Kernave, Final Good Byes and the US Embassy

I think my Lithuanian/junk food diet has caught up with me. Saturday I woke up not feeling well at all. At least it was raining outside ... gave us a good excuse to stay in ... not that I really needed another one.

Sunday we had lunch and then took off for Radviliskis to pick up the girls. On the way we decided to take a slight detour and see the "mysterious mounds" of Kernave. This is an ancient hillfort site. It was actually pretty interesting for just being five man-made hills and the area was beautiful! The museum was closed, but I'm sure it would have been interesting with all the artifacts they've dug up from the area. I really enjoy history, so I'm glad we stopped.

We got to the girl's orphanage and Kornyte met us outside and brought us to their room. There was a bunch of people standing outside in the hallway, carrying various bags. Audrute locked up the room and back downstairs we all went. We stuffed everything in the car and then the girls said their final good byes to everyone gathered. Everyone was teary-eyed. It was so sad to watch. But it was also pretty quick. Soon Robertai was saying we better go and we all climbed in the car and waved good bye as we drove away. The girls soon fell asleep for the entire car ride back to Vilnius. KC and I were glad that we had given the girls the candy and glow sticks we had brought for their "farewell party" ... we didn't have the party, but the girls were able to share with their friends and from the pictures it looks like they had a good time on their own. We stayed up a bit late and the girls showed me some of their school awards and photos. I was glad to see that they have a few pictures of their birth family.

Today KC and I took the car back for the final time! Yeah! It's nice not to have that to think about anymore. Driving here isn't bad (with GPS!), but it's not that fun either ... especially getting around Vilnius! Out on the highway there are tons of cops and speed traps. There are signs that tell you that you are leaving, say, a 70 kph zone, but they don't tell you what the new speed is. We actually got pulled over once while leaving Radviliskis. Since we didn't speak Lithuanian and he didn't speak much English, we got away with a good finger shaking. :)

Anyway, this afternoon Elona took us to the US Embassy. The first lady made sure all of our paperwork was in order and then we waited. Luckily we brought UNO with us and we played while Elona watched. That made the time go much quicker and finally it was time to see the Consular. He made us all raise our right hands and say yes, the paperwork was all true and correct ... I was wondering how he thought Kornyte had any idea what he was talking about, but he seemed satisfied. He went through the paperwork, asked us a few questions ... more out of his curiosity than anything else and off we went. As soon as we left the secured area we were called back in because they had forgotten to get Audruta's fingerprints. All the people were very nice, except for one grumpy security guard, but even he wasn't too bad. As we were leaving I was wondering where the Marine guards were ... I didn't see any! I always loved that part of "The Saint" movie where Elisabeth Shue's character is running to the Embassy gates yelling, "Open the gates, I'm an America!". I guess that just wouldn't happen anymore ... the bad guys could grab you while you're being searched outside the gate by a guy in slacks and a polo. Oh well. ;)

Tomorrow we have to pick up the girls passports and visas from the Embassy and update some paperwork for the property that the girls partially own and then we should be done! DONE! Hallelujah! At least as far as the stuff we have to do here. There's some more paperwork to do once we get home, but I don't want to think about that just now. We have a few more days here in Lithuania, a LOOOONG day of travel and then we will be home! Hurray! KC and I are looking forward to being home in our own environment and all four of us are looking forward to being in a normal routine.

Keep the girls in your prayers as everything they have ever known is going to change!

Viso!
Michele