I don't even know where to start! Of course, biggest celebration is courts approval to adopt Dias. There were a few tense moments with the judge barking "Gulnara!" when she did not find something she was looking for in the HUGE stack of papers on her desk. Then there were light moments like when she said to Mike as she read his medical, "I wish I had your blood pressure!".
The judge asked our address 10 times because one page had one number wrong. We started wondering if we knew what our address was!
After court we were treated to a fabulous banquet at a local German restaurant. Hosted by Tatyana our adoption director in Kazakshtan. Then she gave myself and the doctor long stem roses for being Dias' moms....OMG.....tears,hugs, more hugs. Then it was Christmas (Father Frost and Old New Year gift time). The graciousness, the generosity, the fun.
Run around, back to hug Dias and play "kiss-kiss", he covers you with kisses....melt my heart.
All the caregivers, workers, doctors were coming up to us, "well?", and when we said "yes" and gave the thumbs up, they all hugged us. Happy as we are. Especially one who said Dias drove her crazy asking everyday about us coming back.
We were asked to deliver a year book for an exchange student that lives in Taldy and was in Kansas. Arrangements were made to meet her. We thought we would drop off the book, nice to meet you, Paka. Oh no......were we wrong and so glad! Merey lives with her grandparents, dad and nephew. They are nicest people and we had such a good time with them. Grandmother had been cooking all day and expected us to stay. Bishmarak, the national Kazak dish, a yummy noodle and meat dish was served. You have never seen so much food.It just kept coming and coming. Merey is such a lovely, intelligent young woman with perfect English. Her dad was a national boxing champ. it was a perfect evening. Mike did not want to go. The Reed family was all that was missing and Merey almost cries when she talks about her American mom and dad. Our interpreter and driver were included in the merriment as well. Then off to Karim's house for tea and sweets (it is 10:00 p.m. by now) and to see his new daughter. So kreseba! (pretty) We visited and drank more tea and ate more sweets. Our dear friend Inessa had prepared a Korean meal for us that there was no time left to enjoy unfortunately. The hospitality is so genuine and offered so kindly. Our representative has bent over to make sure our stay is comfortable.
After a wonderfully perfect day we settled in for a nights needed rest. A perfect day in every way.
Someone expressed their opinion recently that the experience of adopting in Kazakhstan is not a vacation, that these people could "care less" about our comfort or concerns or complaints. Basically just suffer and remember why you are really here....
We are really here to adopt. Period. Anything else is icing.
But the implication that the professional staff and the Kazakh people don't care, is a gross generalization and in our experience ( 4 times here now) very wrong.
Maybe the person mentioned above is the one that could care less. We see the world as we are...
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