A Positive Project Hope - Reader Contribution, Page 3
At exactly noon Irina, Galina, and Demetri showed up at our hotel and away we all went to Ivanovo's International Boarding School (read "orphanage"). There we met another "Galina", the orphanage director, as well as Dinar's Social Studies teacher, Olga, and his "regular" teacher, Natalia. Also present was the "Social Worker" assigned to Dinar's case. I never did get her name. We all sat at a long table in the Director's office to get acquainted. The atmosphere was very friendly; we all had tea and some Russian scone type cake and chocolates. They brought Dinar in and the reunion began. Hugs all around. Kathy and I have been fortunate in that Dinar is so very friendly and easy-going. He even listens to us - except for the occasional test or standard stalling tactic for a 10 y.o. (you know, bed time...). Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Two other children came by, Evgeny and Ludmilla (brother and sister). We got to know these wonderful kids from last summer's program. They will be adopted by a great family in late May, 2002, and they'll be living close by. They seemed so very afraid that their chance was not going to come, after all, they'd been waiting since last summer. Evgeny held on to my leg and kept looking up at me... very emotional. We had Galina, our translator, explain that their Mama and Papa were going to be there soon. Evgeny continued to shadow me throughout both visits to the orphanage.
One thing was very clear from our visit to the orphanage: though they have very little to work with, the ladies who run the place day in and day out really care for these children. And children there certainly are, a great many of them all over the place! A daunting task for these women.
Finally it was time to go, our visit was over. We said goodbye to Dinar, we'd see him in the morning at court.
In spite of the hype and our own nervousness, court was no problem and Irina had prepared us very well. The judge was a plump lady who appeared friendly, but the prosecutor looked like she could "bend steel in her bare hands." At a side table was a young lady acting as the court recorder. Though it took over an hour, the questions simply followed our homestudy and we stood when addressing the court. The ladies who sat in judgement of us had done their homework. Questions were also asked of the Social Worker regarding Dinar's release for adoption and of Olga, Dinar's Social Studies teacher, who was filling in for the orphanage director. Galina, our translator, did a fantastic job of keeping up with all the back and forth banter.
At ten years of age the judge could have asked Dinar to testify. In a surprise move, the judge asked me if I thought Dinar should testify. Ah yes, I thought, my first trick question. I told them that though Dinar was easy going and friendly, he would probably be shy and perhaps even frightened by the proceedings. Galina said the judge agreed with me. Dinar would not have to appear in court. The judge called a recess and out we went to say hello to Dinar who was waiting outside the courtroom. Ten minutes later we were called back in and the judge read her decision. Our adoption was approved, including our request to waive the ten day waiting period. Court was over. It was the morning of March 22 and Dinar was now our son.
Now it was time to drive all over Ivanovo to get all the required papers before catching the night train back to Moscow that evening. We paid the $20 fee for the expedited passport (or an additional three day wait) but this was known to us ahead of time. Finally, with all documents in hand it was back to the orphanage to pick up our son. Upon arrival, more tea and cakes with the director and some of Dinar's teachers. I took out the video camera and they loved it. Dinar's class came into the Director's office and sang us a song, now forever on digital tape. Galina, our translator, continued to be such a help, truly a wonderful lady. Soon I went with Dinar so he could change clothes and leave the "state owned" clothes behind. Evgeny, my orphanage shadow, was firmly in tow. After changing clothes it was time to go. Good-byes all around, emotional for the adults especially his teacher Natalia. Dinar was all smiles!
That evening, the wondrous night train back to Moscow. Dinar slept like a rock. Ah, youth. Regarding fees, all in line with what we expected. Our driver in Ivanovo was $140 and Galina's fee for translation was $95. The Tourist Hotel did attempt to overcharge us when we checked out, but the lady at the desk clearly didn't expect Galina to be standing at my side. A short exchange in rapid fire Russian and the total was magically reduced. It worked out to approx. $62 per day. Our 39 hours in Ivanovo came to an end.
© John Galembush, All rights reserved
Home
Add Your Comments!
We want to know what you think. Your comments are important to us and the other readers. You are what makes this site special.