Sunday, October 14, 2012

Posts from our first visit in June 2012

6.5.2012 Tuesday.

We woke up and had breakfast in our room. Last night we walked to a local market and bought some cheese, crackers, and yogurt. Great idea; however, we did not have a spoon or knife which made for a very interesting attempt to eat the yogurt.   We met Dasha (our interpreter) and Sveta ( our driver) at 8:00 and headed out. Traffic was not too bad,but there were many cars and a lot of diesel fumes in the air. It reminded us of Addis, but with modern cars and less people on the side of the road.  It is times like this that one appreciates the EPA.  There was a lot of construction on going.  It seemed that everywhere you would look the street was torn up as improvements were being attempted.  The city is preparing for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference that will be held later this year.

We finally made it to the Department of Education where we met a couple from Knoxville, TN.  They are adopting as well. They went in and came out a little later and seemed relieved.  We were next. When we went the office we sat down before this Russian lady who looks like Marilyn Monroe.  She said through the interpreter that Dana looked too young to have three children.  I had to agree.  Then she asked us how much money we make, why we want another child when we have three, what we did for a living, and if we would be prepared to parent a special needs child, in our country she would not be accepted ...how will she be received in your country? There was much page turning and looks of concern / disapproval as we wondered "would we pass". She then showed us a recent picture of our child to be and Dana just broke down and cried (I teared up as well). Somebody from the orphanage had dressed her up in a pretty dress for her most recent photo.  The DOE official then asked "why are you crying? This child needs a strong mother" ( you do not see a lot of displayed emotion in Russia)   Dana replied that it was a good cry.  The official then said with a smile, "this country would be happy for you to parent this child".  We then had permission to visit Angelica for the first time.

We headed directly to the baby house (orphanage) and about twenty minutes later stopped outside a solid green fence on the side of the road.  Yes, there was construction on that road as well.  We entered through a gate/door and headed down the hill.  Much of the construction in Vlad resembles the grey concrete industrial block housing from the communist era. The baby house was constructed of a beige brick and about three stories tall. There is a nice playground area and several gardens.  Now it is not state of the art playground equipment as you might see in the States, but it looked new and well maintained.  You can tell that they care about the orphans at the baby house and try to provide them with the best.

We entered in through a steel door, placed baggies over our shoes, and then headed upstairs.  The stairs were painted bright colors which was a relief from what we expected. There was color inside and the facility while old, was very clean.  We were ushered into a small room, all four of us, so I sat on the floor. I thought that would be less intimidating.

Angelica then came in and this girl who we had only known through pictures was there before us.  It is kinda amazing that the kids don't freak out when introduced to strangers.  , but she didn't. She immediately went to Dana who gave her a little stuffed animal toy dog.  We have been sleeping with this dog for months before so that our smell would be with her after we returned to the states. I hope it is a good smell.  She then came over to me and shook my hand and the looked up at the toys behind me.  We held her and allowed her to pick out some toy to play with.  Before we knew it it was time for her to eat lunch so we had to go.

She went back with her care giver and we headed out the door. We ate sushi which was very good. After lunch we headed to The Center which was very populated.  Sveta drove to pick up Angelica's medical records which were in Russian.  Dasha said she would translate them later.

We then travelled to her guardian. We did not get out of the car, but stopped in front of an older apartment building. I don't believe this person is a blood relative but appointed by the State to be an advocate for Angelica's rights. It is my understanding that this person will watch us play with Angelica and also be there in court on our next trip.

We then went back to the baby house to see and play with Angelica. This time she came out wearing a pink dress with pink bows in her hair.  

She let Dana pick her up and began looking at baby toys on a shelf. She picked out a small silver container. Inside the container were foil balls that someone had rolled up.  She would dump them out and place them back in and loved it.  We were amazed at her dexterity for only having two fingers.  She then began this mile and laugh as we played the game of placing the balls in a laughing as she dumped them out. This was so refreshing to see. We had not seen her smile until now. Now I do not wants to sound like a proud parent, but I am. This girl is smart.  She had some little pokers chips that she would place into a little won ton soup container that had a slot in the lid, and yes, by color.  Those little babushka dolls... She loved the little baby and then would put them back together.   There were these blocks that had 1,2, 3, or 4 peg holes which she would place on the appropriate area.  Finally, it was time to go. I played peak a boo with her as we waited for her care giver to take her back into her living quarters.

