Saturday, March 24, 2007
03/24/2007
During our second visit Olivia seemed to beam even brighter this visit, like she was even happier that we had returned. She ran to papa and sat on his lap. She likes to look at the photos that we have taken of all of us, and she points out each of us, papa, mama, and Olga (her Russian name). We brought two juice boxes again, she loved the apple/cherry, which was the same as we had brought the day before. But she was not so big on the apple/peach. We also gave her a yogurt which she loved. We spoke with her about her new name Olivia (through her translator), she said that she liked her name. When we would walk around outside she would talk to all the adults and though we didn’t get all that she said, see was telling everyone that she was going to AMERICA. Near the end of the visit she didn’t want to get ready to leave. Our translator stated that she couldn’t believe that we were finally there, that she had waited to so long for her family, and couldn’t believe that it was true. She wanted reassurance that we would come again tomorrow.
Friday, March 23, 2007
MEETING OLIVIA (03/23/2007 cont'd)
At 10:00am we went to the orphanage to meet our daughter, Olivia (we were with the Mikos family). We were escorted to the consoler’s office and meet with her and her staff. They talked with us briefly… they wanted to confirm that we were aware of our daughters medical condition (she has severe special needs, her condition is referred to as Amyoplasia or Arthrogyposis) and then asked us how many children we had. They seemed shocked that we already have 4 children, and talked a bit about that among themselves in Russian, it would have been interesting to know what was said… then they brought in our daughter, we had hoped to video her coming in, but they didn’t tell us that she was coming. Our daughter Olivia (her Russian name is Olga) is 6 ½ years old, so she came running out and greeted us she shook everyone’s hands and wished them a happy new year (so our translator told us) She was beaming from ear to ear. She hopped on our laps and immediately said papa and mama (which is the Russian words for mother and father, it was nice to understand something she said). She seemed to know who we were and that we were to be her parents. The other couple is adopting a 2 year old little boy, he could not talk but grinned at them, and seemed happy as well.
Each day we spend 2 hours with our children. The children seem clean and well mannered. They also seem happy, Olivia seems exceptionally happy. She is very playful and has no problem sitting on our laps or interacting with us. She keeps speaking to us in Russian, so I think that she forgets we don’t understand her. We are picking up a few words, but she is quicker with her English then we are with our Russian.
Olivia is somewhat of a celebrity at the orphanage, in part we believe that is because she is 6 ½ years old and children are supposed to be moved from the orphanage at 3 years old, so she has been at the orphanage since birth, and is well known. She also has a beaming personality, and all that have met her seem to remember our girl. They have all commented on her personality and that she seems to be the favorite child at the orphanage. Even the coordinator knew Olivia, and was excited that she was being adopted. He tried to convey to us how special Olivia is, and stated that Olivia was like GOLD.
During our first visitation, Olivia beamed with happiness and seemed very light hearted and carefree. She was very affectionate, we gave her some juice and she sucked it down in seconds, so we decided to bring two juice boxes next time. She asked if we would return tomorrow and we said that we would. We put a shirt on her from Salt Lake City, Utah and showed her photos of her siblings. We asked the translator when they told Olivia we were coming, and she stated that Olivia has known for months. She asked us in Russian if we had purchased a bed for her. I wished that I had taken a photo of her bed as I think it would have helped her feel that the adoption was more final. She didn’t seem at all upset when we left and just went bouncing out of the room to see her teachers and friends.
Each day we spend 2 hours with our children. The children seem clean and well mannered. They also seem happy, Olivia seems exceptionally happy. She is very playful and has no problem sitting on our laps or interacting with us. She keeps speaking to us in Russian, so I think that she forgets we don’t understand her. We are picking up a few words, but she is quicker with her English then we are with our Russian.
Olivia is somewhat of a celebrity at the orphanage, in part we believe that is because she is 6 ½ years old and children are supposed to be moved from the orphanage at 3 years old, so she has been at the orphanage since birth, and is well known. She also has a beaming personality, and all that have met her seem to remember our girl. They have all commented on her personality and that she seems to be the favorite child at the orphanage. Even the coordinator knew Olivia, and was excited that she was being adopted. He tried to convey to us how special Olivia is, and stated that Olivia was like GOLD.
