October 9, 2005

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY !!! We hope you have a great day!

Yesterday I got to experience a pay toilet for the first time. I didn't know that you have to get the toilet paper outside of the bathroom. It was the cleanest public bathroom I have ever been in.

Last night we met up with five other couples from the states that are here adopting. We met in independence Square and had supper. Eating at a restaurant here is definitely an ordeal. It takes hours. Most places have English menus and someone who speaks a little bit of English-usually a teenager. It was an outdoor restaurant and it was a bit chilly especially for Amy and Josh who are from Rodondo Beach, CA. Amy had on flip flops, I am sure she was frozen. It took well over an hour for our food to arrive. But we had a great time. No one in our group except Amy and Josh were given what they wanted at the NAC and they are all trying to get a second appointment. So we are thinking of doing so also. It doesn't make sense to waste all that time looking at kids we aren't really interested in or getting their hopes up.

The square was full of hundreds of people last night. They close off the street and it fills up with bands, dancers, vendors, and even a group of teenagers who are holding large flags and rollerblading up and down the street. The people here wear extremely pointy shoes, even the men. The women usually wear high heels, the really high skinny kind. I don't know how they walk. Holly, if you want to make your fortune become a foot doctor or chiropractor and move here. They are going to need it with those shoes. There were a few beggars out last night. We gave a very old woman a kop (quarter) and she said lots of prayers over all of us. At 10 pm there were lots of fireworks. It really is a neat place and it is only 2 blocks from our apartment.

Today we haven't done much. We bought a map of Kiev and a book to tell us the history of what we are seeing around the city. The buildings are unbelievable and there are statues and monuments everywhere.

For anyone coming over here, They pretty much have everything you need right in the square. There is a large department store, grocery store, the underground mall, and many kiosks. They don't have much of a selection for pop though, it's coke, coke lite, and orange. I did see Pepsi on one menu though. There are plenty of English books and magezines to read, so you don't need to load your suitcases up with reading material. Also you can buy toys and clothes it you are coming to adopt.