We left the baby house, bought some bananas across the street from a guy with a truck, and headed to get a hot pot. A hot pot is a hot water heater for tea that Dana wanted.  Went to a small electronics store a picked one up for twenty bucks or so.

Drove back to the hotel, walked to the market to pick up some bottled water and other items and walk back and went to sleep.

June 6, 2012

The sun came out today, finally!  She smiled, again, even more this time. We woke up and navigated our way back through the traffic labyrinth to baby house #1. We originally thought that she was in baby hospital #3 but just today were informed that we had been incorrect all along. Our sweet translator, Dasha, is 22 years old, and beautiful. I'm convinced all Russian women are beautiful and were born in 6 inch heels.  She showed up today (in heels) looking like she was ready to go clubbing. I was in jean capris ready to roll around on the floor with a 2 year old. Imagine the contrast!  We arrived at the baby house, put on our blue plastic booties and headed inside. We went back into the same 5x10 room that we were in yesterday. Dasha, Sveta, Neil and I situated ourselves to wait for Angelica. In came the main doctor, Angelica and then the teacher that has been working with Angelica since her arrival at the baby house. Imagine, 6 adults and a frightened toddler all in this closet sized room. Angelica was very timid at first and didn't seem to want to be there but out came the tin foil balls from earlier and she was back to the fun, focused, playful girl we met yesterday. Neil played with her while I got the chance to speak with the doctor at length. The doctor was very helpful and very knowledgeable. She did not seem rushed at all and clearly cared to give us whatever info she could offer. Then we had the opportunity to speak with Viera, her teacher. What an amazing woman she is. She clearly had a passion and a love for Angelica that was demonstrated in her enthusiastic and detailed descriptions. She wore a cross around her neck and I couldn't help but think that this was the woman I had been praying for since we started this journey.  I have prayed fervently that someone there would care passionately about Angelica, teach her, protect her and provide her with the love that we could not yet give until we got there, and there she was smiling at me. I wanted to jump up and hug her, tell her how much she meant to me but it wasn't the time for that. I had already cried in front of the Marilyn Monroe figure at the DOE, I couldn't do it again!  We were also able to briefly speak with Angelica's social worker but then it was suddenly the children's lunch time and she was gone.   We were there for about 2 hours but the time flew by....

After the baby house Dasha and Sveta took us to a traditional Russian restaurant. It was awesome. We had traditional Russian beet root salad, crepes with caviar (to die for), traditional salmon bisque, and a Russian chicken-Wellington style dish. The room had red velvet walls with mirrors, candle sticks, and gold gilded portraits of past czars. At the table next to us was a James Bond look alike: suit (bulletproof?), briefcase (with decoding mega computers?) , gold watch (with launchable repelling hook?) and all.  On the other side of the room was the James Bond style villain with piercing blue eyes and a small trimmed blond goatee. On his arm was a 6 foot blond (NOT including the 6 inch stilettos). As much as I am trying to run from my own Russian Hollywood stereotypes, today brought them running back!!!

We returned to the hotel and went walking down to the beach overlooking the Sea of Japan. In so many ways this whole thing feels like a big dream... but boy, oh boy am I glad to be a blessed participant!  It's 10:15 PM, still light out, and time to go to bed.  Until tomorrow... Spakoynay nochee! (Good Night).
-Dana



June 7, 2012

The fog has returned and Golden Horn Bay was nothing but an outline as we drove by this morning. Many compare Vladivostok to San Francisco with it's steep streets, abundant foliage and frequent mist.  I think it's beautiful but I must say, hats off to our friends in the northwest, we miss the sun!

