Well we had an amazing trip to Ukraine. My good friend Marya and I left a week ago for yet another fast filled whirlwind trip through the country.
It started out not so hot. I had 5 suitcases full of donations and gift for the kids and orphanages and two of those were carry ons. Well KLM got us because they made us weigh our "purses" with our carry ons. It made them go over "carry on" weight so we had to check them even though they were all of 13 lbs. They then sent us down to a cashier and told us to ask her all the questions, that she didn't know how to handle it. Well down at the cashier they took our carry ons as our check in, then first two bags at $100 then the third bag......$285...are you kidding me. Total $485 for our luggage, despite the fact that they were full of donations for orphanage. Needless to say, we will never us KLM again. Delta checked a bunch of extra bags for our orphans at summer hosting and didn't charge us a dime. When we tried to fight it the cashier told us she didn't know and that she was just doing what the check in lady told her to do on the paperwork. So they just pointed the finger at each other. After all that drama we find out they didn't even get our seats together so we had a 10 hour flight at different parts of the airplane. I was not a happy camper! Ugh!
When we arrived, our wonderful hosting partners from Viant International Charity, Ilona Khryapina and Elena Iashchyk welcomed us at the airport. We had a wonderful dinner by the river in Kiev and talked the night away. We were joined by Ilona's wonderful husband who I was thrilled and honored to finally meet. He graciously put us up in his corporate apartment so we felt very spoiled.
The next morning all four of us girls set off to our first orphanage. After lots of driving and our one stop for yummy Ukraine coffee and pastries at one of the gas stations, we finally arrived at our destination. The town was beautiful but as always, the orphanage was not easy to find. Thank you GPS and cell phones.
We were welcomed by the director and as the routine goes, went straight in his office for the intimidating interview. We supplied the proper documents needed before he is allowed to talk to us. He started out by asking us the age range we wanted as he held the sacred piece of paper holding the names of all the children allowed to come for hosting. Before we got there he promised us 10 children.
After many trips to Ukraine this seems to be the same routine at every orphanage. He asked us why we would not take 17 year old children and explained to us about a group of boys he had, one in particular was a boy who was always overlooked for hosting while he watched all his friends go for holidays to Italy and the US for the last 8 years. It was obvious that he had a lot of compassion for his children, especially this boy. He had a lot of amazing things to say about him. He further explained to us that the boy was always rejected by host companies because he had three fingers on one hand. I, being extremely proud of the fact that we take children with disabilities, said of course we would take him. Marya and I both instantly could not wait to meet this boy.
The director could not believe we agreed to take him and the other older children who have aged out of other host programs. He handed Ilona his list of children and told us to take as many and whoever else we wished to take. Of course we want to help ALL OF THEM. He asked us where we have been all these years :). He then read us an email from the previous host company he used saying they were not going to do hosting so to give us their kids. The director was such a wonderful man and this was such a refreshing change from many of our other "first" interviews. Even though we could not understand what he was saying, both Marya and I just loved him. He laughed a lot and Ilona translated all the wonderful things he said about his kids.
He then sent us off to have lunch at a wonderful restaurant while the kids finished school and he gathered them all to meet us. When we got back from our amazing meal we were welcomed into a room of over 35 children. The director got up and introduced us as he smiled and joked. He was just adorable. We then got to meet the children and he was right, they were all just beautiful and perfect. Especially the boy he talked so much about. He made eye contact with us right away and didn't let it go. I have seen this before in the children who really long to be selected. This boy was very special to all of us. He was precious. All of them were precious and we are just overwhelmed and excited at this point.
The director them met us again in his office to finish up paperwork then walked us to our car. This was an amazing place and we are so blessed to be able to help these kids come to America. Now my job is to not let any of them down!
The next morning we were greeted at our apartment by Ilona and she introduced us to our new driver, Oleg. Marya and I were completely suffering from lack of sleep and jet lag and poor Oleg got the best of our giggles and delirium....and Marya's need for coffee. Luckily he didn't think we were too out of our minds. He is a very sweet and humble man that we were so lucky to meet. He also took us to McDonald's for coffee before we got to the airport ;).
