Time with Extended Family

Our papers remain in Kyiv and we continue to await a signature from the SDA that will allow us to proceed. We hope that the documents will be returned via train by Friday morning so that we can get to court. Sergey left us this morning to finish an adoption in Odessa, but will return Saturday morning. He gave us the numbers of some other translators so we should be “covered”.

We expected to return Elizabeth to the orphanage on Monday morning for school, but when we arrived the director gave us permission to keep her until Thursday morning. The director also postponed our meeting with the other children and gift giving until Friday.

Kate’s half-brother, Sasha, and half-sister, Lena, arrived by train on Sunday afternoon. There was a joyful reunion at the station. They came loaded with bags of huge stuffed animals, candy, clothes and other gifts, which they presented immediately upon arrival. They look great – much the same.

With Sergey in the room, we spent a couple of hours talking and catching up, looking at photos…and realizing that Kate wasn’t understanding any of the Russian. Even though we have prepared Lena for this on the phone, it was still very, very difficult for her to realize that Kate does not understand her. That evening, we went out to dinner nearby (at a pizza/disco with a really loud live singer), and spent time in each other’s rooms. Kate was invited to stay with them in their room next door, which we said was OK. She started out there, but was back in a half an hour, in tears, when she realized too that she could not understand what they were saying to her. This was upsetting for everyone. The next morning it was much the same – we had a quiet breakfast in the lobby area (food provided by us…Jean’s been having fun shopping at the local markets). Jean gave a Russian/English book to Lena and asked her to help Kate learn some more Russian words, which gradually got her into the spirit.

After many beautiful days the weather turned very cold and rainy. The rainy weather didn’t help – it would have been better to be able to go outside an kick a soccer ball around than sit around not talking to each other! We brought lots of quiet indoor activities (beads for making bracelets, a large puzzle, Uno, drawing papers and pencils and paint…plus Lena is an amazing finger nail polish artist) so we have had plenty to keep us busy. We also watch the DVDs – some we brought and some we have purchased since arrival. Lena will be with us possibly 8-10 days…not sure of her departure date yet.

Getting past the communication gap was the hard part. Sergey can only be with us some of the time, so there have been a lot of charades. Lena speaks fast, so Jean is having a hard time, but is slowly picking up a few more words and phrases and can help a little. Sasha returned to Kharkiv on Tuesday afternoon after we all spent a fun morning out walking in the crowded waterfront park area (May 1 is the big May Day holiday – celebrating all workers – Labor Day). Kate and Lena held hands and walked along. The girls and Lena rode the mini cars and laughed. Lena and Elizabeth have started chatting, so that appears to be a good thing. All in all, things have settled down and we are all enjoying each other’s company very much.