We woke up early this morning and went for our first Russian run. Thank God for sea level!  Smiles are often hard to come by in this part of the world but this morning a Russian man walking his dog smiled as we ran by.  He may have actually been laughing at us running but hey, we'll take the smile!

The Russians are wonderful people. They certainly don't wear their hearts on their sleeves as we Americans tend to do; and the formalities expected in their daily greetings don't allow for cheerful Texas "Howdy"s, but they are kind people. From Dasha and Sveta to the orphanage workers and hotel workers we have yet to feel unwelcome ONCE we had the time to get to know anyone better than "Hello". They often chuckle at our gregarious (over the top?) introductions but we like to believe they silently enjoy the enthusiasm (or at least Neil believes that-but he can talk to a "Stalin statue" as our translator told me).

We returned back to the baby house and were met by the social worker. She took us upstairs into a much, much bigger room than yesterday (YAY) and led us inside. There was another adoptive couple in there from Detroit that we had met at our hotel. They were coloring at a table with their new little boy. Another door opened and we saw Angelica (pronounced "Ahn-gel-eee-ka" for those who have asked) being dressed by an orphanage worker in the other room. They were putting her in an adorable little green dress. She looked up and her eyes lit up when she saw us waving and saying "pree-viet" (hello). It was heart warming. The last two days she had been very timid when first seeing us...today she was ready to rumble!

As they were finishing up with her we were given a tour of the living quarters which we had not expected to be able to see. We were amazed. This sweet baby house is immaculate and bright. Toys were abundant, little beds all lined up together were neatly made, and everything was well cared for. As hard as it will be to leave her here when we go I feel so much better knowing that she is in the care of the ladies at Baby House #1. They love their children well there.

We got to play with Angelica in the bigger room today. She loved decorating her new Disney Princess coloring book with the stickers provided--"I will pull them off and put them back on by myself, thank you very much!"  (Ah, the things she will teach us!)  We ran around the room with the other little boy, her friend Nicolai, and she devoured the Teddy Grahams and yogurt melts we had brought. They told us we could go outside to play. Yeehaw!  As we got ready to go outside they handed us enough clothes to help her survive a Siberian blizzard and we knew right away that we better not leave a single piece off of her.  In Russia they bundle their kids up like it is their single most important purpose in life and shame on you, American parent, if you do not comply. So out we go, Angelica looking like the kid on "The Christmas Story" and Neil and I in our light sweaters/fleece. The playground was a blast.  She and Nikolai ran around squealing, blowing the bubbles we had brought, playing hide and go seek, sliding down the slide head first (with no arms to stop her... "I'm fine, ma, stand back please!"). It was great. This was not the timid girl from Day 1, this was a fun loving, ornery, joyful, headstrong Gamblin-to-be!  As always it was time to go too soon and away she went.

We then drove back into the center of the city to some non-descript grey government building to see a notary so that we could sign papers to indicate that we were "still interested" in adopting her now that we had spent time with her.  Uh... Yes, and Yes, again! :)

Home to the hotel for a bite to eat, no big fancy Russian James Bond lunch today.  After lunch...another stroll down to the Sea of Japan.  It's a little nippy out there--I better go get my full bodied ski suit before we go out. :). Until tomorrow.....

-Dana


June 8, 2012 (Part 4 of our first trip journal)

I've lost any hope that we will see the sun again while finishing up our time here in Vlad but I enjoy the thick green canopy of trees that surround us as a result of the constant moisture.

We returned to the baby house for our last official day of visiting. We hope to be with Angelica briefly tomorrow before we take off for Korea but the visit will be just that-BRIEF-since we don't want to risk missing our flight.

During the drive there we ate our standard continental breakfast: crackers, cheese with mushrooms (so yummy) and Russian smoked salmon. Unlike so many other countries where coffee is a staple and one of the most enjoyable quick culinary travel treats, Russians, surprisingly, are not coffee people. Russians are tea people. We have had our fair share of tea this week but I must say, we are looking forward to our Starbucks when we return. In the car I found it ironic that interspersed with our Russian techno music was Kelly Clarkson belting out Niezche's famous "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger".  I would have to say that describes well the emotional whirlwind that is adoption.  Immediately after that came Maroon 5's "Moves Like Jagger" which Neil decided to demonstrate while walking down the busy Russian street later that afternoon and then on a security camera in a store. He is convinced " 'They' are watching us".  I'm not sure if our our high heel wearing-club dancing-beautiful translator can't wait to see us go tomorrow or if she will mourn our departure. Of course Neil says it is the latter.

