I started the process of adopting a four-year-old boy from Russia last July. Well, after two trips to Siberia, endless paperwork, and lots of bureaucratic red tape we finally brought our son home. After a very difficult first trip in November, this one was amazingly smooth.
First, we went straight to southern Siberia (2/28). It is a couple hundred miles north of the southern border near Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan. We had our court hearing in a small courtroom with a jail cell right in front of the jury box (3/1). It was all done in Russian with translation from our interpreter/coordinator. They asked questions about home life, education, his future, and why we chose Russia. It lasted about 40 minutes. After that, there were lots of other bureaucratic errands I cannot remember.
The next day (3/2) we went down to the orphanage to pick our son up. It was a three hour drive each way. When he saw us, we were amazed that he kept the stuffed bear and photo album we gave him in November. He was in awe on the ride back. He may not have ever been in a car before then. We spent that afternoon and the next day (3/3) running more errands from getting his new birth certificate to getting him a Russian Passport.
Then, we went to Moscow (3/5) to visit the American embassy and US certified doctor. He is in good health and the embassy was actually very efficient and quick. It was surprisingly stark inside with very tough security. It was good to be on US soil, even if only for a half hour. Later we saw the Kremlin, Red Square, and even went to one of the many McDonalds now scattered throughout the city (Yes, it tasted just like ours). Moscow was surprisingly western and we stayed at a beautiful hotel across the river from the Russian White House.
Nikolai is a great kid. He is very smart, almost never cries or complains, and loves cars and dogs. People say that he won the lottery by getting adopted by us, but I say we both won. I couldn't ask for a better kid. True story... During the 3 flights and lay-overs totaling 22 hours, he never once complained, cried, got restless or fidgety. He just sat quietly playing with his cars or looking around. It has definitely changed our lives. Every day there is a first for him like simple things such as an elevator/escalator, to riding in an airplane. That is really fun. It is a huge responsibility, but he is worth every second and we love him very much.