Hi all!  Wanted to mention that Bill and Cathe who are a #9 Back Home for Good – have left a few great posts recently on their blog showing how well their two older kids are doing. 

I am not surprised at all.  It is easy to believe that once a child is past a certain age they are damaged but we all know that the easy belief is not always the truth. 

I saw so many kids at the baby house that were what most would consider “older” and I did not see a damaged one in the lot.  They were all so loving and sweet and had so much personality and were so hungry for attention and affection. 

I think that if you think a baby is the only way to go I would ask you to stretch your mind a little to allow for the fact that there are so many wonderful children in Kazakhstan of all ages.

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Update on the countdown – 12 days left until I leave – 14 or 15 till I get to spring her from the baby house

 I think it is funny that Gotcha Day might very well be tax day. 

If you don’t know already Matt and Suzanne Ruley are off as of today to Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan.  It is very surreal to know that they are about to embark on the same adventure I just experienced a few short weeks ago.  I am very excited for them and can’t wait to see their first post from Ust! 

Sometimes I think it would be a good idea for Disney to come up with a new theme ride called International Adoption Mountain.  But this ride would go on for a while see instead of just be a few minutes long.  But like all rides that you want to come to a stop, once you get your wish and you are finally off….you find yourself wanting to run back to the front and get in line to go again.  

As much as I wanted to come home and sleep in my own bed….I also wanted to stay and continue being friends with the many wonderful people I met there.  Both the Spykers and myself commented on how we wished that Kazakhstan wasn’t so darn far away – literally on the other side of the world from us – because we would have liked to have been able to visit with more frequency and ease.  Just as you began to really get to know everyone it was time to go. 

Here is to hoping the Ruley’s have a decent flight and to hearing about their first day at the orphanage soon! 

The Adoption Certificate has been issued!!!  I will be having a drink of champagne tonight.  Toasting Karina and myself!  I may even hum some Sister Sledge while sipping the bubbly! 

 I have been asked to be back in Ust by April 14th-15th.  As I am typing this I am on hold waiting for Eldo at Golden Rule Travel to arrange my flights!  So technically speaking that means I would be leaving in about 15 days from now. 

Let the countdown begin!!! 

P.S.  This is one of my favorite pictures of Karina!  I am a pretty good photographer no?  Actually, I think it is because I have such a beautiful model!  I just love her smile and those chubby cheeks and I love love love that bit of baby fat around the neck.  I think she is the most beautiful child I have ever seen. 

Here is my crudely drawn (in paint) map of Ust.  I hope that you will find it somewhat useful. 

SHINY RIVER HOTEL 

Let me start at the hotel that I stayed at The Shiny River.  It was very nice.  It is most likely the nicest hotel in Ust – to them it is a five star hotel and I would say that it is very nice indeed.  I really thought that the staff there was excellent and their eventual (not in the beginning be prepared to make friends) affability made the stay that much more pleasant.  There are some great personalities at the front desk and just all around interesting people.  The breakfast and taxes were included in the price I was quoted.  The breakfast buffet was good.  Not incredible and not terrible.  Like any buffet that you visit for three weeks at some point it was not all that exciting but in the first week when I thought I would not find anything I would want to eat it was very nice to start the day off with some items that were appetizing and filling.  I in particular ate the little cut up hot dogs, the wonderful potato and onions, mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, and always about two glasses of the orange or apple (one or the other) juice they had available that morning.  They also had omeletes to order, cereal, cream of wheat, many different varieties of breakfast breads, and yogurt.  The rooms were very nice and clean and modern.  The bed was very comfortable as were the pillows.  My room was cleaned very well each day and after I began leaving about 200 tenge in the room each day – about $1.80 – I always got some extra service like a cleaning out of the little fridge in the room or a reorganization of my messy cosmetic items in the bathroom.  You could get CNN in English and various music videos and then there was the all pervasive Fashion Network that literally shows runway shows 24 hours a day – I kid you not – no wonder all the females in Kaz walk around looking like models this is the images they are presented with – I am very glad to not have that channel in the US since I am sure it would only add to the low body image self esteem issues that young girls seem to have to contend with these days.   The bathroom was very nice but my main complaint would be that every time I took a shower I would be able to get either scalding water or freezing water but never was able to find a point on the knob that allowed me to get water that was warm or comfortable to stand under.  I resorted to using a large water bottle and filling it half way up with hot water and half way up with cool water and shaking it up a bit, dousing myself with it and repeating for six or seven times.  So this definitely detracted from the hotel stay but I dealt with it.  I just pretended I was camping.  Overall, I think the hotel was very nice for the price and not having to worry about where I was staying at was nice so I could concentrate on my visits with Karina.

