We got up early this morning to go celebrate Pasca (Easter) with the kids at the orphanage. We knew the priest was coming at 8:30, so we were there a little after 8am to join the kids in the cafeteria. Each child had some Pasca Bread, a boiled egg and candy (in addition to the usual breakfast food that was served after the festivities). Before the priest arrived, all the children got up from the tables and lined the walkway and chanted something (a greeting maybe?). The priest along with a younger man and several older women arrived. He said a lot of things and at one point all of the children knew what to say in response. The kids then went back to their tables and he worked his way through the cafeteria sprinkling everyone and everything with holy water. Zhenya got soaked – she looked like she had been swimming!
We were invited by Zhenya’s caregiver to sit at Zhenya’s table (Zhenya was quite embarrassed, but she did sit with us). We have invited her entire group to go out to eat tomorrow afternoon. The caregiver announced that this morning while they were eating breakfast & they all started talking about going to a restaurant. Zhenya had never been to a restaurant before, so many of them might not have either. We are planning to take them to “Brava” – it’s a great little pizza place where teens would enjoy hanging out & eating (we like the food there too!). We walked down there today to let them know we would be bringing a big group tomorrow – they needed 20 greevna ($2.50) to hold our spot or something – not sure exactly? The orphanage bus will take us all there tomorrow at 2:30. The director seemed happy to help us do this. We are planning to have a party with Katya & Kristina’s groups when we come back to pick up the girls, but we don’t think Zhenya and her friends would enjoy what we have planned for the younger kids.
We are in for the night here at the hotel and plan to start packing up some things – hoping to consolidate! We will be leaving a suitcase here with Katya’s caregiver – full of clothes for the girls when we return. We’re looking forward to tomorrow and then to court Tuesday morning. Time will go by quickly and we’ll soon be on our way home!
