History In The Making

Today was an interesting day - and long. We went to see the Inspector (social worker) for the orphanages in Odessa. We stood in the hallway for over two hours, while our facilitator went from office to office to copy center to office. We never did meet or talk with any official in this office. In the end, we did get a letter allowing us to visit the orphanage and visit the girls.

We then went to the orphanage and, after talking with the psychologist and director, we spent almost two hours with the girls, getting reacquainted and being impressed with how much English Yulia has learned since we last saw her. She was very willing to try communicating with us and did a very good job. We can tell that Mashsa is very knowledgeable with English and can understand virtually everything that is being said. She still does not use much of it for speaking.

Then we went to a neighboring city where Igor is attending technical school. We met him for the first time and got to visit with him a little. We met with an administrator for that area, who was concerned that he already was well on his way to completing his education and having a good job. She asked why we would want to take him to the US where he would have to go back to high school and then to college. We must go back there Tuesday morning (45 minute drive each way) to meet with the administrator, some teachers from the school, the social worker from the orphanage and Igor. After that our facilitator will talk to that local judge to attempt to get Igor's adoption hearing combined with the one in Odessa for the girls. It will be another long day.

Then we returned to the orphanage and visited with the girls some more while the facilitator and social worker completed more paperwork. After a fast cab ride back to the apartment, we went out to eat (first time since a light breakfast), went to the grocery store and back to the apartment.

I am ready to get some sleep as we will start earlier tomorrow.

O yes. The making history part. While we were waiting in the hallway this morning at the Inspector's office, she walked buy us several times going to and from other offices. The last time she went buy, she dropped a coin, 10 kopecks. I think that it equals about two cents. I picked it up after she had gone into her office and asked our facilitator if I should take it in to her. He said not to bother her about it. I still have that coin. I think that probably makes us the first adopting family in the history of the Ukraine to actually GET money from a government official.