On the way home, Marty got a little frustrated with one of the inspectors at the airport. Your luggage has to go through at least 5 different screenings before you get a boarding pass. We were on one of the last screenings, and the woman was trying to tell us something in Russian we didn’t understand. We said (in Russia) we don’t understand do you speak English? Well, of course her reply was ‘Niet!” and continued on with badgering us to do whatever it was she was wanted us to do. This went on for several minutes, and then the woman grabbed Marty’s arm and drug him to the end of the conveyor belt at the end of the luggage screening machine to get him to take off the luggage that had passed through the x-ray. This was odd because there was more luggage to be put on the conveyor belt…anyway, Marty was very frustrated with this woman and his mouth got the best of him. I think he said something like ‘I don’t know what you are saying you stupid, fat, Russian wench”…or something like that.
I grabbed him and told him to PLEASE watch what he says, that there were reports of Americans being detained for no reason in Passport Control as they tried to leave Russia.
We finally got to the counter, got our boarding passes, and were pretty happy to be going home. We proceeded to passport control, and were stopped by 2 women who looked like they worked for the INS/TSA/Homeland Security equivalent in Russia. They wanted our passports. They asked for a voucher – we had no voucher. The next thing we knew, we were being escorted to some office at the far end of this hall. Another women was again asking us for a voucher – something we didn’t have and had never heard of. I asked to see what it looked like – and it looked like a college diploma with the heading ‘Voucher’ on it. The guard woman took my passport and was pointing to some words on the passport asking whom that was. The document in my passport was in Cyrillic (Russian) so I didn’t know what it said. I tried to tell her that I couldn’t read Russian, and she huffed and puffed…went back to her office and typed something in her computer. She came back and asked who we got our invitation from (in Russia, when you get a Visa, you also need an invitation from Russia to enter the country). I replied ‘Red Star’ – this is a travel agency in Washington that I think also has an office in Russia. The guard questioned me about Red Star (none of the questions I could answer) – she huffed and puffed again, went back to her office and reappeared asking why we were visiting Russia. Well, Marty piped up ‘We’re adopting a little girl in Irkutsk”. I almost threw my hand over his mouth! That is THE LAST thing you should sat to these people! We were traveling on a tourist visa, not an adoption visa. So, this woman said, “What business do you have in Irkutsk”…well, I’ve been reading online enough to know how to answer these questions. These are the typical questions that American’s were being asked…I told her we were there visiting the girl we hoped to adopt, we conducted no business while in Russia, we got our visa and invitation from Red Star in the United States, and we do not have the voucher she had been asking for. Apparently this is the answer she was looking for – she went back to her office, did something on her computer – handed us our passports and said good-bye. The end.
What is the moral of the story? Keep in control of your mouth when going through security immigration, and always let your wife do the talking!!!
Showing posts with label Trip to Irkutsk - 2006. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trip to Irkutsk - 2006. Show all posts
Saturday, June 03, 2006
OUR LAST DAY…
Just thought I would update things since we’ve been home. Our last day with Anya was the best and the worst. We think she was all worked up from a doctor’s appointment, not seeing us over the weekend, not getting a nap that day and being in a new room with toys she’s never played with before. It was all too much. When we were getting ready to leave, she got very upset and didn’t want to go back to her group…this is pretty unusual. She kept saying that there was somewhere she was going to do, and she thought it was with us. She told our interpreter that she wanted to go with us in a car…well, Julia told her that we didn’t have a car to which Anya replied “go get one”!
Anya was just insistent that there was somewhere she was going, but she didn’t know where. It was heartbreaking to hear her get so upset, saying she wanted to come with us, and watch the frustration in her eyes from not being able to communicate or understand what was going on.
We told her that we would come back again to play with her, but not until she went to bed and woke up many many times. She seemed to understand that.
Anya was just insistent that there was somewhere she was going, but she didn’t know where. It was heartbreaking to hear her get so upset, saying she wanted to come with us, and watch the frustration in her eyes from not being able to communicate or understand what was going on.
We told her that we would come back again to play with her, but not until she went to bed and woke up many many times. She seemed to understand that.
