Our first travel towards home day has arrived. Showers began at 0630, the boys were up at 0700 and we ate our last breakfast at The Turtle at 0800. Christina did not join us this time. The bill was paid for the nine days. Two charges were sought: one for hotel stay and one for the lounge meals. All said and done ... approximately $1900 USD.
It was an experience packing up. The boys very quickly figured out today was different and had their backpacks out, all their things pulled out of the drawers and quickly deciding what to put in what pouch of each backpack. It was kind of fun to watch although we had to be ready to be picked up at 0850. They were actually quite helpful. They went through all the drawers in the room and ensured we had everything. I was actually shocked they didn't ever discovered the up/down switches for the black-out blinds. We had taken quite a few precautions since Friday in hopes they'd not discover them. Christina and Mama did a good job on this one.
Misha, Natasha and Alexander met us promptly and helped bring down our luggage. Misha packed the car and he received a carton of Winston cigarettes. We gave Alexander his wall plate (showing all the lighthouses in NC) and we said our goodbyes to Alexander. He was a great help in our effort here. He asked for pictures of the boys as they grow up. Hopefully we'll remember to forward some over time.
We were crammed into Misha's car like sardines. Backpacks, luggage and ourselves left only room for breatheing. But the boys were very still and watching everything as we made our 20 minute ride to the airport. We unloaded and walked into the Terminal. It was not busy at all at 0930. Our flight was scheduled for 1055 so we had plenty of time to move along the necessities. The first of which, of course, was the restroom. They boys went, I purchased Christina a sourvenir K'grad newspaper (her only requested souvenir of the trip) and we checked in. With five plane tickets there were no problems with the extra luggage today. It is unusual for people here to take roll-along luggage in the plane with them ... something else that marked us as foreigners. Now I have five plane tickets, five boarding passes and five Passports to negotiate let alone one child, backpack and roll-along luggage. We sat along a row of windows for a little while. The boys were intenting watching the other people as they arrived, checked in and found their places to wait. One used a vending machine and Sasha was very curious about how money went in, a small cup with liquid came out. Zhenia was a little more less curious about his surroundings and kept close to Mama.
In Russia they call for planes to begin preparing. This is the signal to pass through Security and Passport control. This was our first test at something really new for the boys. It went without a hitch. We've certainly learned that in new surroundings they are very attentive and afraid to move much without direction. That helps! All went smoothly through Security and Passport control. We were fortunate that they didn't call us to begin preparing until the point at which the bus picks you up for the 200 yd trip to the plane. We were afraid we'd be in the Sector area (Gate for you Americans) awhile before the buses came. We moved to the bus loading area and at this point recognized there was a special traveler. A German Shepard dog. Given the event of yesterday, this was not good. Or maybe it was. The boys were stuck to us like glue! They knew at all times where the dog was located. In fact, on the bus they brought him up the aisle and sat him down next to Christina. The boys' eyes were as big as silver dollars.
We rode the bus to the plane and boarded. Carol, Christina and Zhenia in 11E, F and G. Adrian and Sasha took seats 18E and F. Victor, a professional seaman, was sitting in 18G. He spoke four languages and tagged me pretty quickly as a foreigner. I was able to work with him to explain to Sasha what was going on throughout the flight. Another prayer answered. Victor could not have been more friendly. He was tolerant, spoke nicely, helped the boy understand what he was seeing out the window and talked with me a bit about his experience as a seaman. Carol had no problems with Zhenia either. He got to sit by the window and they also colored some during the trip. The ride was one hour and 25 minutes. The boys did very well. They each had to make a trip to the Toilet about 2/3 of way to Moscow. And the dog was sitting in the last row right in front of the Toilet. Hmmm. The boys were very attentive to us during those bathroom breaks. :-)
Deplaning in Moscow
Another bus ride to Terminal 1 was uneventful. The dog must have been on the
other of two buses. We arrived there pretty quickly and had to wait about 10
minutes for the luggage to appear. The boys did start to get a little restless
until the dog appeared. Dogs are good for travelling with scared little boys.
Luggage arrived just fine. Now we struggled for the first time as a family to gather and maneuver all the luggage. Sasha had a pull-along and did great. We met yet another interpreter for the final leg of our journey: Tonya. The driver, Vladimir, did not come into the Terimal as she had him waiting in the car close by. We loaded the nice van and proceeded into Moscow. It is now just after 1pm K'grad time (2pm in Moscow) and we should be having lunch for the boys. We were taken to Svetlana's adoption office to pass the stack of papers I was given in K'grad. They will process them and ensure all in order and proper copies/originals left in Moscow. Some will be needed at the Clinic tomorrow while others will be used at the US Embassy. The Svetlana meeting went pretty quick. We said our hellos and farewells and headed to Hotel Ukraine. It is now 1350. Check-in did not go so well. The prices they were quoting were too high for Tonya's liking so she had several receptionists, and probably a manager, attending to our needs. This took way too long. It is now 1430 and Zhenia was acting up. Mama was not happy. I left the receptionist area and located a lounge where sandwiches could be served. Mama, Christina and the boys went there and things calmed a little. Check-in was completed; I located our room as Christina, Tonya and I maneuvered all the luggage to Room 772; I joined the family for lunch. Mama needed a break and went to the room while I attended to lunch activities.
Room 772 is very large. If you thought the Marriott Tverskaya room we had in July was big, this one exceeds it by at least 20%. We have a corner suite overlooking Embassy row which lies along the Moscow River. It is an older hotel (1957) and the furnishings match Russian decor. Christina says she likes Moscow.
The boys completely unpacked their backpacks into a china cabinet in the main living room. They were very proud to have done so. Hopefully they don't think this is home. Our house may only have 100 sq ft more than this place. We separately took the boys for a walk around the grounds.
Christina and I then took a quick hike to the closest McDonald's. Tonya had gone to great lengths to explain how to find it from the hotel. She was right on the money. McDonald's in Moscow is a treat. Mind you, thought, that I don't eat at McDonald's in the States. But in Moscow it is packed. Tonya says the food is known to be fresh and this is what draws the people to it. She says they have their own farms in Russia so that everything is controlled to ensure freshness. Leave it to the Russians to serve a better burger than you get in Johnston County. Our walk involved passing through a tunnel where a couple of vendors reside. One sells paintings, another fruit.
Returning to the room with our McD's goodies, we quickly consumed the burgers, fries, chicken and drinks. The boys were prepped for bed and we did our best to slow them down from this whirlwind day. There were a few time-outs along the way this afternoon but you can't blame them too much for that. They've taken a plane ride, entered one of the world's largest cities, ridden in a van for an hour, and are now bedding down in a six-room suite overlooking Embassy row. Why should they be excited? :-)
Mama and Papa had a long day. We are tired. A lot of stress was accumulating today. But we've managed to remain sane and continued to learn how to parent these small boys as they begin to see the world they had no idea existed. We are very greatful to God for his guidance and help in our level of patience. We know that prayer is our best weapon to combat any ordeal we may face. We know many of you reading this were praying for our well-being also. We are eternally greatful.
As the above journal indicates, we didn't visit the US Embassy today as I had thought. The visit will not occur until Thursday morning.
Tomorrow's plan:
+ Breakfast at 0900
+ Tonya/Vladimir picks us up at 1000
+ American Clinic visit by 1400