Wednesday April 8, 2009

More about April 6th....the day we said "YES!."

The day we agreed to make Nicholas our son we were walking with him outside and began to hear some instruments playing musical scales…At first I heard a tuba, then a clarinet and then a flute. I asked our translator if there was going to be a concert or if someone was just practicing. She said she was not sure, but the building next door was a home for older people. A few moments later we heard an entire band playing and saw many older folks outside on their balconies listening. It was wonderful to hear some live music. I tried to get Nicholas to dance, but due to his thick hat (which must be worn at all times while outside….house rules) I do not think he was able to hear enough of the music.
I did not recognize any of the first few songs…but then they began to play Moonlight Serenade by Glen Miller…I could not help thinking this was some sort of sign. On the day I agreed to become a father, a live band just happened to be playing a song by MY father’s favorite musical artist Glen Miller….coincidence?? I don’t think so!
In the afternoon we went to lunch at a café very close to the Children’s Home. Our translator dropped us off at the café and continued on to begin our paperwork as quickly as possible! We had been to this café before…as soon as we were seated I pointed to the menu and asked if we could get one in English…well, guess what….SOMEHOW she knew were “Amyerikanskiy.” The menu she brought was in English and Ukraine. This made it easy to order! We both had a bowl of Chicken Noodle Soup. The soup was the second best I have ever had…my Grandmother’s is still number one! We are trying to get some authentic Ukraine recipes so we can cook them when we get home. We also had some baked chicken and two potato dishes. Lisa had potatoes with cheese, tomatoes and mushrooms and I had something called “French Fries.” (Hey I’m on vacation!) As for the fries, my mother would have loved them since there were all quite crispy. I held one up and sent one to her back in Woodland Hills, CA….I hope she got it.
We also exchanged email and blog addresses with one of the other couple from America. They are adopting a little boy from the same group as Nicolas. We see them everyday.
Right now our schedule each day is to arrive at the Children's home at 10:00 am. We take Nicholas outside for 90 minutes. During this time we walk around, play on the playgrounds and of course feed him....we have been told that is favorite food is everything. Today we fed him two small containers of yogurt, a banana, an apple, two juice boxes and three cookies! This was during both visits. We have to bring him back inside at 11:30 am. We then go back to our apartment to have lunch and hang out. We go back to the home at 3:30 pm and get to be with Nicholas until 5pm. The time really goes by fast each day and we keep telling that someday he won't have to go back inside, someday soon he will get to go to Kiev with his parents to get his passport and his travel visa! Once he has both of those things, we will be able to schedule our flights back to TX!! Yeeehaaa.....


BONUS INFO:

Our driver here seems to by a nice enough fellow...but he also seems to have the need....the need for speeeeeed.. Although we are paying by the mile while he is driving us around, he seems to feel that the faster we get there the better. By now I can almost anticipate his "moves" so I know which way to lean or if I need to brace myself for a quick stop or quick accelaration. He loves passing other cars too.... The best way to describe our travels each day by car would be some sort of combination of the Disneyland rides: Indiana Jones and Star Tours.....then add people of all ages attempting to cross the street, giant buses built in 1951 packed with people, cars (some very old and slow and some newer and very fast) all around you and sprinkle a healthy does of major pot holes that most drivers, including ours, are constantly trying to avoid by swerving back and forth! Maybe I should contact Lisa's brother about a new video game idea.... "Da Streets of Ukraine"

Lastly....they do actually have traffic signals here, but like most things here, they are slightly different.......

Green means GO
Flashing Green means STOP because the light is about to change to RED
Red means STOP
Flashing Yellow below a Red light means GO because the Red light is about to change to Green

Cars have the right of way 93% of the time........Pedestrians 6.99% of the time....Animals .01% of the time.

More later!
Love Richard and Lisa