In Lugnask

We are in Lugansk, as of about an hour or so ago. We are completely on our own until tomorrow night when our interpreter gets here.

Yesterday we got up and gathered our things in preparation of our check out. We went to an italian restaurant down the street to grab lunch before our facilitator picked us up, and had the greatest little greek salad, margherita pizza, and lattes. So yummy. I wish that restaurant was going to be near us the whole time we were here!

Our facilitator, Sasha, picked us up and we headed to the bank, to buy train tickets, and to pick up our referral from the SDA. The SDA was supposed to open at 2, so we wanted to be there a little before then so we could be first in line. We got there and waited... and waited... and waited. Finally, around 3:30 we got in and signed a paper - and they handed us our dossier and referral for the girls. Another step down, yay! While we were there we met another American couple from Minnesota who are here adopting 4 siblings, which will bring their grand total of children to 10 (combined birth and adopted). They have actually adopted several (I think either 3 or 4) special needs children. Amazing.

After they finally decided to open, and we were able to pick up the referral, we headed to the bank, and to pick up tickets. We had to pay a little bit of an "extra fee" for the train tickets because 1) we wanted one "cupa" (bunk car) to ourselves (they usually sleep 4)... 2) It is a little hard to get train tickets right now for some reason... and 3) It was last minute I think

Sasha took us to the train and helped us get on and settled in, and then he left. We will see him later on. Sergey (interpreter Sergey), who works for Sasha, will be joining us tomorrow to help us through this next part of the process in Lugansk.

Let me just say, that when we boarded the train... I thought that we had made the worst decision possible. It was the hottest I think I have ever been. Shane and I were both just pouring sweat. Poor Shane looked so miserable. I will try to post a picture later. Ha. It was like that for about 30-45 minutes or so, and once the train started it got bearable. As the sun went down, and night progressed, it got very comfortable for the most part. Every time the train had a stop, the air was turned off - so it got really warm, really QUICK. But, thank goodness, most stops were only a few minutes. Sleeping on it was ok, I woke up every time we stopped... but was able to fall back asleep fairly quickly. Once the sun started coming up, way too early, that was pretty much it for sleep.

We had a little bit of stress this morning, because we had thought we were arriving at 7:00 am or so... and that time came and went. We kind of wondered if we had missed it, etc.... and I even made Shane go and ask someone when we came to another stop. Pretty much all we could say was "Lugansk???"... we were told no, and then a bunch of other stuff - which we unfortunately didn't understand. We finally got in touch w/ our facilitator who informed us that we didn't arrive until 9:45 am. So, fortunately we DID make our stop... and DID NOT end up somewhere in Russia. Ha. (I honestly think Lugansk is the "end of the line", so there was prob no way that could have happened anyway).

There are always crazy characters on the train... extremely large men walking around in grey "grippies" — which is what Shane called them, they were like bikini brief underwear — girls wearing almost nothing... Shane watched a guy walk into a door watching one girl. It always make for goo people watching.

Sasha had someone pick us up, Sergey... not to be confused with interpreter Sergey... this is "driver" Sergey. He helped us with our overpacked bags, and drove us into Lugansk to our apartment. There we met the most precious little couple, who are the owners, named Nicolai and Nadia. SO SO SO cute and sweet. They showed us all the light switches, the room, bathrooms, how the keys worked, etc. And Nadia gave me a giant hug. I want to bring them home with us. Nicolai has a withered arm... I want to know if he was born like that, or if something happened. I don't think it would be appropriate for me to ask.. but maybe our interpreter will know.

I have been in Lugansk, but only kind of in and out... going to and from the camp I have worked with, so I don't know much about it. I don't really recognize the area we are in, and it doesn't seem close to many things (as far as restaurants, etc.), but hopefully one we can get out an walk around a bit we will find some things. We need to brave trying to find a market, so that we can buy some food. I have had one fiber bar today, and am therefor starving.

Today and most of tomorrow we are going to be working a lot on freelance, etc... and then Monday we will have our appointment with the local Inspector, and then be taken to our "official" orphanage visit, etc.

Pray that we can find our way back to our apartment again, should we try to leave and find a market. :)