PIZZA BLUES (5 minute walk from Shiny River)- Exit the Shiny River, take a left, and walk about the equivalent of three blocks down the way (through apartment parking lots for the most part) and you come to the Pizza Blues.  It is one of a chain of probably about four or five Pizza Blues restaurants located around Ust.  It is the closest place to the hotel to get a bite to eat (not including the hotel restaurant) Ask for the English menu when you get to the front counter….Angliski……is the way to say English in Russian.  The prices are reasonable and for about $6.00 US you can eat a meal, have a beverage and get a dessert.  I highly recommend the chocolate cake with nuts on the outside.  I don’t normally like nuts but the cake was so moist on the inside….very good.  The Pizza is nothing to write home about but that is coming from someone that lives in Chicago so…but again when you are worried about finding anything you can actually eat comfortably it is nice to go and get their version of the Pizza just to have something that has some familiarity….there is no tomato sauce and a lot of lunch meat piled on their pizzas so be prepared for it to be different….be adventurous and try some of the main dishes – one with garlic and beef and peppers was supposed to be pretty good according to my dinner mates.  Like a fajita style dish.   

DANIEL’S MARKET – (8 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) – To get to Daniel’s Market walk to the Pizza Blues and then follow the sidewalk to the left and come to where you see buses pulling up and people congregating.  It is about 30 feet to the left of the corner from Pizza Blues.  This is the place you should cross the street at to get to Daniel’s.  Even though this is a bit out of the way it is the proper place for pedestrian’s to cross the street as this is where the cars actually stop so you can cross.  Look for the cross walk lights but even better just watch the Kaz natives crossing and cross with them.  Very few walk when they shouldn’t but some do so make sure the cross walk light is on white for go and has not started blinking and that a decent number of people have begun crossing over.  When you get to the Daniel’s if you have packages you are bringing in from outside make sure you stop first at the lockers to put your package in (you get a key) before you start shopping.  On the first floor of Daniel’s is the market.  Walk around and check it out at first.  It is not that big.  The juices are excellent – look for the ones that say no sugar, no preservatives, no additives.  Yummy.  The bread is great too it is deciding which one you are going to buy that is the problem.  There is yogurt that is recognizable and butter in sqare foil packages in the refrigerated section, there are prepared foods…be brave try one and usually they will ask if you want it nuked.  Da is yes, Nyet is no.  There is string cheese that is great, and cheese spreads, and olives, lots of food you can buy and bring back to the hotel for nibbling on.  On the second floor of Daniel’s there are many shops…a child’s toy and clothing store that is ridiculously expensive – skip it – an average plastic doll was priced at $80.00 can you say CRAZY?  There are clothing stores up there – if you normally shop at Nordstrom’s then go right in,  there is also a currency exchange where you can exchange some US dollars for Tenge – there are plenty of these currency exchanges all over Ust and you can probably find one on every two to three blocks so no worries there.  In the basement of Daniel’s ther is an electronics store with TVs and computers, stereos that sort of stuff and I purchased a memory stick there but remember that this store Daniel’s is probably the most expensive place to get things and there were cheaper places to purchase these items – I would definitley recommend it for the groceries though since it is nearby and has a decent variety.

CHINESE BAZAAR – (9 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) Right behind Daniel’s is one of three bazaars in Ust.  To get there follow the directions to get to Daniel’s and when you are approaching the front doors of Daniel’s instead of going in go past them to the right of the front doors and walk down the street next to Daniel’s on the right of the building.  Go just past the building and you will see people heading toward the left toward the bazaar.  There should be some vendors already set up with their small booths lining the walkway to the bazaar…keep going and follow the people and you will enter a ramshakle maze of booths made out of two by fours, metal corrugated sheets and tarps.  Skolko is the word for how much.  Bring a piece of paper and pen with you and after you say Skolko?  mimic writing on the paper – this tells the vendor to please write down the price which will be in numbers.  Going to buy a nice winter hat and you might be told the price is 600 Tenge.  How much is that exactly well the dollar is constantly fluctuating so exactly isn’t possible but it is around $5.00 US.  Easist way to do the math quickly is just move the decimal place over to the left two places.  So $600. Tenge becomes $6.00 and then you take a bit off in your mind and you have come to a good approximation of the price in US dollars.  Be brave enough to walk around and look at what the bazaar has to offer.  Some people will be polite some will be cold, who cares.  Smile at the nice ones and ignore the rude ones.  Definitely a place where you can find many good bargains but remember the quality is not exactly the same as here in the States but then neither is the price.