Monday, May 22, 2006
Monday
It's noon on Monday, and we just stopped home for lunch between visits with Anya today. She was going to the eye doctor after lunch, so we should have the results from that test this afternoon.
This morning, Anya was REALLY rialed up. I think this was because of a few things; first, she was waiting for us to come visit and play all weekend...and we never showed up. So today when we got there, she was VERY excited. Then, I think that she is feeling more and more comfortable with us - which means she is testing her boundaries. That is a good thing. She knows if she does something bad, we'll still come back to see her. But now she is testing us to see what we will do when she doesn't behave. We had a lot of "that is not OK" and "do not do that" times this morning. Of course, Anya thinkg it is funny when we talk Russian in phrases like that, so she just laughed. I held her at one point and was trying to get her to calm down, doing the good 'ol 'shhhh' thing. So, little Anya was shhhhhh - ing me right back. Oh well...
All of the over excitment, throwing a toy, jumping on Mama and Papa, dumping out purses and then saying 'no, I am not going to clean that up' was being observed by a psychologist. Oh goodie. I didn't really know that at the time, and even if I did, I don't know what we would have done differently. After it was all said and done, the phychologist said that she thinks we play well together, and that she liked the way we didn't let her get away with things. WHEW! I guess a lot of pre adoptive parents do let thier kids get away with bad behavior.
This afternoon will be our last visit - and will be an emotional time for all of us. We're trying to figure out how we are going to tell Anya we aren't coming tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers, this will be a hard afternoon.
-K & M
This morning, Anya was REALLY rialed up. I think this was because of a few things; first, she was waiting for us to come visit and play all weekend...and we never showed up. So today when we got there, she was VERY excited. Then, I think that she is feeling more and more comfortable with us - which means she is testing her boundaries. That is a good thing. She knows if she does something bad, we'll still come back to see her. But now she is testing us to see what we will do when she doesn't behave. We had a lot of "that is not OK" and "do not do that" times this morning. Of course, Anya thinkg it is funny when we talk Russian in phrases like that, so she just laughed. I held her at one point and was trying to get her to calm down, doing the good 'ol 'shhhh' thing. So, little Anya was shhhhhh - ing me right back. Oh well...
All of the over excitment, throwing a toy, jumping on Mama and Papa, dumping out purses and then saying 'no, I am not going to clean that up' was being observed by a psychologist. Oh goodie. I didn't really know that at the time, and even if I did, I don't know what we would have done differently. After it was all said and done, the phychologist said that she thinks we play well together, and that she liked the way we didn't let her get away with things. WHEW! I guess a lot of pre adoptive parents do let thier kids get away with bad behavior.
This afternoon will be our last visit - and will be an emotional time for all of us. We're trying to figure out how we are going to tell Anya we aren't coming tomorrow. Keep us in your prayers, this will be a hard afternoon.
-K & M
Sunday, May 21, 2006
a typical day in Russia
We were out all day - walking from one shopping area, to downtown, to a cafe, then a market and home again. We were gone walking about 5-6 hours.
Our day ended later in the day, about 7pm - when we started seeing the things we only hear about in Russia...children begging in the streets, a drunk passed out in front of a concert hall, old men with very young girls, a homeless man picking through a garbage can - I guess looking for someting to eat...and the icing on the cake, an elderly couple - that had been (obviously) drinking all day, weaving when they walked, hooting and hollering...then, ducking behind a building. We observed this interaction from our apartment window - so we were not in any danger... I was very curious what they were doing, so I got comfortable and continued to watch...the older lady leaned up against the building, hiked up her babushka dress, and yes, started to pee! Right there, in front of everyone...no shame, no reservation...just peeing. Then, the old man apparently decided that was a good idea....then next thing we know - he's is taking a leak too! No one but us even paid them a second look. When they were done, the both took swigs from a bottle, hugged each other - and they went on their merry way.
The morale to the story? Siberia is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here!
