Let me tell you about the morning before I go into the rest of the day.. I went downstairs to get breakfast, the first time since I have been here. There was no hostess greating people, which normally there always is, so I began to walk though the area. A lady setting up a table noticed me and seated me next to another adoptive family. I went to get food from the buffet, and came back and low and behold two business men had taken my table. I looked at them and at my drinks, card key and everything that I had sat on the table and stated, “Are they seating us together?” They looked at me and apologized but didn’t bother to move, they figured that they were already eating and I was just getting to the table. Anyway, a server moved me to a corner of the room where I was right next to the register and where they get stuff for the table. I had a good view of everyone but didn’t appreciate being stuck in the corner, nor did I receive an apology from the staff (although they may not have seated the two businessmen). As I was eating another adoptive family entered (actually it appeared to be two adoptive families, or one that had adopted two children) but they sat down next to me and their two children were put in high chairs. Much to my disbelief, the mother of one of the children had set something down within this baby’s reach (the babe looked to be around 15months). Well, the baby kept reaching for it and she slapped his hand. I couldn’t believe it – a child taken out of a home just a short time before and she is treating him as if he completely understands English. She said no, no, no several times loudly, then slapped him on the hand. The second lady (really big lady) just said “when mommy says no that means no” as if this child understood a single word. Good grief, I was appalled considering that we are ambassadors for our country and should be putting on the best image possible. Good grief, I was so dumbfounded, I didn’t even know what to say. I was tempted to tell her that was child abuse and she could be prosecuted in the US for such, but held my tongue. Anyway, that was just the start of the day. I guess that wasn’t too terrible of a start considering I locked myself out of my room last night around 10pm when I was setting a tray out for housekeeping to pick up. Since I am on a corner, I have to put the tray out in the hall for them to see it, and I neglected to keep my foot in the door. What a pain. I had to go to the executive lounge and ask them to call someone. Anyway – now for the rest of the day…
Well, today was a long but very productive day. We were required to be at the registration office (??) at 10:00 for an appointment to pick up the adoption decree and the birth certificates. When we got there we found a huge line, luckily the line was for marriage licenses and other things and we were being processed elsewhere. We were waiting with another family from our agency because everyone was processing together. Needless to say, it was nice to be able to speak full English with someone again, rather than the broken English of the staff and even the translators. Anyway, we were told to prepare for a long wait because they would go over the papers with a fine tooth comb and if anything was wrong with any of them then we would be required to get them fixed prior to getting any documents. We were on tinderhooks in the lobby area. Finally, about an hour and a half after we got there, the first American couple was called in, they were in and out in approximately 10 minutes, then it was my turn. The translator went in first and presented the papers. The immediately called me in, which really made me nervous because the other family waited about fourty five minutes before they were called in after their translator. When I went into the room – it reminded me of a vault, I wish I would have been able to take a picture, but there were desks in the back. They asked me to sit down at one of the desks and had a single sheet of paper in front of me all in Russian. They asked me to sign in two places, I was too afraid to question them to ask what it was but it turns out it was the paper stating that the birth certificate and the adoption decree are correct. I had found that my translator had checked and double checked the documents prior to my being called in. Then they had me sign two ledger style books, acknowledging that I had received both documents. Then they handed me the two documents – one blue document that was the adoption decree and a green one that was the birth certificate (I think I have those right, or I have the colors backwards). Everyone started congratulating me and shaking my hand while my translator placed a gift of chocolates and coffee on the table. (I didn’t realize we provided gifts to these people as well, but apparently the agency was working that because they never told me anything about it.) Then we were done..... all that waiting for about three minutes of signatures.
After picking up these documents we were required to get to the passport agency before 12:00, well, it was 11:30 and the passport agency was in another part of the city so we started on the way. We were called by the coordinator, who was already there, telling us to get there quickly or we would have to wait until after 1:00 because they break for ‘supper’, so we were in a panic. We were almost there when we got stuck in one of the worst traffic nightmares I have seen (here it is pretty commonplace or so I am told). Needless to say, we ditched the driver and got out of the car and headed for the building. According to the coordinator we needed copies of my passport, visa, registration card, and hotel stamp showing where I was staying, so before we could even go to the passport place, we had to stop and make copies. Convienently located across the street is a camera place that allows copies for 5 rubles per page. We made the copies, and while we were doing so, in walks the other American family, also rushing. They were processing at the same time. I went across the street to the passport building and the guard required the translator to go first and I was only able to enter after the translator (strange), but our translator explained the the building is run by the KGB (great… I feel a lot better now…) and that is some of the security precautions. We went upstairs and were told to take a seat. After about five minutes, our coordinator directed me into an office with the lady that would approve the process of the passport. She seemed very short and didn’t really want to talk to anyone. Her office was small and very uncomfortable, it was the size of what in America would be considered a bathroom. Anyway, she asked me a couple of questions, and looked at the copies of the passport, comparing them with my passport, looked at copies of the birth certificate and the adoption decree as well – I later learned that her signature had to be on the copies to prove that she had seen the originals. Finally, she signed everything, handed me back the passport and stated that I was finished. That was it. Apparently all the other documents go to the translation office because our coordinator took them and she stated that I will get them back on Monday when they are finished. Sorry Pete, I wanted to fax them but I don’t have them yet.
After the stress of everything this morning, I had to go pay my daily fee at the agency, which only took a few minutes (after getting into the building), and I was done for the day. We were not able to visit Ally today because we hadn’t informed the orphan home in advance, and needless to say, they have to approve of the visit first. Instead, I went and did some souvenier shopping. I am going to have to go back to Old Arbat Street again, because I found a new store that had great prices on the goods and I didn’t have enough ruble to get everything that I wanted. (Pete, go ahead and cry now, I used the credit card!).
I am very nervous about getting Ally tomorrow, but I was told that we have nothing planned after that because they feel that sensory overload on the kids on the first day out of the home. I agree, although I will probably take her for a walk somewhere, it is a shame to keep her locked up in the hotel on the first day of "freedom". I was also informed that the orphan home director didn’t want me to bring the traditional cake. She stated since we had purchased small gifts for each of the teachers, it was more than adequate. She had wanted me to purchase fruit but then decided that one gift was fine. Needless to say, I went and bought some fruit to take to the orphan home tomorrow when I take Ally out. It was expensive and now I see why it is scarce and very prized. Our translator grabs an apple from the hotel everytime she is here, and I can now see why. I spent around $50 on oranges, apples, peaches and pineapple. The peaches and pineapple were the most expensive so I know that they don’t get that much. I love fruit and wouldn’t be able to survive without it so I don’t see how people can make it.
I decided to brave McDonalds for dinner and just returned. I have only had some of the fries and a shake but so far they taste fine. Wouldn’t you know it, all the words and wrappers are in English too, can’t even get a souvenier. Well, I am going to sit and watch a movie and then go to bed. I have to be up early because we leave the hotel for the orphan home at 8:00 so that I can bring Olga (Ally) home and I still have to get her an outfit and everything ready.
