Today I headed back to the mall to work on purchasing the items on my list. The air outside is even warmer than it has been, -1C which is about 30F. Upon entering the mall I notice something different, noise. While American malls are bustling with music and people talking loudly, it's not like that in Russia...it's quite most everywhere I've been.
The noise is coming from the third floor. It's a total party up there. Outside the sporting goods store a stand is set up and a girl is singing, in Russian, while people do some sort of group dance. She finishes then there is ballroom dancing, more Russian singing, break dancing, a guy playing the accordion, and Celtic dancing. A bit later a Taylor Swift looking girl gets on stage and starts singing Mama Mia. The whole crowd starts singing, in perfect English, and a conga line begins. I don't know about you but I can't resist a good conga line, no matter the country.
After about two hours of this party I go score some snow pants 30% off because I can always find a sale, no matter the country. Next I must go downstairs and drool over the chocolate isle of the grocery store. For reasons unknown to me there is American chocolate in the isle. American chocolate does not deserve to be anywhere near European chocolate...it's just so inferior. I mean would you pick snickers or dove when you could have cadbury or milka? No! I score cadbury hazelnut for only 40rubles which is about $1.35. Perfect.
I leave, and by this time it has started snowing out. The first flakes I've seen here. It's lovely and according to the forecast it's going to continue all week.
Sunday, January 30
Saturday, January 29
the other way
Busting out of this hotel is no easy task. The door just always seems stuck or locked or something. There is not latch to push or knob to turn just an immovable handle to shove.
Day one-push, shove, push, shove, Russian woman hears my struggles and goes all law and order style and busts the door open for me. Okay, so that's how it is.
Day two-push, shove, back up, get some momentum, slam into the door, nothing. This place is impossible to leave. Russian woman hears my struggles and starts telling me what to do in Russian, okay got it.... no luck and she opens it for me.
Day three-forget the shoving and pushing because I clearly can't do it. All morning I spend thinking about how I can get out by myself. 12:30, ready to go. I go downstairs, drop my key on the counter, and get out my credit card. See between the door and the door jam is the little metal thingy that keeps the door closed. You know turn the knob and the metal thingy moves so you can get out? You know what I mean. Anyway, there is no ability to turn because there is no knob, so I shove my credit card in there to push the metal thing out of the latch and the door just slips open....finally. Glad I figured it out on day 3 rather than 13....I'm only slightly more successful at getting back inside. I only leave once a day.
Today when I left I went out to the main street and turned the other direction, maybe my favorite direction so far. This direction led to the mall! Bottom floor, grocery store. Middle and top floor, various clothing and shoe stores. As soon as I walk in I am struck by the heat. No one else seems to be, children walk around dressed in full snow gear, women in long fur coats, they don't even unbutton and I feel as though I may melt. I stroll past the refrigerated food section so I can cool off before carrying on.
Upstairs it's your typical mall with all the usual suspects. Sporting goods store, underwear store, hat store, high healed boot store, toy store, women's clothing store, kid's clothing store. I have two things in my head that I was hopping to find.
-sippy cup
-baby tights These things are nothing like american tights. They are thick and warm cozy tights designed for both boys and girls. Because why should only girls have warm legs? I didn't bring snow pants because they are so bulky these tights will keep his legs cozy warm under his regular pants. I just need to figure out how to read the size chart on the side...
The mall had both of these items. Score. I didn't purchase them today, lets not get ahead of ourselves. I'm here until Feb 6th I need to spread out the excitement. Instead I go back down to the food store and look for my favorite ice cream bar. Find it, buy it, and walk around outside in the 14 degree air eating my favorite ice cream. Tomorrow I shall conquer baby tights.
--------
For whatever reason the comment section is not allowing me to comment. I see your concerns about the snow pants. I kinda figured that was the case...I shall pick up a pair.
Day one-push, shove, push, shove, Russian woman hears my struggles and goes all law and order style and busts the door open for me. Okay, so that's how it is.
Day two-push, shove, back up, get some momentum, slam into the door, nothing. This place is impossible to leave. Russian woman hears my struggles and starts telling me what to do in Russian, okay got it.... no luck and she opens it for me.
Day three-forget the shoving and pushing because I clearly can't do it. All morning I spend thinking about how I can get out by myself. 12:30, ready to go. I go downstairs, drop my key on the counter, and get out my credit card. See between the door and the door jam is the little metal thingy that keeps the door closed. You know turn the knob and the metal thingy moves so you can get out? You know what I mean. Anyway, there is no ability to turn because there is no knob, so I shove my credit card in there to push the metal thing out of the latch and the door just slips open....finally. Glad I figured it out on day 3 rather than 13....I'm only slightly more successful at getting back inside. I only leave once a day.
