Misha's Russian Adoption in Photos

Misha's story.

Misha was abandoned when he was about one year old. After spending several months in the hospital to recover from injuries, he was moved to what Russians call a "baby house", an medical facility for orphaned children three years of age and under. He resided there for about two years. This baby house is located in the center of the city of Kudymkar, population 33,000.

When Misha was three, he moved to another orphanage for young children from the ages of 3 to 7 years of age. This orphanage is located in a tiny village (< 100 people) about 4 miles outside of Kudymkar.

Background info:

Our trip required us to visit three different cities: Kudymkar, Perm, and Moscow . Kudymkar is located near the foothills of the Ural mountains about 120 north of Perm at 60 N Lat. In Kudymkar, we had to go to court, receive pertinent documentation such as new birth certificates and medical records, and of course, get Misha from the orphanage. We also saw the Russian baby house Misha had lived in years earlier.. In Perm, we received passport and visa paperwork for Misha and had much of the paperwork translated to English. Perm is located about 800 miles east of Moscow. Finally, in Moscow, we had to get a physical for Misha and visit the US Embassy to complete Misha's paperwork for US citizenship.

Our agency, ECAS, provides a summer program that allows orphans to visit the US and stay with American families for three weeks in the summer. Misha stayed with us in June 2005. Click here for a slide show presentation.

This trip to Russia was the one and only trip required by us. The summer visit allowed us to adopt with only one trip overseas.

We traveled with two other families who were also adopting from Kudymkar. The other two families had court dates in Kudymkar two days earlier than us, so our interaction was limited on the first half of the trip. However, we were together more often after the court dates finished (roughly half-way into the trip).

There were four different orphanages in the Kudymkar area. Of the four kids being adopted on this trip, Misha was the only one from his orphanage. The other three kids were a bit older and came from other orphanages for older kids that were more like boarding schools.

11/26/05

Jeff

Streets of Kudymkar, Russia. Pop 33,000.

Yes, this is a color photo. Being in Kudymkar at times felt like being in a '30s black and white movie.

I didn't remember seeing the sun one time while we were in Russia until I saw this picture and remembered we had an hour or two of sunlight on this one day.

The road from Perm to Kudymkar was horrible. The distance is about 120 miles, but it takes 4 hours. The Russians complain about them too. When we arrived in Perm at 1 a.m., our interpreter sent us off on our all night journey to Kudymkar with the following insight: "In Russia, we have two kinds of troubles - fools, and roads!" It wasn't until a week later that we understood what she meant - we didn't understand her English as she pronounced the word "troubles." We had to ask another Russian what she might have been telling us.

Our hotel in Kudymkar. It was pretty nice place, especially when the water worked.

Sasha, our driver, let me use his shower in his room when our water was out of commission.

One of the main streets of Kudymkar.

These guys really need a street sweeper. Everything seemed muddy and grimy.

Another Kudymkar shot. (Our pink hotel on far left.)

There always seemed to be a lot of people walking. They had a unique stride that I describe as mechanical and efficient. From my vantage point, I could never figure out where they were all going. I think that is because many of the shops did not have commercial signs outside their stores like we do in America, at least, that we could recognize.

Tora and I took a little stroll around town. There was a town park with several statues including this one of Lenin.

I would have liked to see this city in the summer. I wonder if some of the drab dreariness wasn't the fact that it was November. Locals said they always had snow by this time of year (Nov 9).

Another monument in Kudymkar central park.

I'm not sure what it is, but it is date stamped 1579. A lot of history here.

Celebratory dinner for Sasha and Luda (far right end of table) at the Kudymkar Cafe after a successful court.

Vasily's (green shirt) court date was coming up after lunch.

We were just getting into town. Our court date was two days later.

Vasily, Sasha, and Luda (l to r) celebrating their new families that evening. They would leave for Perm that evening while we stayed behind to begin our process the next day.

Vas had just come from his orphanage for the last time. Because he had to leave an older sister behind, the event was bittersweet for him and his adopting parents (but that is their story)..

Speaking of difficulties, they seem to be laying in wait for most families that adopt. For us, it was not a sibling situation, but rather Misha's story of survival that had me down and out for a while. You discover the cold hard truth when you're least prepared to absorb it and process it.

After our first Kudymkar Cafe outing, we asked our driver Sasha to give us a tour of the town so we could snap some pictures.

He had the insight to take us to this impressive looking building. Sasha, in limited English and pantomime, told us this was a baby house (orphanage for kids from 0 -3 years old). We figured that this may have been Misha's home for two years.

We pulled up and met a man outside. He just so happened to be the chief medical doctor of the baby house. He also just so happened to be Misha's doctor while Misha resided here.

Dr. Alexander (left) proceeded to give us a full tour of the facility.

An irony was that days before meeting or knowing about this man, we had decided to change Misha's middle name to Alexander.

Next to the front of the building was a garden. Medicinal herbs were grown and used at the orphanage.

Hallway on the way to the doctor's office where we hung our coats and proceeded with our tour.

