10 and 20 - Saturday, Feb. 28th

We got some good news on Friday; the director gave us permission to take Elona out of the orphanage as long as we did not leave Sevastopol. So today was our first day. We picked her up at 2:00 and took the bus back to our city center. Before going back to the apartment, we went to the market; there were a few things that we needed like an onion, eggs and toilet paper. We also needed to pick up some slippers for her to wear at the apartment. The floors are tile and very cold. At first she did not understand, but soon she was trying on the sizes and choosing the color she liked.

Then it was back to the apartment. She was a little timid, like anyone when they enter someone else’s home. We showed her around; she happily noted that we had displayed the Valentine’s Card and the pipe cleaner ‘Elona’ that she had made us. I showed her the gym shoes and boots that I had bought her to wear to America (they fit fine by the way). When we mentioned the shoes for America, she wanted the Russian-English Dictionary and asked me ‘Soon’??? We got out the calendar and explained that the court date was the 10th, then the 10 days and no more orphanage on the 20th. A few more days, then Kiev, three more days and America. I think this really made it real to her, she was all smiles, and she kept repeating “10 and 20”.

We played a computer reading game and put together a wooden seahorse puzzle. Then we snacked on Aunt Cathy’s trail mix and played a couple games of UNO before it was time to take the bus back to the orphanage. As the three of us walked up that trash riddled street to the orphanage, she started repeating again…..”10 and 20”. It is such a great feeling to know that she is as sure about this decision as we are.

Tomorrow we will pick her up again for another visit at the apartment. We are planning to Skype Aunt Robbin and Ben in the morning. It will be exciting to see her reaction to talking live to someone over the computer. And Ben will meet his new sister for the first time.

Now I know what you are thinking, not another photo of the market, (in 10 days I will be able to put in photos of Elona). But these are jars of honey; some are beautifully filled with layers of nuts and honey. I thought it would nice to try some, so I bought the smallest jar layers with almonds and pecans. After we go it home, Roger happens to think that honey is a raw food and maybe we shouldn’t eat it. So I would appreciate thoughts on that subject if anyone has any insight.

Also, we would again like to express our appreciation for all you followers; the emails, your comments and support really makes a difference. Thanks again.

Kelley and Roger

Staying Put - Thursday, Feb. 26th

Believe me, it was not any easy decision, but we have decided to stick it out. Ben is okay with it, thinks we should save the money for better vacation this summer. It is easy for him to say, he’s still sleeping in his own bed!

To celebrate our decision to forgo our vacation to the wonderful United States, we did the next best thing – we had lunch at McDonald’s. Sorry, Renee, but this is only the second time since we arrived in the Sevastopol.

To help pass the time, we are hoping we can make some arrangement to take some day trips around the area. There are Greek ruins and beautiful scenery not that far out of town. If it would just warm up, the trips to the orphanage would be a lot more pleasant.

Another thing I am looking forward to is trying some good Ukrainian food. We will have to get some American’s or Galya and Kostya to go with us. We have looked at some of the menus and we haven’t got a clue, not like Spanish or French, when you can at least figure out if it is fish or chicken.

Well that is all for now, hopefully I will have something interesting to write about soon. The photo is of a church just up the hill from us.

Kelley and Roger

We're Still Here - Wednesday, Feb.25th

Sorry we haven’t written, but there hasn’t been much to tell. We have been going to the orphanage every day, reading, cooking, and watching Soprano’s. And the last time we went to the Potato House, we didn’t meet anyone new. It is still really cold.

We have been waiting for the judge to give us our court date. We had high hopes for a date by the end of February, but we are out of luck. March 10th. We are disappointed, but not surprised; everyone has warned us not to expect things to go as planned. Galya is hoping to talk to the judge tomorrow morning to see if there is any chance of an earlier date. If she can’t, we have to decide whether to stay, knowing that we have at least 4 more weeks here; or spend the money to come home for 7 days. It would not be so bad to stay if we could take Elona out of the orphanage during the day. Hanging out at our apartment and going to the market is a lot more fun. Anyway, we will make our decision after we hear from Galya tomorrow.

There are a few things about Sevastopol that we have not told you about.
Dried fruit is really big here. The photo’s show the beautiful colors at the tables in the market. I have been sampling different cookies each time we go to the market. Most of them have some kind of fruit inside. They also have wonderful coconut macaroons. A lot of the men here carry purses. Not the shoulder-strap man-bags you see in the U.S sometime. These look like miniature doctors bags, but with more buckles.

The fashions here are similar to Kiev, but a lot less black, more color. Still lots of boots. And on warmer days (there have not been many), boy the skirts are short.