Our day ended later in the day, about 7pm - when we started seeing the things we only hear about in Russia...children begging in the streets, a drunk passed out in front of a concert hall, old men with very young girls, a homeless man picking through a garbage can - I guess looking for someting to eat...and the icing on the cake, an elderly couple - that had been (obviously) drinking all day, weaving when they walked, hooting and hollering...then, ducking behind a building. We observed this interaction from our apartment window - so we were not in any danger... I was very curious what they were doing, so I got comfortable and continued to watch...the older lady leaned up against the building, hiked up her babushka dress, and yes, started to pee! Right there, in front of everyone...no shame, no reservation...just peeing. Then, the old man apparently decided that was a good idea....then next thing we know - he's is taking a leak too! No one but us even paid them a second look. When they were done, the both took swigs from a bottle, hugged each other - and they went on their merry way.
The morale to the story? Siberia is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live here!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Lena
We had dinner tonight with our former facilitator, Lena N. Wow! Things are really bad for her! About monthly, is seems that she is being hit with another complaint by the prosecutor's office or another 'something'. One of the charges actually is coming from the families of children who have been adopted. They are suing her because she released personal information about them in court...which is required by the Judge in order to adopt a child away from a person who abandoned them to a family who willk care for them. It is just nuts - they're on a witch hunt, and are hunting for anything...but nothing they have has any teeth (which is good).
She is doing well, and her spirit is higher than I imagined. She is getting by; she is a very resourceful 'do what you gotta do' kind of person...I think she will be fine. Her mom (who lives in Salt Lake) will be here next week for a month long visit. This will be good, since she can help financially etc.
She asked about all of the American families, and how everyone is doing.
As for Lena B (older Lena) she has cancer, and is not doing well. She won't talk about it, and if you talk to her or see her, she will say everything is fine, she is feeling well.
It was interesting to talk to her, and hear strait 'from the horses mouth' waht is going on with her, and her view on the situation here.
She is doing well, and her spirit is higher than I imagined. She is getting by; she is a very resourceful 'do what you gotta do' kind of person...I think she will be fine. Her mom (who lives in Salt Lake) will be here next week for a month long visit. This will be good, since she can help financially etc.
She asked about all of the American families, and how everyone is doing.
As for Lena B (older Lena) she has cancer, and is not doing well. She won't talk about it, and if you talk to her or see her, she will say everything is fine, she is feeling well.
It was interesting to talk to her, and hear strait 'from the horses mouth' waht is going on with her, and her view on the situation here.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Lawyer
We met with the lawyer today, and we both feel good about the meeting. She is a beautiful younger woman, very nice person with a personality (something I guess I didn’t think we would encounter when meeting a Lawyer in Russia!).
Here are the steps:
Our documents will be translated – we will submit what we have now to the translation agency, and then we will send the remainder that is being redone next week. They will have all of our documents within 7-10 days
The translation process will take about a week, at $10 a page…I am SCARED to do the math!
Then everything is passed over to the lawyer for her review. After she looks at everything, she will have a better feel/understanding for what direction to take. This lawyer has a lot of good experience, and connections/relationships with people above the regional Judge
The lawyer will contact us with a plan
The lawyer will present our documents to the Judge
The Judge will surely have something that needs to be changed
We will have about 2 weeks to make the changes, and resubmit everything
This whole process detailed above is about a 3-4 week deal…we expect a court date in about 5-7 weeks
Depending on how things go with the Hilt thing, it is possible that whatever decision this Judge makes will need to be appealed…of course, depending on what direction the lawyer decides to take with our case.
So we are praying for:
Stellar paperwork – no errors or corrections will be needed by the Judge, everything will be clear and to her requirements
That the translation goes faster than 1-week, and we are not charged for every apostille (since they are all the same, and every document has one)
That the review of our paperwork does not take a week, and that the direction to take our case that will bring about a positive outcome will be abundantly clear to the lawyer.
While we have been here, my Mom and our pal Kathy Strukel have been hard at work doing what they can to get everything ready so when we get home next week, all we will need to do is put everything in an envelope and send it to the translation place. The creative thinking that has gone on at home while we’re here is pretty amazing! I think Kathy S should go into the Dossier Prep business!
