July 1. 2010

July 1, 2010

Today began with our visit to Vika’s orphanage in Cherkassy. We found the place with no problem and it actually looks a bit more run down than last time we were here. We were met by Svitlana who is the assistant director of the orphanage. She embraced Vika and while Vika was a bit hesitant at first she melted into her arms. We then met Maria the director and spent some time with her. (That is the picture on the left.) She also was excited to see Vika and said we were the first family to ever come back to the orphanage with a child adopted from their and how great it was we had returned. Maria actually had been to the US in the last few years with a group of orphans. They had gone to Indianapolis with the help of an American benefactor and as a result several of the kids had been adopted by American families. Unfortunately it was very traumatic as she was accused of doing the whole trip inappropriately so she will not be doing a trip like that again. You could tell it was both a joyful and painful experience for her. We exchanged gifts and then had a tour of the orphanage.

This orphanage has also had some good updating and our first stop was Vika’s room. (At right top is Vika in her room today and at right bottom is her in her room in 2005.) We spent some good time their reminiscing and also visited the bathroom. Vika has a bit of a fixation with toilets and we think part of that has to do with the different kind of toilets in Ukraine! We also got to see their new gymnasium and Thomas and Vika had a good race across the gym on some hippity hops. We finished our tour by meeting the laundry lady who remembered Vika and they had a good embrace as we left. This trip was not quite as emotional as the one the day earlier because Vika did not remember much of her orphanage experience, at least not consciously. We also got to visit a classroom of kids today and they sang some wonderful songs for us.(See above photo. The other pictures above and to the right are Vika in her different rooms in the orphanage.)

(To the right is Maria, the orphanage director, with Vika and Tami in front of the orphanage.)

Before heading back to Kiev we went to the Cherkassy market and the kids each bought something to remember the city by. Both the kids got some pirogi (bread with sausage in it) and loved it. Our translator Luba bought the kids some books and games to help them learn Ukrainian and as we left town, Vika waved and said, “Goodbye Cherkassy! Don’t worry—when I come back I will know Ukraine!”

We headed settled in for the three hour drive back to Kiev and on the way were able to talk with the kids’ uncle in Kiev. We hope we can see him before we leave town later in the week.