March 14, 2002 update

Today I visited the Adoption Center which coordinates all the adoptions in Ukraine. My translator Sergey and I spent the whole day there. They just set up an appointment system and we were #7, but no one was going by it, so we didn't get in to meet the staff until afternoon.

The little 7-year-old I met in November, Alexander, is still here and they gave me permission to visit that orphanage, and I am pretty sure I will adopt him. I also asked for permission to visit another orphanage in the same town to find a second, younger child to adopt, maybe a 4- to 6-year-old boy.

The timing isn't real good since the weekend is coming up, and the orphanages don't take visitors on the weekend. Plus the first orphanage is currently under quarantine from Scarlet Fever. So Sergey and I will take the overnight train to Donetsk on Sunday and visit the orphanages on Monday 3/18.

Meanwhile, place your orders for Ukrainian souvenirs! I will have 2 1/2 days to check out museums, markets and parks in Kyiv.

Ruth