Today when I left I went out to the main street and turned the other direction, maybe my favorite direction so far. This direction led to the mall! Bottom floor, grocery store. Middle and top floor, various clothing and shoe stores. As soon as I walk in I am struck by the heat. No one else seems to be, children walk around dressed in full snow gear, women in long fur coats, they don't even unbutton and I feel as though I may melt. I stroll past the refrigerated food section so I can cool off before carrying on.
Upstairs it's your typical mall with all the usual suspects. Sporting goods store, underwear store, hat store, high healed boot store, toy store, women's clothing store, kid's clothing store. I have two things in my head that I was hopping to find.
-sippy cup
-baby tights These things are nothing like american tights. They are thick and warm cozy tights designed for both boys and girls. Because why should only girls have warm legs? I didn't bring snow pants because they are so bulky these tights will keep his legs cozy warm under his regular pants. I just need to figure out how to read the size chart on the side...
The mall had both of these items. Score. I didn't purchase them today, lets not get ahead of ourselves. I'm here until Feb 6th I need to spread out the excitement. Instead I go back down to the food store and look for my favorite ice cream bar. Find it, buy it, and walk around outside in the 14 degree air eating my favorite ice cream. Tomorrow I shall conquer baby tights.
--------
For whatever reason the comment section is not allowing me to comment. I see your concerns about the snow pants. I kinda figured that was the case...I shall pick up a pair.
Friday, January 28
home
26 hours, 29 minutes, take off Kemerovo, Russia to touch down Kansas City.
Once again, it was evident that God was helping me through our travels. We when departed for this trip, we left Kansas City when snow flakes were just starting to fall, KC ended up getting seven inches of snow. Today I wake up in my own bed and read that NYC got 19 inches of snow last night… my plane departed JFK at 6pm before the real storm hit. Our travels during this trip did not include the Moscow airport impacted by the attack earlier this week.
How do you travel from one side of the globe to the other in 1 day? I was on four different planes yesterday. I was certain I was missing my 39 minute connection at Cincinnati when the plane departing JFK was held for about an hour waiting for the de-icing process (Russia completes the process in about 5 minutes, I think the US needs to take Winter Weather Aviation lessons from them). Halfway through the trip, the pilot assured us that everyone on the plane was going to make their connections. Sure enough, even with my connection being on the other side of the terminal, my bag and I made it!
As I look back on last week, everything has gone great. Trisha and I stayed on schedule, we didn’t get sick, everyone was supportive on the trip, and most importantly the judge said YES! Please continue to pray for Trisha’s safety, no changes in Russia’s position regarding the adoption during the 10 day wait period, our little guy’s health, and wisdom for the doctors in the US when he arrives. I continue to be in awe of the support we have seen from our friends and family. This was renewed last night by Joel and Steve picking me up from the airport and the neighbors, unsolicited, shoveling our driveway and taking care of the house while we were away. Thank you for your prayers and support.
-Jim
Thursday, January 27
Парк park
As soon as I step outside and can tell it is warmer. Not because the air feels any warmer on my exposed nose but rather my lungs don't instantly feel as they are being assaulted. 5 degrees, my new warm. I set off to explore...
park entrance
bench
roller coaster warning sign?
farris wheel
tom river
human zamboni
park entrance 
bench
roller coaster warning sign?
farris wheel 
tom river 
human zamboniTuesday, January 25
and the wait begins
Today I did almost nothing, and I liked it. Vlad picked Jim up this morning for his crazy day of flying home something like 26 hours in one day, when you travel west you can add hours and hours to your day...amazing. After dropping Jim off at the airport Vlad came back to get me. It was told to me that I would be leaving my hotel when Jim left and moving to a different one.
When I walked in I handed over my passport so it could be registered by the hotel and they asked me when I wanted to eat breakfast. I said 8:00, look I have plans! At 8:00 I take my pajama wearing American self down to breakfast. Not sure a Russia women would ever do such a thing, I brushed my hair and put on a sweater so that's something. They bring me some eggs, toast, cucumbers, tomatoes, yogurt, tea, and something that looks like a yodel (you know the twinkies cousin) It was good, wonder what it will be tomorrow.
Came back to my room to surf the Russia TV channels and surprisingly found the state of the union on. The president finished and then it's back to Russian. You know I have heard of people learning english by watching TV. How much TV? How much do I have to watch to learn some Russian? I pick up maybe every 100th word, so lame. I need to search for Russian sesame street.
