We left the US three weeks ago today. The obvious life-changing experience (which is, of course, why we are here) has unfolded fairly predictably. We met our son & then reunited with our daughter. One kid @ a time, we are becoming parents. But there would have been no way for me to begin to even consider the other ways this trip has changed my life. Even the glimpse I've gotten of this country and their way of life has left a permanent stamp of sympathy on my heart. The best way I can summarize it is that life here is hard. Life in America is NOT hard. In America there is opportunity, life is not hard. You may have to work hard to capitalize on the opportunity but, ultimately, you are rewarded with a life that is "less hard". Life here is hard...regardless. Post-communism is anything but bliss...
This is Mariupol.
It is a steel mill town & there is air polution & a film of filth hovering over & blanketing the entire city of about 500,000 people. This steel mill is the second largest in Mariupol and it is over two miles long (I don't really know how deep it is). This morning there was a red haze over the entire downtown area. And it stunk... (I know, you're thinking "No way something stunk in Ukraine!")
Today we "hosted" a farewell party for Valeriy (as they know him) at the orphanage. While it was an honor and a pleasure that they entertained us, it was gutwrenching & heartbreaking to watch these children express "happiness" for another child being adopted. Two children (a boy & a girl) sang & there were several dance performances; traditional & breakdancing! In the end, kids lined up to individually congratulate Valeriy & bid our family their best wishes. I fought back tears the entire time (and I mean THE ENTIRE TIME)...
If you have ever felt called to offer a child a life they most certainly would not otherwise have, there is ample opportunity here. I know I've painted a dismal picture of my experience of Ukraine (I was unprepared for how it is here...I know, I know...what did I *think* it would be like? I don't even know what I thought it would be like. To be honest, I cannot remember! Although, admittedly, I had seen the photo of the toilet! So I should have been better prepared...) and I really never want to come back but I will never look at my children and, even on the hardest of hard days (& they are sure to come), think that their lives aren't a million times better than they would have been in Ukraine without a family. The time spent here has been but a small sacrifice (creepy places & all) and I will never regret the experience. Had I been able to adopt these children without knowing their lives in Ukraine, I'm sure I would love them the same but I do not know that I would have the deep appreciation for who they are and who they are becoming as part of our family.
On that note, it is a gorgeous sunny day (you have no idea how much it help that is it sunny & warm!) & I am going to take a walk. I'm sure there will be interesting pictures to follow...
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