National Children’s Day

Up at 7:30 – seems to be a good time for me. John was up coughing pretty hard several times last night. He did feel a lot better initially this morning, but then started coughing again, so took some cough medicine so he wouldn’t be hacking throughout our visit and Nick’s program.

We had been told that the program was scheduled to start at 10:00, so we left about 20 minutes early so we could be settled in beforehand. When we arrived the place was all decorated with balloons and lines with colorful bits of fabric and paper strung outside. For the past couple of weeks everyone has been working on “spiffing” the place up indoors (very thorough cleaning) and out. The outdoor light posts are newly painted a bright yellow; the trenches for the wire being run between them are now refilled. The curbs and edges of the stairways had been freshly whitewashed one morning. Unfortunately that was the day of the big rain, so most of it washed off again.

We had our fancy camera and the video camera attached to the tripod all set and searched around for the program site. The music room was dark and locked. We ran into Bill and Susan, who had been told the program now would start at “11:00, maybe later”. And so began our wait. The mission trips had prepared us well for this. We didn’t even question that delay, nor the next one (12:00). We wondered if they were waiting for the arrival of special guests. We ran into Nick’s group being walked around the buildings. It seemed to be a time-filler that kept them from getting too restless or dirty. We walked with them for a bit, admiring all the new large toys in each of the play areas. Very generous sponsors have blessed this orphanage today. Must have been hard for the kids to see everything and not be allowed to play with them yet. We sent Nick on with his group, although he spotted us a couple more times yet in the morning. We were trying not to distract him. The girls all had their hair fixed up in a variety of cute ‘dos’.

We went up to Dennis’ room, too. They seemed willing to send him with us, but we explained that Nick would be in the music program, and asked about Dennis. They indicated ‘no’, but he would be coming outside. We indicated he should stay with his group. During our extended wait we visited him outside with his group a few times, just standing on the pavement in the shade. The four were all dressed up in nifty new matching outfits and new hats. We saw other groups with new hats, too. When John approached Dennis he backed up against a bush and then leaned backwards – seemingly expecting John to catch him, but John’s second hand was full of video camera equipment and he couldn’t move quickly enough. Dennis leaned right back onto the ground! Fortunately the dirt all brushed off easily and e was unharmed. When he did it again the next time we came by we caught on and caught him in time.


At 11:50 we were invited by gesture to go up to the music room. We were the first ones present, and John arranged the tripod, I held the big camera at the ready. Then a woman who has some authority here asked us to “Please, go to ___(?)”. We didn’t know where we were supposed to go, but thought maybe the program started elsewhere. We went up and down stairs, looked around indoors and out – no clues. Then we went back to the woman near the music room and ascertained that she wanted us to check with the director about the cameras. We dutifully went to the director, held up the video questioningly, and she said “nyet” regretfully. We also held up the camera: another seemingly reluctant “nyet”. We were both very disappointed and wondered why. Nonetheless, we returned to our seats in the back corner, put away the cameras and waited.

At 12:15 in walked a number of uniformed officials, seemingly of high rank. That likely explained the prohibition of cameras. A man with a very serious video camera set up his equipment, and did film the entire event from a variety of positions in the room. Once the guests were all settled the children came in to music, all fully dressed and looking very nice. Wish we could show you a video or photos, but . . . Anyway, they sang several songs with props and movement, one woman come in dressed in a bright yellow dress and floral head dress obviously representing the sun. They also portrayed the Cinderella story, complete with two of the girls fighting over the dropped shoe. Our Nick was the sweet prince, dropping to one knee before the very pretty princess.

When the children finished (in about 30 minutes) they left. The director offered effusive words of gratitude for the generosity of the sponsors. Another woman in white clothing, possibly a regional director, said a few words, as did a younger professional-looking woman (professor at the university, according to the orphanage representative sitting next to me), and another young woman who seemed also to be a sponsor. Finally the most official-looking of the guests was prevailed upon to speak, and finally they all retired (we think) to refreshments in another room. We departed for home, stopping at the Billa for ice cream bars and colored underwear for Nick. Quite a comprehensive grocery store. 

Hot dogs with mustard again for lunch – too tired for anything else.

We were back at the orphanage at 4:30, riding the Metro with Bill and Susan. They had hoped to have their court date today, but the necessary papers weren’t ready in time to get here from Kyiv. They are on the docket for 9:30 Monday.

We decided to get Nick first, since he is always anticipating, and Dennis is always sleepy and dazed after his afternoon nap (we think). Nick ran for his shoes, the caregiver grabbed his hat and pulled it down on his head (it’s a bit small). Then Nick led us to Dennis’ room. They took my passport (per usual) and shortly thereafter brought out Dennis. No new duds for this afternoon and none expected.

We went to the stairway where we had tried on their clothes. The big group of kids that sometimes settles there came by. We started to pack up and indicated we were willing to relocate, but they waved us off and told us to stay. John and Nick kicked the ball around for quite awhile – Nick isn’t usually interested in that activity, but being able to bounce it off the wall seemed to help. He seemed tired this afternoon, wanting to be carried a lot. He may not have gotten as much of a rest as usual today. Dennis put the crayons through the crayon box for a while (the bottom won’t stay closed any more), then seemed bored with the toys and more interested in getting into trouble. We all went for a walk, up and down the sidewalks on two sides of the building. John had a new Daddy experience today. If he didn’t feel completely like a father after wiping Nick’s nose last week, he certainly does after cleaning up the other end multiple times in a short period today. Enough said.

At 6:30 we took Nick to his group. Dennis’ group was still outside. We walked around with Dennis’ head on my shoulder until 6:40, and then I sat down on the bench with his caretakers. The other Dennis took a good tumble, and they decided to go in. We walked with them, Dennis held first by John, then by me. He was content until the other four started climbing up the stairs, holding on to that low railing. He squirmed to get down and powered his way right up, slowed down only by the less-quick progress of the other Dennis. He seemed very proud. We said a reluctant good-bye until Monday.

We shopped in the department store at the Metro station close to the orphanage for the first time. John found some dark shorts he can use for swimming and walking. Upstairs was a furniture store that also had a limited amount of bedding. When we rented the apartment we were told that cleaning every ten days was included. I had hoped that would include a change of linens, since we have found no extras. However, we have not seen any cleaning or linens yet, and the sheets won’t dry within a day if we wash them. A very nice, patient and persevering clerk helped us get a fitted sheet and pillow cases set for a full-sized bed (right size and no quilt cover, which most sets included). They also had two children’s clothing stores upstairs, but no hats in the right size, which is all we really need at his point. (By the way Nick was wearing white underwear this afternoon.)

We had promised ourselves Bella Pizza for supper tonight. John had the ante pasta and small ‘Bomb’ again; I had a Salad Cesar and small Four Seasons (2 slices each of salami, mushroom, Canadian bacon and squid). We finished off three bottles of water (without gas) and shared a dessert of ice cream with fruits. We hope to get together with friends this weekend and perhaps find hats, maybe one for me.

Enjoy your weekend; we will endeavor to do the same!