I've Got Your Nose (Official Bonding Day 2)

Visit with Alia
There is a window in the kitchen that looks out to the spot where our driver picks us up in the morning. The sheer on the left side is stretched. I think of the people who stayed here before us doing the exact same thing we do - checking every 2 minutes for the driver who will take us to visit the child we hope to adopt some day soon.

When we arrived today, Alia was asleep on her tummy and a rattle we left in the cabinet was in her crib. She woke up immediately and looked perplexed for a minute or so, then we were rewarded with a smile of recognition.

We did more of the same today. We carried her around for a while first thing instead of going into undress and massage mode. This seemed to relax her a lot more - no heavy breathing and no desperate looks for the bottle. I tried to just hold her today. We did some reading though. She continues to grab for things like books, Scott's nose and Wedgina. She also held her bottle today!

I try to imagine what she has been doing until she met us. I doubt that there has been a lot of variation (I don't think she has ever been outside). I try to imagine being in a vacuum for months, then experiencing so many new sights, sounds, feelings and textures. It has to feel overwhelming.

All that said, she seemed more relaxed today. She didn't crazily scarf down her bottle - she took breaks and looked to see what was going on around her.

Life in Kokshetau

Lunch - look a mayo & veggie salad

We haven't done much else today. After our visit, we went to the Next Store to use the ATM with our interpreter. She didn't even know there was one there . . . I don't think she believed me until she saw it. Perhaps people don't typically use them here (?). I wanted her to go with us in case it was in Russian. There was an English option and it worked! It gave us Tenge from our little, old credit union in Carbondale. One of the families here before us had one of their cards eaten at a bank ATM, so I was a bit concerned.

Who needs to do anything else today?! Actually, Scott is preparing for a walk as I write. I need to do some grading. I think my brain may be somewhat recovered from the jet lag.

I made a Russian-style salad for lunch . . . tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, garlic, salt & pepper, and MAYO! I figure if we aren't eating horse meat, I could at least experience the culture through its salads. Thanks for the inspiration, Kim. I won't be eating them for 2 months though!

As you can see from the subtitle of the post, we did not start "official" bonding until yesterday after the holiday. So, we are still on schedule for returning on 9/18. That means more time with Alia!

We are experiencing our first day without water. Imagine coming home and finding that the water is shut off - no water main break, nothing . . . just no water. I keep turning on the faucet - I don't have Kazakh patience :). It is colder today - in the 50s. We are actually enjoying it. It is a nice change from the heat we experienced last week.

I don't really miss things from home (granted, we do seem to have it pretty easy where we are staying) - I just miss people . . . Luca, friends and family.

A big P.S.
Do you have friends who have much more faith in your ability to do things than you? I am so very lucky to have one of those friends - my dear, dear friend Susan Lee (I have to use her last name since there are about 5 Susans around here). I have a confession to make. I have not made pierogies from scratch. I am so incredibly flattered that she believes I could here. Well, maybe I could, but I haven't :). They are fresh from the frozen food section of The Next Store.

The title of the book will have to be Frozen Pierogies in Kazakhstan.

P.S.S. I will start posting every other day or so unless there is something monumental to report.

P.S.S.S. Please listen to this episode of "This American Life". Some of it is about adoption, all of it is about misconceptions. I really think you will like it.