We are here! We have internet!

Wed. May 3-4, 2006

We finally got on the internet after many days without it so I have written down our events along the way so you will know what happened in our lives so far.

We had a nice flight to Frankfurt and arrived around 7:15 am. That would be 1:15 am Atlanta time. We tried to sleep on the plane but were not able to. Something about sitting and sleeping don’t work so well. We entered the twilight zone somewhere over the Atlantic and started to realize this thing is really happening.

There was much opportunity to shop but we did not want to add to our already generous baggage. We knew it would be weighed in Almaty, Kazakhstan (Kaz in the future for obvious reasons) for the prop plane to Karaganda, Kaz. We had breakfast and went to look for a place to crash for a while. They will not let you to the concourse early so we had to find some other place. The oddest thing to us was this large hallway on our way to the concourse that had 40-50 lounge chairs in a darkened area. People were passed out. I thought how strange to sleep in front of all these people as we passed by! Funny how sleepiness changes things… An hour later we were grateful and praising God for the two seats we found together. It is hard to sleep with people walking by, announcers over the intercom, and vehicles wheeling by but we sure tried.

Our next flight was about 7 hours with a stop in Astana, Kaz. We so were ready to get off the plane! We passed through customs easy and met Lola and her driver outside. It was 1:00 am May 5th there and 3:00 pm the 4th at home. We found out we were going to an apartment instead of a hotel. But were a little alarmed when we pulled into a back alley and went behind a very dark building and pulled up to another car and a man got out and started walking back to the car. I was imagining the headlines of “Two Americans Missing” for just a second knowing Lola was very trusted. She checked out the apartment and we went in and it was pretty decent. We wasted no time in going to bed!!!


Friday, May 5th

We slept until around 9am and Lola was coming at 10am to show us a few things before our flight at 8:30pm. We went to the bank to change money into Tenge. She showed us a shopping place they call Zoom. It is multi story with vendors that sell lots of stuff from all kinds of electronics to clothes to souvenirs. We went to a restaurant called Mama Mia’s. They have an English menu which is good. The food was excellent.

We got a calling card at the Zoom and called home to let everyone know we are doing good. After that we rested before the plane ride to Karaganda. I was nervous about how much our luggage weighed since we were allowed 44 lbs. each. We knew our luggage weighed 70 lbs each and that does not include our carry on which they typically weigh as well. We had a lot of gifts and clothes for the kids at the orphanage as well as gifts for all the parties involved. When they weighed ours they did not include our carry on which was so great. We had to pay about 40 dollars extra for the overage. Not bad. It should be lighter coming back.

We flew on an old, old prop plane and it was loud but uneventful for two hours. When we got to Karaganda around 10:30pm, it looked like the place was closed down. Everyone went to the building and the doors were locked. Finally someone came up behind us with keys. Marina our coordinator met us and we loaded up in the van with her driver. The airport is in the middle of nowhere, as Marina put it. They took us to our home away from home in the same apartment building as her. She is going to be providing meals for us so it will be very convenient for us to not look for food and prepare in a strange country. We are a little farther out than some of the other families so we will need to take a taxi or bus to downtown. The apartment is on the 5th floor and is about 500 square feet. It has a hallway, where you leave your shoes. There is a den with a sofa bed and a bedroom with bunk beds and two different closets for the bathroom. One is the w/c. The other is a tub, sink and washing machine (no dryer). It is nice. The bed is a little stiff, not much padding. We unpacked our stuff and got organized and went to bed. We should be seeing the kids tomorrow afternoon. We are excited to see how they look.

