A typical day...

First, let me say that we have had many days that aren't typical! Especially at the beginning - there were several days we sat in the van all day, while our facilitator went into countless government offices, returning only for our signatures here and there.  Both boys made good use of their sansas, gameboys and movie player on those days!  But, now for the last week, and again after court, during the 10 day waiting period we will have pretty relaxed days filled with trips to the orphanage in the morning  and adventures here in Kharkov in the afternoon and evening.

Our days start very early, with Lee (and sometimes myself) heading off to take care of internet business.  We have finally found a reliable source of wireless internet  - its about a 20 minute walk from here  - at one of the most expensive hotels (probably the most expensive! ), in the city.  The wireless is free, except the cost of coffee or tea or whatever we order to justify sitting in their lounge, borrowing  their internet.    It works and we are thankful for it.

Our driver is at the door of our apartment by 9:30 am.  Our facilitator knows this man well - she trusts him and he is a very good man. He is not a taxi and we pay by the hour.  It costs us about $35 USD to visit the girls every morning.  The orphanage is outside the city in what they call the suburbs of Kharkov.  it takes us between 30 to 45 minutes to get there (depends on how fast he drives, which route he chooses, and how many stops he needs to make!)

I love the drive out there.  We definitely leave the city behind and enter the country side - yet not as far as the farmland.  It stays wooded all the way to our orphanage.  And then we enter what they call a suburb.  But, It is unlike any suburb I've ever seen in the states.  Picture rows and rows of quaint, brick, cottage - like bungalows, hidden behind  fences; yards full of  gardens, fruit trees, flowers and sheds - that is what this suburb looks like.   I would love to step inside one of these homes.

 

The orphanage itself is much like a compound - it  covers at least 2 or 3 acres - bordered by a brightly painted iron fence.  There are several buildings housing at least 100 children total.  We were told the orphanage dates to at least pre-world war II. Some of the buildings are obviously even older than that.  There is an orchard - which is where the children will sometimes spend their outdoor time - sitting in little chairs with their caretakers under the trees (more about this in a later post), flowers planted in numerous places and a small garden full of beets and cabbage of course! (the main ingredients for borsch of course)  There are numerous paths connecting the buildings and play areas.  With the exception of one large wonderful playset, and a few small new pieces, most of the play equipment is very old and very dangerous!   But, ironically, the children hardly ever get to play on any of it anyway. (more on that later too) The buildings themselves are in various states of condition.  I am not meaning to make it sound like a resort.  It is an orphanage  - it is a poor orphanage.  In the region, it is the main orphanage where most children with special needs are sent too.   It has the reputation for "invalids" - the Ukrainian/Russian word for special needs or handicapped.  I have asked and very few children are  adopted from this place.   For the most part, these are the children that no one wants.

 

 

So, we get to spend our mornings playing with our dear little the girls and then we head back into Kharkov for the rest of the day.  

Sometimes in the afternoon, we all go out for a walk and exploring, sometimes just Lee and the boys. (I don't mind hanging out all by myself at the apartment - any mother of multiple children knows when to take advantage of "alone" time!)  We have all been down to the central market where you can get anything from pig intestines to kleenex to car parts!  Lee and the boys have taken the metro (subway) several times for an adventure and have visited  the outside of the Xt3 tractor factory (a massive complex of factories that supplies tractors to much of Eastern Europe), the Kharkov train station, and a  large amusement park.   In the evenings we either go for a short walk again or just hang out here in the apartment.  We brought several books, movies and games.  Right now the twins favorite games to play are UNO, Scrabble and Authors.   That's it for a typical day!