Here are the steps:
Our documents will be translated – we will submit what we have now to the translation agency, and then we will send the remainder that is being redone next week. They will have all of our documents within 7-10 days
The translation process will take about a week, at $10 a page…I am SCARED to do the math!
Then everything is passed over to the lawyer for her review. After she looks at everything, she will have a better feel/understanding for what direction to take. This lawyer has a lot of good experience, and connections/relationships with people above the regional Judge
The lawyer will contact us with a plan
The lawyer will present our documents to the Judge
The Judge will surely have something that needs to be changed
We will have about 2 weeks to make the changes, and resubmit everything
This whole process detailed above is about a 3-4 week deal…we expect a court date in about 5-7 weeks
Depending on how things go with the Hilt thing, it is possible that whatever decision this Judge makes will need to be appealed…of course, depending on what direction the lawyer decides to take with our case.
So we are praying for:
Stellar paperwork – no errors or corrections will be needed by the Judge, everything will be clear and to her requirements
That the translation goes faster than 1-week, and we are not charged for every apostille (since they are all the same, and every document has one)
That the review of our paperwork does not take a week, and that the direction to take our case that will bring about a positive outcome will be abundantly clear to the lawyer.
While we have been here, my Mom and our pal Kathy Strukel have been hard at work doing what they can to get everything ready so when we get home next week, all we will need to do is put everything in an envelope and send it to the translation place. The creative thinking that has gone on at home while we’re here is pretty amazing! I think Kathy S should go into the Dossier Prep business!
CHANGE IN PRAYERS!!!
Such interesting information
We were able to piece 2 pieces of the puzzle together today with regard to the “why” in the court system here.
First, this new judge does not work independently. She is being monitored by the Supreme Court, and all of her decisions come through that court. When we thought we were just praying for this one person, we were wrong. We need to refocus our prayers for the Supreme Court that oversees this region.
The other thing that is interesting, confirms a gut feeling many of us in the ‘waiting game’ have had suspicion about for a long time. The paperwork games the Judge has been playing are in fact a stall tactic…they are stalling to see what will happen with the Hilt case. That case, for some reason, has caused adoption slow downs in more countries other than Russia. Apparently, everyone is stalling, and waiting to see what will happen at the sentencing hearing, and I think that is on the 25th. We need to pray (or send letters to the Judge in Virginia or wherever) that this woman gets sentenced to the full extent of the law! She is crazy, and killed her child with her own hands. She should rot in prison.
From what I understand, if the sentencing is harsh, and to the full extent as our law will allow…then that serves as a sort of green light to start the process again here. If (for some reason that I can’t even think of) Hilt is not held accountable, and only given a light sentence – that is a sure sign that things in this region (and possibly all over Russia) will close down for good.
We were able to piece 2 pieces of the puzzle together today with regard to the “why” in the court system here.
First, this new judge does not work independently. She is being monitored by the Supreme Court, and all of her decisions come through that court. When we thought we were just praying for this one person, we were wrong. We need to refocus our prayers for the Supreme Court that oversees this region.
The other thing that is interesting, confirms a gut feeling many of us in the ‘waiting game’ have had suspicion about for a long time. The paperwork games the Judge has been playing are in fact a stall tactic…they are stalling to see what will happen with the Hilt case. That case, for some reason, has caused adoption slow downs in more countries other than Russia. Apparently, everyone is stalling, and waiting to see what will happen at the sentencing hearing, and I think that is on the 25th. We need to pray (or send letters to the Judge in Virginia or wherever) that this woman gets sentenced to the full extent of the law! She is crazy, and killed her child with her own hands. She should rot in prison.
From what I understand, if the sentencing is harsh, and to the full extent as our law will allow…then that serves as a sort of green light to start the process again here. If (for some reason that I can’t even think of) Hilt is not held accountable, and only given a light sentence – that is a sure sign that things in this region (and possibly all over Russia) will close down for good.
Detski Dom
Here are some photos of the orphanage where Anya is...
We are standing at Anya's bed. In the above photo, pictured are L-R the director (Elena), Anya, me, Julia (our intreperter - she is a student at the local University, studying North American Culture...I think she will be glad to get a break from us for the weekend!)
