After 2 ½ days of traveling (by car and plane), we arrived home at our wonderful house, with a great bed and wonderful greasy food!!!! It is amazing how much we all as Americans take for granted (like light in hallways).
Last Wednesday, we met Kol, the translator, the orphanage director and child services lady at the orphanage. They dressed Kol in a cute little shirt and pants and explained the process to him. He seemed to understand everything and was so excited to be at this point in the process. During court, the judge asked Maury, me, the director and other people several questions about our financial and living status, our children (Kyle and Karmon) and wanted to really get to the reason we wanted to adopt. After our interrogation, she asked Kol to come up and talk to her. In a very nice voice, she asked him a few questions. Through a translator, we were able to understand the questions. She asked; what is your name – which he said, “Kolya”. She asked him what is birth date is, which he said, “I don’t know”. She asked him how old he was, which he said, “I don’t know”. She pointed Maury and I out and asked him who those two people are, which he said, “THAT IS MY MAMA AND PAPA!!” Those were the best words that could have ever come out of his mouth. I think everyone in the room started to cry – of course, I was the most emotional!!
After court, we returned to orphanage and said our quick goodbyes. It was so difficult leaving all the other children knowing that I would never see them again and knowing that we could provide at least one more of them with a good home but wasn’t able to do that… It was hard leaving Vera and Elizabeth – we had grown so close to them in such a short time. Mostly, it was hard leaving Kol knowing he would be by himself again – without seeing his Mama and Papa. Elizabeth promised to visit, Vera gave us some chocolate, a Christmas ornament and a Ukrainian figurine – they promised to take care of Kol until we returned and that they would mark off the calendar each day to let him know that we would be back. My heart breaks thinking about how he must feel during this long waiting game.
After traveling back to Kiev then changing planes three times, we arrived back home Friday evening. We both could not believe that three weeks had gone by so fast and so slow at the same time. We didn’t miss a thing about Sumy, other than Kol of course, and counted our blessings for everything that we have (family, friends, jobs, food, etc…).
Maury was scheduled to leave for the Ukraine this Saturday. However, we were informed that the US embassy will be closed for the Christmas holiday and will not reopen until after January 7. Our facilitator suggested that we do not travel back to the UKR until after the 7th. We have not told Kol this horrible news. I am so sad that he will not be here for Christmas and that he has to wait one more day than he would normally have to wait to get out of that place.
We will continue to update this blog until the journey home is complete (maybe just not as often until Maury is back in the Ukraine). We started this as a way to share our experience with our family and friends. So many of you have commented on the contents – we hope you have enjoyed this journey as much as we have.
We love you all,
Maury and Kim
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Almost Home
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Count Down!!!!
It is our last full day in Sumy. We have enjoyed several days of beautiful white snow and frigid temperatures (17 one day). The white snow made everything bright and beautiful. It covered up the gray-dingy buildings, streets and sidewalks. We even noticed a few people washing their cars (yep, in the snow). However, today, the snow has melted and it is raining. Sumy’s true colors reveal themselves when the snow is gone – the gray HAS returned!
Maury has a stomach virus and is sick in the bed – poor guy. We haven’t spent this much time together since… well, ever! I think he is using it as an excuse to take some time to himself!! HA
I visited Kolya this morning. We have started a bad habit of allowing one or two of the kids to come to the ‘play/visit room’ with us during Kolya’s visit. We thought it was a good thing because it allows them to spend almost ‘one-on-one’ time with adults – which is unusual for them. However, now if they are not the one picked for the day, they cry and beg…. it is heartbreaking.
Our plan this evening is to take Vera, Kolya and Elizabeth to the pizzeria for some good greasy pizza – that should bring Maury’s tummy back to normal (ha). Kolya gets to ride in a car (machina). I am sure he will be excited.. When a car drives by the orphanage window he yells, “machina, machina”… he loves them. I know he will be excited to get out of the place for an evening. I am sure Vera and Elizabeth will love the experience too. I cannot imagine that they have an opportunity to go out to eat much – not with a family income of $1200 a year.
Karmon and Elizabeth have been emailing each other. They are a lot a like – both kindhearted and good girls. We are trying to figure out how to get Elizabeth to the US for a visit. If everything works out, maybe she can come during the summer.
Vera, Elizabeth’s mom, has become like family. She acts like my sisters and is a refreshing reminder of home. I cannot understand a dang thing she is saying but she is so expressive that I usually can figure it out. We asked her what she dreamed of… via Elizabeth, she told us that her dream is for her daughter(s) to go to the US and visit and for her to go scuba diving (we told them Maury scuba dives). She is such a cool person – hopefully ALL of her dreams will come true one day!!
I am SOOOOOO happy to be on the downhill slide to home. Tomorrow we will go to court, drive to Kiev (about a five hour or more drive) then fly out of Kiev Thursday then home on Friday (boy that feels great to be able to say). My work family and all of our friends of been great about keeping us up-to-date on LSU football (geaux tigers!!- Kyle is sooooo excited) and other events. Thanks, we really appreciate that – it is always nice to hear from y’all.
