12/28/07 - Train Ride from #@$& and Consulate Fun!

Hello again & welcome to another chapter of "The Lebsacks in Ukraine".

After saying a tearful goodbye to Juliyana last night we boarded the "Night Train" to Kyiv. We had a First Class Coupe' but the ride was anything but....It was seriously 95 degrees inside the train (I saw the thermometer to prove it).....no windows that would open....and we were dressed for outside weather (long underwear, turtlenecks, sweater....you get the idea). Our bags were inaccessible and we had top bunks (even hotter) and someone kept sliding the door to our coupe' shut so that it was like an oven. I got a couple of words of advice for anyone traveling the train in Ukraine....dress light and get a BOTTOM BUNK. PS - Nobody slept much (like thats a surprise). On the bright side, Helen you will love this part of the trip in January.

After grabbing a couple of quick hours of sleep we dragged our semi-comatose bodies out of bed and headed off for the Consulate. We got our power of attorney (which they said we wouldn't need....we got it anyway) and then signed the medical declaration and our I-600. Now I stongly recommend that nobody try to fill out the I-600 in a sleep deprived semi-comatose state. By the third try poor Donna was in tears and pretty much had given up. The lady behind the counter graciously accepted it despite the many cross outs etc....

For those going in be sure you know all the particulars of you child such as Original full given name, DOB, where born, region, and what orphanage they are in, what name you gave them etc. Its a really good thing I had copied all this info into my tiny notebook (for completely different reasons) because we had no phone (they take that at the gate) and it would have been difficult to call our facilitator outside.

While inside we met two other families just finishing their adoptions and getting the visa to leave. One family from Skenecdady, NY had been in country only 27 days and were leaving with their daughter tonight. They admitted to being very lucky with the timing as every element seemed to line up perfectly with business days so that there wasn't any down time waiting for holidays or weekends or someone's vacation etc...

The other family conversely had been in country for nine weeks (sound familiar Jennifer H.) and was finally getting to go home with their daughter tomorrow. Their adoption was for an older child that they had hosted last Christmas in TX.

Every adoption here is soooooo different and none are ever easy. This journey is not for the faint of heart or those with only mild convictions. Donna and I are really truly beginning to understand the bond that everyone on UA Angels share. This is an intense and truly special experience that nobody can understand unless they themselves have done it.

Our best to all,

Mike and Donna