Hi Everyone,
The shopping went well, we got almost everything she needed, can a girl ever really have enough? The Passport people told Vitaly to come back Monday to apply for the passports so the waiting continues. Sunday was a fun day we took the kids for a ride in the country then a little visit to the city park. From there we went for a fast lunch at a Ukrainian style theme restaurant. During lunch Nicholas polished off everything he could stick a fork into. I couldn't resist telling him we don't have food in Canada, his quick reply was just get him a stove he'll make his own food. We headed back to our apartment and as we pulled up I told Nicholas that this was Canada. He wasn't impressed. After that we headed back to the orphanage for a good bye party. Everyone had a good time Corrine had bought bubbles for the whole groupa, and they were quickly ushered outside to spill the juice on the ground. We went to bed excited that this might be our last night in the Ghetto!
Monday morning arrived we started to pack hoping for the best. The phone rang it was the the passport agency "Don't bother coming in today the boss is out of town". This is Ukrainian code for be prepared for the worst. The entire judicial system is controlled by the Mafia so if you need something done you have to pay a bribe, or wait forever. I was pissed off and Corrine had a cry. They told us to go ahead to Kiev, they will forward the passports when they are ready. At this point I have learned that leaving without a document just means you have to pay to travel back to get it. So we are staying put until the passports are in hand. We still have to do some paperwork with the Canadian Embassy, and who knows how long that will take. All I can say is it's a good thing I couldn't post this morning. It wouldn't have been pleasant.
The shopping went well, we got almost everything she needed, can a girl ever really have enough? The Passport people told Vitaly to come back Monday to apply for the passports so the waiting continues. Sunday was a fun day we took the kids for a ride in the country then a little visit to the city park. From there we went for a fast lunch at a Ukrainian style theme restaurant. During lunch Nicholas polished off everything he could stick a fork into. I couldn't resist telling him we don't have food in Canada, his quick reply was just get him a stove he'll make his own food. We headed back to our apartment and as we pulled up I told Nicholas that this was Canada. He wasn't impressed. After that we headed back to the orphanage for a good bye party. Everyone had a good time Corrine had bought bubbles for the whole groupa, and they were quickly ushered outside to spill the juice on the ground. We went to bed excited that this might be our last night in the Ghetto!
Monday morning arrived we started to pack hoping for the best. The phone rang it was the the passport agency "Don't bother coming in today the boss is out of town". This is Ukrainian code for be prepared for the worst. The entire judicial system is controlled by the Mafia so if you need something done you have to pay a bribe, or wait forever. I was pissed off and Corrine had a cry. They told us to go ahead to Kiev, they will forward the passports when they are ready. At this point I have learned that leaving without a document just means you have to pay to travel back to get it. So we are staying put until the passports are in hand. We still have to do some paperwork with the Canadian Embassy, and who knows how long that will take. All I can say is it's a good thing I couldn't post this morning. It wouldn't have been pleasant.
The Director of the orphanage showed up today thinking we were traveling to Kiev. We needed her to sign some more paperwork, and she wanted her donation. After the signings she wished us well telling me to be firm with the kids when they need it, and to give them hugs when they need it. Then she gave me a hug. She said the kids could stay in the orphanage as long as required, made me promise to send pictures as soon as we were settled at home, and told me we could stay at her house when we come for a visit. (I need some of whatever she has hidden in her office.)
Have I mentioned that we have been without hot water for over a week? With all the running around we didn't have time to drop clothes off at the orphanage for a wash so we're getting pretty ripe. If you want a little taste of Ukrainian living turn off your hot water tank for a week, and lock up you clothes washer& dryer for 2. As an added bonus turn off any Air Conditioning you might encounter, and if in a vehicle roll up the windows then throw the handles away so you aren't tempted to roll them down. There's nothing like boiling up a nice batch of gotch soup in the tub!
Anyway that's all for now. I'm using an internet cafe because we didn't want to waste another internet card that isn't transferable from region to region. We'll see what Tuesday brings.
Have I mentioned that we have been without hot water for over a week? With all the running around we didn't have time to drop clothes off at the orphanage for a wash so we're getting pretty ripe. If you want a little taste of Ukrainian living turn off your hot water tank for a week, and lock up you clothes washer& dryer for 2. As an added bonus turn off any Air Conditioning you might encounter, and if in a vehicle roll up the windows then throw the handles away so you aren't tempted to roll them down. There's nothing like boiling up a nice batch of gotch soup in the tub!
Anyway that's all for now. I'm using an internet cafe because we didn't want to waste another internet card that isn't transferable from region to region. We'll see what Tuesday brings.
PS: I posted some beggars we met here in town.
TTFN
R&C
TTFN
R&C
3 comments:
Hello R--- family!! Brad & I keep checking everyday for that post that says we got the kids passport and we are coming home! We are dying to meet the kids, they are so adorable. Just wait until she has her own bike, she looks like she is going to love it!
Hope you are keeping well and enjoying your “vacation”…..a visit to the dentist would probably be more fun at this point.
Hi Guys! The kids are so cute! We can't wait to meet them. We are keeping our fingers crossed that you will hear some good news soon. Take Care
Benji & Tannis
We await anxiously too for news regarding the passports, etc. Hopefully it's all in the works. YOu missed a major storm here last night. The kind that wakes you up at 2 am with it's intensity. Rain, wind, thunder, lightening. By morning, it looked as if only a few tree branches came down.
Cheers,
The Hilderman's
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