If you don't like the way I drive, get off the sidewalk!!

First time we've had a chance to write in a couple of days. We did not have internet access yesterday and only about 10 minutes the day before, so we read emails but didn't have time to respond to many.

We spent Wednesday afternoon doing some sightseeing in Kiev, and about 6:00 we stopped in the Ukrainian version of Starbucks for a break. (I'm going to have to buy a belt for these pants sooon, between the WALKING and the erratic meal schedule, I'm going to lose 20 lbs before we're done, I'm sure!!) Anyway, it was rush hour in downtown Kiev and we just couldn't get over how people drive there!! We literally saw one car make a left turn across traffic, onto the sidewalk, drove around the corner of the building, back across traffic and off!! We knew they parked on the sidewalk, but we didn't know they DRIVE on the sidewalks!! We saw this more than once, it was unbelievable! Also, lane lines on the pavement, where there are any, are mere suggestions. The cabbies in New York would shudder to drive here! The cars in Kiev were mostly very much what we see at home, and surprisingly free from dents. After watching the driving for a while, I expected the cars to look like demolition derby rejects, but I guess they are pretty good at what they do! The cars in Kharkov are much older as a rule, more Renos and stuff you don't see in the US now. Greg wants to go into the tire and alignment business, says there is a fortune to be made. Between the streets - very, very bad - and the driving on the sidewalks, they must spend a fortune on tires and alignments.

We have a driver, his name is Alexander, or Sasha for short, who doesn't speak English but is a very, very nice guy. Very attentive to us, especially me, and has a great sense of humor. We are teaching him some English and he is teaching us some Russian. His car is a newer Chevy, and nice. He is always wiping it down and it's obviously it's his baby.


Talk about Tiny!

Well, we (finally!) got to see the girls yesterday! It was my first time to meet Vika and we were both startled at how tiny she is! Tonia is also very small, maybe smaller than my friend Lynne, but Vika is probably Josh's height. She's a fireball, though, and very outgoing. She likes to text on her cell phone, and likes jewelry and makeup. We almost didn't' recognize her at first, because she's put lots of blonde/red highlights in her hair. She plays volleyball and likes math.

Tonya is much as I remember her, maybe a little taller, but she's also more grown up. She is very much into sports and enjoys classical music. She said she has a cell phone, but we didn't' see it and I bet she's not into texting nearly as much as Vika. She was very reserved, but Edward says she is not afraid to speak up when she's unhappy. We spent some time with them and their friends, and he reported some of the conversation to us later, and says she seems to have a healthy sense of respect for herself.

Anyway, to start at the beginning, yesterday we first went to the internat (orphanage for older children) and met with the director and a lady who read us more details out of their history. The director is a key figure in all of this, and the meeting went well. He seems to really care about the kids, and Edward says this is one of the better facilities he has seen. It was old, but clean and very institutionalized. Then we followed him out to the camp, and he brought the girls to meet us. Vika was almost in tears at first, evidently there is a rumor among orphans in general that people adopt them to harvest their organs, so they were afraid. He obviously dispelled that right away, but they were still nervous, as were we! Then we (us, Edward, the camp psychologist, the girls, and the worker from the local DCF) went into a room and talked for over an hour. We showed them photos of our family and talked a little. It was very awkard, but Edward was really good at getting them to open up a little and relax. Vika said she was in, but Tonia said no. However, the psychologist said that is sometimes normal and we should spend time with them both and give them time to get to know us. So we went to lunch and then came back in the afternoon.

It was better in the afternoon, they showed us around camp and we met some of their friends. We are going to go back this afternoon and today we went to a really nice toy store (think FAO Schwartz but bigger!) and bought some balls and a game to play with them. We are hoping they will be more comfortable if we can all play a game together. They were much more relaxed in the afternoon and greeted us with smiles. Edward seems to think Tonia will change her mind, her main problem is she doesn't like change, but of course, no one does. Evidently they also talked to some of their friends while we were gone and they all were encouraging them to go; said they would come in a heartbeat if they had the opportunity. So that helps! They didn't get brave enough to ask us many questions, but Greg told them they should make a loooonngg list and they laughed.

I think that's about it. I know this is long but it's been a long couple of days. I will be happier when we get settled in our apt here. This changing hotels (they are nasty!!) every night is for the birds, and we are still very tired. We are sleeping anywhere and anytime we get the chance, Greg nodded off while I was typing this! So please pray for us to get some rest and for our health.

We love you all!

Blessings,

Sheri & Greg