It's about 6:30 AM in Khabarovsk. Didn't write yesterday because we were just too tired to. We landed yesterday at about 9AM. We had to board a bus/shuttle to the terminal. It is a very small airport, more like a US bus terminal - no frills at all. Once we got our bags we went to the hotel (Sapporo). We had a little time to relax, etc. before our 2:00 appointment with the orphanage. We finally got to see Katya for the first time. We did not have to go to the ministry of education, it was never even mentioned. Our driver had a Japanese import - maybe Chinese. The wheel is on the right side - seems strange because in Russia they drive on the right side. The orphanage is extremely run down, would probably be condemned if it was in the U.S. We're talking extreme poverty here, not just poor. We were brought into a room with Tatiana, our translator Yuta and then a nurse brought Katya in to us. When she put her in my lap I felt like this is what I always wanted to be doing. Holding my daughter for the first time made me extremely happy. I can't wait to bring her home. We spent some time trying to get her to play with us. Of course we were strangers and she was very unsure of who there strange speaking people were. After a while I was brought into the office where I presented the gifts to the staff. The one thing that they really loved was the digital thermometer. We'll bring a few back next trip. I got a list of items that they desperately need here to bring next trip. I think the director was extremely pleased when I asked what they needed that I could buy in the US for them on our next trip. While I was meeting the director & staff, Rain was left alone with Katya. When I came back, they were sitting on the couch playing very well together. After we left we were both getting tired. Tatiana wanted to know if we were still interested in adopting Katya - like we would actually say no! Of course we said yes! We go this morning (Thursday) to the courthouse to file for the adoption. This should be interesting. We get to visit with Katya again this afternoon. Last night we ate dinner in the bar because we were too tired to go anywhere and try to find other food. We found that the hotel has internet access for $3.00 an hour. Not too bad considering we're 2/3 the way around the world. We sent a few emails to home. Something else I wanted to mention is that Khabarovsk sort of reminds me of the Camden area. Same kind of overcrowded run-down look. The industrial section looks like any other I've ever seen. Even the roads are very similar to the way they are back home.



OK it's Thursday morning, I wanted to write after our meeting with Katya but my heart was too raw. The whole area here is rundown, ghetto housing. The "baby hospital" is actually a very poor orphanage. In your mind take the oldest, poorest hospital or school, abandon it for say 40-50 years, put 200 infants and 10-15 care workers in it. Give them maybe $500 a month to run the whole works, feed and clothe everyone and then you have the place our daughter is staying. If the building has been painted or taken care of in the last decade I am amazed. I'm sure the care workers do anything and everything for their charges. It's a miracle the care workers haven't been made saints for their hard work. You can tell they love the children, you can read it in their faces, by the way they murmur encouragement to coo the child's new 'Mama' and 'Papa'. I was so happy when Katya said Mama until I understood that any woman is 'Mama'. Katya had never met a man in her entire young life, so Joe was a complete frightening mystery with his beard, deep voice and boney chest. She played with me only after the caseworker and other familiar women left. She will continue to look for them as a fall back safety net until we get her to Moscow I think. Then, at that point we will be the only familiar thing in her life. I pray we can get a fast court date and get the 10 day waiting period waived. It grieves me deeply to leave her there one minute longer. Today we go to the notary to get the paperwork for a court date started. Then we go to see the baby for a few more hours. Today I will try to get measurements, etc.



I learned something interesting - don't order milk & expect it to be cold. They drink hot milk in Russia, and it's real thick, not like in the U.S.