A Glimmer of Hope

Hi Everyone,

I guess I’ll bring you up to date on the passport issue. We got a call on Friday from Khmelnitsky that we would get a call on Saturday telling us when we could expect them. That call never came. Sunday came and went with no information I wasn’t surprised gov’t people around the world don’t work weekends. We hadn’t heard anything by 1:30 so I told Vitaly to make some calls to find out what was going on. He got nowhere so Corrine went shopping and I took the kids to a near by park. When we arrived back at the apartment Vitaly cautiously let me know he had received a call from his contact. The guy wanted another 300 Greevna to expedite the passports, and they would be ready for pick up at the end of the business day Tuesday. (I’ll believe it when they’re in my hands) So now we wait another day.

So much for the serious stuff. We’ve having a pretty good time in Kiev, sleeping on a bed has been nice. Not taking that stinking bus 4 times a day has been a relief. On one of our last bus rides we got on and I was hit with a wall of odor. I looked at Corrine and said ”MMMMMMMMMMMMMM B.O.” she laughed ½ way to the orphanage. Hot water is nice, and so is not having to use a match every time we want to use the stove. (Really the Agassiz cabin is more modern than the old apartment, and smells better.) We spent some time with Nick & Linda and their new twin boys and bade them an envious farewell on Friday evening. We’ve spent a lot of time with Jo-Anne and Carlee. Tuesday is Carlee’s 7th birthday but they will be out of the city meeting a new child so we had a birthday party on Sunday on a river tour boat. To remember to name of the river I say there’s nothing deeper than the Dniper. Corrine spent a fair amount of time trying to teach the kids “Happy Birthday”. They did pretty good. From there we headed down town Kreshadack Street is closed to traffic on weekends. The kids splashed in a water fountain designed for splashing. It’s built into the steps with large platforms! The restaurants are much better in Kiev. We had supper the 1st night at TGI Fridays, some Ukrainian buffet Friday (I won’t go back. If I want to fight with Ukrainians I can do that on the sidewalk. These people have absolutely no concept of manners. They will push their way in front of you in any line if you let them. A little yelling usually scares them off.) We also broke down and went to McDonalds. Tanya wasn’t impressed, and Nicholas ate her burger saving his for later. (Corrine chucked it) We haven’t been to a Two Geese yet there isn’t one near the apt. Our TV has one English channel BBC World (News repeated over and over) The kids have a nap every afternoon it’s a nice respite after the typical show about not being tired they usually sleep a couple hours.

I actually miss work. Who’d a thought, but we miss so many things from home and are looking forward to getting routines started for the kids. We have got a few rules established, Tanya now actually uses TP, and after a few practice runs has even started throwing it in the toilet. After meals the kids both say thank-you, and clean up after themselves. We are getting the idea of not hiding their toys when we go out into their heads. In an orphanage if you didn’t hide a prized possession it became the groupa’s.

That’s all I can think up right now. With the Harvey’s away I’m hoping Steve will blow the snow for me!

TTFN
R&C