VENTURING ACROSS THE BRIDGE

TOY STORE – (about a 10 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) If you are being driven from the Shiny River to the orphanage if you keep your eyes open you will see that shortly after being picked up the car will drive in the direction of Pizza Blues, then join the traffic circle and ease toward the right, passing a street that has two stores that clearly are for kids, as you can see from the toys and clothes you will be able to see inside the windows but even moreso from the signage over the stores.  The letters are big and funny shaped and in bright colors.  To get to this store is as simple as walking to the Pizza Blues, taking a right at the intersection and crossing the little street (watch for cars) that runs parallel to the Oolba River.  Then cross the bridge that goes over the Oolba River (walk as far to the right as you can so you don’t get splashed with water by the cars crossing the bridge – oh those funny Kazakh’s) after you cross the bridge you will cross another small street that runs parallel to the other side of the Oolba River and head towards the street with the Toy Store on it – you should be able to see the shops at this point. 

Kids Clothes – (about a 11 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) To get to this store simply follow the directions to get to the Toy Store listed earlier and go about three stores past the Toy Store and you will see yet another store, obviously for children by the signage and bright block letters)  Also pretty decent prices in these stores but as always the best prices are in the Bazaars.

WHEN YOU ARE FEELING ADVENTUROUS (otherwise titled, when you feel okay about walking 15 minutes away from the hotel - come on be brave – the Kazakhs don’t bite)

CONCRETE BLOCK – (about 14 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel)  To get to the 3 level mall dubbed by my group The Concrete Block follow the instructions on how to get to the Kids Clothes Store listed on the map.  Then go past that store and keep walking down the street until you come upon the Nightclub.  The Nightclub is very noticeable in that it has two white and blue tarp covered entryways in front of it, it also has a fountain in front of it, lastly you will notice that on the front of the building there is a LED display screen.  This nightclub faces the main street you want to be aware of.  By taking a left and crossing the street to the median and then crossing the other street you will find yourself on a main street that leads to many stores.  If you walk about the equivalent of a half block you will see on the right side of the street is a building that looks like …well…a big cement block, hence the name.  Inside the building you will find three floors worth of small shops and many different items of interest.  If you look, on the first floor there is an authentic Russian crafts shop where you will find a nice selection of Matroiska (nesting) dolls, hand painted lacquered boxes, hand carved birch decorative plates, boxes, etc.  and much much more.  There is no real bargaining in the shops….you can do that in the bazaars but not in the shops that are inside.   

GREEN MALL – (about a 13 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) If you follow the directions listed above to the Concrete Block and instead of crossing the street to the right to go toward the Concrete Block you stay on the street and head forward you will run into a rectangular building that is mainly a dark grass green (maybe Hunter Greenish) color.  This is also a mall.  You will see our malls and their malls not the same thing.  Anyway, go inside and you again will find two floors worth of stores.  Take your time and look into each one, don’t be intimidated.  Customer Service in Kaz is not what it is in the West.  I bought a paiting in this mall and some very well priced tights and socks as well as a birch carved basket for the wall. 

BIG BAZAAR BEHIND THE CONCRETE BLOCK – (14 minute walk from the Shiny River Hotel) If you have checked out the bazaar behind the Daniel’s store and you survived the small walkways then you definitely want to check out the larger bazaar that is behind the Concrete Block.  It is very easy to spot and as you are approaching the Concrete Block you will see to the right of it in the back there are already some vendors with their tables set up selling goods outside of the bazaar.  If you have the patience to go down every row you will find some really cute kids clothes at great prices, as well as plenty of things for bigger people.

According to Kim court was yesterday and she is now officially Kady’s mother!  She is hoping to be able to leave for Almaty in 18 days.  I know the day is coming soon when she and I will get to go to a park here in town and bring our children for our first official play date.  What a concept….play dates.  Sounds foreign and exotic to me. 

Soon to be posted….evidence of my party dress addiction.  I would welcome all ideas on where one could feasibly wear a party dress other than say….a party….or feel free to invite me to any and all upcoming parties – actually not me – I will be showing up in stretch pants and a T-shirt.  My daughter however will be the belle of the ball. 

