[KaronD]

We are leaving our house on Thudsday morning to make our way to Seattle to fly out for our first child and first adoption. Any of you who have BTDT have any last minuet "don't forget" list or things we should do before leaving?

[hml1976]

Bring a calculator, for shopping it comes in handy. Bring those no water needed face wipes for the plane and for when the hot water turns off Bring some food for the first day or so, chances are you land in Kaz in the middle of the night and you'll be hungry.

I wish I had my hair cut before I went, it was MONTHS before I could manage to leave the house when we got back.

Enjoy every minute, it will be so hard at times but you'll miss it when you're gone Good luck!

[babypayne111]

Karen,

Do not forget Gerber Puffs and I would take wipes that are non smell and non dye. You will love uralsk and the babyhouses. We were first time parents as well.

I would get together a list of what is okay to feed a baby say 12 months of age and what is not. We had no idea and our son was picky.


Also, take lots of medication and neasporn oiment as well.

The caregivers and help like gifts from here. They can not get AMerican gum and Asprin. I would take some for gifts.
Also, Mary Kay make up was a hit there and very high in cost.


Take some instant Oatmeal, grits, dry soup packs for eating.

Oh, you could not find baby books there. Be sure a take a few. Our son was 8 months old and we would read to him while visiting and he loved it. We looked high and low and you can not find any that are soft and make noise.

[DET62]

I just got back from petropavlovsk.

Take plenty of kleenexes in the small packages - there is often no toilet paper in public restrooms.

Take a medical kit - bandaids, Neosporin, Motrin, etc. - because those things are next to impossible to find there. I ran out of contact solution and had to go to the opthalmologist office with my translator just to buy solution.

Take hand sanitizer.

Take photos of home - even a baby can appreciate those and the caregivers will want to see.

Take snack bars! Often you won't be able to find food.

If you get in a restaurant and cannot read the menu just say SOUP. It's the same in both languages and the soups are usually hearty and good. Also, Coca Cola is understood everywere. I drank a lot of "vada bee-yez gaza" - water without carbonation.

You might want to take sheets and pillowcases - my hotel didn't have them. I slept under the "big potholder" for 3 weeks and was soooo glad I had brought pillowcases that smelled like home. The pillows are feather, too, BTW.

I took Cipro - I told my doctor when I adopted my daughter from Russia in 2004 I got bronchitis and I was dying for some antibiotics. Also take whatever cold medicine you like - often Americans get sick.

NEVER drink the water from the tap. Don't even brush teeth with it.

Good luck! Have fun!
Dee

[pequele]

Dee-
I LOVED the potholder stories...did you get pics of it???

Karon-
I have been following your blog...no advice really from me....just congrats!

[DET62]

Alas, no photos exist of the Big Potholder. I have to wonder, in warmer weather, what they sleep under. Many times here in the south I've slep under just a sheet, but there are no sheets there that I saw.
Dee

[hml1976]

Also love your blog Dee. We were in Uralsk in the summer and they did have sheets but no fitted sheets! It was a lot of work trying to make the bed every day

[pequele]

Originally Posted by DET62

Alas, no photos exist of the Big Potholder. I have to wonder, in warmer weather, what they sleep under. Many times here in the south I've slep under just a sheet, but there are no sheets there that I saw.
Dee

oooo nooooo!!! Well if you return to the same pothold I EXPECT you to take a phote . I am such a geek when it comes to stuff like that, I probably would have taken a pic of the bathroom you lived with for the time you were there, too hahah. oh and the wonderful desserts you describe as well!!! I am just crazy like that hahah

[palmtreedreamin]

Most things you can get a local grocery store or during your time in Almaty or Astana. Almaty and Astana have modern grocery stores like in the US called Silkway. They care many Eurpean brands you'd recongize.

The one thing I wish I had brought more of was Mylecon drops for infant gas. My son woke up in the middle of the night screaming from a gas pain. I had a horrible/hularious time trying to play chardes at the pharmacy trying to describe gas.

Good luck!