The playground.
The front enterance. I saw other photos and heard that there was some kind of scupture on this building, it was of children on a river (the name of the home is something like small river)...but I don't see where that is.
We are standing at Anya's bed. In the above photo, pictured are L-R the director (Elena), Anya, me, Julia (our intreperter - she is a student at the local University, studying North American Culture...I think she will be glad to get a break from us for the weekend!)
The playground.
The front enterance. I saw other photos and heard that there was some kind of scupture on this building, it was of children on a river (the name of the home is something like small river)...but I don't see where that is.
Anya with her crooked glasses on. They don't fit, so she keeps pushing them up - using her dirty fingers on the lenses...so even if I thought she was able to see better with these things, she wouldn't be able to because the glasses are SO dirty!
Giggle britches. I think we got her a little too wound up this afternoon...she wasn't listening...and when we would point at her and say 'that is not ok'...she would point right back at us and say 'that is not ok'. Julia (our language go between) told her that if she didn't behave, we wouldn't come back and play with her. Anya said 'yes you will, Mama and Papa love me, they will come again'. Well, true, but - we are not allowed to visit on the weekend...so she is going to have a harsh reality tomorrow when we don't show up. We were a little late this afternoon, and she ran up nto us saying "I've been waiting for you, I had to play with these children until you got here...now let's go" So, we know she is waiting for us to visit every morning and afternoon.
Marty is feeling better today, not sure if the problem was the altitiude here (kind of like being in Colorado), or what...but all is well. Thanks for your prayers!
Anya's newest thing is everything is 'nee nada' or 'don't do that'...said as she is laughing so hard she can hardly talk. And everything seems to be 'I can do it myself' and then 2 seconds later "Mama/papa help please" It is so funny because the way you say please is pha-zha-lu-stah...and Anya says pha-la-do-da - kind of like "camptown racers sing this song, doo daa doo daa"
Anya's newest thing is everything is 'nee nada' or 'don't do that'...said as she is laughing so hard she can hardly talk. And everything seems to be 'I can do it myself' and then 2 seconds later "Mama/papa help please" It is so funny because the way you say please is pha-zha-lu-stah...and Anya says pha-la-do-da - kind of like "camptown racers sing this song, doo daa doo daa"
playing outside
These photos were taken today (friday) morning. We played outside most of our visit today. Although it was warm, they still insist that the children wear winter coats.
This is a pook-a-boo photo...although here they say 'coo coo' so, if you say Mama coo-coo it doesn't mean Mama is crazy!
This is a pook-a-boo photo...although here they say 'coo coo' so, if you say Mama coo-coo it doesn't mean Mama is crazy!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Another meeting with the director
We were interested and confused about this eyeglasses thing. We asked our interpreter ask her mother (who used to be the doctor at Shelekov) to help us with this. In looking at the prescription, it was from May 2005. The director and medical assistant we spoke to today were also a little unclear about the glasses this, as Anya does not display any characteristics of a child who cannot see…and the prescription she has is for a child who can not see. Basically this glasses thing is a mystery to everyone. There is nothing in Anya’s medical record about it – there is one note about a vision exam, however the notes are very unclear. Anya’s bio mother did wear glasses, and there is information in Anya’s medical record that says her bio mother did not have any medical problems.
We asked for a second opinion on the eyeglasses issue. IN talking to the director and so on, they agree that we need another exam for her. So, another doctor will come to examine Anya either tomorrow or Friday to see about this eye thing. I guess this doctor is a specialist…we’ll see how that goes.
When she was transferred to Shelekov in March, she was given a full battery of medical tests again. She was tested for everything you can think of from AIDS to lung and kidney issues. All of her test came back saying she is a very healthy girl.
The director told us the Anya is one of the best-behaved children at the home.
