Day 5

We started the day off with a trip to ILLICHIVS’K. The passport office is open , but they are little help. No one seems to know what paperwork we need. If the apartment is government owned we need some official approval and if it is privately owned we only need notarized letter stating the girls will not return. Back on Monday to the housing authority, this must be resolved before we can receive the passports

Well it’s been a long and painful delivery, not to mention expensive, but worth the wait; we now have twin girls 53” and approximately 65lbs. I officially picked up the girls from the orphanage yesterday. We brought 2 large cakes, one honey and banana and the second of chocolate.

When we arrive at the orphanage the children were at church, so we waited until 11:30. The director arrived first with three large area rugs; the bus driver even carried the rugs into the orphanage and the director’s office. Shortly there after another bus arrived with the children, they filed out in an orderly fashion and some of the children were wearing new clothes, must be something at the church. We also found out later that the children also ate brunch at the church.

After meeting with the director and signing for the responsibility of the children, we were informed that our donation was used to purchase the three large area rugs and they would be used by the 10 year olds. The rugs were rolled out and placed in the play room, changing room and the largest in the class/lunch room. Everyone was very excited; the teachers because the noise of forty feet would be less and the children would no longer need to mop the floor. We gave the teachers gifts and the children cake and balloons, everyone was happy.

All the children were rounded up for one last picture with the girls. Several of the girls were crying and very sad to see their friends leaving. Dacha and Nadia (see picture with the fantastic foursome; Nadia, Era (Jordan), Dacha and Ola (Sara) ) were obviously upset that the girls were leaving. The director saw the girls crying and said enough was enough and we were escorted to the gate, the children said their good-byes and out we went. The girls didn’t even get to share the goodbye cake.

They watched the gates close and were looking very sad as we drove by the house they lived in for seven years for the last time. It was short lived as we drove by the beach and then into down town they started asking a million questions..why..why..why, what..what..what. Thirty minutes and ten thousand questions, good thing the girls don’t work for the court. We arrive at the Hotel Odessa, located ¼ mile into the Odessa harbor on a pier with cruise ships docked on both sides. The hotel is a western style hotel, 14 floors with 150 rooms. The girls jump on the beds, turn all the lights on/off and look in every drawer, cabinet, frig, tub, and even under the beds. It’s all new. The hotel has an indoor pool so the girls ask every five minutes if we can go to the pool, so after I hold out and give them tough love, NEIT (no) for all of fifteen minutes we are off to the pool.

I ask the reception “where is the pool” they reply it’s on the Second floor. We load back in the glass elevator and head down to the second floor. The girls pile out and start opening all the doors, nothings labeled, until we find the fitness room. The staff stares at us like we just arrived from mars. I ask “where is the pool”? Its closed today they reply. I ask when does it open? Tomorrow? No it’s closed for a month starting today. Reconstruction during the peak season makes complete sense to me……

Back to the rooms and the girls have an idea; fill the tub with water and splash, splash, splash for an hour. Seemed to work just fine, water is water. For dinner it was more tough love, the girls had French fries and milkshakes. Hey it’s their first day of freedom, what would you eat? Cheryl and I suffered with vegetarian pizza (very good). The girls watched TV for an hour or so and then kick me out so they can go to bed right at 9pm.
I finally sleep more than 3hrs and feel like a new man. With these two a tried new man.

PS: the new Hotel has Internet Access but its not working either