The baby house was very well kept, colorful, clean, and (while we were there) very quiet.

Kids are kept in small groups of 10-15 kids (just like Misha's orphanage).

I saw kids napping in the sleeping room (through a door just to the right in this picture). One little girl was awake. She looked up and stared at me but didn't move. I felt one of "those" tugs you get in situations like this, but could do nothing about it.

Baby house play area with lots of toys. The orphanage was well stocked with toys.

Tora poses in the Kudymkar courtroom.

Both Tora and I had to prepare speeches to give in front of the judge and the prosecutor. Both were women. Both witnesses that testified were also women.

Our impression was that everyone was very professional and had a bias toward the welfare of the children first.

The prosecutor asked a lot of good questions.

One tough question. Because a couple of Russian adopted child murders have occurred in the US recently, Tora was asked how she could guarantee this wouldn't happen in our family.

Anna acted as our interpreter throughout the session. Her abilities were amazing. We were most impressed.

In front of court building after successful court appearance.

Yes, that is the main entrance behind us.

Misha's orphanage.

He moved here at about 3 1/2 years old.

We picked him up a few days after his 6th birthday.

Misha was anxious to show us his bedroom and bed (#11).

He usually shared a sleeping area with about 8-12 other kids.

Bed was thin mattress set atop plywood similar to a toddler bed in the US. Each bed had a mat on the floor next to it.

This is my favorite shot at the orphanage. It reminds me why we were there. Although the orphans had relatively good care at this orphanage, there is little reason for a kid here to have any real hopes and dreams. To me, it was depressing for that reason. Their world is so limited and the caretakers can only do so much.

Another shot from the sleeping area.

The caretaker could work at the desk while the children slept or napped.

In the background, Tora is talking to Misha's favorite caretaker through our interpreter Anna.

Main living area for Misha's group adjacent to the sleeping area.

This room had an eating table (I believe kids are having a evening snack in photo), and what I call an activity area (foreground). Well kept, lots of activities/toys, bright, and well lit.

This group living arrangement was duplicated 4 or 5 times in the orphanage. I was told kids could visit other groups. There were roughly 60 - 70 kids total in the orphanage.

Bathroom area just off main activity area.

Each child was assigned a rack for their towel.

We had about 10 minutes to visit Misha's area and take pictures. When we arrived, we were told it was snack time for Misha's group.

I'm not sure what they were eating. It looked like some kind of pasta but I wasn't sure.

All the kids were curious about us during our presence but basically calm. Another family in our travel were mobbed at the front gate when they visited their adoptive son's orphanage. It was so crazy for them, they were never able to take pictures. (Kids at that orphanage were older than these kids.)

Misha's group shot.

One child was sick so was not present. Another in the photo had broken out from something. Of course, he was the one in my face all the time.

Misha's best friend is the girl on the left.

Groups are co-ed.

There were four other children from this orphanage who participated in the same summer program Misha did. They are waiting for their court date. We were able to say hello and take pictures of two of the four children. Misha was the first of the four to be adopted via our agency's program.

Stairway by Misha's group area.

Leopold the cat is one of Misha's favorite Russian cartoon characters (located upper right on the landing montage).

Hallway by orphanage entrance.

This is the area where the food was prepared. It was a very strong smell like a cabbage smell. I didn't favor it.

Every place we saw was very well kept.

Misha hoping for room service at the Kudymkar hotel. We left for Perm about an hour later.

Six of us drove in a car to Perm for the next 4 hours. Our driver's car kept bottoming out. Misha slept the entire trip by laying across the three adults in the backseat.

We were deposited at Galina's and Mikhail's flat in Perm at 2:30 in the morning. Misha saw the cats and then the real fun began. We all got back to sleep about 4:30 am.

Did I mention the cat?

Oy!

Galina's kitchen in Perm.

We stayed here for three nights and had no access to the outside world unless someone picked us up. Bummer. It was our agency's way of getting things done and keeping us out of trouble, I figure.

After hearing horror stories from other adopting parents at the US Embassy in Moscow, being holed up didn't seem so bad after all.

This family sacrificed for us by sleeping in their office and giving us their bedroom.

Mikhail hangs out with Misha while we went shopping. I guess that makes Mikhail our first babysitter. He used an old American standard method ~ the TV.

Mikhail's favorite TV show was an American show "Charmed" with Russian overdub. He watched it each night he came home from his engineering job. (Galina taught Russian literature.)

The American music and TV influence in Russia is huge. More than half the time when we heard music (restaurants, car stereos, shopping, etc.) the music was American.

Galina and Mikhail's flat on the seventh floor.

Not much to look at outside, but very nice inside. Very efficient use of space (if you like that kind of thing).

Agency's Russian team in Perm with four new adoptees in the front row.

At the Moscow airport after arriving from Perm. Misha liked to ride the luggage.

It was good to be one step closer to home.

Red Square.

We visited Red Square about a half dozen times. Our hotel was the Hotel Rossiya (white building, left in far background) and was about a 5 minute walk from Red Square.

