
Forming a family through international adoption.
We got up early this morning and repacked/shuffled around items. John was getting ready to fly back to the USA today, so he'll tote back some of the suveniors that I bought.
I called Bogdan and made sure that I was still set to visit the orphanage today. I also told him about John leaving. Bogdan is so nice.
He offered to help John get through the airport since he had to go there this afternoon anyway to pick up a friend. So Bogdan will pick John up at 2:00 p.m. and they'll head off to the airport. Bogdan will meet me at the orphanage once he gets his friend settled.
I carried on an hour long conversation with a few guys in Donetsk who didn't know a lick of English. So I'm sure I will be fine with the ten kids until Bogdan arrives. I had one boy, Yura, play me in Ukraine checkers the last visit. They have different rules from our USA checkers. In Ukraine checkers once you have a king it can move all the way across the board to make a jump. And non-king checkers can move forward and backwards. Also you have to take a jump if its available to you. I managed to beat him but then the class teacher cleaned my clock in a game. She joked that we will lose the sponsor (aka me) now that she beat me. Today, I plan to get revenge now that I know the rules.
Bogdan picked us up and we headed to the airport. Bogdan helped John get on his way while I headed to the orphanage. I stopped the shops across the street from the orphanage and bought some chocolates, banannas, apples, and oranges then headed to see my class. When I walked in the building they were waiting for me. The lady at the desk took me to the class room where the kids had cleaned it up and had a table prepared for a party. The kids were so good. They took the fruit and washed it while the teacher (Lanna) and I chatted. Bogdan showed up unexpectedly. He decided to come back to the orphanage to kill time before meeting his Dutch friends. He translated for me as the kids took turns telling me what kind of things they liked to do.
Lanna had made fresh bread and cheese pastries for the party. They were very good. She spread some fish and chicken patte on the bread. Errmmm I ate it and thanked her. I'm not a fan of liver an especially not fish. The kids are great though. I let them play with my digital camera taking pictures of themselves. Vitalik is an acrobatic ham.
He is one of the older kids in the group. They are fighting for him to stay at the orphanage longer because he's very delayed. So I spent the time playing checkers with Lanna and Yura. Yura is a cute boy but rather petite in stature. A lot of children here are and I think some are effected by poor nutrition. The kids watched a Russian dubbed version of Shrek II while Lanna kicked my butt in Ukraine checkers. Please note.. I taught her US checkers and returned the favor of butt-kicking.
Visiting these kids just makes me want to take them home with me. I'm looking forward to corresponding with them over the next 3-4 years.
I stayed at the orphanage till about 7:00 p.m. Then I hitched a ride with Bogdan back to the downtown area where he dropped me off at my apartment. Tomorrow will be interesting. I'm taking a Canadian couple to the orphanage for a visit. I will also be taking my class shopping.
They need some shirts for class. And yes... their teachers are going with me - its a shopping field trip.