her, she put up 10 fingers and knew exactly what I was trying to tell her! So we ticked off the days that have passed. We have 14 days from today to go.....

Forgot This Part Of The Story...

When we had our SDA appointment another American couple that we had met online and in country, had their appointment also. They were shown Tetyana first. They were looking for a little girl 5 or younger because their youngest boy is 5 and they did not want to interrupt their birth order. They told their psychologist to pass the file to us because they knew she would be a child that would fit for our family.

When we were being shown files, there were several people who came in and out of the room and both psychologists kept going back an forth between the two rooms with us and the Hinshaw's. When the Hinshaw's left, they had to exit through our room. I mouthed/asked to Julie how it went and she gave me a thumbs up and asked me if we got the file they sent over. It didn't occur to us what she meant until much later in the afternoon. Even then we didn't think that could have really happened.

When I called Julie later in the evening and asked her about it she told us she sent us over Tetyana's file!!! Thank you, Hinshaw's! She was really meant to be ours and both of our appointments worked out perfectly!

Busted Again!!!!

Oh man!! We got busted again by the man downstairs!!! Tonight we were having family entertainment hour (I told you we were bored out of our minds!!!) and Luke was the main act. He was doing some juggling thing under his legs and we really didn't think he was making too much noise. Then the doorbell rang again and we knew it was the man downstairs!!! I think I mentioned our doorbell is really a chirping bird....well he held the button down for like 30 seconds straight!!! Over and over...Then the bird died!!! LOL

Luke has never lived in an apartment before and doesn't get that we are over someone's head. Tomorrow we will get the man a peace offering...Vodka, perhaps??

We are totally bored and bored with the food too. Our visits with Tetyana are boring for her also. The kids were rough housing today with Drew (see a pattern here?) and I was sure someone from the orphanage was going to come up to see if we were beating the kids! I think the hysterical laughing from the kids would give it away.

To matters even more boring....we can't get any calls on our cell phone from the states!!! We are desperate to talk to anyone who can speak English besides eachother!!

Busted!!

Just now the doorbell rang...well, it really chirped! It is nearly 9 at night here so we were a little hesitant to open the door. There was a man at the door rattling in a different language about who knows what. Drew kept telling him he was sorry but he didn't understand. Drew kept telling the man that the woman who lives here wasn't home but the man went on and on and Drew kept saying he was sorry but he didn't understand. Then I went to the door...ok, really I was passing by the door headed to the kitchen to get something to protect us with if needed. Then I told him the lady wasn't here and on and on he went. Couple seconds later Luke comes to the door with us holding his football. The man started pointing at Luke and the ball and talking really fast! We figured out it was the neighbor downstairs and he was complaining about the noise! Drew and Luke were playing football in the house! Told you we were bored!!!  OOPS!!!

Meet Tetyana Sage!

Things could not have gone any easier than they did today in court! We went into a small court room with about 5 people. One was the Inspector for the orphanage, one was the prosecutor, one was the judge and I have no idea who the other two were. Our judge was a woman. She wasn't very smily but then we haven't had too many smiles from Ukrainian strangers here. I felt like I was in mass....we had to stand up and sit down about 20 times.....ok, about 5 but it felt like just when we sat down we had to stand again! They asked us easy questions:
-Why do you want to adopt Tetyana?
-Why are you adopting from Ukraine?
-How much money do you make?
-How big is your house?.....bring pictures of every room. This was very helpful. We had a hard time trying to figure out the metric conversion. It didn't seem right that our house was only 200 sq. meters!
-Do you know the responsibility of raising a child? Duh....Luke was sitting right there!
-What are your occupations?
-How will you handle the transition when you get home?
-When will the child go to school? In our case, she won't go until next fall because there is only about a month left of the school year. They wanted to know what I would be doing with her to help her learn English. When I told them I was certified in teaching they thought this was great!

Our facilitator was really nervous and I was trying to reassure her everything would be fine. I guess the last court hearing she was in lasted 2 hours!

After court, we had lunch at the fancy restaurant here. It was Tetyana's first time in a restaurant that the director knows about. She was pretty nervous. We worked on her manners and she did great! The director corrected the open mouth eating..it was cute to see the director trying to teach Tetyana how to be a little lady. We have so many great first's ahead of us!

So now we wait out the 10 days. We are thinking of taking an overnight trip to a place our facilitator knows about. She says it is a cute little town and there are some castles to look at and it is near the Black Sea. Drew forgot the name of it. Yana and her 8 year old daughter are going to go with us. She said she really likes it there. We asked if Tetyana could go with us but they said "no". We understand and told Tetyana we would only be gone a couple of days.

Once our 10 days are up we are going to visit Tetyana's school with her. The director is going to arrange it all for us! She is so great. She told us all of the children in her orphanage are available for adoption but isn't sure why the SDA isn't giving their files. It is so sad. We are going to get names of the children and pictures. I really want to come back next year. I told Drew this afternoon"why not just have 4 and round out the number!" He frowned at me! Maybe I can talk him into one more. If we could come here again and go through the same process it would be so easy! This region is the best!!