We were ready to go at 11:30 today when Galya and Kostya picked us up. It has been unusually cold here since we arrived and today there are snow flurries. We first go to the government office for our appointment with the boss of the woman that had interviewed us previously. This was the first man we have seen in this whole process. He asks about our home, income, why we had chosen the Ukraine and was our family supportive of the adoption. He reminded us that there could be difficulties with an adopted child. After, he wished that the remainder of our adoption process would be swift and life with the child would be happy. And he thanked us for taking care of their children. It was very nice.
Now, we have to get the remainder of the paper work to the 1:30 Train to Kiev so that Sveta can file the papers at the Ministry tomorrow between 9-11 AM or she will have to wait until Friday. Sometimes I think that Roger and I are contestants on “The Amazing Race”. We wait in the hall for the very slow printer. Finally we get one copy printed and Galya takes it and runs (she will come back later to get the other copies). Fortunately the train station is not far away and we get there on time. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting at the train station, but Galya runs on to the station platform and right onto the train. She comes out a few minutes later and we take off again.
Galya and Kostya drop us off at the bus stop near the orphanage before they take off to get copies and file more papers, and then probably to work at her many other jobs.
Roger and I buy some chips at the store at the bus stop and head up the hill to the orphanage. We are really early and Elona is still at school. She comes in about an hour later. We work on some English words and look at pictures. After a while she does her homework with the other girls. Her hand writing is very neat. We play some I Spy until she has to leave to go to dinner. We take off for the bus. We will be back tomorrow. At this point most of gathering of things is over. And since we can’t go as early to the orphanage we can look around Sevastopol a little.
We hope to find out what our court day will be on Friday. On our court date the adoption will be final, except for the 10 day waiting period that follows. Then we apply for the Ukrainian passport for Elona, 2-10 days. Then we fly to Kiev to apply for the US Visa at the American Embassy 3 days. And then we can all go home to the United States.
Now, we have to get the remainder of the paper work to the 1:30 Train to Kiev so that Sveta can file the papers at the Ministry tomorrow between 9-11 AM or she will have to wait until Friday. Sometimes I think that Roger and I are contestants on “The Amazing Race”. We wait in the hall for the very slow printer. Finally we get one copy printed and Galya takes it and runs (she will come back later to get the other copies). Fortunately the train station is not far away and we get there on time. I don’t know exactly what I was expecting at the train station, but Galya runs on to the station platform and right onto the train. She comes out a few minutes later and we take off again.
Galya and Kostya drop us off at the bus stop near the orphanage before they take off to get copies and file more papers, and then probably to work at her many other jobs.
Roger and I buy some chips at the store at the bus stop and head up the hill to the orphanage. We are really early and Elona is still at school. She comes in about an hour later. We work on some English words and look at pictures. After a while she does her homework with the other girls. Her hand writing is very neat. We play some I Spy until she has to leave to go to dinner. We take off for the bus. We will be back tomorrow. At this point most of gathering of things is over. And since we can’t go as early to the orphanage we can look around Sevastopol a little.
We hope to find out what our court day will be on Friday. On our court date the adoption will be final, except for the 10 day waiting period that follows. Then we apply for the Ukrainian passport for Elona, 2-10 days. Then we fly to Kiev to apply for the US Visa at the American Embassy 3 days. And then we can all go home to the United States.
The Hollidays are amazing! you guys are so impressive bringing this together relatively quickly... so cool. I will cross my fingers and toes that you get a soon court date. Elona sounds adorable... a studybug with tidy handwriting... super cute!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that you are spending more time with Elona and that she is announcing she is a
ReplyDelete"Holliday". That is so cute. It does sound like she really looks forward to your time together and having fun. Hope you get to bring her to the apartment soon. I know she will love it. You can even make her some of your soup. Sounds like Ben is doing well. Robbin calls often to tell me some of the things they do like science projects, etc. Keep up the good work and will hopefully see you back in the US soon.