This is a nice time to explain that Marya and I were so tired that every flight and just about everything we did made us crack up hysterically. In Ukraine not many people smile at each other, let alone laugh out loud in public so of course the people looked at us like we were crazy. I think it was very obvious we were Americans and we had lots of stares coming our way. :)
We were then met at the next airport by our stunning driver and translator who would take care of us the next couple days. She is young and full of energy and Marya and I had met our match. She was great and we had many laughs, great meals, and long deep conversations during our long drives. She kept saying "you ladies are so funny". I think this made us laugh even more. We had a blast with her. She was very protective of us and also amazing with the kids. She took very good care of us.
We met many more beautiful children, did our humanitarian visits and gave donations, and had more meetings with directors. Some meetings starting very intense but always ended in hand shakes, smiles, and hugs. Just the way it is and I am so use to it now. Earning trust is first and foremost and if they don't like you or what you have to say, they will send you packing. We met some amazing and sweet orphanage personnel and knew all these kids we were getting were well cared for and loved. We really see it when the kids themselves tell us how much they love their directors and fly into their arms when they walk in the room. It's so awesome to know these beautiful children have something good in their lives. You can also see it in all the smiles we have in our photos.
Then came our last orphanage of the trip. It was of course the one with the boy we hosted for a week last summer, Bogdon. If you don't know about him read a few of my older blogs. He and I are very bonded and he was so happy to see us. After our interviews we went to lunch and came back to watch him in a school play. We then headed out to dinner with him and another girl we had in our last summer hosting, Liza. Both kids are teens and getting ready to age out. Bogdon had to make sure to let me know that usually he does more in all the school plays and he was sorry he just did narrating this time. He is just so cute. As if I was disappointed in him, geezo.
It was really nice to spend the time with Bogdon and we had a nice heart to heart with the translator. I learned so much more about him and we were so much more impressed by him....if that was even possible. He is 1 in a million. He doesn't get in trouble and at the top of his school with grades and studies. He also told me a lot about his summer hosting trip and I learned how deep he is and how observent and just so much more amazing than I could even imagine. I would adopt this child in a second. He is the type of child who will not only bless a family, but I really believe improve a family. He is a blessing to this world and anyone he meets. We had a wonderful dinner and time and then had to take him home. I had to do my cry on the way home while he slept because I didn't want to have a hard goodbye again. I did tell him I cried the whole day after he left and he was sad and said he was so sorry. Just the sweetest kid. He also told me he was for sure 100% ready to be adopted and his brother was 100% supportive and proud of him :). I asked him why and he said he wants a family and a good life. I also asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said he just wanted the attention of a family. He said he has learned that gifts are not what's important. Hmmmmm, just fills my heart with joy like a proud Mama. I told him I had to find him a family who lived close to me so I could help raise him :).
We then stayed in a hotel only to have me sick as a dog. The next couple days were just very hard. We went back to Ilona's after being greeted at the airport by our driver, Oleg. He is so cute...he says "sorry to be late, I have a little surprize for you" as he holds up his fingers to show us little. He had coffee and muffins for us. I guess Marya's demands for coffee last time made a lasting impression. :) Just a wonderful man!
At Ilona's I just curled up in a ball on her couch suffering while Marya raided her refrigator. I was so jealous, everything looked so yummy and Marya seemed to be enjoying her homemade Ukrainian food. LUCKY! I was sure a fever was coming on. I could hardly move but finally had to get up and repack all the luggage I had so I didn't get charges for empty suitcases since all my donations where now gone.
Finally Igor, the expert and one we trust to refer adoptions to, came to pick us up. He is a super sweet and quiet man. We had a nice talk with him as he drove us to the hotel airport. We had a quick bite to eat and I had to rush back to bed. 4pm I was out for the night. Early flight back to the states 12 hours later.
Fast and Furious but so worth it. I was so lucky and thankful to have Marya with me and of course to have Ilona and all her friends and associates take good care of us. She is amazing and has found us the best kids. All of them are perfect. I am so excited to work with my volunteers and advocates to find them all host families. Not one of them am I worried about. Good orphanges, great directors, great kids. Very successful and meaningful trip!