We toured St. Basil's Cathedral (behind us), the Kremlin, the armory at the Kremlin, the GUM next to Red Square, the subways, and more.

While entering the Kremlin, a Russian guard asked our tour guide if I was a Ruski. (The Kremlin tour rate is much lower for the locals.) While there, my Russian heritage (I'm 25% Russian) was pointed out a number of times. Our agency head said Misha and I share several of the same physical features.

Russian make-a-wish circle near Red Square.

The idea is to make a wish and toss a coin(s) over your shoulder. (Locals are available at no charge to clean up your mess.)

Misha enjoyed trying to lodge coins in bystanders' eyeballs. His tosses were not subtle.

This was an amazing river structure commemorating Peter the Great a little ways from the Kremlin. We passed it on the way to the US Embassy.

Here is better shot of it on someone else's web site.

The infamous barrier.

I was walking with Misha in arm like in the picture. Misha pointed straight up and asked me to look at a bird. I did so.

The next thing I know my lower body stopped and my upper body kept moving. I did a head-over-heels with Misha in my arms never letting go of him. I was too top heavy to stop the acrobatics.

The Russians that were once crowding to get through the archway instantly cleared a large circular area around the downed American. Everyone was talking. I understood nothing but didn't need to. There were dozens of expressions of concern. Misha was laughing., however. He thought it was hilarious.

Howard, one of the Americans in our party who was walking behind me, said my feet were above his head at one point.

No one was seriously hurt and the event caused comic relief to the group for two days. We all needed comic relief badly.

Luda often took Misha under her wing. This shot was taken on the way to the US Embassy the day before we left Moscow for New York.

As you might expect, the kids took comfort in each other's company. Misha always seemed more at ease after hanging with the other kids.

In my opinion in the early stages of the adoption and family process, the language barrier is by far the largest obstacle in parenting these kids.

On the way home, Misha and Vas (Jake) share a movie.

The trip from Hotel Rossiya in Moscow to the Humphey Terminal took 24 hours. The flight from Moscow to New York took 10.5 hours.

Hanging with Mom and listening to a CD story in Russian.

When we landed in New York, Misha and the other three immigrant children became U.S citizens.

After a short layover, we were on our way to Minneapolis for the final leg. Jet backup kept us on the ground for nearly two hours waiting to takeoff. This would have never happened at the Perm airport, but at least JFK has flushing toilets.

Ashley (a friend from this past summer) welcomes Misha at the airport.

While still in the air, Misha was so tired that he cried when we tried to wake him. But he was ready to go again when we finally landed. After we made it home, Misha fell asleep right away.

In the 10 days we have been home, Misha has shown zero outer effects from jet lag. His body instantly adjusted to the new time zone. I'm still adjusting from my short visit to Russia.

Since being home (10 days as of this writing), Misha has adjusted remarkably well. Unlike the crazy days we had at first during his summer visit, Misha has settled right in this time around. It's like his little mind has been preparing for this moment for the past five months.

We seldom use timeouts this time around. Rather, when he is upset, he puts himself into a timeout (and sulks). It's now his way of handling frustrating moments.

Most nights, HE ASKS US if he can go to bed (unheard of this summer). We have already established a bedtime routine.

He won't go to sleep until we pray with him. Funny, since he has no idea what we are doing when we pray (yet).

During the day, the antics never stop around home. Here (left) he found joy in trying to walk in Papa's size 10 hiking boots.

On a visit to our friend's house, Misha found the dress up box in the playroom and proceeded to model each of the costumes (left).

He seems to enjoy every destination he rides to in the car whether it be a friend, a relative, a store, or a park.

He is eating us out of house and home. His food interests seem to come and go in phases. Something he makes a face at one day gets heavily consumed the next (i.e. bread, milk). He just as quickly abandons foods he loved just days before (i.e. pot stickers, Russian bologna).

Tora made a comment that he looked really American here in this photo. (Some of his prominent Asian features are hidden by the costume.)

11/26/05

At home Misha is quickly picking up English words and phrases. We notice him speaking new words every day. We have practiced writing his new American name in English. He looks for books so he can copy the English letters he sees on the covers. He knows most of his numbers in English.

We hope to start him in kindergarten this week. He was surprised to find out from a Russian speaking friend of ours that kids start school when they are only 5 in America. In Russia, they wait until 7 years of age. Until this was explained to him, he couldn't understand why we planned to send him to school so soon.

He is learning to use the computer and run the mouse. (His little hand can barely reach the buttons.) At left, he is running some pre-school software that is teaching him letters, numbers, colors, and shapes.

Some of the others things he has already enjoyed since being here:

• sledding at the park
• going to the library and picking out books
• taking a bath each night
• story time each night
• lots of stuffed animals to share space with each night
• blowing up and popping balloons with a scissors while standing behind Mom or Dad and laughing (hope this desire wears off soon)
• bowling
• drumming
• hide-and-seek
• asking for Yogurt 300 times a day
• joining brother Zildjian in fighting against Papa
• swinging at the park
• ball tag at the park