Busy Day

We left Odessa at 6:00 pm Wednesday evening. We were scheduled to leave at 5:30, but the tearful goodbyes took a little longer than planned. Masha’s aunt and Yulia’s boyfriend and friends Vera and Vova were all there. It was good to have that many hands to get all the luggage to the van in one trip. Speaking of the van. It was our own private matchutka (sp?). For those of you who haven’t visited Ukraine, those are the little busses that will take you anywhere in Odessa for the equivalent of 25 cents. On January 24, the fare increased to 35 cents. This was a new Mercedes vehicle with about 20 seats. A row of two seats on one side of the aisle and a row of single seats on the other side. And I could stand up in it without bending over. About an hour out of Odessa the driver stopped at a roadside market. We bought some kind of large chicken wraps to eat and something to drink for five of us for under $20. The kids needed a restroom break, so the driver handed them one of those flashlights that you squeeze the handle a few times to store up power for the light. They headed off into the dark behind the market. I could just make out the outline of a small white building in the dark and fog. When the journey resumed, the driver let the kids pick from some videos and he put it on the 19 inch TV mounted from the ceiling. We reclined the seats and watched Russian Comedy Club segments. I guess that they were pretty funny. Then we watched a movie that ended just as we got to Kiev. The weather was fairly cold and we drove in mist and fog for some of the way. The road was often wet but didn’t to be icy. We arrived in Kiev at about 11:30 pm and after a few phone calls to the apartment manager, we found the place and a guy came to let us in. Tami, you think your tunnel and courtyard were dark. We drove through the tunnel which was barely wider than the van into a courtyard. Then we walked another 100 feet or so through another curved tunnel with no lights into another courtyard. Then up three floors (six flights of steps) to the apartment with suitcases for five people and two months worth of stuff. I went to update the blog, but the internet connection wanted a password and ID. We were all tired, so we settled in and went to bed.
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Our driver, Alexi, picked us up at about 9:30 am and took us to the Embassy. We filled out three different forms (three sets of each) and, after a few questions about what to fill in where, the forms were complete and the kids had all been fingerprinted. We met a couple from Utah who were adopting a girl of about 10 or 11. They said that they had been in Ukraine for 22 days. I can’t even remember back to when we had been here for 22 days. I think today is 56 or 57. We headed off to get the medical exams. It was 11:30 am and Alexi said that they stopped drawing blood for the blood tests at noon. It wasn’t far, but it took about 35 minutes to get there. The traffic was terrible and nearly motionless. I know that at one point it took 20 minutes to go a half a mile. Alexi called the lab and they were waiting for the kids when we got there and took the blood samples right away. After x-rays, seeing the doctor, lunch in the lunchroom, several rounds of waiting, one shot for Masha and two for Igor, everything finished at about 3:00 pm. Since results are typically given out after 3:00, we waited about 20 minutes more and left with the results.
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We needed groceries. Alexi had pointed out a store three or four blocks from the apartment. Masha, Igor and I made the food run, but when we got there the store was closed, as in out of business. I sure am glad that the kids asked to go with me, because Masha must have asked six different people where a grocery store was. After forays into a couple of shops with only pop, juice and candy, we finally found a store under a large shopping plaza. Not wanting to go back soon, we purchased five bags of items and a large six liter bottle of water. Then it was back to the apartment. I think the walk back was close to a mile. The bags were getting pretty heavy by the time we got back. And these were the kids who had shots in their arms earlier in the afternoon. The dinner of spaghetti, Masha’s vegetable salad, corn and bread was delicious. Then it was an evening of doing laundry, watching a soccer game on TV and relaxing. Did I mention that the hot water stopped this afternoon? It’s midnight and still only cold. A guy did come and get the internet going at about 11:00 pm. We are to limit the usage, because I guess that they pay by the amount of bandwidth used. After having unlimited internet at home and at Odessa Executive Suites, we are a little spoiled. I am typing this in Word and will paste it into the blog. Well I better close and get some sleep. Today is our grandson, Wyatt’s first birthday. We were supposed to be in Oklahoma on Saturday for the party. Gail has the alarm set for 2:45 am so she can talk to him on Skype.
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We have an appointment at the Embassy tomorrow at 10:00 am. If there were no problems with the fingerprint check, I think that we should have the visas tomorrow. Then fly home on Sunday. We wanted Saturday, but the last time we checked it would cost an additional $900.
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This week has been an emotional rollercoaster for the kids. Being biological siblings, Masha and Igor have each other. Yulia fits in well, but at times I think that she feels quite alone. And having to leave your best friend and your boy friend, doesn’t make it any easier. Keep the kids and their adjustment in your prayers.