Adopting Natasha: Independent Adoption from Ukraine

We are currently staying at a spa for pregnant woman along with French woman who is also adopting. The spa provides breakfast, lunch and dinner which is great. The food is wonderful and different. For example we had some fried bread this morning with sour cream. They always serve a cabbage dish at every meal. Fish is always served cold and pork is always warm. The pregnant ladies are here by a doctor's prescription. They are here to relax for 11 or 20 days.

The spa actually supports a herd of dogs. They are fed by ladies leaving the dinner hall or by the cooks out back. They are very health looking.

The French woman is traveling along and is very pleased to see us. By that I mean she has a translator but no family with her. We actually met at the adoption center in Kiev. My friend Jannie speaks a little French and she speaks a little English so we have some interesting conversations.

I am actually staying in a small village called Zeleyi Guy where the orphanage is. However Natasha is still in the hospital with a cold in Kharivo. I am allowed to visit with Natasha for a few hours a day. She shares a room with 5 other girls from 14 to 8 years of age. They are all very happy about Natasha going to America and getting a Mama. One of the oldest girls is trying to teach Natasha to say "Mother". She is saying mama and I guess the girls don't realize this is an English word too.

I showed pictures of my brothers, sister-in-laws, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandmother, aunt and uncles. There were some pictures of me and my house. All the girls carefully examined all the pictures. They wanted to know who everyone was. Two of the older girls study English and were trying to translate for us. Fortunately, I also brought a picture book called, "My first 1000 words in Russian". All the children enjoyed this book and it did help translating efforts.

There was also a younger boy. I don't know who he was related to. And a mother was staying with her daughter in the room. She was very nice too.

Natasha saw a picture of my 3 year old niece Veronica. Veronica was wearing a dress and the wind had blown her dress up so that the panties were visible. Natasha said to me.... Mama buy me a dress and panties (the older girl translated this for me). Natasha is so bold. Anyway we are on the look out for clothing today. She might be a 3T or 4T. I will have to see what I can buy.

She is so sharp. She saw Jannie (my friend) using the camcorder. Jannie then played back the tape for all the girls. Jannie then put the camcorder in my bag. 30 minutes later Natasha unzipped my bag and pulled out the camcorder. To record, the lever must be pushed to Camera and a red button must be pushed. Anyway, she pulled the camcorder out and started recording. I held the camcorder up to her so that she could she want she was doing.

I passed out M&Ms, sweet tarts and crackers over my 2 hour visit on Wednesday. It was so cute. All the children shared everything. It was very natural to split a cracker or for Natasha to give me an M&M. At one point the oldest girl divided a cracker into 3 parts for other children because she did not know that I had more.

Today my translator is trying to arrange more paperwork and a court date. Natasha is not free for adoption until December 1. She comes off the Ukrainian register then and is available for foreign adoption. Anyway we are having an interesting time.

It seems like almost everyone understands English. I was in the adoption center looking at pictures with Irene. One picture was very blurry. I told my mother that this was a bad picture because the child was not very clear. 10 minutes later Irene pulled a picture off her wall and out of her desk. She told me that I should not select a child via the pictures. Here was a picture.. (child with short blond hair and dull skin) and here was the same child 1 year later (child had long hair and beautiful skin). Irene actually asked why I was adopting. I was still young enough to get married and have my own.

The local inspector, one of many government officials that must approve my adoption, wanted to meet me in person. I took my mother and friend Jannie with me. The inspector asked me if I realized that the child would be a Ukrainian citizen and what did I know about Ukraine history. I told her that one of the reason I was adopting from Ukraine was the dual citizenship. I can explain to Natasha that her country wanted and loved her because they wanted her to retain citizenship. The inspector said that she was ashamed that they were unable to find a Ukrainian citizen for Natasha but she could see that I was Natasha's mother. The adoption was OK with her.

More of this Feature • 22-Oct: Home • 08-Nov: Home • 26-Nov: Kiev • 27-Nov: Kiev • 29-Nov: Kharkiv > 30-Nov: Kharkiv • 01-Dec: Kharkiv • 02-Dec: Kharkiv • 03-Dec: Kharkiv • 04-Dec: Kharkiv • 05-Dec: Kharkiv • 10-Dec: Warsaw • 13-Dec: Home Related Resources • Adopting from Ukraine • International Adoption - Index • Meet Natasha (photo) • Natasha at Home • Single Parent Adoption

So now my translator is working on some more paperwork and I believe that I can visit Natasha in a few hours. Mom, Jannie and I made gift bags last night for the girls. We brought too many gifts and all of us agreed that we are not bringing any of them back. It was a lot of fun making up the bags, it was like stuffing stockings for Christmas.

It looks like I will get a court date on Monday, which is the day that Natasha returns to the orphanage. I will probably leave Natasha at the orphanage because we have to run around after court. We have to get her passport and several other documents done. Maybe we are back in Kiev on Tuesday????

Personal relationships are very, very important over here. And Ukrainians greatly value first impressions. Our driver, Sladva (spelling) has a friend that knows a judge in another district. That judge knows our judge. So this morning our translator took the driver's friend to see if she could talk to the judge. This was just to "smooth relations" between our translator and the judge who she never met.

So far this trip has been so much fun and all the people have been very nice.

More later
Angela W.
Kharkiv, Ukraine

PS. A few minutes before I had to leave the hospital on Wednesday, Natasha asked to walk with me in the hall. She wanted to show me off. It was so sweet.

PPS. I decided on her name. Her full name will be Natasha Jannie W. PPPS. I am so tired now but the good news is that I might be home by Sunday. I am so tired. It is 747PM but the day was so long.

Thoughts

• my job is to trust the translator and get out of the way
• don't interupt the translator when she is working
• assume that everyone understands English

  for California

Click Here to be helped in California!           - Select One - Learn More Looking to Adopt? Pregnant, Need Help? Waiting Families

Pregnant? Click Here

Email Page to a Friend | Feedback | Adoption | Adoption Wiki | Parent Profiles | Infertility | Adoption Information

© Adopting.org 1995-2009. This site should not substitute personal professional, legal, or medical advice. The accuracy and personal applicability of this information is not guaranteed. By using it you agree to the terms of service, including jurisdiction and limitation of liability provisions.