Saturday, May 6th

We woke up to no power. We know it went out for a few minutes last night but it came on before we went to bed. It was out until about 3:00pm. We were supposed to have lunch at Marina’s at 1:00 but they came down and told us we would be delayed a while because of the power. They brought us lunch around 2:00 and said they would come get us when it was time to get the kids. They came to get us around 3:30. We were some kinda ready. It takes about 40 minutes to get to Timertau. They live in a Steel Mining Town and there is a lot of pollution. Marina says she put them there because it is one of the best in Karaganda. When we pulled into the orphanage Garrett said he saw Sasha run in the building. Everyone was looking at “the Americans” as we walked in. Since it was Saturday the Director of the orphanage was not there but they took us up to where Sasha lives. They both live on the second floor but different wings. Sasha lives to the right of the stairs and Stella on the left. Each wing has a kitchen, a den, and two large sleeping rooms. One for the boys and one for the girls. They have bunk beds which explains why Sasha wants “big bed”. It is very desirable to stay here because they are in family groups with a Momma. There are two Momma’s that come in shifts for each kid group. The kids range in age from 5-16 and there is about 8 kids in each family group.

When we walked into Sasha’s living room he was sitting on a sofa with the other kids playing Gameboy. As soon as we walked in he jumped up and smiled and gave us both a big hug. We sat down and it was a little awkward. The kids giggled and stared. They told us they went to get Stella and she came in and gave us big hugs. She almost comes to my chin! She looks the same with a little more hair as does Sasha. Then we were invited to go see where she lives. When we got there they had a performance all planned. We FORGOT our video camera in our haste to leave. She danced a little routine with two other kids for a song. Then she sang a song with the cutest little guy of about 5. Then another girl about 15 sang a solo with Stella dancing backup. It was so cute. I am sure we will get a command performance at the goodbye party later on. We also met Rada and Andre who lived with Sasha and Stella for six years in their former adoptive home. Rada is so sweet and speaks perfect English. She is 11 and Andre is 10. Andre has only been at the orphanage for 6 months. Rada was at Kidsave in California last year.

It was time to leave so the kids got their suitcases together and headed out. The kids were a sad. It was difficult for them they have been through so much. We got to the apartment and we gave them their backpacks with toys in them. They enjoyed playing for a while. We tried communicating and it goes okay. We had some tea or “Chai” as they call it together in the kitchen with some cookies. We definitely can communicate but is difficult because you can’t tell them exactly what you want but Garrett has done well with his Russian. It seems to mean a lot to the kids that Garrett knows how to talk it and Sasha is using his English very well. We told them we wanted them to teach us their words too. Bed time came and they decided to sleep in the den on the sofa bed because the bunks were not so comfortable.

Sunday, May 7

The kids were up around 7:30 playing Gameboy and Leapster. They were very cute all snuggled in their bed. We went to the market to get some snacks for them and they were more than happy to show us what they wanted. They love apple juice or “sok” but granny smith flavor is their favorite.

We have our meals upstairs at Marina’s apartment. They are wonderful with salads of shredded carrot with red pepper and sometimes meat, cabbage salad with vinegar, beets with mayo, soups, chicken in stews, and potatoes. Halfway through lunch Garrett started having a reaction to something. He is allergic to Salmon and sometimes other fishes. We looked all around and could find no evidence of the fishes. It got worse so he stopped eating. By the time we got down stairs, his tongue was swollen to about twice its normal size. He had two Benadryl but it never affected his breathing. He had trouble talking because of the swelling and I had trouble not laughing because of his speech impediment. We found out later there was fish in the carrot salad and they soaked it in vinegar so it no longer looked or tasted like the fishes. We had a good chuckle. He is fine now and they will be avoiding a fish in the future.

Nastya, our translator, came over and we went to a park with amusement rides. We are on a four day holiday here in Kaz for “Victory Day” from WWII. They were having ceremonies with military and parades. Stella told us she had been there before with her other family. They rode on a slow ferris wheel and a chair swing that goes in circles. I saw someone eating cotton candy and asked Nastya what they call it and she said “it is funny the translation is like sugar cotton.” She is a college student at the University and is in her last year majoring in English and German.

