Friday

No photos today, sorry.

We went food shopping - I need to get used to feeding four people again! Fortunately there are two food stores very close to our apartment. The package sizes here are much smaller than we are used to in the USA so we need to buy more!

Annette stopped by and loaned us some kitchen items from her own home! She also showed me where the Laundromat is, about a mile away. We will wash clothes tomorrow - not exciting, but always a challenge in a foreign country. We need to buy the kids more clothes since they do not have much, but not all expensive brand name stuff!

Communications is a challenge, although Google Translate is a help we also have to understand better where the girls are coming from. For example they are transitioning from an institution to a family, getting to know new people, saying goodbye to others, new experiences, new language to learn, and so much more. They even need to learn about money because they have never had any, at all. So not just pesos or even pennies/quarters/dollars - but also to understand expensive/inexpensive, needs/wants, etc.

The kids need constant reassurance that we love them, and we will never leave them - both in words and hugs and kisses. We are working to help them to continue to open up with us about feelings, fears, needs, wants, etc. Paola from FANA stopped by for a couple hours tonight. She helped with the communications - both as language translator and psychologist - talking with the kids, then with us, and then all. We must not take things at face value, as there are many dynamics here. Paola is a very kind young woman and was very helpful!

This is certainly the most important adventure of our lives - and for the girls.