off to the Internat

3-22-07

It’s been 24 hours since our first day in Sumy started and so much has happened I hope I can remember things to write. I actually wrote a few things down while we were waiting at the bus station last night waiting for Cort to arrive. It was dark and dreary, cold and smelly, mosquitoes buzzing around. But while waiting and watching each bus pull in and we would walk outside to see if it was his, then go back in and wait some more I jotted down some of the days events in a little notebook, couldn’t see what I was writing, so hopefully I can make sense of it now.
The night before we arrived in Sumy around midnight, we had drifted off and Natasha said, “here’s Sumy.” She then told us that Vladimir had gotten a call and the electricity to the apartment complex, where he had arranged an apartment for us, was out. We were going to Garrett’s apartment and they had a bed ready for us. It’s a good thing that the apartments are much better on the inside than they look on the outside, cause it is pretty scary, but the inside is wonderful, big, clean and comfortable. We have actually decided to stay here and share the same apartment with the Garrett’s. This will save money and work out well for all. Last night Vern, Nanette and Carla spent the night in Poltava, so we were able to be here (with Natalie) alone with Cort and spend some quiet time (actually lots of laughing) getting ‘debriefed’. It has been wonderful. We stayed up til about 11:00 (Steve was drifting off in mid sentence) and when I woke up, it was very light outside and I was amazed I had slept in, Cort was already studying. I asked him what time it was, “6:03 a.m.” so much for sleeping in.
Anyway, back to yesterday, gotta keep this blog in chronological order, don’t want to confuse our readers J. We got up showered safely, no Vern repeats, and ready and were out the door with Natalie a little after 9:00 heading to the orphanage, a 15-20 minute taxi ride. Vladimir was waiting and we went right in up to the Directors office. I didn’t expect everything to happen so fast. We met his assistant, and he came out his office and we were invited in. We did our introductions and Steve and him (Vertel) instantly hit it off. The Director loves art and asked Steve many questions, showed him paintings in the office, asked him about Russian Art. He had the interest and talent in art, but hasn’t pursued it. His son is artistic. He was a very pleasant man, proud of the orphanage, he had Steve take many pictures of door ways and things he needed photos of to request some repairs from a sponsor. After speaking with the Director briefly, we went upstairs to her classroom. Vladimir went in and got Lena to come out and see us. Vladimir and Natasha were our photographers. Out she walked, smile on her face, big dimples and she ran over and hugged me. Oh, it felt good. Then she hugged Steve. She was very happy. All her classmates had come to the doorway to watch. They were all happy for her. Cute Nastia was smiling ear to ear, happy for her friend. We went outside with some of her friends, all of a sudden her and Nastyia said something to Natalie, and took off running. Lena had a present for us, but it was at her teachers house just around the corner and got it from her (I guess she has 2 different teachers, teaching every other day). They came back few minutes later with the gift, zipped up in her coat. It was a clay thing to put a candle and essence in. It was great to see then her excitement. Then they had us go in the office, where they had already prepared letters for Lena to sign, declaring she wanted to be adopted by us. She signed 5 copies. Her first official document.
Natalie came to us and asked what her new name would be. They were preparing the documents for Court and it needed to be decided. This caught us completely off guard. We thought we would have time when Cort got here to sit down with her and talk more about the choices and options. We sat in the corner of the main foyer and discussed options with Natalie’s help and translating. She wanted to keep the Lena part, which we had also wanted to do as our first choice, but we weren’t sure if that is what she wanted. So we were happy about that. We choose to change the spelling from the English translation to make it more phonic and hopefully not mispronounced, so the spelling we have chosen is Laina. Her middle name will Shaye. It was fun, as her friends would come over and she would ask them their opinion. After a half hour of talking, it all came back to what we had previously decided on, and now it was her decision. So for those thinking they will have time to choose when you get here, have your options ready.
We had the chance to take her with us to the notary to notarized the official petitions we had signed with her name for the judge to request a court date and then be taken for approval to the SDA.
(Just heard this morning that there was one small error and need to notarize one document again, at noon, then Vladimir will take all our papers to SDA in Kyiv. Our date has been granted by the judge of next Wednesday, March 28 for us and also for Garrett’s. I guess between now and then we will visit the orphanage and we will also go see people and places Cort wants to go back to.)
We walked to McDonald’s from the notary, this was Laina’s first time there. She had a cheeseburger, Coke (she ordered Sprite, but got Coke) and a Sundae, (Laur and Lexi, she was too full to finish her icecream, not as good either as what she remembered in Utah.) We let her listen to the iPod and visited for awhile then took the bus back to the Internat. (orphanage) Short walk from the bus stop, a lot of litter, the garbage system is not too good. When we got close to the Internat, many of the children were raking and sweeping and cleaning up, this area was not part of the Internat, but next too it, they wish the city was cleaner. It reminded me of a Youth service project. But be grateful for work gloves, padded handled rakes, long handled brooms, etc. The kids were all in great spirits. The Internat was very clean, repairs need to be made, but it was much better than we expected. There are hints of spring and it will be wonderful to see the change in the next few weeks.
We said good-bye til tomorrow afternoon and went back to the bus stop. We stopped at the drugstore and market for supplies and a few groceries. Came home, freshen up, got yesterdays blog on the flash drive and then went to the Internet Café to post then went to the bus station.

You’ll have to check back later for that part. We need to leave shortly for the Notary.
I know how to keep you coming back for more.