we're here

THE TRIP HERE
Amazingly – there were no obstacles, no problems, no issues with our trip here. We got our luggage just fine in Moscow, stayed for a few hours at The Atlanta hotel in Moscow, and then flew out of the new terminal (D) in Moscow. That terminal was SO much nicer and easy to navigate. We didn’t need help finding our way at all. The most amazing thing about this part of the trip was the luggage. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time, you probably know that I do not like paying for overage in baggage. Yes, know there are “rules”, but I don’t like it.

We had to pay $50 in South Bend for an extra piece of luggage, and fully intended on having to pay in the $200 range in Moscow for overage in our baggage allowance. We have always had to pay this (even when our bags were well within the allowances). Well, we were not charged a dime in Moscow! Praise God!

We got to Irkutsk on time, and flew into the new terminal…which is like night and day to the old terminal. To put things into perspective, to claim your bags at the old terminal, you would claim them from a turn-style made of tin and wood…the new terminal has a REAL baggage carousel. It is very nice.

We’re staying with the Jackson family – so Steve picked us up from the airport. We came back to the house, and had a great breakfast with Tami and the kids. We called our guy here to make arrangements to go and see Anya this afternoon. Apparently since this is our first official meeting with the officials at the new orphanage, we were not allowed to go this afternoon. I guess ALL of the officials need to be present at that meeting (the director, social worker, care giver, bla bla bla) and someone couldn’t be there. This meeting is requires so that they can make a report for the court. BOO HISS!

Although I know this kind of thing happens, it doesn’t make it any easier when it does happen. Our guy will come to see us this afternoon (although it will most likely be WAY later, like 6-7pm) to talk about this meeting, and gather some documents from us. We have the meeting with the group of officials at the orphanage tomorrow at 10am. We will see Anya then.

Right now, all I really want to do is lay down and watch some mindless dribble on one of the DVDs I brought. I am forcing my eyeballs to stay open. One thing about traveling 13 time zones away is that it is REALLY important to force yourself to stay awake this first day her. I planned to go to bed at about 6-7pm, but with my luck, our guy won’t come to see us until later. Ugh! OH well, sleep is over rated, right?