We are finally catching up on some computer news, e-mails, etc. at 1:00 a.m. Friday morning Feb. 6 after a full day Thursday (Feb. 5) beginning with our SDA Appointment at 9:00 a.m.
Our facilitator, Sasha, picked us up at our hotel at 8:30 a.m. and we arrived at the SDA building
a few minutes later...we were the first folks there. We went to the gate and waited for the guard to let us in, all the time Sasha was chatting with everyone we encountered. We waited inside on the stairwell and were invited up the stairs right on time. Our interview with the Social Worker was cordial.She showed us three files of siblings, and after we asked several questions (re: health of the children, ages, how long they had been on the Registry, how long they had been at the orphanage, had anyone (family) come to visit them, etc. we decided to request a visit with the first group of siblings...a boy, 10;a girl,5;and a boy,4. All of the children we were shown were healthy,cute children who deserve loving families and it was a difficult choice. Friday, at 4:00p.m., we pick up our letter of permission to visit the children. They are all in the Donetsk
area in eastern Ukraine. The two little ones are in an orphanage in the city of Donetsk and the older boy is in an orphanage about 25 miles away. We will travel by train Friday evening and arrive in Donetsk around 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning. Dr. Jim Peipon will travel with us to
examine the children and give us his opinion as to their health status and to look at any medical records that might be available.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Out & About
Today we got up a little later and touched base with the Maxwell family that is also staying at the same hotel. We decided to strike out together on a sight-seeing walk around. We walked to
Independence Square and went across the street (via the underground stairs and passageway that all of the busier intersections have) to the Globus Mall. Here we see the basic mall stores - even Hallmark! We went down the escalator to the Food Court, found seats for the 6 of us and ordered pizza from Papa John's - not the same chain as in U.S. though. About that time, Ben
Robinson showed up, came right up to us and said "Maxwells?" "Cospers?" For not ever having seen us before, I don't know how Ben picked us out of the crowd :) We sat and talked for quite a long time about general questions/situations with other Lifeline families, etc. then Sasha appeared...we sat and talked about a few more issues and then Sasha took the Maxwells back to the hotel and we went out walking up to see St. Sophia...beautiful mint green with gold domes and St. Michael...beautiful light blue, with colorful murals...lots of gold trim, icons, etc. As long as we were in the neighborhood, we decided to search for the SDA building. It's on the street next to St Michael...on the same street as the British Embassy which makes it easier to find on the map. We took a few photos in front of the SDA, walked past loads of souvenir stalls across the street from the SDA and then back to the hotel...rested a bit and then our to eat with the Maxwells. More computer loading, photo loading tonight - and then SDA appointment tomorrow morning - Sasha is picking us up at 8:30 a.m.
Independence Square and went across the street (via the underground stairs and passageway that all of the busier intersections have) to the Globus Mall. Here we see the basic mall stores - even Hallmark! We went down the escalator to the Food Court, found seats for the 6 of us and ordered pizza from Papa John's - not the same chain as in U.S. though. About that time, Ben
Robinson showed up, came right up to us and said "Maxwells?" "Cospers?" For not ever having seen us before, I don't know how Ben picked us out of the crowd :) We sat and talked for quite a long time about general questions/situations with other Lifeline families, etc. then Sasha appeared...we sat and talked about a few more issues and then Sasha took the Maxwells back to the hotel and we went out walking up to see St. Sophia...beautiful mint green with gold domes and St. Michael...beautiful light blue, with colorful murals...lots of gold trim, icons, etc. As long as we were in the neighborhood, we decided to search for the SDA building. It's on the street next to St Michael...on the same street as the British Embassy which makes it easier to find on the map. We took a few photos in front of the SDA, walked past loads of souvenir stalls across the street from the SDA and then back to the hotel...rested a bit and then our to eat with the Maxwells. More computer loading, photo loading tonight - and then SDA appointment tomorrow morning - Sasha is picking us up at 8:30 a.m.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
FIRST BLOG POST
We arrived Tues. Feb. 2 at KBP airport around 10:15 a.m. Kiev time. Our agency people met us at the airport and helped us through Customs. Our Facilitator, Sasha, drove us to our Hotel/Apt. in Kiev about 25-30 minutes from the airport. Sasha gave us a short orientation tour around the neighborhood, pointing out a few restaurants, shops and where to change our American $$ for hryvnia (uah). We walked around a little, went to the Tsum Department Store which is close by, to purchase a curling iron, blow dryer and iron with the proper connections. We have converters, but are using them to power our computer, and other electronics from home. There usually is a clerk that speaks English and as soon as we Americans speak, there is a rush for that clerk. We ate dinner at TGIF around the corner from our hotel, changed some more $$ and then went to the mall around the corner that has a grocery store in the basement. We stocked up on 1/2 L
sized bottled water to carry around and to have in the room, as well as some chocolate candy and great bread. You bag your own groceries, but this store did provide bags. We got back to the room around 9:00 p.m., un-packed a little, watched a little Ukrainian T.V....Men In Black
movie on T.V. was interesting in Ukrainian, then crashed around 11:00 p.m. We arranged to
have breakfast at our hotel at 8:00 a.m. this morning and then did some e-mailing. Ready to get out and meet with another member of our Facilitation team around 12:30 at McDonald's.Chris says, "that's enough, Ellen" so Good Bye, Ellen & Chris
sized bottled water to carry around and to have in the room, as well as some chocolate candy and great bread. You bag your own groceries, but this store did provide bags. We got back to the room around 9:00 p.m., un-packed a little, watched a little Ukrainian T.V....Men In Black
movie on T.V. was interesting in Ukrainian, then crashed around 11:00 p.m. We arranged to
have breakfast at our hotel at 8:00 a.m. this morning and then did some e-mailing. Ready to get out and meet with another member of our Facilitation team around 12:30 at McDonald's.Chris says, "that's enough, Ellen" so Good Bye, Ellen & Chris
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