The only thing that the director said negative was that she did not like the way Anya did not talk to us when we first start our visits. Of course that is all I heard, and Marty didn’t even notice she said it (glass half full or half empty?). She followed that comment with she thinks we play together well and that there have been so many changes in the past few months with her she is still adapting. Now that Anya is getting older, she isn’t so into hugs and being held like she was on our Trip #1. The director told us that this is very typical of children at this age. She just doesn’t know how to take it as she has never had someone hug her – she doesn’t understand what that’s all about.
The director was asking our interpreter a lot of questions about is that she couldn’t answer. She is just that, an interpreter not our adoption representative. They (the people at the orphanage) are preparing the paperwork for a court hearing and are asking a lot of questions about us for that. I think there is some confusion about all that. We have been asked to meet with the head of the guardianship department in Shelekov tomorrow. Apparently she is a very nice person, and just wants to meet us. This is pretty unusual. Also, we’ve been asked to spend some time with the director, and tell her about us – about what we do for a living, why we are choosing adoption, why Anya, what our plans are after we get her home and so on. At first I thought this was very strange, however, we called our friend in town who works with adoptions and he said that she is doing this because in court she will be asked to tell everything she knows about us. The more she knows, the better. It might look odd if the records show that we’ve spent so much time with Anya and the director know nothing about us.
We asked for a second opinion on the eyeglasses issue. IN talking to the director and so on, they agree that we need another exam for her. So, another doctor will come to examine Anya either tomorrow or Friday to see about this eye thing. I guess this doctor is a specialist…we’ll see how that goes.
When she was transferred to Shelekov in March, she was given a full battery of medical tests again. She was tested for everything you can think of from AIDS to lung and kidney issues. All of her test came back saying she is a very healthy girl.
The director told us the Anya is one of the best-behaved children at the home.
The only thing that the director said negative was that she did not like the way Anya did not talk to us when we first start our visits. Of course that is all I heard, and Marty didn’t even notice she said it (glass half full or half empty?). She followed that comment with she thinks we play together well and that there have been so many changes in the past few months with her she is still adapting. Now that Anya is getting older, she isn’t so into hugs and being held like she was on our Trip #1. The director told us that this is very typical of children at this age. She just doesn’t know how to take it as she has never had someone hug her – she doesn’t understand what that’s all about.
The director was asking our interpreter a lot of questions about is that she couldn’t answer. She is just that, an interpreter not our adoption representative. They (the people at the orphanage) are preparing the paperwork for a court hearing and are asking a lot of questions about us for that. I think there is some confusion about all that. We have been asked to meet with the head of the guardianship department in Shelekov tomorrow. Apparently she is a very nice person, and just wants to meet us. This is pretty unusual. Also, we’ve been asked to spend some time with the director, and tell her about us – about what we do for a living, why we are choosing adoption, why Anya, what our plans are after we get her home and so on. At first I thought this was very strange, however, we called our friend in town who works with adoptions and he said that she is doing this because in court she will be asked to tell everything she knows about us. The more she knows, the better. It might look odd if the records show that we’ve spent so much time with Anya and the director know nothing about us.
Marty...and on being overwhelmed
Poor Marty is kind of going through it a little bit. Please keep him in your prayers. We don’t know what the problem is, but he hasn’t felt well since we got to Russia – and is just not himself. Kind of a vertigo thing maybe, when we get off the elevator at our apartment, he feels like the elevator is still moving; and he has been so tired, he can’t keep his eyes open.
And, he really needs to be himself and wide-awake for sake of the court hearing. Since we are being watched so closely, and everyone takes notes on how we play with Anya, if Marty isn’t feeling well and is kind of standing back…that doesn’t look good. It is so hard to think of that. This morning I was tired, and we were playing outside. My instinct was to let Anya and Marty play, they were having fun…and I was going to sit on a log and watch. But then I thought twice about that.
We both really need to work harder on our Russian. Just saying yes and no and nodding out heads isn’t going to cut it. For us to know more conversational Russian means that we care more. It says a lot to the Russian people that we took the time and the effort to learn Russian. I fell that I can speak it OK – however, I speak using cheat sheets and a book. So, it’s hard for me to speak on the fly. And, twice as hard to know what people are saying to us.