No I'm not going to sit around my hotel room for all these days. The weather tomorrow is predicted to be a balmy 14...14 above! I figured I'd wait for the warmer weather before I go explore. Saturday it's going to be 24, there will be no holding me back.
----------------------
Many many questions from friends and family about what is going on next.
Yes, we did pass court. They said we could be his parents, but it still takes some time. There is a mandatory 10 day wait period. Time for his biological family to change their minds or for me to change mine, neither of which are likely to occur.
No, he is not with me. He is at his orphanage in Prokopyevsk and I am at a hotel in Kemerovo, which is three hours north.
Sadly, I will most likely not be visiting him during this wait time. The drive is long and expensive and we are not traveling with another family so the cost can not be split. Come Feb 7th I promise we will spend lots and lots of time together.
Jan 26th -Jim goes home.
Jan 26th - Feb 6th Trisha enjoys life in Kemerovo, alone
Feb 7th - Trisha picks the babe up at the orphanage!
Feb 7th & 8th - Trisha and babe enjoy life in Kemerovo, together.
Feb 9th - Trisha and babe fly to Moscow.
Feb 9th - Feb 16th - Trisha and babe enjoy more bonding time together, play at the apartment, learn about crayons, go to meetings, see a doctor, get a visa, and create general mischief.
Feb 17th -Trisha and the babe fly out of Moscow to Atlanta and then on to Kansas.
When I walked in I handed over my passport so it could be registered by the hotel and they asked me when I wanted to eat breakfast. I said 8:00, look I have plans! At 8:00 I take my pajama wearing American self down to breakfast. Not sure a Russia women would ever do such a thing, I brushed my hair and put on a sweater so that's something. They bring me some eggs, toast, cucumbers, tomatoes, yogurt, tea, and something that looks like a yodel (you know the twinkies cousin) It was good, wonder what it will be tomorrow.
Came back to my room to surf the Russia TV channels and surprisingly found the state of the union on. The president finished and then it's back to Russian. You know I have heard of people learning english by watching TV. How much TV? How much do I have to watch to learn some Russian? I pick up maybe every 100th word, so lame. I need to search for Russian sesame street.
No I'm not going to sit around my hotel room for all these days. The weather tomorrow is predicted to be a balmy 14...14 above! I figured I'd wait for the warmer weather before I go explore. Saturday it's going to be 24, there will be no holding me back.
----------------------
Many many questions from friends and family about what is going on next.
Yes, we did pass court. They said we could be his parents, but it still takes some time. There is a mandatory 10 day wait period. Time for his biological family to change their minds or for me to change mine, neither of which are likely to occur.
No, he is not with me. He is at his orphanage in Prokopyevsk and I am at a hotel in Kemerovo, which is three hours north.
Sadly, I will most likely not be visiting him during this wait time. The drive is long and expensive and we are not traveling with another family so the cost can not be split. Come Feb 7th I promise we will spend lots and lots of time together.
Jan 26th -Jim goes home.
Jan 26th - Feb 6th Trisha enjoys life in Kemerovo, alone
Feb 7th - Trisha picks the babe up at the orphanage!
Feb 7th & 8th - Trisha and babe enjoy life in Kemerovo, together.
Feb 9th - Trisha and babe fly to Moscow.
Feb 9th - Feb 16th - Trisha and babe enjoy more bonding time together, play at the apartment, learn about crayons, go to meetings, see a doctor, get a visa, and create general mischief.
Feb 17th -Trisha and the babe fly out of Moscow to Atlanta and then on to Kansas.
court room #213
Yesterday, after we returned "home" from the orphanage, we went through the possible court questions. Practicing how to answer them warmly but efficiently. This morning Vlad and Anna, our coordinator, came to pick us up and take us to court. We were brought to the court house along with another family that was having their hearing. All of us we told to sit and wait on these benches near the door while Anna went and did something with our passports. Time passes and we chat with the other family. They are from Malta and this is their second Russian adoption.
Our social worker, from the orphanage, walks in and shakes our hands then goes off somewhere. We just continue to sit and make conversation, which I find thrilling because I love chatting with strangers. Finally, it is time to go upstairs. Anna says "sit here" to the other family and "come on your first" to us. Here we go.
It's not a courty looking court room. Nothing like you see on the people's court, judge judy, law & order it's more of a closet looking court room. The judge sits in her judge like robe at her desk, the prosecutor sits on one side, a note taker on the other, then our social worker, translator, Jim and myself all mashed into closet court room #213.
