Monday March 24, 2003

Clarke:

Trying to kill another day, in waiting for our appointment, we spend the day taking in the city by foot at our pace.  Before leaving the hotel, a passer-by noticed our English and wants to become instant friends.  It’s 9:00 A.M. and this Georgian speaks not English and is completely drunk.  After two customary kisses from this man, we break free and head for the “Metro.”  The train is long and packed as bad as sardines.  The weather is as cold, put a promise of warmth lies in the sun poking out from the clouds.  The somewhat quiet and closed streets that we saw on Sunday are now busy with everyone rushing through the cold to start their workday.  The street vendors are setting up their wares.

At noon we met up with our friends, the Weston’s, to spend the afternoon together.  We enjoyed shopping and playing with their three kids.  Alex, their 10 year old birth daughter, is doing quite well, having to endure such tremendous change in her life.  Sonya and Nikita are stealing the show, demanding all of the attention.  Alex graciously shares, plays, and enjoys the new additions, as we all are.  It’s pure joy to give these new kids each experience for the first time.  They both get a long well, but do tease.  This prompts Wade (the dad) to pirate the Russian word for tease from a local book sale.  Sonya plays like she doesn’t understand her new orders from “Pa-“a”.  However, we all know her brilliance, and notice that grin and twinkle in her eye show through as she pokes fun at her little brother.  Nikita is a stout, solid, cut and strong-willed kid, able to take care of himself.  

We went to buy more “Matrushka” dolls (stacking dolls)  from “Alex and Eugene” of the street market.  After earing out the kids, (and ourselves) we stop by the Westin’s flat in downtown old Kyiv.  After a quick stop for a McDonald’s ice-cream, we ride the train and briefly walk thru the open market by our hotel.  

Now it is time to journal, eat dinner and email home.  We will talk to A&A again tonight before going to bed.  Tomorrow’s appointment at the National Adoption Center (NAC) has been set for 12:00 pm!

But wait, wait, I am not finished, I almost forgot the warmest feeling of the day.  Nikitta was calling Kris “babushka” which means grandma! (or caretaker)  Also, Sonja was calling me “dya-dya” (uncle) We gave the kids rides on our shoulders and Sonja was scared but loving every moment of it.  I think I enjoyed it more than she.  

We came back to the hotel and decided to try out the restaurant in our hotel that was an Irish Pub.  (it was said to have an English menu)  I had an English Steak w/ herring and Kris enjoyed Rouladen with mushroom gravy and potato pancakes.  We were observing an older American man on a “date” talking to a Ukrainian woman about the prospect of coming to America.  Being our third night, we’ve settled into a routine of going to the Internet café to email home before going to bed.