This trip is very different than our first trip here. There seems to be so much pressure on everything…although I am sure most of it is self-imposed. Last time we would only visit the Baby home one time a day, and we would spend hours walking downtown, going to lunch and to the grocery store. That is not the way things are on this trip. We have only been into town one time. When we are not at the baby home, there are more documents I need to review, organize or complete. It is overwhelming. It is hard to enjoy the time we have with Anya when there seems to be so much between now and when we get to enjoy her in our house. And, all the junk between here and there is on my plate – wondering how I am going to get to the store so we have something to eat, deal with al mountains of paperwork, sleep, and learn more Russian in the next few days…just feeling a little overwhelmed, I probably need a nap and some fruit roll-ups.
Please keep us in your prayers over these issues.
thoughts from Marty (Wednesday)
Hello all,
Greetings from the other side of the world. It's very difficult being upside down like this. All the blood rushes to your head. Of course, since my normal thinking processes are inverted, I am just a normal person when I'm upside down on this side of the globe. It all makes perfect sense to me.
After meeting with the director of the orphanage, we have been allowed to visit with Anya twice a day. It seems that her and the Russian psychologist lady like us very much. The Ruskies (pronounced ROO-skee's) come off cold as steel when you first meet them, but seem to warm up to you after a while.
When we arrived here the weather was in the 60's in the daytime. It actually got into the 70's one day. Then a HUGE dust storm blew through the city and brought freezing Siberian air down from the North. Yesterday we walked downtown for an hour or so. The wind blew like it does in Chicago in the winter. It went right through us. We returned to our apartment to find
that the hot water didn't work. The hot faucet had no pressure, but the cold faucet had plenty. It seems that the City supplies TWO water lines. One is hot and the other is cold. So, if the hot water line is ruptured, the entire city has no hot water! The genius who engineered that system was probably sent to the prison camps in the north to think about that for a while.
This morning we discovered that the boiler in the building isn't working either (if there is one). It could be linked to the city's hot water line. If so, the entire city now has no hot water OR heat (as all heat in Russia is radiant). And to think, these guys actually have access to nuclear reactors and weaponry. In my mind, that's kind of like a six year old with his own personal hand grenade. Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Making the two trips back and forth to the orphanage and the time we spend with Anya pretty much consumes our entire day. Contrary to our last trip, we actually found a restaurant that serves some very palatable food.
We want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers!
~Marty
Greetings from the other side of the world. It's very difficult being upside down like this. All the blood rushes to your head. Of course, since my normal thinking processes are inverted, I am just a normal person when I'm upside down on this side of the globe. It all makes perfect sense to me.
After meeting with the director of the orphanage, we have been allowed to visit with Anya twice a day. It seems that her and the Russian psychologist lady like us very much. The Ruskies (pronounced ROO-skee's) come off cold as steel when you first meet them, but seem to warm up to you after a while.
When we arrived here the weather was in the 60's in the daytime. It actually got into the 70's one day. Then a HUGE dust storm blew through the city and brought freezing Siberian air down from the North. Yesterday we walked downtown for an hour or so. The wind blew like it does in Chicago in the winter. It went right through us. We returned to our apartment to find
that the hot water didn't work. The hot faucet had no pressure, but the cold faucet had plenty. It seems that the City supplies TWO water lines. One is hot and the other is cold. So, if the hot water line is ruptured, the entire city has no hot water! The genius who engineered that system was probably sent to the prison camps in the north to think about that for a while.
This morning we discovered that the boiler in the building isn't working either (if there is one). It could be linked to the city's hot water line. If so, the entire city now has no hot water OR heat (as all heat in Russia is radiant). And to think, these guys actually have access to nuclear reactors and weaponry. In my mind, that's kind of like a six year old with his own personal hand grenade. Ok, I'm done ranting now.
Making the two trips back and forth to the orphanage and the time we spend with Anya pretty much consumes our entire day. Contrary to our last trip, we actually found a restaurant that serves some very palatable food.
We want to thank all of you for your thoughts and prayers!
~Marty
poverty in Russia
This is the view we have outside our Kitchen window. Typically there are a few homeless people who live in the trash. Be grateful for everything you have!
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