What a Trooper!

Since last posting, we arrived at the Children's Home, and signed some forms, then Little Chix changed into her clothes that we brought for her, said goodbye, and grabbed her belongings (which consisted of a plastic bag containing a little cloth bag as a gift from Olena, a little toy from Anna Maria, a photo album and a few pieces of paper - this was all she had of her own). We hopped into the car and ended up driving to Donesk as well as the town where she was born to get her birth certificate, then back to Donesk, for a 6+ hour car adventure. We arrived in Mariupol at 5 till 7 for the ballet (Swan Lake), purchased a candy bar, pineapple juice and water (her only meal since breakfast at 7AM) and watched the ballet till 9:30. What a trooper! She smiled all day and went without food and drink (in Ukraine, toilets and food are not assumed). Then, we ate pizza after the ballet and had a time getting a taxi back to the apartment which is in the suburbs now. We got to bed close to midnight. She was all smiles. Apparently, she didn't believe we would actually come back and get her (long story, not here though).

This morning, we awoke around 6ish, ate breakfast in the apt. (chai, kashi, dried apricots, moloko - milk) and drove to the Children's Home around 8 to sign more papers. We took a few clothes that didn't fit and some games to the home for the other children (also to lighten our load). We then bought train tickets for the overnight train to Kiev tonight and saw some of the kids from the Children's Home boarding the train for a dance competition in Kiev! It was cool for Little Chix to see her friends and say paka once more (and, our agency is wonderful, by the way - very professional, and able to get things done here that are not easily accomplished - transactions in Ukraine are not as easy as they are in America - the busy train for example, with high demand because of Easter holidays - they can do it whereas others may not be able to. They know the ropes for sure and we are quite grateful for that.) We stopped at McDonalds (Little Chix wanted to!) and had 11sies (AKA "Lord of the Rings" - that would be a second breakfast). We walked next door and bought a new belt for Little Chix, because the one we bought a couple of weeks ago was too small, and a shirt/dress since one of her shirts was also too small that we brought with us, and then had lattes and chai. We are now back at the apartment to take showers, pack, and rest. Mid-afternoon today, we will go back into town and get dinner (no supper tonight as the train leaves at 5), and we are being adventurous - we are all traveling (4 of us) second class, so it will be fun to compare that to our first class experience.) We are very well taken care of and can't say enough about how good our agency has been to us. They are awesome! More when we arrive in Kiev tomorrow! Little Chix is such a trooper - honestly! She is positive, helpful, and has high stamina. What an awesome daughter!