In Region

We arrived in the region where our girls reside on Friday morning after a 14 hour all-night train ride. We didn't sleep a whole lot. Once the train arrived at our destination our facilitator took us to meet the Social worker. Everything with this adoption seems one way at first and then all of a sudden, things change. We had to appeal our homestudy, then we went into our appointment not knowing what would happen only to find out both girls files were waiting on us. Now, when we reach the region, the SW tells us the one that supposedly didn't have a file before our appointment, has a little sister. The SDA made no mention of a sister. They told us she was the youngest and had older siblings. The SW did some calling and told us that the little sister was unadoptable. She was too ill. They didn't know how to communicate to us just exactly what was wrong. Apparently, the younger sister can't hold herself up and won't be able to do anything for herself at all. We didn't really have a chance to decide on whether to adopt her or not. They didn't give us a choice. This was extremely upsetting to hear that there is a sister that neither she nor us will ever know her.

We were able to visit with the girls right after meeting in the SW worker's office. The two SW we met are young, in their twenties and know all the children and care deeply for them. The SW that went to the orphanage with us took coloring books to give to one little boy. She knew each child that came up to her by name.

We had a very good first visit on Friday. One is a little hesitant and asked for two days to think about it, but I'm sure she'll come around. I think she was just overwhelmed with all the people in the room. She has already asked what her room looked like.

We met with the girls today also. We played about 8 games of Go Fish and even more of Battle. It will be a challenge to keep them occupied in this frozen winter weather when we can't go outside.

We're learning to shop at the local Supermarket. It's a lot easier to take your time reading the Russian labels than when you are pressed for time in a restaurant. Learning the Russian alphabet sounds are a must or at least having some kind of chart handy. We've been able to find things in the store that we otherwise wouldn't have been able to. Not all packing has pictures or see-through plastic. The few Russian words we've been able to learn have come in handy too. It's hard to pick some out when they are mixed in with lots of rapid Russian, but knowing how to say a few vital words has helped us get our point across, especially when our facilitator left us here over the weekend and the taxi driver whom he gave us the number for, doesn't speak any English.