Artie, thanks for sending the info to Margaret telling me how to spell borscht (heck, just like it sounds!!) Margaret, look out for a new Camp Fern camper next year that can’t speak an ounce of English!!
We love you all and will see you in a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kim, Maury and Kol
Maury has a stomach virus and is sick in the bed – poor guy. We haven’t spent this much time together since… well, ever! I think he is using it as an excuse to take some time to himself!! HA
I visited Kolya this morning. We have started a bad habit of allowing one or two of the kids to come to the ‘play/visit room’ with us during Kolya’s visit. We thought it was a good thing because it allows them to spend almost ‘one-on-one’ time with adults – which is unusual for them. However, now if they are not the one picked for the day, they cry and beg…. it is heartbreaking.
Our plan this evening is to take Vera, Kolya and Elizabeth to the pizzeria for some good greasy pizza – that should bring Maury’s tummy back to normal (ha). Kolya gets to ride in a car (machina). I am sure he will be excited.. When a car drives by the orphanage window he yells, “machina, machina”… he loves them. I know he will be excited to get out of the place for an evening. I am sure Vera and Elizabeth will love the experience too. I cannot imagine that they have an opportunity to go out to eat much – not with a family income of $1200 a year.
Karmon and Elizabeth have been emailing each other. They are a lot a like – both kindhearted and good girls. We are trying to figure out how to get Elizabeth to the US for a visit. If everything works out, maybe she can come during the summer.
Vera, Elizabeth’s mom, has become like family. She acts like my sisters and is a refreshing reminder of home. I cannot understand a dang thing she is saying but she is so expressive that I usually can figure it out. We asked her what she dreamed of… via Elizabeth, she told us that her dream is for her daughter(s) to go to the US and visit and for her to go scuba diving (we told them Maury scuba dives). She is such a cool person – hopefully ALL of her dreams will come true one day!!
I am SOOOOOO happy to be on the downhill slide to home. Tomorrow we will go to court, drive to Kiev (about a five hour or more drive) then fly out of Kiev Thursday then home on Friday (boy that feels great to be able to say). My work family and all of our friends of been great about keeping us up-to-date on LSU football (geaux tigers!!- Kyle is sooooo excited) and other events. Thanks, we really appreciate that – it is always nice to hear from y’all.
Artie, thanks for sending the info to Margaret telling me how to spell borscht (heck, just like it sounds!!) Margaret, look out for a new Camp Fern camper next year that can’t speak an ounce of English!!
We love you all and will see you in a few days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Kim, Maury and Kol
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Best Day!
Boy, what a difference a day makes. We had the best day we have had in a very long time. Kolya's teacher, Vera, invited us to her home to have lunch. Her daughter is Elizabeth; I think I have talked about her before. She is 16 and speaks English better than most people in the US. We arrived at the orphanage about 10:00 and Vera came and "picked us up" - when I say picked us up, I really mean she met us there. She dressed Kolya for the cold day and we were off to her house - it was the first time Kolya had shoes on (instead of slippers) since we met him. We walked through all of the apartments/flats, around a group of buildings, over a railroad track and then into their neighborhood - about a 20 minute walk. Vera, her husband and two daughters live in a small house - which is unusual for families in the Ukraine (according to Elizabeth). The bedrooms were so small that a twin size bed could not fit in it.. the bed was very small and from wall to wall. It had just enough room to have another piece of furniture (like a desk). They had a living room, kitchen and bathroom. All were additions since they moved in 10 years ago. As soon as we arrived, we removed our boots and coats. They had slippers for everyone in the house - Maury's didn't fit of course - we laughed about that. We talked for a few minutes and then went to the kitchen for dinner. The kitchen was very small and had a very small table. Around the table was very short stools. Very had wine, said it was special wine usually used for church, pickles, bread and sausage on the table. She served us beorsh (not sure how to spell that), a beet soup - it sounds gross but is really good. Then she served us, what I thought was pork, and mashed potatoes. We finished dinner with tea and chocolate. It was funny, she served Maury's soup in a huge bowl and served him on a dinner plate - everyone else was served on bread plates. Kolya was a perfect angel and ate like he hadn't seen food in a month... he is going to take after his Papa. Vera did not eat, I ask her why she wasn't eating and she said, I am not hungry.. I think she was pulling a FHB (family hold back). During dinner Vera and her husband had a million questions about the US. They wanted to know what the people were like, they wanted to know how much things cost, like electricity and gas, and several other things. I ask them what they thought people in the US were like. They said very nice and hard working. We said the same about what we thought about people in the Ukraine They said their house was very small compared to US homes. We told them that the walls of a house do not make a home... the people inside make a home therefore we are all the same!!! After a long meal and conversation, thanks to Elizabeth, I took several pictures. We looked at photos of the family and talked about life for Kolya. I ask them what they wanted for Kolya. They both said to grow up and be like Maury - learn a trade and have a happy and good life! Elizabeth explained that they lived in the "village" meaning the country before they moved to the city 