Today by far was the most relaxed, adventurous, and "normal" day so far. With all of the official business out of the way for this trip and no travel planned for today, we were able to enjoy all that Simferopol had to offer.
It is amazing how relieved it felt waking up this morning knowing that part of the process was behind us. I really never realized it, but your mind and body go into a different mode of operation when you are going through the day to day logistics and navigating this complicated trail towards adoption. But this morning when I woke up, not only was I a new Daddy, I was somewhat taken aback by my comfort level today.
Our agenda was not empty though, as we had made plans to visit with Nastya and to meet up with some friends of ours that live in the area.
We first set out to visit with the young lady that has helped us communicate with Nastya and has been our link to her since the start. She is the most vital lifeline we had with Nastya as she ministered to all the kids at the orphanage on a weekly basis. Sharing stories with them, loving on them, and being the all important liason to communications back and forth. It was a joy and pleasure to meet her and be invited into her family's home this afternoon. We are forever grateful for what she has done for us and with Nastya.
After that visit, we headed out to meet the pastor of a local church that had been recommended to us by another family that had travelled to this part of the country. Once again, we experienced the warm hospitality that Ukrainian people offer as we sat and talked with him about the church that has opened here, the struggles that they encounter to stay up and running, and making arrangements for LA and Nastya to return for Sunday services when they come back on the next trip. It is comforting as a husband and new Daddy that my girls will have a church home for the small time they are back over here. A place to be welcomed and be comfortable in their surroundings.
In between those two visits, we got to spend some time with Nastya. For the first time on this adventure, we were invited to see her room. One she currently shares with 11 other girls. It is an incredible honor to be invited to see their rooms, as their rooms are their private sanctuary and the place that the girls feel most safe. They keep the only possessions they own either under their pillows or under their bed and you could feel the "sacredness" of how well they protect and take care of their beds, room, and the other girls they share it with.
Each of the beds were very neatly made, with all the bed linens neatly tucked in and each individual pillow situated in a pyramid at the head of their beds. There was a definite nip in the air inside their room and no heat was on. This single element reminded me all to seriously at how little these kids have and how precious their space is to them.
We met 5 or 6 of the girls that Nastya shares a room with and each was very shy and reserved. Each of them tiny and layered in clothing, with Nastya being the tallest of them all. All of them are as sweet as sweet can be and I wish I could bundle them all up and bring each and every one of them home with me.
I guess you are wondering where the title of this blog comes from? Well, simply stated, its the rather funny, sarcastic, and sometimes side busting with laughter experience of riding with and attempting to communicate with our current driver. He is one funny character. He doesn't speak a lick of English...understand a lick of English...or understand the fact that we don't understand a word he is saying. He is a rather aggressive driver by Ukrainian standards as well. And that is not a good thing if you see what the norm is over here. LA and I just have to sit back, hold on for dear life, and enjoy the extravagent gestures, demonstritive cherades, and overall character of this man. It has become a rather fun part of LA and my adventure to try and "translate" his words and actions. So far, LA has figured out that when someone cuts him off or is going to slow, he waves his arms at them, shouts at them in Russian and it sounds something like "OOMPA" and "ZOOM ZOOM ZOOM". So when we don't know what to say to him and to just have a little laugh back and forth between the 3 of us, we just wave our hands and say "Zoom Zoom Zoom". Maybe we can get a little kick back from the company that has the car commercial back in the US with that slogan...Zoom Zoom Zoom.
In closing, this will probably be my last blog before I get back to the US. Friday morning we will be picked up and taken to see Nastya for a little while, then be ZOOM ZOOM ZOOMed to the airport to start our journey home. LA and I will be together until sometime mid morning on Saturday and then we will go our separate ways. Me back to Raleigh and LA on to England to stay with friends for a brief waiting period. I am scheduled to return to RDU around 8:30pm on Saturday night, after travels thru Kiev, Munich, and Charlotte.
I am trying to hold back the thoughts of us being apart for nearly a month. She has been my companion for this journey and we have been together 24/7 for most of the last 2 months. LA is sitting ride here by my side, but I miss her already.
So, until next time, when I will more than likely be back in the safe confines of my humble abode.
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