The judge calls the meeting to order and states the purpose. Jim is asked to stand and state his basic information, then I am asked the same. I sit and Jim stands back up to answer all the important questions about his job, our house, our family and friends, why adopt, etc. Jim sits and I am asked if there is anything I would like to add, she asks again why adopt, why not biological kids instead, why don't I work, and if I have experience caring for small children.
The judge seems to be done with her questions and the prosecutor would like me to state again why we are adopting and not having a biological kid right now.
Side note... In our minds it makes so much sense to adopt first. The process is long, and hard, and requires a lot of time away from home. It would just be so hard to do with another child at home. However, Russia acts like this is the first time they have ever heard of such an insane idea.
The judge goes through our dossier. Right there, right before us all that hard work just swishing by so quickly, I assume it means everything is proper and all in order. She does not ask for any of the additional papers that we have brought with us. She asks if we need more time, no. She asks if we need more information, no. She asks if we would like to adopt him, yes yes please.
Next up is the social worker. She is the one on our side. She observed us back in August when we visited the orphanage. She states that when the boy was brought in he was starting to cry and we hugged him, comforted him, and made him feel happy. She tells about us playing and interacting with him. As she talks I'm starting to feel like it's the beginning of the end, I know I'm going to start crying soon. I start my I wont cry mantra, that sounds like this "I like baseball, the Red Sox play baseball" It's not working. The social worker carries on about how adoption by us would be the best for this child. The social worker is finished and everyone but the judge has to leave the room so she can deliberate, as if there is really something to think about!
Off to the hall we go. We spend about two minutes standing in the hall, just enough time for me to clear the lump out of my throat. Back in and sit down. The judge says that she thinks our home and our family would be the best for this child. We agree. I want to shake her hand. I want to thank her, thank everyone there, but I have no words. My face is streaming with tears and I hear them giggling as I walk out the door. Anna gives me a hug and I pull myself together. Jim and I go back to the hall to sit and the other couple says "congratulations mama and papa"
-----------------
Thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement. The journey isn't over but we are starting to see that faint light at the end of the tunnel. Jim leaves Kemerovo tomorrow on a 7:00am flight for an insane day of travel back to Kansas.
Our social worker, from the orphanage, walks in and shakes our hands then goes off somewhere. We just continue to sit and make conversation, which I find thrilling because I love chatting with strangers. Finally, it is time to go upstairs. Anna says "sit here" to the other family and "come on your first" to us. Here we go.
It's not a courty looking court room. Nothing like you see on the people's court, judge judy, law & order it's more of a closet looking court room. The judge sits in her judge like robe at her desk, the prosecutor sits on one side, a note taker on the other, then our social worker, translator, Jim and myself all mashed into closet court room #213.
The judge calls the meeting to order and states the purpose. Jim is asked to stand and state his basic information, then I am asked the same. I sit and Jim stands back up to answer all the important questions about his job, our house, our family and friends, why adopt, etc. Jim sits and I am asked if there is anything I would like to add, she asks again why adopt, why not biological kids instead, why don't I work, and if I have experience caring for small children.
The judge seems to be done with her questions and the prosecutor would like me to state again why we are adopting and not having a biological kid right now.
Side note... In our minds it makes so much sense to adopt first. The process is long, and hard, and requires a lot of time away from home. It would just be so hard to do with another child at home. However, Russia acts like this is the first time they have ever heard of such an insane idea.
The judge goes through our dossier. Right there, right before us all that hard work just swishing by so quickly, I assume it means everything is proper and all in order. She does not ask for any of the additional papers that we have brought with us. She asks if we need more time, no. She asks if we need more information, no. She asks if we would like to adopt him, yes yes please.
Next up is the social worker. She is the one on our side. She observed us back in August when we visited the orphanage. She states that when the boy was brought in he was starting to cry and we hugged him, comforted him, and made him feel happy. She tells about us playing and interacting with him. As she talks I'm starting to feel like it's the beginning of the end, I know I'm going to start crying soon. I start my I wont cry mantra, that sounds like this "I like baseball, the Red Sox play baseball" It's not working. The social worker carries on about how adoption by us would be the best for this child. The social worker is finished and everyone but the judge has to leave the room so she can deliberate, as if there is really something to think about!
Off to the hall we go. We spend about two minutes standing in the hall, just enough time for me to clear the lump out of my throat. Back in and sit down. The judge says that she thinks our home and our family would be the best for this child. We agree. I want to shake her hand. I want to thank her, thank everyone there, but I have no words. My face is streaming with tears and I hear them giggling as I walk out the door. Anna gives me a hug and I pull myself together. Jim and I go back to the hall to sit and the other couple says "congratulations mama and papa"
-----------------
Thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement. The journey isn't over but we are starting to see that faint light at the end of the tunnel. Jim leaves Kemerovo tomorrow on a 7:00am flight for an insane day of travel back to Kansas.
