Dopobachenya!

Our flight leaves in a few short hours as I log this final post from Ukraine. Sasha and I walked down to Independence Square for the last time to get some breakfast. As I was walking and taking in my surroundings, the sun warmed my toes and my heart. I looked up to the waving Ukrainian Flag and it was waving high with pride for it's country. It was almost glowing from the sunlight. What a beautiful way to say goodbye to a country that is has given me (and Dave) the opportunity to connect with lost relatives, explore its historical story and most of all, given us Sasha. It is truly a very bittersweet time as we have had a very successful adoption process but not without bumps along the way. All in all, to complete the adoption and be back in our home country within seven weeks is outstanding! We are thankful for that!

A few people we would like to thank here in Kyiv; Inna, Ira, Yana, and of course, Hodeem. Thank you for all of your hard work in translating documents, translating "us", finding a (amazing and perfect for us) child to call our own, and the travel on the long and bumpy road from Izmail to Kyiv, Kyiv to Izmail and the five other times it's been travelled by our team! You have truly blessed our family and we thankful for each of you:)

Family and friends, we are coming home! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers as we've journeyed through this in the past seven weeks. Parents, thank you for your support! We love you and are very excited to introduce you to the newest McKenzie-Courtney (but not for along, right J and K?!) Sasha!

In 24 hours, we will be in Winnipeg. Reunited with Dave, Charlie and Lucy. I can't hardly wait:)

Thanks again:)
D, J, and S.

Many sides of thankfulness

It's been a humbling experience here in Ukraine, particularly when we were in Izmail and visiting Sasha in the orphanage. Today is Thanksgiving back home but here it was an ordinary day for the locals. In fact, our facilitator was at the Canadian Embassy trying to pick up some documents, but when she got there, she found out it was closed.

Today Sasha and I went to a large scale mall called "Ocean Plaza Mall". I wish I would have known about this upon our arrival as it is as close to a "home" mall as I can get here. They even have KFC.
We went to return a keyboard I bought that had Russian characters, but then the cheap Jen came out and said, "Just write on your laptop!" So I did. The return process is quite involved. It started with me waiting for 20 minutes and getting dirty looks from the people I tried to communicate with that didn't speak English. Then once it was my turn, it was another twenty minutes of processing five, yes five pieces of paper, plus they photocopied my passport and stapled it all together just to get 250 hrivnas. (about $20 CA) I now have a paper trail that documents my time at Ocean Plaza Mall in Kyiv, UA.

I found a crazy huge grocery store at the very bottom (the mall had four levels) of the mall. Ashan, I think would be the translation. It was like a Costco minus the membership. Sasha being Sasha, was impatient but as soon as we rolled to the grocery section, he was little Mr. helper. Here you have to weigh the produce yourself and print a sticker rather than the cashier doing it (I've clogged some lines without this prior knowledge of pre-weighing). So Sasha was in charge of printing labels and asking for everything including this carrot slaw stuff that I was reluctant to buy as I'm not a fan of such foods, but we bought it anyway. We got home and began to prepare our first Thanksgiving together. Although it will never be complete without Dave and my family and a dog jumping up on the table to eat the food, but it was Thanksgiving nonetheless here in Ukraine.

Sasha and I prepared a simple dinner of sliced ham (of course), potato pancakes (deruny), with sauteed mushrooms and onions. Don't forget the sour cream and carrot slaw. The table was set, we said grace then we dug in. It really was a nice dinner even though it didn't last very long.

I shared with Sasha some of our traditions that we do at home, like eat ham and potatoes, share our stories of thankfulness which led me to state my thankfulness for meeting Sasha and calling him my son. I am also thankful for my husband who walked every step with me throughout this journey and who trusted me enough to complete the process on my own. Thanks Dave! I love you:)

Although Sasha speaks very few words (even in Russian), I know he is thankful. I could see it in his smile after he was finished dinner, it was twinkling in his eye as we continued the Cholosky tradition of 31 after dinner, and I can see it now as he watches some Ukrainian t.v with me at his side. I am even thankful for the quietest of moments with him. Thank you for you, Sasha:)


                                                                     Happy Thanksgiving

We ventured out even though someone was a little grumpy and didn't like his photo taken:)

 It's hard doing selfies on a Rebel... (I look pained)

Some sort of Slavic Festival taking place at Independence Square this past weekend

On our way to Lviv Chocolate Shop and we spotted this... it belongs to Nicolas?!?

Ok, so I am embracing my bride stalking... But she was so pretty running down the steps of St. Andrew's Cathedral...

Lviv Chocolate Shop and this kid orders Blueberries and cream!

 Sasha's first Funicular ride! He won't ever admit it, but he was loving every second of it:)

Thanksgiving Monday, I gave some cooking lessons. Dave, we might have a chef on our hands!

