I come prepared for my flights now; get to watch a bunch of new releases on the plane and sleep…. All good!
When I exited the plane in Ukraine and walked down the metal stairs there was a woman with a sign with my name on it. She held a radio and was in a suit. Nothing like feeling like a celeb as I got into a private Mercedes as all the others coming off the plane squished into a bus. Thank you Ilona! I LOVE YOU!
I was then taken into a plush room where I had a private customs officer and waiting while they went to get my luggage out of baggage claim. When I go through my “private security” I was greeted by my wonderful Ukrainian family from Viant; Beautiful Ilona and my “big” little brother, Sergey .
Off we went to Ilona’s office where I hugged Elena her assistant and unboxed a bunch of gifts sent by families for their host children. I packed one large suitcase full of gifts and donations. Now I was able to put my own carry on bag into the big suitcase with lots of room to spear. Once we had our nice visit, Sergey and I were off for a long night of driving. Not long after we got in the car we were smack dab in the middle of traffic. No worries, nothing better than trying to talk when neither person can understand the other. No worries, it took about an 15 minutes for us to get use to each other’s charades.
We stopped to get gas after an hour in traffic, just out of Kiev. On the back side of the gas station was a little diner. It was very nice and decorated in old Ukraine village style. Serg spent 15 minutes trying to figure out what I wanted to eat only to have the waitress show up and point to the part of the menu in English. LOL . Good laugh! My favorite Borsh and “Bleen-chicky”, Ukrainian crapes. Oh and some chicken that was to die for. Ukrainian food is amazing for all of you wondering.
Off for a 5 hour drive. Yes I slept most the time. Serge is such a trooper. We did figure out a way to communicate and would laugh a lot. Especially when we saw a Porky Pine in the road and he seemed to find the name comical. I think I was delirious at this point because I suddenly found the name “Porky Pine” to be hysterical. Never really thought about it before until someone who didn’t speak our language thought I was joking when I said it. (Had to be there.) Later when we were with Roma, my translator, it was actually a “Hedgehog”. Sorry, still a funny name and we had another laugh.
He also at one point washed his windows. The car all of a sudden smelt like alcohol and he had me convinced the fluid in the wiper water was Vodka. He also gave me a bad time because I asked if the guys walking the streets in the middle of the night were taxi drivers. He motioned to me later pointing to some guys sitting on a curb with beer bottles saying “ya, taxi drivers”. Ok, I am in stiches with my delirium and his little brother teasing. I think it’s time for me to go back to sleep. Again, had to be there.
We arrive around midnight, (I think) at an amazing place where many families stay when they do their adoptions. It was an adorable white building in a back ally. The woman who ran the place was so sweet and the room was like a bridal suite with peach bedding and window coverings and a big double heart on the wall. Serge got my computer set up with internet and went off to bed. I of course cannot sleep and catch up with emails , call my hubby, and stress about falling asleep and not waking up in time for my little brother to come in and make me up to go without a shower.
I finally konk out only to wake up at 4 am by a call from my hubby so I shower, get ready, and continue to email.
I finally fall asleep again only to wake up to a knock and a guy walking into my room. I assume it’s Sergey doing his normal “get up we are leaving now ” greeting, but when I focus I see it is Roma (Roman). It was sooo good to see him. Roma is my translator and such a great guy. I love traveling with these two through Ukraine. Safe, fun, and interesting all in one. Roma is a book of knowledge and tells me history and stories of all the adoptions he has done over the 12 years doing them. He also fills me in about all the different regions and the adoption process in each one. All different! We had some time to catch up while Sergey got ready and off we went.
First stop another apartment that families can rent while they are adopting. Really really nice and by far the best place to stay I have seen in Ukraine. Rhonda, another California host mom, was there adopting her boys. We gave big hugs and I also had the pleasure of finally meeting Roma’s wife and baby girl who were also staying there with Rhonda. Both just beautiful! I had shopped for Rhonda’s boys because she found out she didn’t have good clothes and shoes to bring them home in and Ukraine turned out to be too expensive to buy these things.
We then all make our way to the orphanage. First we go up and meet O. the director. What a beautiful and amazing woman. She took us on a tour of the orphanage then brought children in to meet me to give the gifts I had brought from families. I had to search out the kids on our list to get photos and information. O. has this orphanage nicer than many US family homes. It is the Ritz of orphanages. She also is so amazing with the kids. She has a personal relationship with each one of them and knows everything about them. She talks to them like a mother talks to her children and she meets with them every week and rewards them for good studies. They all adore her and now so do I. Oh and I need to mention this is the orphanage where my little Vadym from last summer was from.
We had lunch with O. at one of Roma’s favorite restaurants in the town. It was a beautiful little bakery who donates pastries to the orphanage for the kids every week. On their birthdays the bakery also sends over cakes for the kids to celebrate. Again, amazing food and oh I forgot to mention, coffee in Ukraine is the best I have ever had.
The town was also very nice with lots of people and shops. Everyone dresses nice and it just feels very comfortable and safe. Of course everyone is beautiful and dresses nice. Leather, fur, and boots are the big fashion in Ukraine. Dark clothes are also very popular. Fashion jeans are also a must.
I had a nice bonding visit with O. and was very sad to say goodbye. Especially to my little man Slav. . I can’t wait to love him this summer! I was bummed I missed some of the kids but we will see them this summer.
Off to Ladyzhyn which was another 3 hour drive. That will be the next blog and the story is deep. Stay tuned. I am working on a huge project now because of this visit. I will write about it next.
I am very broken hearted I am in Ukraine and can’t see Lera. She is 18 ours from Kiev by train and it’s just not possible to see her. I did send her a huge bag of goodies through Ilona. I will be loving her soon enough. Can’t wait to see her
photos coming when I figure out how to add more.