Monday, January 24
orphanage visit
Vlad picked us up this morning at 8:00. I find it challenging to sit in silence for three hours, but I also find it challenging to communicate in Russian so I keep quiet. The drive is completely different than August. Sure it's the same direction, same roads, but totally different. Vlad makes the drive better, because unlike Sergei I think he enjoys living and finds his thrills elsewhere. The weather makes the drive worse. In August it was amazing. Crisp, clean and 65 degrees. Now it is just smoke. Many country homes are heated with coal and lets just say it's not the clean burning kind.
We arrive at the orphanage and are told to sit in these chairs in the reception area. The receptionist calls for our child and then looks at some vacation photos on the computer with another woman. After a few minutes we hear a cranky child out in the hall then the door opens and in pops a small toddler, small but bigger than we expect and back out he goes. Wait was that him? It was too fast. I thought I would recognize him. I didn't think he would change that much in six months. A few minutes later the door pops open and the caregiver walks our babe in. She holds his hand and he walks, what a big boy! We recognize him right away, he is wearing the same outfit we left him in which is both joyous and sad all in one. Joyous to think how sweet it is that they remembered that we left that for him, but sad that six months have passed and the pants are only a little short. It's okay buddy, I'm a really good cook.
I pass my coat and things off to Jim and pick him up. We sit back down and wait for instructions. I rub his back and admire the ever so slight mullet that is beginning. Our translator is still with another family but the receptionist motions that we follow her down the hall to the music room. It's not nearly as fun as the room we were in last time, but that's fine. She points to the TV and keyboard piano and says no. Oh well.
We sit down to play. Stacking cups seem to be the most exciting. Put them together, take them apart, repeat, throw them around the room, retrieve. Snuggle, watch him walk, read a book, play some more and then our translator comes in and says she will be back with the doctor. Eventually, the doctor arrives. It's not the same doctor as last time because she has to be at court or something. This new doctor gives us the necessary updates. They say we need to be all knowing about his medical information so we can convey it to the judge and she will then believe that we know what we are doing.
The doctor leaves and the translator says that the caregiver will be back soon to get him. We are sitting on the floor and he suddenly throws himself backwards. My cat like reflexes, as tested by that neurologist in Moscow, send my hand out to catch his head before it slams on the hard floor. Wonder if a similar incident caused the shiner on his forehead.... I pick him up as the caregiver walks in. Jim gives him some love as they will not see each other for awhile now and I pass him off.
A positive result from court and a waiting period of ten days, that's all.
We arrive at the orphanage and are told to sit in these chairs in the reception area. The receptionist calls for our child and then looks at some vacation photos on the computer with another woman. After a few minutes we hear a cranky child out in the hall then the door opens and in pops a small toddler, small but bigger than we expect and back out he goes. Wait was that him? It was too fast. I thought I would recognize him. I didn't think he would change that much in six months. A few minutes later the door pops open and the caregiver walks our babe in. She holds his hand and he walks, what a big boy! We recognize him right away, he is wearing the same outfit we left him in which is both joyous and sad all in one. Joyous to think how sweet it is that they remembered that we left that for him, but sad that six months have passed and the pants are only a little short. It's okay buddy, I'm a really good cook.
I pass my coat and things off to Jim and pick him up. We sit back down and wait for instructions. I rub his back and admire the ever so slight mullet that is beginning. Our translator is still with another family but the receptionist motions that we follow her down the hall to the music room. It's not nearly as fun as the room we were in last time, but that's fine. She points to the TV and keyboard piano and says no. Oh well.
We sit down to play. Stacking cups seem to be the most exciting. Put them together, take them apart, repeat, throw them around the room, retrieve. Snuggle, watch him walk, read a book, play some more and then our translator comes in and says she will be back with the doctor. Eventually, the doctor arrives. It's not the same doctor as last time because she has to be at court or something. This new doctor gives us the necessary updates. They say we need to be all knowing about his medical information so we can convey it to the judge and she will then believe that we know what we are doing.
The doctor leaves and the translator says that the caregiver will be back soon to get him. We are sitting on the floor and he suddenly throws himself backwards. My cat like reflexes, as tested by that neurologist in Moscow, send my hand out to catch his head before it slams on the hard floor. Wonder if a similar incident caused the shiner on his forehead.... I pick him up as the caregiver walks in. Jim gives him some love as they will not see each other for awhile now and I pass him off.
A positive result from court and a waiting period of ten days, that's all.
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