Friday August 13, 2010

Natasha and Albert were at our apartment promptly at 7:00 a.m. and we were ready to go. When my alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., I felt kind of like you do on those Christmas mornings when you got to bed too late - but due to the importance of the occasion - you just push through the sleepiness. I brought a pillow with us, thinking that a two hour drive to Feodocia would be a gold mine of sleep time in which I could get caught up on a few Zs. Our two hour drive back to Feodocia was necessary where we needed to pick up the official court decree from the judge, get official papers signed and stamped by the inspector over childhood services in Feodocia, and get papers signed so we could withdraw funds Anastasia had in her bank account.

Calvin waiting outside our apartment prior to the arrival of Natasha and Albert

Camille waiting outside our apartment

While driving to Feodocia, all desire of sleep left me as we bounced down the two land road which we (Cheryl and I) had traveled so many times before. I hucked the pillow I brought into the back of Albert’s car and began to be filled with an excitement and exhilaration which surprised even me. It actually felt good to be back in Ukraine! Perhaps it was the familiarity of the old roads, the bustling of people pushing their way to morning work, or having my rather sheltered and non-traveled daughter along side to experience this with me.

I was surprised at how pleasant it now was in Feodocia, relative to when Cheryl and I were here. It was only about 90-95 F with high humidity compared to 100 – 105 with high humidity when Cheryl was here. After meeting with the judge, we met with the buxom inspector. The inspector’s assistance – a Ukrainian version of what Ichabod Crane’s wife would look like, was pouring over the details of another case. After about an hour in her air conditioned office (Camille sleeping for about 45 minutes) we obtained the necessary paperwork and stamps on Anastasia’s original birth certificate. We then went to the bank to meet Anastasia and Tamara, the director of the orphanage, to withdraw Anastasias funds and close her account.

Tamara is a delightful lady who is the director of the orphanage in Feodocia. She is rather traditional and “old school”. I noticed she had on her same white hat while doing business in town – the same hat she adorned when she came into town to go to our court hearing almost two weeks earlier. While hosting Anastasia last October 2009, we took Tamara out to dinner one evening and had an absolutely delightful time. Our dinner must have lasted 2 ½ hours because we enjoyed speaking with her so much. Our daughter Nadia came through flawlessly as she translated Tamara’s Russian and our English to one another so we could communicate. Tamara was able to give us valuable insight into Anastasia, her background, temperament, etc. prior to our decision to adopt her.

While crossing the street to go into the bank, Camille and Anastasia saw one another and ran and hugged each other. She also gave me a hug and seemed very pleased that we decided to come back and actually go through with the adoption process.

The bank was very busy, but after several minutes, we were able to withdraw about $1,030 US dollars in Ukrainian grevenia. Tamara handed the money to Anastasia, and directed her to give it to me. She kept back about 40 or so grivenia (about $5.00 US) and gave Papa the balance.

It was just after noon when we finished up at the bank and had to dash out and promptly go to Anastasias birth town of Krosnoperekops, which is a good 2 to 2 ½ hour drive from Feodocia. Anastasia didn’t need to be with us and wanted to spend time with Olga, so we dropped her off at the orphanage. We were able to meet Olga for the first time. Olga is a pretty 13 year old who has had the benefit of good parents and some refining influence which comes from three years of family life.

Olga and Anastasia

Camille, Anastasia and Olga

Camille, Anastasia and Olga


Natasha had made arrangements with the inspector/director of vital records in Krosnoparakops to have her new birth certificate officially printed. Anastasia wanted to spend time with her 13 year old sister, Olga, who was over here with her parents in Ukraine visiting her sister before she was adopted to American parents.

Our appointment in Krosnoparakops was from about 2:30 – 3:00 p.m. We were able to arrive very close to 2:30 p.m. We (Camille and I) sat in a hot, muggy office for about 15 minutes while Natasha and the inspector reviewed all the details of what needed to be done. A fan in the other room gave semblance of trying to cool both offices but to no avail in our office.

Camille and Calvin in front of the vital records office in Krosnoparakops



After our meeting, we left to go get something to eat while Anastasia’s new birth certificate was being prepared and printed. We were directed/recommended to a restaurant a couple blocks away. We were all very hungry as we had no time to stop for lunch. The place was an outside café which had a lot of charm really (Ukrainian style). The little pond in the center of the café patio courtyard was full of light brown mossy water, with plastic alligators to give it that authentic look. The only items being served on the menu were tomato and cucumber salad, pork chops, mashed potatoes, broth and coffee. I was thrilled with the choices because of hunger. I think I would have even been excited if they told me the only thing on the menu was alligator fresh from their pond. We enjoyed a nice lunch (minus the pork chops) and then went to run an errand for Natasha, who had to go to the bank.

Natasha (our facilitator), Albert (our driver) and Camille at a local cafe







Camille's introduction to Ukrainian toilets





When we arrived back at the Krosnoparakops vital records office, Natasha and I went in and Camille wanted to stay in Albert’s air conditioned car, knowing it was a sweat box inside the vital records office. I was needed inside to sign the request for Anastasia’s birth certificate in front of the inspector, as her new father. After I signed the necessary paperwork to officially request Anastasia’s birth certificate, we were able to obtain the completed certificate (minus the English translation).

The whole reason I flew to Ukraine 4 days early was for this meeting. It was a meeting Natasha arranged with inspector as she was going to go on vacation after her work on today (August 13th) and not return for a week. If I had come four days later on Sunday, it would have pushed the adoption process out another week. This was not acceptable as we wanted to get Anastasia (and Camille) enrolled at Provo High (and UVU), respectively by the end of the month – already a couple days past the first day of classes.


A bus stop with the name of the villiage where Anastasia was born



We arrived back in Simferopol about 7:30 p.m. We went inside and Camille was fast asleep by 8:00 p.m. I had to wake her and tell her I was going out to the shops to purchase a few items. When I got back at 8:30 p.m., it was dark and Camille was fast asleep. The next day she never remembered me telling her I was going out for a few groceries.