Okay I realize the title of this post is rather juvenile but I don’t care.  I am about this fed up with waiting.  I am sick to death of it.  I keep waiting to get to the point where I don’t have to wait anymore and then only come to realize even though I have been progressing along, that in fact, I have STILL more waiting to do.  I did the math only to realize that I am looking at a WAIT of about 20 more days till I can see Karina again.  20 DAYS FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!!!!!!  I already feel like I have not seen her in nearly a month and it has only been 2 weeks and 3 days.  When will this infernal waiting end?  Is this to be my WHOLE FREAKING LIFE? 

 I actually really have the desire to have a full blown temper tantrum.  I have in my past adult life experienced things that made me feel like having a temper tantrum and I got joy about imagining throwing myself on the floor and kicking and screaming but never have I actually wanted to really do it.  Not that anyone would care.  Although I am sure they would look at me funny for a few minutes.  I just can’t believe after all of this – everything that I have gone through I am once again sitting at home on the couch …..WAITING.  Uhhhh, nothing has changed…..I have to keep looking at the pictures and the video tape because there is a part of my brain that keeps saying I dreamt it all and it all was a dream.  Kazakhstan and Karina was all a lovely dream.

I have tried to occupy myself with activities like deKarinaizing the house – not easy to do – the whole place looks to me like one ER trip after another – don’t talk to me about the Kitchen which I have renamed “The Killing Room” – the place is full to the brim with ways to maime, mutliate and kill yourself.  I have opted for a strong and unlatchable gate because otherwise it would take me a week to safeguard the room.  Even so I know that in a sense it is all busy work (important work but busy work nonetheless)  designed to try and burn up a few more pointless days of waiting. 

So I don’t know who the patron saint of waiting is but let me tell you I have had all the waiting one person in one life can take.  I am done waiting forever.  I may become one of those people that cuts ahead of others in front of line just so I don’t ever have to wait again – I will risk a fist fight just to never have to stand around with my hands in my pockets going “Is it time yet?”

You all have been wonderful readers but please don’t feel you have to respond with a comment about how the wait will be over soon – frankly it can’t happen soon enough for me….I have a Ph.D. in waiting from the University of Life and I am working on my second one at this point.  The only cure for my problem is a short person on the other side of the world.        

Hi all!  Kim wrote me to say that she has an official court date of Tuesday March 25th which for us would be late evening tonight!!  Think good thoughts for her tonight around ten!!!  I cannot wait for the day both of us are able to take our children to the park together!  My Karina and her Kady!!!

Hi there!  This post is a request for all blog stalkers that adopted from the Ust baby house at any time since March of 2004.  I am trying to see if you can check the pictures you took of your stay there and see if you spot any that might be of my Karina.  Of course, if you adopted a child roughly the same age and date of birth of my Karina – age 4 yrs – date of birth March 22, 2004, then there is more liklihood that you might have adopted a child from the same group as Karina and therefore would possibly have a shot of her in one of your pictures.  However, even if you adopted your child after Karina was older than your child you might have a shot of the older kids (2 year olds, 3 year olds) walking around the building or performing in a holiday performance.  Please won’t you take a look at your pictures and if you even think for a second that you might have a picture of Karina please email it to me at AMSharify@aol.com   I am going to print all the possible shots up and take them with me on my second trip to Kaz to see if the caretakers can spot Karina in any of them so she can have a few pictures of herself when she was younger.  Also, if you know of any other AP that adopted around the same time as you – you know we all make such good friends when we are there – could you please email them with my email address or email me with their email address and I will contact them to ask if they could check out their pictures for possible shots of my Karina.  Thank you so much in advance!!!  To help with this process here is a breakdown:

Karina – Born 3/22/2004 – In orphanage since 2 1/2 months

Six Months at 9/22/2004

Nine Months at 12/22/2004

1 Year (12 Months) at 3/22/2005

15 Months at 6/22/2005

18 Months at 9/22/2005

21 Months at 12/22/2005

24 Months (2 Years) at 3/22/2006

27 Months at 6/22/2006

30 Months at 9/22/2006

33 Months at 12/22/2006

36 Months (3 Years)at 3/22/2007

39 Months at 6/22/2007

42 Months at 9/22/2007

45 Months at 12/22/2007

48 Months TOMORROW in America, TODAY in KAZ!!! ON 3/22/08