On Our Way to Kiev!

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One More Day!

Can't believe it is finally time to leave!  Ferdinand is driving us to the airport for a 10 am flight to New York.  A four hour layover and then we fly directly to Boryspil Airport in Kiev, Ukraine. The flight from New York to Kiev is about 7 hours - and there is a 7 hour time difference.  We arrive in Kiev at 9 am Sunday. The weather is the same as in Michigan.  We tried to exchange some US dollars into Ukrainian hryvnya (pronounced "grivna") before leaving, but met with limited success.  $1 USD is about $8 Ukrainian. We looked into renting a car in Ukraine and all the rentals are manual transmissions, you have to pay almost double for an automatic! Biggest challenge this week: electronics.  The computer and telephones need a special two-pronged plug converter, the Nintendos DSi's need a special USB cable, and the camera needs yet another cable.  And we had to buy a dual-voltage hair dryer and electric razor.  Things you just don't think about here in the United States!

Pictures from Ukraine

The girls have a very caring teacher who shared these pictures with us today. I can't believe how tall they are! I spoke to both of them today and they are doing well. It was about 9 pm there and they just got back from the "disco", whatever that means for a 10 and 12 year old!

Today is Anya's Birthday!

All of the kids from the orphanage went to camp this summer in Odessa. We have a phone number for one of the teachers and we were able to talk to both girls and wish Anya a Happy 10th Birthday.  Only 19 more days!

21 Days Until We Leave for Ukraine!

Hard to believe it is almost time to leave. It was December 2008 when we started this adoption journey.  Had to physically go down to Detroit Metro to get plane tickets. Not knowing when we will be returning, I guess one-way tickets scream "terrorist". Booked apartment in downtown Kiev - it does have a shower, satellite tv and wi-fi, at least in the pictures.  Now just trying to figure out what to pack.  Odd what-to-bring recommendations from other adoptive parents include toilet paper, peanut butter (can't buy it in Ukraine and good to barter with) brand new unfolded American money (they won't take it otherwise), and a clothes line (no one has a dryer).