At the Center we were greeted by Katya and few kids who were staying there at that time!
This Center works with children who "graduated" from orphanages, so they take these kids, and helped them with enrolling ot colleges, finding jobs, and prepare them for adult life.
Also, during holidays, and breaks, they take kids who have no where to go. It was summer break, and we got a chance to meet more kids :) Some of them were available for adoption too :) (hint)
I will try to share more about this Center later. Or if anyone have questions, please contact me!
08/11/2018
First morning in Vinnitsa and the Center...
August 11th we woke up early, it was Sunday. Katya and all the kids left to church, and we decided to just not do nothing, and try to recover from our travel.
Wanted ti rest one day, and then go to Horodkivka to find
DJ's dad the next day! The night before, when we just got to the Center, Katya told us that she will help us, but she was busy on the 11th, and she told us to wait till next day,
but we decided to give it a
try and find everything by ourselves.
We came downstairs(we are staying in the two story center),
and our room is upstairs.
There was a lady, never saw her before. I just said good
morning, and started talking, while waiting for Danilka. I told the lady that
somehow we need to get to Auto station. She told us which tramvay to take (#4).
We walked to the street that she pointed out, and the second
we got to the little station, there was tramvay #4
Tranvay was ok, we had to stand the whole time, but it was
not a problem, the problem for me was that it was way to hot…So hot and the smell...all the sweat! It was nothing what we are use to :)
I had no idea how long, how many stops to go. I
remember, I even thought of walking in the morning, (but its’ more than 1
hour), I saw that Auto Station is after we would pass the river.
I was looking for that river, once I saw it we got of, and I asked one of the ladies that was passing by, how to get to Bus/Auto station, she poined out and we were on our way, walking to the station.
Got to the station, was about 10 minutes walking.
Got to one of the windows, and did purchase bus tickets to the
Horodkivske. We paid 240 grivnyas for both of us. It was less than $10. The drive was suppose
be only 2 hours and 30 minutes, it took whole 4 hours to get there. It was
interesting. No air condition, at least we all were sited. At some of the stops
more people got on, and some people got of. I told Danilka how great it is that
there was no drunk people on the bus…spoke to soon 😊
At one point the drunk guy got on, it was something. We are
so not use to this. He was bugging most of the people, talking to them, mocking
them, yelling bad words, telling everyone that he will kill us and etc.
We were so happy and relief that he got of in about 30
minutes.
On the way there, just listening to different people, I
found out that Horodkivka is a big village. The bus can make 3 stops, and I
knew that I will need to know which one is better to take. Started talking to
one of the ladies, and she was supper sweet, trying to help us.
She told me that she doesn’t know that street that we were
looking for and started to call
different people from this village. Nothing…
Later she told me that that was her stop (1st
stop), and told me that I should get out
on the second, it would be in the middle, and we just had to ask around.
When the bus was about to leave, the lady came back and told us to get out on that 1st stop😊
We got out, and saw a little mini wan , she told us to get
in.
The driver was her good friend, and driver knew most people
in the village. We told him the last name, he said that he doesn’t know that
person. DJ's reminded me that he has a photo of his dad. When we showed a
photo of his dad, the driver recognized him. He made few more calls, and knew exactly
where DJ’s dad was, he was working on one of the projects with other
workers.
He took us directly there… and it was a moment!DJ waited for so , so long…
Someone called his dad from
behind one of the buildings!
He came up to us, looked at me, with a big question in his
eyes? Who are you? What do you want?
I couldn’t say a word, just pointed to DJ.He looked at
DJ, then someone said, do you know this boy?
Then DJs dad came closer, and looked at DJ again…
the said Is this you Danil? DJ nodded, and dad hugged him tight. Kissed
him in the neck, and got a little emotional. DJ was speechless, and
showed no emotions!
On the bus :)
Dad is looking through his photos to show us DJ's baby pictures
Dad gave us some honey(in the little bucket). It was the best honey we ever had :)
House where DJ spent his childhood, His grandma use to live here.
Walking back to the Center
To be continue...