You ask any of the English speaking guys what the best thing about the Ukraine is and they will all say ‘the cheap beer’. You can buy it everywhere and anytime. You can drink it walking up the street at 8:00 in the morning and we have been told you can even drink it on the bus, though we have not seen anyone.

There are lots of music videos on TV and they are really bad and really trashy. They have stuff like Animal Planet and Discovery with Russian dubbed in over the top of the English.

One of the funniest things that happened was a day that we were waiting in the government building waiting for some paperwork. A very tall, very blonde woman comes out and asks Galya a question. Galya laughs. It seems that this woman had read our home study and saw that my brother Frank was divorced. She wanted to know if my brother was interested in meeting a nice Ukrainian Girl. So, there you go Frank….let me know if you in the market.

Well that is all for now. Who knows….we might be home this weekend. We will let you know.

Kelley and Roger

Cold weekend - Feb. 21st and 22nd

It has been really cold here this weekend. So aside from going to the orphanage we have been staying in. Fortunately I made a large pot of beef vegetable soup Saturday, so there was no need to go to the market.

During the visit on Saturday we stayed in the music room the whole time. The wind was blowing and the room was really cold. Elona showed us her talent for cart wheels and back bends before we settled into the usual, playing UNO, reviewing a little English, and playing I Spy on the wooden floor. Good-byes and ‘we will see you tomorrow’.

Sunday was not as windy, but just as cold. Roger and I both dressed warmer in preparation of the cold music room. As soon as we got there Elona said ‘Hi, I am Elona Marie Holliday” with a huge smile. Then she immediately wanted to go outside, soon we knew why, she was putting on rollerblades. She put them on in the 2nd floor dorm and proceeded to walk down the concrete steps in them. Outside the sun was shining and it was not as windy. We walked around the building as she skated. She does pretty good, especially considering all the gravel and holes in the surfaces. We walk up around the school. School is still closed for ‘quarantine’, which make her very happy – normal kid.

Back inside, we had brought the laptop with us and a couple beginning learning CD’s that Pam had loaned to us. It only took a little while for her to get the hang on it, with help from us. She really enjoyed it and we did that most of the afternoon before playing a couple quick games. Then it was time to leave for the bus. As usual we exchange lots of hugs and kisses.

Tomorrow we are hoping to find out our court date and for warmer weather.

Kelley and Roger

Singing and Dancing Friday Feb. 20

The day started pretty normal, some laundry, cheese omelets for lunch and a quick run to the market. At 1:15 we Skype with Ben before he heads for school. Then it is reading until it is time to head for the orphanage.

Today Galya and Kostya pick us up; Galya will be visiting with us today. She tells us that we have not received our court date yet, they told her to call back again on Monday, typical. When we get to the orphanage, Galya spots the Doctor and asks about the medical report that we need. It will be ready on Monday, typical. We see the councilor and ask if we will be able to take Elona home to our apartment for the day on the weekend. No, not until after the court hearing. We are disappointed, it is getting hard to fill the time shut in a small room with people that don’t speak the same language. A lot of UNO.

Elona is very happy to see Galya. We go to the library/computer room and sit on the floor. There are three pretty new computers. We ask Elona who uses the computers, she has never seen anyone use them. Elona is talking a mile a minute, telling Galya all the news of the orphanage. We ask about simple things, foods she likes, how many girls are in her dorm, has she ever slept in a room alone. There are eight girls in her dorm, she is the oldest, and the youngest is 4. Two of the girls are going home to their mother in 10 days, we are happy for them.

We tell Elona her new name. Elona Marie Holliday. She thinks that it is good. We have her practice writing her full name and then Galya works with her for a few minutes on the English alphabet. Elona asks if we can go outside. She runs around obviously showing off for us. We don’t stay outside for long because it is cold. Back inside we go to the music room where the music teacher is working with an older student. They finish and we get a special treat. Elona sings for us with the teacher. She has a very nice voice and you can tell she enjoys singing. She has already told us that she will pick chorus in school. Galya tells me how surprised she is that music is such a large part of our school curriculum, not true in Ukrainian schools. Now the choreographer comes in, it is time for dance rehearsal and we get to watch. Elona is attentive and follow directions without disruption, which there is plenty of.

Soon it is dinner time and we say our good-byes and head for the bus. At our stop Galya stays on the bus to go the rest of the way home and we head straight for the Potato House. It is Friday night and very crowded, all the tables are taken, a young couple offer for us to share their table. Sergy and Katrina are young university student and speak pretty good English. We repay their generosity with shots of tequila (it is a western style restaurant after all). Katrina likes a tequila shooter, made with sprite – so when in the Ukraine, do like the Ukrainians. It is fun. Soon they need to leave, they are heading for the cinema, so we exchange emails and say good-bye to new friends. Then it’s back to the apartment for more Sopranos.

