It is a crisp, clear day here in Odessa, Ukraine. We are settling into our apartment for what may be a very long stay indeed. Fortunately, our apartment (American owned and operated) is perfectly located. This may sound a bit odd, but the area looks something like the French Quarter in New Orleans without the trashy element and Katrina flood damage. It is fashionable and clearly new. We are about 100 feet from a McDonald's and another 50 feet or so to a nice grocery store. Normally, Mickey D's wouldn't make my diet, but we've already eaten there three times. There's comfort in the familiar and fast.

"Sasha" (Alexandra, formally) is such a cute girl! Big green eyes, blond hair in a pony tail, and very slight of build. On the one hand, she is so girly. I cannot really give that word content, so I hope you know what I mean. On the other, she loves video games, electronic gadgets, and the outdoors.  I think she'll be a Bama fan, too.

We spend as much time with her as possible. She has really taken to our boys, Christopher and Zachary. I was curious, however, how she would respond to me. You see, the orphanages are run by women and these children have very limited interaction with men. Even so, while more reserved, she is nonetheless intrigued. She wants to show me her things, correct my lousy Russian, and play hide and seek.

Still, heretofore, I have been only a father of boys. I am getting an education on girls ...