Day 2 with Daniil Update

Friday May 25 2007

 

*** First a note on connectivity**** Here in Slavansk, the internet is available only at the public library (in the building on the public square right behind the very L A R G E statue of Mr. Lenin—sorry that didn't work out for you). They have very limited hours on weekdays and even more limited on Saturday. They are closed on Sunday and Holidays—that means you will not hear from us again until midday Tuesday (our time). Cell phone coverage seems pretty good, so we are not totally disconnected!

 

It was a good day—it was a bad day. We had 2 great visits with Daniil. Check out the new pictures on the pic page YES we have video on you tube---click the following link     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cwerDI3CqiE  (sorry for the poor quality it takes forever to up load"

 

The bad part is we were not able to get the inspector's signature today as hoped. She had people in from Donetsk and was unable to get through all the documents and proof them. That means we will not get the paperwork to the SDA until Wednesday. L

 

Our day started in Kramatorsk. (we had a lovely evening before at a café there where I was able to chat with our nice waitress (we both spoke German as a second language). The hotel was quite Soviet in all things (no hot water, brown cold water, no AC, really scary elevators) except in price--$60 for the night--- Where is Tom Bodett when you need him.

 

We got all the papers notarized by 10:30 and made the 30 minute drive (past the really stinky meat rendering plant) to Slavansk. Paperwork was the order of the morning. We got to the orphanage at 11 to hang with Daniil. We played outside today; Climbing, running, jumping and the like. We took videos and pictures and shared them with Daniil.. We also started talking about his new life and showed him pictures of his brothers and sisters, his new house, his room and his new school.

 

We had to leave at noon per the orphanage rules and went to grab lunch—on the menu today: A nice tomato and cucumber salad, Some egg salad for Mary and borsch and pampusky (outrageous rolls smothered in garlic oil and fresh dill) for both of us. Some nice water ("biz" gas—not carbonated please).  

 

We got all the documents we needed EXCEPT for the inspector's signature. She really wanted to be able to help us to get it done today, but she had her bosses in from Donetsk today and was not able to get it done. (she promised to get it by 11am on Tuesday—Monday the holiday for Pentecost).. then, we went apartment hunting—Slavansk is a "spa town". We thought that sounded neat—spend our time here in a spa—3 meals, mud baths, pampering…ahhhhhhhh.

 

SHOCKER!! Soviet spas do not work that way. If you are lucky enough not to be in a dorm room, you stay in a simple room with a single mattress on a spring foundation. Your spa treatments include sitting a room with naked old men beating each other with birch branches… THEN comes the real fun when you plunge into ice water to "invigorate" the soul.   Pass. Thank you.

 

We looked at an apartment. It was very frightening on the outside. The dingy stairwell and hallway stunk of cat urine. Not to mention that it looked like we could be killed at any moment by someone lurking in the dark halls. The apartment was very nice, but we could not get past the smell. PASS. Thank You!   We ended up in a very nice hotel for at least the next 3 days. It is WAAAAY more expensive than we were expecting ($60/night) but it is beautiful. Up to western standards. It's a 2 room suite with air-conditioning, 24/7 hot and cold running water---nicer than we stay in Germany. But we will go broke here—We will stay till Tuesday then look for something cheaper.

 

We sent Max back to Kyiv for the 3 day holiday weekend. All the trains from here were sold out but he got a train from a nearby town. (we could tell he did not want to be stuck here in "Hooterville" for the weekend.) We'll be fine on our own. We went to a café for dinner tonight and got by just fine. Shashlick (the "food of death" from the last trip- (it's somewhere between shish kabob and bar-b-q), potatoes and some beverages (okay a LOT of beverages) for $11.

 

I think we have a schedule set.--- 8am wake up and go to the Rynok (outdoor market) to   shop for the day's food. Come back to the hotel, eat breakfast (lunchmeat, cheese, bread, juice) and the taxi will be here for us at 10. Visit with Daniil from 10-12. Taxi pickup at 12—stop for lunch and writing on the blog while we dine.   Stop at the library—post to the blog—walk to the hotel (10-15 minutes). Laundry (no washing machine and no Laundromat, sot we'll be scrubbing in the sink) then taxi pickup at 4. Back to the orphanage for our second visit. Taxi pickup at 6 back to the hotel.. snacks for dinner and bed. That is our life for the next 20 some days.

 

 

Mary Here Now:

Just to add to this about our visit with Daniil. First of all, we are changing his name to Alexander. But, as to not confuse him right now, and not to totally confuse us, I will refer to him as Daniil here, since we call him that at the orphanage.

He spotted us when we walked into the adjoining room, and came running to us—in his undies. All of the kids are in their skivveys, getting ready to go outside. They do have hats to wear to protect their heads while outside, but the rest of their bodies, minus those parts covered by bathingsuit bottoms, is free sunburn location! He got himself dressed very quickly, and we went outside. He is able to easily repeat words, at least the beginnings of words, in English. He says dow for down, and up for up. We are signing with him, and he is picking that up quickly. This is one bright little boy with Down syndrome. He does have   a runny nose, and by this afternoon's visit, we both decided he felt warm, and has a decidedly "sick smell". Current moms will know exactly what I'm talking about. For this afternoon's visit they put sandals on him that were way too small. He kept trying to tell the caretaker that he wore the other sandals, but she insisted that he wear the ones that were too small. She was so stern that I was afraid of crossing her! So, once we got outside, I went to the car where our bags were waiting, produced the "crocklings" that we had purchased for him, and changed his shoes. (Catie and Emily, Max chose the blue ones so Danill has the green ones!) Then, we changed them back before taking him in, when they are immediately removed upon entering the building.   We told them that he felt warm, maybe feverish, but they said he was fine. (Max told them, so I knew they understand what we said). But then after we got into our hotel room, both Jim and I said he "smelled sick".   Funny, we both thought it, but neither said anything. He also had a big mark on his back, and we asked about that. They said it was a bug bite—it was HUGE!

He is very affectionate with us, especially with Jim. Definitely is a daddy's boy. He does try to push the limit, by trying things like kicking at us, progressively stronger, until we tell him "No, stop!" then he does it again, and whatever game we are playing immediately stops. He looks sad, and comes and hugs us. All is forgiven, but the original game is over. He is learning quickly, and has stopped the offending behavior twice after being told to stop once.  

We will have to see what tomorrow brings with his "non-illness". I may just take a thermometer with me. I'm not sure if he is sick, if we are able to see him.