10 years ago. I ask her how it was different and she said they are spoiled now.. then, it was a very simple life. So, let me tell you about their "spoiled" life. They have a home and a bathroom inside. The girls both have their own room. They have electricity and water in the house. They have a washing machine, which she informed us that they only were able to purchase less than a year ago. Vera is a teacher, Kol's teacher, and the Dad works in a factory. They make $1200 a year - total! That is what their family of four lives on.... believe or not, they are some of the richest people I know - what a wonderful loving family. After dinner, we went outside and she showed us that she grows her own potatoes and beets, which we had for dinner, she showed us that they have chicken's which produces eggs, then she took us into a little building (which I thought might be some sort of greenhouse), it turned out to be a place they raised rabbits... very cute rabbits. I said, "awwwwww, bunny rabbits..." then I realized they raised the rabbits to eat!!! So I asked Elizabeth, "do you eat these rabbits?" she said, "yes, that is what we had for lunch!" I have to say it was a first for me, but it was actually pretty good. They also had an apple tree in the backyard - which Vera insisted that we take 12 or more apples (probably all they had). Elizabeth said they have beorsh every single day and that her Mom makes the best (she didn't complain or fuss about it... she was proud that her Mom is such a good cook). She said now that they have rabbits, they also have meat a couple of times a week. WOW, what a strange and wonderful experience!!!
After our backyard walk, we had a long visit in the living room. We offered Elizabeth to come and visit in the US and stay with us. We told her we would pay for her airline ticket. Karmon and Elizabeth have been emailing so she is getting excited about it. Vera and her husband are so grateful... said it had always been a dream for their daughter. My heart wants to bring the entire family but know that it is not possible.
I want to talk more about Kolya but today was not just about Kolya - It was about family, Kolya being a part of it... I told them I really missed home and my family and this was the first day I had the "family" feeling again... it was good!!We walked back to the orphanage and played with Kolya for a while then headed back to the hotel.
Maury is sick - he has a bad cold and is in the bed. I decided to come to the town square and found a new internet cafe - should I say, the wonderful internet cafe. This place smells nice (which is a bonus right there)has a nice coffee and drink bar (like a coffee shop - Starbucks would be the closest I can think of) and is a really cool place. Where has this thing been all this time! As a matter of fact, I am enjoying a cup of latte as I type. I also walked around the square before I came in... It gets dark at 4:00 pm - so it was already good and dark. There is a church in the middle of the square and they were having Mass... They had speakers so you could hear the service all the way down the street... It as the most beautiful music/singing and service I have heard in a long time. I wanted to go in but it required a prayer cloth (or something over a woman's head) which I didn't have... so I just listened for a while.
Maury and I have really been down on Sumy and have been driving each other crazy wanting to get home or at least back to Kiev where there is some form of life. After learning more about the people and the culture here... I have to say we misjudged them (don't get me wrong - we still want to come home) but they are really nice, simple, caring people...
I will upload as many pictures as I can and try to write some more tomorrow. Just a few more days then back to the US!!!
Love,
Maury, Kim and Kolya
After our backyard walk, we had a long visit in the living room. We offered Elizabeth to come and visit in the US and stay with us. We told her we would pay for her airline ticket. Karmon and Elizabeth have been emailing so she is getting excited about it. Vera and her husband are so grateful... said it had always been a dream for their daughter. My heart wants to bring the entire family but know that it is not possible.
I want to talk more about Kolya but today was not just about Kolya - It was about family, Kolya being a part of it... I told them I really missed home and my family and this was the first day I had the "family" feeling again... it was good!!We walked back to the orphanage and played with Kolya for a while then headed back to the hotel.
Maury is sick - he has a bad cold and is in the bed. I decided to come to the town square and found a new internet cafe - should I say, the wonderful internet cafe. This place smells nice (which is a bonus right there)has a nice coffee and drink bar (like a coffee shop - Starbucks would be the closest I can think of) and is a really cool place. Where has this thing been all this time! As a matter of fact, I am enjoying a cup of latte as I type. I also walked around the square before I came in... It gets dark at 4:00 pm - so it was already good and dark. There is a church in the middle of the square and they were having Mass... They had speakers so you could hear the service all the way down the street... It as the most beautiful music/singing and service I have heard in a long time. I wanted to go in but it required a prayer cloth (or something over a woman's head) which I didn't have... so I just listened for a while.
Maury and I have really been down on Sumy and have been driving each other crazy wanting to get home or at least back to Kiev where there is some form of life. After learning more about the people and the culture here... I have to say we misjudged them (don't get me wrong - we still want to come home) but they are really nice, simple, caring people...
I will upload as many pictures as I can and try to write some more tomorrow. Just a few more days then back to the US!!!
Love,
Maury, Kim and Kolya
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