Thursday, October 23, 2008
God Bless America!
Trying to send a short update. We plan on updating a lot more tonight. We are in Kiev after surviving $100.00 train meals! Is it just me, or is that a lot for only four people?
Today we will finish our document process at the US Embassy-hopefully. As well as this entire trip has gone for us, especially considering the situations endured by others, it's starting to unravel-fast!
We will be unable to leave Kiev until at least October 28th because of Swiss Air and the flights available. This is the first one. Trying to change and/or purchase tickets is nothing short of the biggest corporate "rip-off" I have ever seen. They have you, they know it and they stick it to you. To change tickets and get Anya's return ticket(it would be nice to actually take her with us) is going to cost $2400.00!! and that's IF we get this particular ticket, it could be more and if the airlines really try hard, they will send us home straight into the "well-fare" system. I may have to vote for Obama just to insure my ability to survive.
We are in a $100.00/night apartment with Internet. Trying to find a cheaper place for the last few days. We were thinking of one of the old WWII bunkers that we saw on the way here from Donetsk.
Last night we had to have a Russian speaking IT specialist come set-up the Internet in our flat. It was during this time that we discovered that, indeed, our precious 15 year old "daughter" DOES speak and understand English much better than we thought. She became frustrated with my inability to communicate with this guy so she, unwittingly, chimed in with her own translating services; interpreting all to well. It occurred to her what was happening and she went bonkers, laughing, running around yelling(of course, all in Russian with a lot of, "...nyet, no English..." and I'm sure some other choice Russian words as well)-too late!! Exposed. What a "twerp"!!!! I now call her,"..little intwerperter...".
Have to go to the US Embassy now, where I'm sure someone, somewhere will find a way to make this as difficult as possible-probably get arrested and charged with, "Unnecessary Effort in the adoption process".
More later-promise.
Matt
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5 comments:
Dude! A hundred bucks a night! Wow! DO these Embassy people know that they are costing you a C-note every day they delay you? And that's just for the apartment, not including the meals and transportation, YIKES!
We're praying for you guys. Hang in there and see you soon.
Signed, eagerly awaiting our turn to go broke in Ukraine, Felix
At least they had food! We had to bring our own on the train.
Very typical of the airlines. Our friends didn't have to pay quite as much for their 8yo on Lufthansa. Just $1700. Does your airline have an office in Kiev? Sometimes dealing with the office directly in Kiev can be a little cheaper than calling the 800 number. It was for our friends. (Dad and son arrived today:)
A hundred a night is about standard price for the privilege of staying near Independence Square, which I'm assuming you are? I would like to buy an apartment there for an investment:)
June
Hi Matt, Aimee and Anya! I know you think you have been there forever but.... your SDA date was the 24th and to get out of there around the 28th is pretty good! You didn't have to wait 10 days for the passport and the only reason you are delayed is the airlines, not the Ukrainian government.
Not that I am NOT feeling sorry for you, because I AM! Been there done that and swore I would never do it again. Yet nowwwww.....I would actually do it again. Just call me a sucker! (No Joe, we are not adopting another child).
Good luck with the airlines! See if they have an office in Kyiv as it is cheaper to do it that way. Let us know when you will be arriving as we would love to meet you at the airport.
Each person that visits Ukraine has one major thing in common...spending! :-) You didn't need that money right? When we passed through security at the Kyiv Airport we were approached by a uniformed officer that asked how much money we were taking out of Ukraine. I said that it was all left behind with your comrades...
You will be home for Halloween where all you have to give out then is candy!
We miss you guys.
J&T
Hope you can get home soon. Bummer about the airlines - and I'll ditto what everyone else said - dealing with local office in Kiev worked well for us. Good luck - not get on home!
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