During our first visitation, Olivia beamed with happiness and seemed very light hearted and carefree. She was very affectionate, we gave her some juice and she sucked it down in seconds, so we decided to bring two juice boxes next time. She asked if we would return tomorrow and we said that we would. We put a shirt on her from Salt Lake City, Utah and showed her photos of her siblings. We asked the translator when they told Olivia we were coming, and she stated that Olivia has known for months. She asked us in Russian if we had purchased a bed for her. I wished that I had taken a photo of her bed as I think it would have helped her feel that the adoption was more final. She didn’t seem at all upset when we left and just went bouncing out of the room to see her teachers and friends.
03/23/2007
Then at about 4:15am they knocked on our door to tell us it was our stop, we only had a few minutes to gather our things… we had to exit the train quickly, as they only stop about 10-15 minutes, and we had 4 suitcases to haul around (1/2 of which are gifts for the orphanage and staff, which are customary).
We were then greeted at the train station by our coordinator’s (Bulat’s) staff. They were very polite and helped us carry our luggage to two vehicles, and they had a translator to great us. Then they drove us to our hotel, were we were able to shower and get ready and eat breakfast.
We were then greeted at the train station by our coordinator’s (Bulat’s) staff. They were very polite and helped us carry our luggage to two vehicles, and they had a translator to great us. Then they drove us to our hotel, were we were able to shower and get ready and eat breakfast.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
03/22/2007
Bulat then took us to a hotel which we arrived at on Thursday at 3:00am were we stayed until our train departure at 7:00pm that evening. We were able to sleep shower, and he took our cash for the in country adoption fees/expenses $8,000 and $500 driver/translator, then we also showed him our gifts and he picked two of them (he did the same with the other couple that we traveled with).
He then explained a little about the culture and gave his speech…. which lasted about 3 hours. So when we finally were able to sleep it was about 5:00am. We slept a while and then got up around 9:00am for breakfast, and then walked around since it was a holiday (Kazakhstan New Year – March 22nd) so there were many things to see on the streets. We then went back to the hotel prepared our luggage, and ate dinner, and then Bulat picked us up for the train. He had purchased our tickets then we reimbursed him for that cost. (about $50 per person) The train was not as bad as everyone stated, it was not luxurious, but not horrible either. The bathrooms, reminded me of an outhouse (due to the smell), and the beds weren’t great, but clean, and you are so tired you can sleep anywhere at that point. It truly was what you would picture a “soviet train” to look and feel like.
He then explained a little about the culture and gave his speech…. which lasted about 3 hours. So when we finally were able to sleep it was about 5:00am. We slept a while and then got up around 9:00am for breakfast, and then walked around since it was a holiday (Kazakhstan New Year – March 22nd) so there were many things to see on the streets. We then went back to the hotel prepared our luggage, and ate dinner, and then Bulat picked us up for the train. He had purchased our tickets then we reimbursed him for that cost. (about $50 per person) The train was not as bad as everyone stated, it was not luxurious, but not horrible either. The bathrooms, reminded me of an outhouse (due to the smell), and the beds weren’t great, but clean, and you are so tired you can sleep anywhere at that point. It truly was what you would picture a “soviet train” to look and feel like.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
03/21/2007
We arrived in Frankfurt at about Wednesday at 7:10am and then left for Almaty at 12:20pm. We arrived in Almaty on Wednesday at 11:45pm where we were met with a sign by our coordinator Bulat (not to be confused with “Borat”), with Adoption Ark.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
3/20/2007
We left Salt Lake City, Utah Tuesday at 10:50am. We then arrived in Illinois at 2:56pm
Which is were we met another couple that we were scheduled to travel with, that is also adopting a 2 year old from our same orphanage. They are Paula and Jim Mikos from Chicago/Rockford, Illinois. Then we left Illinois about 4:45pm
Which is were we met another couple that we were scheduled to travel with, that is also adopting a 2 year old from our same orphanage. They are Paula and Jim Mikos from Chicago/Rockford, Illinois. Then we left Illinois about 4:45pm
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
March 2007
03/02/2007 - Sent final payment to Adoption Ark ($700)
03/08/2007 - Received our Visa's in the mail.
03/14/2007 - Booked our flights to Kazakhstan, it is all official now we leave March 20th, and should finally meet our daughter March 23rd. It has been almost two years, it is so hard to believe.
03/08/2007 - Received our Visa's in the mail.
03/14/2007 - Booked our flights to Kazakhstan, it is all official now we leave March 20th, and should finally meet our daughter March 23rd. It has been almost two years, it is so hard to believe.
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