February 01, 2005
Hello, Kiev!
So this is Kiev, Ukraine. Cold, very gray, a bit dark. Hey it looks like Michigan. We breezed through Customs, much to our surprise and to Natasha's surprise as well. She said it usually takes up to 2 hours, we took about 15 minutes. Maybe we look so innocent?
We are simply exhausted, though a second wind has kicked in enough energy for me to file this so you all know that we made it safely. We are staying in an apartment that is quite small, in a tall, old building near about 100 other very similar buildings. It feels a little like our plane took us back in time. We are on the outskirts of town and hope to spend more time in the downtown Kiev area on Wednesday. We just found out that our appointment time is 11 am Wednesday (that's 4 am for y'all in the Eastern time zone.) We bought some local vodka, hoping that will help us fall asleep quickly tonight.
We stopped at a grocery store to get some things to tide us over. We grabbed a plastic bag to put our food in as we shop. That's how they do it here. And they charge 10 cents for the bag. Food is cheap, though. Lots of older ladies were walking through the store with bags they brought, filling them up as they lingered in the aisles. At first I thought they were all thieves.
Austin: I will ask you what I ask you every day. How was school today? I know you are doing OK at Aunt Karen's. They adore you!
Thanks for the comments, friends and family. It's fun to read them. We feel a little stranded...
Wish us luck!
Posted by Laura at February 1, 2005 01:58 PMPosted to
4 am appt? Wow! Hope you can sleep now!
Posted by: Sally at February 1, 2005 04:10 PMhi,this is Austin
school is fine. someones aquarium in science fell over and there was water everywhere and animals on the floor and dirt from the terrarium on the floor with more even more animals on the floor. But the worst part is that group is working with our group.(not because there thing fell but every one has to team up with another group)We were supposed to polute the terrium and theres was supposed to be the controlled one. but I guess not! im doing fine here at Aunt Karens's house.oh. and she wants me to ask you how many miles away you are. love you. bye
sounds like ya'll had an easy trip over. Guess you didn't get the memo to drink lots of wine and take tylenol pm to sleep on the way over to be on their time schedule when you arrive. Meagan collects postcards and wonders if you'll have time to pick one up from kiev. hope you guys were able to sleep (vodka induced or sheer exhaustion)...
Karen wis
Posted by: karen wis at February 2, 2005 12:11 AMLaura and John,
Im so glad to hear you guys made it over to my "mother land"....safely... I'm with you on the vodka part! Hope all works out for you guys, that kid is going to be lucky to have you as parents!!!! Sue
Posted by: Sue Gomolak at February 2, 2005 09:23 AMLaura and John,
Glad to hear you've arrived safe and sound.
Remember to take pictures!! Good Luck!!!
Amy
So glad to hear you made it safely to Kiev. Sounds like your journey is moving along well. Look forward to reading more, know I'm thinking about you guys!
Posted by: Vicki at February 2, 2005 10:11 AMHi John and Laura!
We're so excited for you...it feels like we're adopting right along with you (Kirsten asked if I could go along with you to pick up a little special someone for us too!!) Can't wait to hear all about our new little neighbor. Winston is doing well-Dylan's enjoying the smell of his cat food. :) Austin, we miss you already! We keep expecting you to pop over...give us a call if you want a Nintendo fix!
God Bless you two. I wish you all the good luck in the world!!
Laura - keep the eye bag cream handy so you'll be perfect when you meet your new daughter!!
I'll check on the Wonderful Sister and your son!! (Austin, are you still a Batman fan??)
This is so familar because one of the attorneys here just adopted two brothers, 2 and 4, from Russia, about 6 time zones away from where you are!!!
Posted by: gawonna at February 3, 2005 10:11 AMHi John and Laura:
Congratulations....you've made it this far! I'm very excited for you both. I can picture everything you write about very clearly...especially the sub-zero weather in February and walking everywhere. It sounds like you're enjoying yourselves and have become accustomed to Eastern European "sense of time and urgency". I look forward to reading more and I'll keep you in my thoughts!
Stay warm!
Tracy Sorrentino
Dear Laura,
CONGRATULATIONS on your new little girl! She is cute as a button and as ADORABLE as can be. What is her Ukrainian name? Are you keeping that one or changing it? The picture of the 3 of you is wonderful. Can't wait to meet her. I am glad things are going smoothly and that you got out of the apartment. What a riot!
Posted by: Chris Thomas at February 11, 2005 02:37 PMThere's no place like home....maybe you can keep the blog updated even after you get back. Your sense of humor and writing style is laugh out loud funny. The little girl is adorable. I want to chew on her cheeks. Talk soon.
Posted by: Denise and Mike at February 13, 2005 12:03 PM