I so wish I could post pictures, but our internet is so very slow it is simply impossible. I sent an email home today with one picture attached and it took over 20 minutes to send. I have gotten some good pictures in the last couple of days.
So I will try to paint you the pictures and I will start with the ones that are specifically for my girls at home. They are lovely American teens who I am pretty sure would have been horrified on more than one occasion on this trip. The first would be my first visit to a restroom outside of Kiev. First, it was so cold I don't know how in the world the water was not frozen. Second, it looked like it might have been the first flushing toilet ever created. Third, the door really didn't shut and opened to the outdoors. Forth, it did have toilet paper but it is more of the brown paper towel variety. My second visit to a bathroom outside of Kiev was on our first visit to the orphanage, I had seen a picture BUT (no pun intended) no picture can fully prepare you for the squat pot. No more description is necessary. But no TP here. Now I plan ahead, always go before you leave the hotel.
The other eye popper for the girls would have been the market. Romny supposably has one of the largest markets in the country. We went back for visit number two today. I was expecting it to be a bit quieter on a Sunday but not so. It was packed and this time we made it all the way through. Everything imaginable is for sale here, you need a zipper, as long as all you need is a long zipper, they got it. A hat, a fish, a razor, a toy, a bra or undies, no problem. Eggs, honey, meat, bread...its there. How about a fur coat or a fancy, Emma style dress. Maybe I should pick up a Prom dress for Emma while I'm here. Guarantee it would be cheaper here. Don't know where you would try anything on, everything is in a tent like structure some with three walls of fabric others not even that. The fish in the pail of bloody, slushy fish water would have killed them. That and the slabs of every variety of random meat just lying out (granted it is a refrigerator outside) with the dogs just waiting for the attendants to turn their head so they could take off with the goods. Saw the slab of pork fat today, yuck! Makes me think of my beloved bacon a bit differently now. Some of you know about my love affair with bacon.
Don't forget about our shower here in the hotel, while there is plenty of hot water it is more like a fountain and less like a shower. It is a hand held shower head which the upper bracket is broken so either you hold it or it sprays you at about belly height. Oh, and the water, it doesn't smell exactly great.
The last real eye popper would be trying to eat. Nothing is in English (of course) so our translator has to literally read the menu to us. Not everything that comes is identifiable, not by eye and not by taste. Who needs HCG!
One of my sweet girls will not be overly impressed, but I haven't "done" my hair once this entire trip. Don't panic, I do wash and dry it but since about 50% of our waking hours there is a hat on my head, why bother? Might be my new look....I am sensing an eye roll about right now:) I love my girls!!!
Jamie and our sweet translator went an looked at an apartment for us today. It is kinda looking like we will be living in a hotel for the duration of our trip. The apartment was sketchy at best. I didn't even want to go in and look, so I took Lily and went back to the hotel. From the sounds of it, think I made the right decision. Our translator was pretty sure that bed bugs would be the least of our concern, add in safety, warmth and general health and well being.
The town is small enough for us to walk everywhere we need to go. But tonight we were out a bit later than I was comfortable with. Didn't get back to the hotel until 9pm. Most of the time we feel very safe. The biggest danger is the thick layer of snow/ice on literally every surface.
On the adoption front, today we got two visits as the director was out for the day. The first at 9am and the second at 4pm, a total of 5 hours together. It is a bit awkward really, like I said before, kind of like ground hog day. We love seeing her and she is always so happy to see us but we are so limited on what we do. a couple varieties of cards, some games on the iPad, coloring. We try to ask questions to get to know her better, but it seems that she doesn't get a lot of personal attention so it is difficult even for our translator to always understand what she is saying, she isn't good with her words is how the translator has put it.
We haven't learned anything new about her. It is more about spending time together, building trust and a relationship. We bring bananas and juice and sometimes a little candy or "waffles" our wafer cookies. She loves the waffles, we had to put them away because we though she was going to make herself sick.
Today she drew two amazing pictures, the first was a rose that she wrote "love" in big bubble letters around. The second was a vine with a big heart in the middle. I took pictures but can't manage to post them. When she is saying no, she wags her little finger and clicks her tongue. Very cute. The iPad is great the girls play games together, helping one another. We can't use google translator because we seldom get good internet. Wish it would work then we could take better control of the conversation.
Tomorrow is our big day, the ask day as we have come to refer to it. We will be going at 2:30pm (5:30am at home). Once we get past that hurdle then we can start figuring out the next steps. Looking forward to that. Every day done is one day closer to being together as a complete family.
Please pray for us as you go to bed tonight and as you get up in the morning. We ask for Gods favor, wisdom, courage, and a soft hearts for all involved. Gods will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.
We will update as soon as we know anything tomorrow. Until then...Blessings!
Who needs a dressing room?! I've seen them just try things on right there in the street! :) We're praying!!!!
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