After the carnival we went to the Zoom here in Karaganda. It is the nicest, most expensive mall here in town. It was nicer than the one in Almaty. Of course the kids saw everything they “needed”. Sasha wanted some black tennis shoes like Garrett and I have to go with his “costume”. (like an outfit to us) Stella wanted a doll. She loves dolls and babies. She also needed clothes, shoes, nail polish, a hat, candy, hair bows… Sasha rolled his eyes at her immature needs. He just wanted an MP-3 player, cell phone, sunglasses, toy gun and a sweat suit. When we left we were so tired.

Evenings seem to be the best here. Sasha discovered our DVD player and wanted to watch a movie. When he saw we had “Mistear Bean” he was so excited. He is definitely my kind of guy. We played UNO for the first time tonight and they liked it a lot. Sasha likes to win.

Monday, May 8th

This morning we had breakfast and they ate a lot but since we slept in a little we ate around 10:30. It was the first time they ate much. They have had small appetites so far. When it came time for lunch we were not hungry except for Garrett of course. They feed us large portions with usually 6 dishes.

We went to the playground next to the apartment building we are in and they monkeyed on the bars. We all took turns doing acrobatics. Then we played ball with a little rubber ball. They do not always share the best but do all siblings? They do get along exceptionally well though. They really watch out for each other. We really had fun interacting as a family.

We went to the store to get some more snacks and the serious whining started. Stella must have said “Papa puhlleeeze” 400 times! We have been working on different things everyday, this will be next.

After dinner we hung out at the apartment and then all of the sudden “Wrestle Mania” broke out. It was two Kaz kids against Garrett. There were arms and legs flying everywhere and loud laughs as they zinged onto the bed only to jump back up for more. It was really great fun and some serious bonding. You can tell Sasha is enjoying getting to know Garrett. They have a lot in common. Stella likes to hug and hold hands and pretty much has Papa wrapped around her finger. She is the little helper too. She cleaned the whole kitchen, swept the floors, straightened and they both insist on carrying grocery bags home. When Stella started cleaning the kitchen Sasha came in and surveyed the situation and told her to clean the walls too. She started to but Papa stepped in and said “Niet” (no) on the walls. We all crashed about 11:00.

Tuesday, May 9th

We woke up early and I checked on the kids and they were still passed out in their bed but I wish I had a camera. Sasha was on his stomach and Stella had her head on his back curled up in a ball. Garrett and Sasha went to play ball at the playground and Stella and I went down later. When we got there Garrett was playing Basketball with three other kids with Sasha looking on. Apparently he set it up for Garrett. Garrett thought they all were going to play but Sasha said no you play with them. He told me Garrett was good! Sasha is a serious climber. He likes to climb anything. I think he is Spiderman.

In the afternoon we met up with Nastya to “go magazine” which is shopping. This time we went to Green Bazaar. This is the cheapest market. Everything is Chinese made and is an outdoor flea market. It is not very exciting. Garrett said it was meat and shoes everywhere. Everything is supposed to be very cheap. It was raining some and very windy. It is unseasonably cold here but when it gets warm it gets hot quick. It has been pretty comfortable to us. We rode a bus there and back and Nastya helped us talk to Sasha. We asked him if he understood what all was going on with the adoption. He did but had a few questions about when the court date is going to be. He says he feels he is ready to move to the U.S. He also asked what sports Garrett has done. When he heard Karate he said “I want Karate too, please” in English.

Garrett had been flexing his muscles to Sasha the night before and he told Nastya about it. Garrett said he had been small when he was little too. Sasha wanted to know what had he done and Garrett said eat a lot and exercise. Well when we got home we had a snack which Sasha and Stella inhaled. I never saw nuts disappear so fast in my life. They looked like chipmunks preparing for winter with their little cheeks bulging. Later at dinner when he inhaled two big helpings of dinner it dawned on us he was starting his eating regimen right then. We have to explain not warp speed eating.

We had another Wrestle Mania where we learned Sasha is the world’s most ticklish child. It is hilarious. We had a great evening and wore them slap out. Sasha passed out at 7pm. We woke him at 8:30 and he took a bath and Stella followed. By 9:30 they had turned out the light and were asleep by 10pm. Day 4 of the bonding is done. Thanks be to God. We are all having a wonderful time.