So I am near the end of this blog. After 5 years we are ready to move on to a new continent and new adventure. A week from today the entire Belli family will be in South Africa. In the next 7 days we have a LOT to do.
*Paolo is currently driving to Italy to drop off our car (no left-side driving cars are allowed to be imported into South Africa so we will have to buy a new one there). He will fly back here late Tuesday night (with Pepperoni who took an extended summer holiday in Italy).
*Wednesday morning I take both animals to do a huge amount of paperwork at the government vet which will (hopefully) allow them to enter South Africa.
*Thursday our movers show up. By then I have to have sorted what we will keep for our flight luggage- that is, I need to fill 8 pieces of luggage with all that we will need to live in our new house until our shipment arrives- probably in January/February!
*Also on Thursday, Enzo & Pepperoni depart for their flights to South Africa. They are leaving ahead of us as Lufthansa does not allow animals to land in Johannesburg over the weekend. (Could our lives be any more complicated??). Enzo has to go into quarantine for 2 weeks so he will be in a kennel near the airport. It is likely our sensitive fellow will need some therapy after this ordeal. Or at least a great deal of cheese. The importer we are using will handle the animals until we arrive- taking Pepperoni to his fabulous cattery and making sure Enzo is safe and well cared for in the kennels.
*Friday the movers finish up and I throw a small goodbye party for Gio in his 1st grade class.
*Saturday we fly to Frankfurt and then board an overnight (A-380 again!) flight to Joburg.
*Sunday we begin our new lives on our 4th continent!
So until I can tell you all about our new lives and house in Pretoria, here is a look back on our last month beginning with our final week of summer in Italy.....
I have still not picked a name for the next blog. Any ideas, please tell me! For now, it is time to say goodbye to a city that has brought us so much and where our family has grown by 3. A place that is the only home that Gio, Enzo, Maria and Pepperoni have ever known. I am not good with farewells. So for now, I hope this next blog keeps me connected to all of my dear Kyiv friends who have already departed and to those that are still here. Ukraine, thank you for everything. I wish for this beautiful country a brighter future.
xoxox. Clara
*Paolo is currently driving to Italy to drop off our car (no left-side driving cars are allowed to be imported into South Africa so we will have to buy a new one there). He will fly back here late Tuesday night (with Pepperoni who took an extended summer holiday in Italy).
*Wednesday morning I take both animals to do a huge amount of paperwork at the government vet which will (hopefully) allow them to enter South Africa.
*Thursday our movers show up. By then I have to have sorted what we will keep for our flight luggage- that is, I need to fill 8 pieces of luggage with all that we will need to live in our new house until our shipment arrives- probably in January/February!
*Also on Thursday, Enzo & Pepperoni depart for their flights to South Africa. They are leaving ahead of us as Lufthansa does not allow animals to land in Johannesburg over the weekend. (Could our lives be any more complicated??). Enzo has to go into quarantine for 2 weeks so he will be in a kennel near the airport. It is likely our sensitive fellow will need some therapy after this ordeal. Or at least a great deal of cheese. The importer we are using will handle the animals until we arrive- taking Pepperoni to his fabulous cattery and making sure Enzo is safe and well cared for in the kennels.
*Friday the movers finish up and I throw a small goodbye party for Gio in his 1st grade class.
*Saturday we fly to Frankfurt and then board an overnight (A-380 again!) flight to Joburg.
*Sunday we begin our new lives on our 4th continent!
So until I can tell you all about our new lives and house in Pretoria, here is a look back on our last month beginning with our final week of summer in Italy.....
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| Maria had her first haircut, at her insistence, from our favorite barber Giovanni. |
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| Despite this scowl, she actually loved it!! |
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| Post haircut for both Bellis. |
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| Someone began choosing her own outfits.... |
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| ...and, yes, I took her out looking like this! |
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| On the day we were flying back to Kyiv (Paolo had already left a week earlier with Enzo in the car), Pepperoni decided he would prefer to stay in Italy. Who wouldn't? With our ride ready to take us to the airport and Pepperoni nowhere in sight we had to make the tough decision to leave him behind. Fortunately our housesitter has taken very good care of him and Paolo will bring him home this week. He has a rough week ahead! Tuesday flight to Kyiv, Thursday-Friday flights to Joburg. A very well-traveled feline. |
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| The key for plane travel with Maria? Snacks! |
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| This fruit cup kept her busy for quite a while. |
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| Once back in Kyiv Gio got ready for his 2nd first day of 1st grade (having started already his new school in Pretoria). |
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| Maria brought back a tummy bug from Italy and had a rough first few days back in Kyiv, including this morning nap on the tile floor. |
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| Enzo spent some time hanging out in his airplane crate. |
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| Gio prepping for his 5th year at PSI (well, only for a month this time!) |
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| Here are the last 3 opening day photos. |
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| M&Ms and a twirly skirt. This girl is HAPPY! |
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| Plus a pedicure. |
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| Yes, she loves this skirt. Thanks, Marsha! |
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| Maria's latest food obsession? Quail eggs. I hope we can find them in Pretoria! |
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| Walking (and accessorizing) Enzo. |
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| Fitting in as many visits to our favorite Milk Bar before we leave... |
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| Perfecting her look for South Africa. |
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| If Maria gets her hands on the corn before I cook it... Sharing with Papa |
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| More views of male Kyiv fashion. |
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| Sigh. |
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| The morning Paolo did Maria's hair. (She prefers that he do it!) |
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| Trying out the potty. |
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| Curious, but not ready. |
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| Diplomatic plates gone. DC tags back on. I do wonder how much we owe DMV at this point?? Going to try not to think about that.... |
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| Sometimes I just need to let them have a picnic supper in front of Masha & the Bear. |
Maria's Babbling
Gio & Maria at Play
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| Wait for it... |
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| ...there it is! |
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| Don't ask. |
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| We will miss Le Silpo. Maria ADORES shopping there.... |
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| ...and the bread! |
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| A goodbye party for Paolo at his office. |
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| Dear Enzo. We do hope you are happy in our new home. |
I have still not picked a name for the next blog. Any ideas, please tell me! For now, it is time to say goodbye to a city that has brought us so much and where our family has grown by 3. A place that is the only home that Gio, Enzo, Maria and Pepperoni have ever known. I am not good with farewells. So for now, I hope this next blog keeps me connected to all of my dear Kyiv friends who have already departed and to those that are still here. Ukraine, thank you for everything. I wish for this beautiful country a brighter future.
xoxox. Clara
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