Thursday, July 9, 2009

Before Janette left me at the hotel yesterday, she told me that we are going to start visiting Alina in the mornings at 9:30 am instead of in the afternoons. We think she will be in a better mood, although I need to get used to those “moods“, she won’t be so tired, and it will be not as hot. That’s fine with me so today, we headed out to the baby house at 9:30. I met Janine and Janette at 9:30 in the lobby of the hotel and we took a taxi to Umit. I still can’t get over the way they drive here! It scared the devil out of me and one day, I will video our ride to the orphanage to let you see first hand at the craziness of the driving here. After the 10 minutes drive, we pull into the orphanage through the blue and yellow gates. Once again, laughter sounds ensue from many children along with some crying sounds from others. Janette heads inside to talk to the director about something so Janine and I head off to find Alina and her group. We round the corner of the building and see that they are in the same shelter as yesterday. This must be “their” shelter. Once again, some of Alina’s playmates see me and starting yelling, “Alina…Mama, Alina’s Mama!” It’s the best sound in the world. The caretaker was putting shoes on Alina who was protesting very loudly because she wanted to run into her Mama’s arms. She came to me crying today because the caretaker had upset her so I just held her. She laid her sweet little head down on my shoulder and her arms were around my neck. It was all over in about a minute and when she raised her head off my shoulder, that all to familiar impish small was on her face. I tickled her belly and off we went to our gazebo to play. I always make sure I say hello and goodbye to her playmates. I don’t want them to get too jealous that Alina has a mama and start being not so nice to her. I’ve heard this happens quite often so I always make sure to acknowledge them when I arrive and when I depart.
I have brought back to Alina her coloring book, crayons, and photo album from my purse which has pictures of her in them that I have received from other families that adopted from Umit. Today, I added in a beach ball (thanks Gili for loaning us your ball! Alina loves it!) to the mix. The ball is almost as big as her but we had a good time playing with it. We kicked it to each other, we tossed it to each other, she sat on it and bounced up and down. But nothing can take the place of the box of crayons. I chose to take a smaller box that grandma had gotten her for Christmas. I had planned on bringing the big box of 64 with the sharpener on the back (MAN I loved those crayons when I was little!). I’m soooo glad I didn’t since her favorite activity is to take the crayons out of the box and put them back in…over and over and over again. It’s really fun to watch those small little hands and fingers putting each crayon back in the box…all of them the turned the same way and one by one. I think I have a perfectionist on my hands. I’ve also noticed that she is very possessive of her things. She doesn’t mind me taking them when it’s time to go but if I start to touch them when we are visiting, I am met with the dirtiest of looks and a squeal that can only mean, “get your grubby hands off MY stuff!” Who can blame her! She’s had to fight for anything she’s ever gotten in her entire life! Fight for attention, fight for toys, fight…fight…fight! I don’t put up a fuss about right now but once we get home, she will have to learn that she doesn’t have to fight for anything anymore. I see this as a big challenge when we get back to the states.
One more thing that I discovered today is that she loves tea! She saw a bottle of tea in Janine’s purse and promptly took it out and tried to figure out how to open it. I told Alina joq, which is no in Kazak, but Janine said that is was ok. So, I unscrewed the cap a little and then let her finish taking the cap off. I’ve had enough experience with five year olds (yes, I’m talking about you Gili!) that at this age, they want to do everything themselves. So, I will promote that. Alina proceeds to try to drink tea out of the plastic bottle. She, apparently, has never done this before. She holds the opening to her mouth and starts to suck air into her mouth without raising the bottle enough so the tea can make it into her mouth. It’s funny and sad at the same time. Something we take for granted everyday…this little one has never experienced. I then put my hand on the bottom of the bottle of tea she is holding and tip it upwards. The result is a big drink of tea which gets her strangled and she starts to cough. I pat her on her little back until the coughing subsides. Another sip is taken, then another, then another, then a coughing session. She will not put the bottle down. She tells us, “tup-te-a” which means tasty in Kazak. She says it after almost every drink. This baby is in 7th heaven with her bottle of tea. I continue to help her tip the bottle toward her mouth until I’m told, “I can do it!” in the cutest little Kaz voice. So, I stop and just sit there in amazement at how this little ones life is going to change. She has no idea that in just a little over two months, she will never have to fight for attention, food, toys, anything. She will have so many new experiences. I just hope she doesn’t get to overwhelmed with it all. That will be my job in seeing that she doesn’t.
We continue to play during our visit. One thing that she enjoys is the photo album that she dug out of my purse. As I mentioned before, it is filled with pictures of her from other families who have previously adopted their children from Umit. There is a current photo of her and some of her playmates. She proceeds to name each and every one of the little ones in the photo. Then she will turn the page, take a big gasp (that takes my breathe away because I’m laughing so hard) and sees her picture and says, “Aleenaaa”. It’s quite comical but I just love hearing that big gasp coming from such a little person.