Angelica was a little timid again today. No friend to run on the playground with this time; plus we were back in tiny room #1 again, but we made due. Today we had vanilla biscuit style cookies and I like to believe her smile was simply masked by the fact that her cheeks were stuffed so full!  We colored, did stickers, read a book... she discovered the zippers on Neil's backpack (and the fact that the cookie bag was in there) and there suddenly was no stopping her.  She let Neil pick her up and rock her, like a baby, and her eyes started to droop. We turned the lights down and he sang our family lullaby, "Bye-O-Baby", to her. It was a sweet few minutes and nice to see that she would allow him to do this without pushing away. She seemed to go more readily to Neil than to me today and for this I am also thankful.  She does not appear to fear men, which is a good thing. Often orphans have had little to no contact with men and they can be frightened simply by their presence.  She seems to feel Neil's deep love for her and she burrows into it. Thank you, Lord. I pray that continues.

After leaving the baby house we went to the center of the city to eat at a traditional Georgian restaurant (not as in Atlanta). It was delicious. I had beef tongue, yes tongue, and it was divine. Neil ordered TWO entrees: stuffed meatballs as well as mutton (lamb) with eggplant and tomatoes. He had already changed his mind once and thought the waitress would freak if he did it again, so he got two.  He then explained that he was eating "cafeteria style", just like Luby's in Texas.   He was perceptive enough to hear that our driver ordered coffee.  When it did not arrive in a timely fashion he asked the waitress, "cafe?", while motioning to the driver.  The interpreter explained that the driver wanted it after the meal.  Neil then went into a diatribe as to how he is always amazed by those who can eat an entire meal without drinking any fluids.  He puts down bottled water like it is oxygen.  Needless to say, we chowed!  Oh, and of course, don't forget the hot tea and coffee to finish off our meal.

We went searching for a store that we read about that sells old Russian relics: warship clocks, soviet cameras, Stalin paintings etc.  We read that it was operated by a "spry octogenarian" who was a retired navy vet. After walking through a number of alley ways our social worker came out of a small side door and informed us that she had just been told that this man had been killed in a robbery of his store just a few months back and that the store was no longer around.   This made our hearts heavy, to know of a crime like that against this old man. Mean people suck. I'm glad that one day there will be no more orphans.  I'm glad that this man will see justice served. I'm glad that I will not be punished for everything that I do wrong (which, mind you, is a lot) because someone has already been punished on my behalf.  Thank you, Jesus.

Tonight we pack our bags to come home. We will spend 24 hours in Seoul on our way home and we hope to see a little of the city.  We are ready to see our kids and to relieve our sweet parents!  Remington had his first swim meet of the summer and Jameson started to crawl when we were here. We saw the emailed video of our new little cruiser but we are ready to cheer him on in person.

It will hurt to leave Angelica behind.  Court date, please come quickly.  Viera, please keep loving her until we return.  Russia, please keep the adoption doors open so we can bring our baby home.  Friends, please keep praying.

-Dana


June 9th, 2012 (Saturday)

Well, this is our last day in Russia. We woke up and got everything packed.  We have a "dirty clothes" suitcase and an "everything else" suitcase.  I don't think I left anything, but then again, I can't find anything either.  We met a great couple who are also in the adoption process, PJ and Annie.  They are from Mississippi and reminded me a lot of Shane Sunn and Brian Holland.  PJ is a pastor, like Shane, who loves to hunt
and fish. After being with PJ and knowing Shane I am now convinced that the only thing men do in Mississippi is hunt and fish.   PJ also reminded me of Brian Holland because like Brian, Dana could not understand a word of what he was saying for about the first twenty minutes of the conversion due to his thick southern accent.  Dana says Russian is easier than Southern.  After eating our standard morning in-room breakfast and trying to update FB with spotty access, we were ready to meet our team, Sveta and Dasha.  PJ helped me with the bags and we said goodbye (for now) to the Vlad Motor Inn.