Kelley and Roger.

Casual day - Thursday, Feb.19th

Really not a whole lot to talk about tonight. It was a lazy day. Got up late, cooked cheese omelets for lunch, and did some laundry. I started making soup for the dinner tonight. At about 1:00 we Skype with Ben and Aunt Cathy before he heads for school. Ben is not quite awake, but we still get caught up with what has been going on. After that Roger played some games on the computer and I read a while until it was time to leave for the orphanage at 3:30.

When we arrive at the orphanage, as usual Elona’s face beams and she runs up and gives us hugs. Then we head for the office to get keys to a room where they ‘isolate’ us from the other children. The new rule. This is such a shame. It is our understanding that there were no adoptions from this orphanage until only a couple years ago. We are adopting Elona because Pam and Len met her while they were adopting Angella. Pam and Len adopted Angella because another family met her while they were adopting and so on and so on. If we can’t get to know any of the children while we are here, how can we become their advocate?

We ask Elona about school today. She tells us it is closed because so many children are sick. But she is not sick (we pray she stays that way with so much travel and stress ahead). Elona and all the other children at the orphanage attend public school. It is located next door; it is the picture on the left. The picture on the right is the entrance into the orphanage. There is an old filthy tee shirt on the ground to wipe your feet on. The entrance and hallways are night and day from the clean cheery dorm that Elona lives in. Bilka, the house dog, is usually sleeping in the stairwell or coming in when we are leaving. He is filthy also, but we have seen him doing his job keeping other stray dogs off of the compound.

We play Concentration with a deck of cards. Elona is impressed with how well we shuffle the cards and is trying to learn. After a bit we get out the English Russian picture book and practice some English. I am confident that she will do well at learning the language. Six o’clock comes around quickly and it time to go. Sad faces and hugs, and we head for the bus.

Back at the apartment we caught up with Robbin on Skype. We talk about the upcoming travel plans, which we hope to be able to start nailing down tomorrow night. I finish making the soup, I am using the left over roasted chicken, veggies, and a soup spice packet we bought in the market. It turns out great. I am going to buy a bunch of the packets to bring home.

Once I sent this off, Roger and I will watch some more Sopranos. Then tomorrow we will start again all over again. Galya is going with us to the orphanage tomorrow, so we can converse with Elona a little more. She will also ask if we can bring Elona back to our apartment during the day Saturday and Sunday.

Till tomorrow.
Kelley and Roger

Sunny in Sevastopol - Wednesday, Feb.18th.

Last night we went over to our new best friend Kevin’s apartment. As you remember we met him and a couple of other English speaking people at the Potato House the night before. He made us nachos. Kelley had some wine. And everything was great. We asked him where he shopped because everything was just like home and he said at the American PX in Kiev. His apartment is only a couple of blocks from ours and is very nice, nicely furnished and much bigger than ours. We sat in a sun room overlooking the main street. Unfortunately he’s leaving Friday for about 10 days. We’ll see him again because we know we’ll still be here, and besides he lent us a couple of DVDs. He also said there are about 8 gringos (as he calls them) in town and they see each other on a regular basis. Tonight they will be at the Black Cat Bar. We looked for it today, but it didn’t see a picture of a black cat and we couldn’t read the signs, so we’re not sure where it is. We’re gonna miss him. When we left he made us a care package, tortilla chips, Pace Picante sauce, and microwave popcorn. We are really grateful.
Today was a casual day. No meetings, no appointments. So got to walk around a little bit, and see our neighborhood in the sunshine. But first we went to the market. As Pam and Len told us, “Don’t stock up; buy just enough for the day so you have something to do tomorrow.” Good advice. We have gone back to the same vendors a couple of times so they recognize us right away, (who wouldn’t). We have the cheese lady, the soap lady, and the pastry lady. We bought some beef, the first red meat we’ve had since we got here, so Kelley is going to make some soup with it. We were looking at what we thought was bacon but it was cured, and the woman selling it cut off two small pieces to try. We tried to say no, fearing food poisoning. But she kept trying to give it to us. So we ate it, then she offered a different cut and another. Which we also ate. We walked away from there fearing gastric calamity. So far, so good. Just outside the market we saw a vendor selling whole roasted chickens. So we bought one of those. Just like Krogers. We had some of that for lunch and for dinner tonight we grilled cheese with chicken.
At 4:00 we went visit Elona, she had seen the doctor and gotten a couple of shots. And as usual she was very happy to see us. We played UNO and practiced English a little, and talked about flying home. We explained that we will fly four times to get to our house, and she doesn’t seem to be worried about it. Although at this stage to her it’s not that real. Tomorrow we will talk some more.