Answers to frequently asked questions:
Should the Lord bless, and paperwork go through we could be home next weekend. (Yes, that is a prayer request).
If you choose to try and adopt the children you hosted, send the director back with a big thick photo album of pictures. We were like celebrities when we arrived here to get the girls! The staff treasures the photos and want to keep them (I’m pretty sure forever).
Learn the numbers in Russian. That is totally invaluable as you do business in the city.
After the “Honored Ambassador” experience, yes, we will be hard to live with.
We have learned from our foster care experience, that not every relative is benevolent. You have to be protective of your children first. The children may care deeply for these relatives but it may be necessary to screen all correspondence.
And now ...
Close Encounters of the Babushka Kind
Up to school to pick up the girls. Anya asked us to come early. She has class at 1pm at the college close by. Could we come at 12:30, there is a gift for us. We were presented with two beautiful metalwork pieces of art. One was a framed piece and the other in the shape of a circle. Anya’s father is something of an artist. I had marveled at his work earlier in our trip when Anya pointed out something he had made in a shop we visited. What a lovely gift to receive these two pieces created by hand! The bishop like dude is St. Nicholas. The other is of a country scene (please see our pix photo album).
Nastia was being treated for head lice. Her sisters found some nits on her head the night before and informed the proper authorities (school). The “treatment” should take 2 hours. I wondered how they could make it take so long. I began to worry about her being exposed to the chemicals they were using. However, I hadn’t brought any treatment meds with me so I’m glad they’re trying to catch it before it spreads or (gasp) hatches. That left us with some free time with Sasha.
We taxied Anya to school and stopped at the supermarket for a few things. Then we hopped the trolley for the hotel. It was overcrowded as usual. I was trying to balance myself and not step on the toes of the elderly lady whose fuzzy pink hat was just inches away from my navel. Sasha started to talk to someone in my direction. This isn’t unusual. She has many teachers and caretakers. We are in their obvious stomping grounds being so close to the internot. The trolley stopped and we wedged ourselves free of the crowds. Sasha waved at someone sitting near the exit.
“That was my Babushka!” she said of the lady in the fuzzy pink hat.
What?! The Babushka?! I smiled and waved as she turned to get another glimpse of her grandchild.
She took no notice of me but looked at Sasha with the full realization that she may never see her again.
It was the look of unmistakable grief.
Us
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1 comment:
Dear Eileen and Rolan,
Is your 10-day wait officially over? If so, congratulations!
I loved the pictures of the skit the kids performed for you! Good thing the Honored Ambassadors are good chicken dancers!
The Heritage Room looked really cool. What beautiful murals and the backdrop for the play!
Tanya's new haircut is really cute on her - she looks like a young Liza Minelli with those big eyes and long eyelashes!
May the lice treatment work for Nastia - yes, 2 hours does sound like a long time for a chemical. Misha waa treated also, but I don't know how long they left it on for.
The encounter with the girls' Grandmother broke my heart. Even though she has been a pain, she is a product of all of the years of anti-American propaganda during the Cold War. Do the girls know her address? Maybe get someone to write it down so that once you are home, you can send her photos and have the girls write. She will then know that her fears were unfounded and that her Granddaughters are safe and in a loving home. I am sure that is what every Grandmother wants.
Happy to see that things are drying up and getting a little warmer!
May you paperwork proceed quickly!
Hugs,
The Barretts
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