 Yah, he's pretty thankful:)

 And so am I:)

Cholosky tradition. Sasha lost first round.

 I lost the second!

And the winner of 1.50 grivnas (or 12 cents) is.....

Home Stretch

We made it to Kyiv, but not before a bad cold and car sickness set in. (I with the cold, and Sasha with evacuating the entire contents of his tummy.) 12 hours on terrible roads, a really smoke stricken first apartment (I'm pretty sure I breathed in the equivalent of 5 packs in my sleep, it was that bad) and now into our new little place. Clean and cozy and missing Dave and two poopers.

We stayed close to home today as we rolled into Kyiv at around 1 am. Then went out for supper and bought groceries for the next couple of days to cook here. I only have two burners so dinners will be fried or boiled. Sasha was fed soup every day and today he refused it at the restaurant, so I think soup will not be on the menu for awhile. He is not a fussy eater and was overjoyed that we bought bananas for tomorrow. They are pretty expensive here, but since Dave and I bought them all the time in Izmail, I thought it would be nice for the kid. He eats everything. Today he found out he didn't like the smell of salmon, and therefore wouldn't eat it, but instead he consumed two large sausages, a huge shishbob, Ukrainian style fries (not deep fried) some sort of salad (everything here is mayo based) bread and two apple crepes for dessert. I think we will have to remortgage our home to cover the cost of a growing (and previously borderline starved) boy. 

The last day at the orphanage was bittersweet. It was difficult for all of us including the kids we were leaving behind. There was sadness in their eyes and there were a couple of kids that I wished we could bring home with us. The director spoke with me and said that she had been observing us the entire time we were visiting the orphanage and saw a really great connection with us three.

Although this process has been a speedy one for us, it has not been smooth sailing in the least. There have been many obstacles for all parties including Sasha. Thankfully we have had an amazing team to support and carry the brunt of the weight regarding politics and procedures. Please continue to pray for us as we have a long road of uncertainty ahead.

But for now, we are discovering the wonderful world of englisky:) I am ready to come home, and asked Sasha if he was ready to start a new chapter, and he said yes:) My heart smiles. What a brave kid!

Part 3: I understand

Dave arrived in Winnipeg early this morning, and I arrived back in Izmail later this afternoon. During the 10 day waiting period, we made it all the way to Krakow, Poland. There we visited Auschwitz. I had always wanted to visit Auschwitz for a couple of reasons. One, to try grasp some sort of understanding of what "really" happened, and two, to understand why my grandfather never spoke about his time in the war.

He only shared one story with me, and that was when he was walking through a field and he he tripped and fell face first into a pile of cow dung. It was humorous at the time, and I still chuckle when I think of my grandpa falling and how his fellow troop members must have laughed at him. But aside from this and the one time mention of him seeing Mussolini driving by him, no other words were spoken about the war.


Upon arrival to the now museum, I couldn't help but think about the innocent people during the time Auschwitz was open and how many of them believed they were being transferred to a place of wealth and safety. Some were even paid to board the train to Auschwitz. Of course, the payment was taken back once the innocent were murdered. We arrived on a full bus, I imagine the people arriving on packed train cars and what they might be thinking. Perhaps they were thinking of hope and freedom, perhaps fear of the unknown. I know I was fearful of entering Auschwitz because it would become a reality that I will have to deal with. I was afraid.

We were a small echo of the souls that actually lived Auschwitz.We stood in a long line to get our entrance ticket, we waited in large groups. We were divided and sorted by our ethnicity and size; and we even shuffled around the grounds from building to building. I felt afraid even though I knew I was safe. I knew I belonged with the English speaking tour guide, I waited in line and in large groups with other people waiting to see the museum. I shuffled along side fellow travellers from the first gas chamber to the wall of death, to the multitude of eyeglasses, hair and suitcases.

After experiencing Auschwitz, I understand less than I did before entering. I understand why my grandfather never talked about it. That's the only thing I understand.

                                                         The entrance gate to the camp

  

                                                           

     Only a handful of actual human ashes remain. And they remain in this commemorative urn.

                                                                              Statistics

                                           A canister of the poison used in the gas chamber.

                                      Over 43,000 pairs of shoes are on display at Auschwitz

 Female prisoner photos lined one side of the wall, while male prisoners lined the opposite. Below are three women that caught my eye. From my perspective, they look to be smiling and/or at peace.

 Many of the photographed women did not live longer than a month or so after entering the camp

                                                                  My lens was foggy.

The wall of death. Prisoners were stripped then marched out to face this wall. They were then shot in the back of the head.

 Prisoners were hung on this post and left as a reminder to others to obey. Even if they did obey, there most likely killed in the end.

Outside the first gas chamber. Unfortunately, I did not make it to Birkenau as this was very overwhelming for me. We chose to leave and visit Schindler's Enamel Factory museum instead. (an amazing display of history there as well.)