It was chilly and overcast; I could not see the ships in the harbor as we drove by Golden Horn Bay.  The fog was thick and reminded me of what one might see in San Francisco.  We made it to the orphanage and brought with us donations of new children's sandals (they like to have the orphans wear these over their footie pajamas), Desitin cream for those little baby bottoms, and clothes for kids ages 6 months to 4 years.  The workers at the baby house were very appreciative.  We placed our blue plastic shoe covers (aka shower caps) over our shoes and headed up the multi-colored painted concrete stairs to see our baby girl.  Dana will tell you that blue shoe covers do not work very well over flip flop sandals.  Come to think of it, I do not think many flip flop sandals are worn in Russia, maybe if they were high heeled flip flops......

Angelica came in and looked as cute as ever. She had a blue dress on and, of course, a pink coat because we were inside and perhaps there could be a draft. :)  She came up and sat on my lap. We pulled stickers off and placed them on her coat, her tights, my nose (with which she started to smile). Then it was off to other toys, we are constantly amazed by what she can do in spite of her "disability." We then gave her two books that Dana and I recorded (you know, those Hallmark books you can read and record with your voice).  Dana even sang on one of them and recorded some Russian phrases.   Angelica seemed to be most interested in pressing the buttons on the book so that the recording would start over...and over.... and over.  We'll see how long the workers leave the batteries in that book.  They may even establish a policy that no noise making gifts are allowed after getting this set.  I have often wanted to establish that policy in my own home.

We had to leave the baby house and Angelica cried when she had to leave Dana's arms.  We'd like to think that it was because she was missing us, but I think it was more likely that she simply wanted to continue playing. We will definitely miss her and can't wait to get her home with our kids. We are thankful that the Lord has provided her with a very nice baby house and wonderful caregivers, it makes the leaving just a little bit easier.

Sveta, who is a wonderful driver, took us to the airport.  We had some very close calls when other drivers around us decided that two lanes of traffic could be divided into 3 or 4 lanes, but not Sveta, she took it slow and steady.  We drove 30 miles in an hour and fifteen minutes.  Our Russia guidebook instructed us to bring "flexibility and a trunk load of patience".  I would second that.

Vladivostok, "the back door to Russia", as the immigration officer called it, has a very small airport. We waited in a big, discombobulated crowd of other travelers outside a large solid metal door in the main airport hallway. Finally the door opened and it was a rush into the two counters to check in.  Three officials and four stamps later we were ready to board the plane. Have I mentioned Russia's obsession with stamps?  I'm not talking little sticky stamps. I'm talking big whopping, slam-it-down on the counter, make a super loud noise stamps. They love them. During our trip we had passports stamped, visas stamped, photos stamped, receipts stamped, hotel reservation documents stamped, menus stamped...if it can be stamped, it gets stamped in Russia.

We landed in back in Seoul and man, this place knows how to make things efficient.  We breezed through the airport immigrations and customs.  Dana had the great idea of storing our big bags at the airport so that we could travel light for next 24 hours and we went in search of an English speaking attendant at one of the many Information booths to find out how to get to our Gangnam area hotel.  Fifty minutes and 7 maps later (2 in Korean, 1 in Japanese mind you) and we are off.

That is where I'm going to sign off for this post. Dana will have to update you on the rest of the adventure as we make our way back to Colorado and back to the three babies that wait for us there. To all of you who are reading our posts: we are amazed by the fact that anyone would actually spend the time to read about our adventures.  The encouragement we receive by just knowing that you are supporting us in this crazy journey and walking each step of the way with us is indescribable. Thank you!

-Neil

1 comment:

  1. Thank you for sharing your adventures with us. I look forward to seeing this sweet little girl's homecoming! :)

    ReplyDelete