As our visit is coming to an end, Janette joins us once again. She says we should take a picture with Alina’s Nanny. The guardianship council might like to see that. So, we take the picture and once again I say to Alina, “Ya-king-eya-deen” which mean’s see you tomorrow in Kazak. And, once again, the tears start flowing as the Nanny peels her from my arms and carries her in to eat her lunch. My heart aches so much when this happens but it’s all part of the process. I just keep telling myself this to try to get through it.
On the way back to the hotel, Janine asks me what I will be doing tomorrow afternoon. I told her just writing my blog entries and working on my knitting. She asks me if I would like to go to Café Istanbul and to the Bazaar. I emphatically say yes because I’ve heard that these places are wonderful! I can’t wait until tomorrow!
Also, Janette informs me that we must go to the notary at 3:30 this afternoon. Ok…I know what a notary is in my country. Is it the same in Kazakhstan? As it turns out, it is. I needed to give power of attorney to Janette so she can submit paperwork for me to the proper authorities. So, at 3:30 I meet Janette and a driver downstairs. Janine isn’t with us as there will be a translator at the notary’s office. We jump in the car and head down the street. We pull up to a building that looks like it’s just about 150 years old. It has a banner for a sign which is very common around here. I thought we were going in the front door of this two story somewhat crumbling building. I’m following Janette closely and realize that we are going around to the side of the building toward a small awning and a few steps. We enter and find a couch and a desk with two very young women sitting behind it. One is seated at a computer while the other is handwriting something in what looks like a log book. In front of the desk sit’s a lady in a white t-shirt and white pants with long black hair that is in a braid. Her name if Farida and she is the translator. She realizes that we have arrived and quickly gets up and goes over to Janette and they kiss each other on the cheek. She then comes over to me and shakes my hand and introduces herself in English. I told her that I have heard many good things about her from other adoptive families. She blushes a little and then tells me that she has also heard of me. She knows I’m adopting Alina. It seems that Alina is a favorite of everyone! Even outside of the orphanage! Everyone inside the orphanage is so happy for her which I’m sure they are for any of the children that get adopted. But, it seems that they are especially happy for Alina. Or, that’s how they make me feel anyway. Farida has met Alina and tells me that she is so happy for her and me. She is very nice and most accommodating. She then points to the sofa in the room as tells me to sit down and she will be able to assist me in a moment. Janette is already sitting on the sofa and going through her folder of paperwork. I sit on the sofa and realize quickly that Janette needs more room for her papers so I get up and go over to a chair next to the open entrance door. Right beside me is the notary’s office. There is no one in there right at the moment. Farida continues to sign the papers in front of her. She not only has to sign it, but she has to write some sort of statement as best I could figure out. Then, once she signs it, it goes to the notary to be stamped. It just so happens, Farida was working on paperwork of a family that I have been in contact with before traveling to Kaz. They will be arriving back in Taraz in July to pick up their precious Lukas Anton which I have met and taken a photo of him for his new parents. Alina knows him as well.
It seems that the ladies behind the desk need to prepare more paperwork to Farida to sign. While she is waiting on the ladies to finish their work, Farida starts chatting with me. She expresses her sorry about Michael Jackson (I almost died when she said this! She was so sincere about it and I didn’t want to lose it in front of her face. Don’t get me wrong. I feel sorry for his family and especially his children. But Michael himself….he has abused his body so much over the years it’s not wonder his life ended so early. RIP MJ). She starts talking about watching his memorial on TV for six hours and so forth and so on. I just sit there and let her chat away, nod my head, and we both agree that it is a very sad situation. More papers are ready for her to sign so she turns back to the desk and starts her work. Janette is still working on her file of paperwork so I’m just sitting there in my chair wishing the Kazak people believed in turning on the AC. It’s hot, it’s a small room, and did I mention that Europeans don’t use deodorant? Yeah…nouf said. And to boot, the small office is getting more crowded by the minute. Finally, after an hour, Farida gets to my paperwork. It’s an official looking document written in Kazak. She explains to me what is says, makes sure my address is correct and I sign it…twice! Then I have to sign the log book and we are finished. This is not the last time I will see Farida. She will be my translator at court in a month or so. We say our goodbyes and we head back to the hotel and to my room that has AC.
I call home every evening which is morning of the same day for you guys in the US. I talk to ata, grandpa, and aja (ah-jee-ya), grandma, everyday and tell them what we did during our visitation time. They are so anxious to get over here and hug the stuffing out of this little girl. I can’t wait for her to meet them.

Sow-bul (Goodbye in Kazak)!