[ATHiker]

Okay, so we're waiting at the airport for our flight to board. Like I said, it's a nice new airport with A/C and a relatively clean potty, so I'm pretty happy. It's started to rain outside, so now we're getting nervous about the flight leaving on time. That fear will be re-visited several times in the next few hours......

Right on time they start boarding the flight. Now we've read all about the crazy rush to get on the plane, so we're cool, we wait for the first mass of humanity to jam themselves on the little bus. We walk over and get right onto the second bus. It's at this point that we notice that all the rain has done was turn the atmosphere into some semblance of Vietnam... hot as heck and humid. Now factor in the Russian dislike of bathing, fondness for wearing the same clothes for days in a row and the relative underuse of deodorant.

Oh yeah... it's like a baaaaaddddd deodorant commercial. Armpits raised high, funk floating around and we sit on the tarmac in the little bus as the windows fog. The driver hollers something in Russian and we take off for the plane. The a/c on the bus cycles for about 15 seconds and then we're there. We run across the tarmac to board. We've been warned the plane is small and space is tight. They weren't kidding. Add a little oil and we're like sardines in there... knees jammed against the seat in front, cheek by jowl with your fellow passenger.

We're in the plane and we're waiting... and waiting.... and waiting. No one tells us why. Why would they? As we wait, there is no air. None. Nothing coming from the little blowers over our heads. I'm sweating like no woman should while I'm sitting still. One and one half HOURS later... I've sweated off at least ten pounds. My husband makes the comment that all we need is a few birch branches to flay ourselves with and we've got a nice, if not smelly, Russian sauna!

We take off and head for Kemerovo. The air comes on, the plane cools down, life is better. I lean down to get something out of my bag. Right, I didn't really lean down... I just mooshed my face into the seat in front of me and flailed blindly in the direction of my bag. As I'm leaning I smell something absolutely appalling.... it's ME!! Dear God!!

One thing I give Siberian Air full credit for is the food. Dinner on the flight was absolutely delicious!! I had the fish. Yep, that's right folks, I had FISH on Siberian Air. It was awesome!! We adjust our watches another four hours ahead... now we're a full twelve hours off our time zone, and feeling every minute of it.

As we land in the airport, and trust me when I tell you that airport is a fairly generous description of the building, we see this little metal shed. This shed is baggage claim. This is also the first time our luggage is inspected by anyone, and she took her job VERY seriously. We meet our coordinator and head for the hotel. I don't think I mentioned that the flight left at around 11:30pm Moscow time and now it's 7:30 am Kemerovo time. We're due at the orphanage in an hour and a half. I smell like I've been cleaning road kill off an Arizona highway, and DH is still sweating like some sort of farm animal!!

Off to the hotel we go.....

[havefaith]

I just relived my horrific Siberian Air flight to Kemerovo. Our flight however was in the middle of winter and the heat was blowing ever so hard as in most Russian enclosed spaces during the winter. Sweating all the same and crammed in like a sardine. To top it all off, I have terrible Claustrophobia.
All I can say is it makes for a great adoption journey story, and it is those types of things that will make you enjoy it more. Enjoy your time at the Golden Chicken and World Pizza. I actually envy what you are about to endure - the makings of a forever family!

[ATHiker]

We get to the hotel in Novokusnetsk and all I'm thinking about is a shower. Well, a shower and an air conditioned room, that is. It's 8:15 and they're coming back to get us at 9:00. We pay three times the normal room rate to get a renovated room with a/c. I don't care. We fly upstairs and there is an explosion of clothing, hair products and toys while we both try to get ready at the same time.

I'm in the shower when DH comes in with a stricken look on his face. The camcorder some how got turned on/left on and the battery is completely dead!! We're about to meet the most important little human in our lives and we can't record the moment? Find the power adaptor!! Quickly!! Now we have 25 minutes to finish getting ready...

Some wonderful soul has given me the hair dryer she purchased in Russia during her journey. I've never tried the thing as I don't have any way to plug it in Stateside. Imagine a gentle summer breeze... a gentle HUMID summer breeze... that's my hair dryer. When I turn it on, the lights dim like some sort of prison movie. Fine, I'll have big hair for the first meeting... he's a baby, he won't care. My husband is cursing that someone has stolen his contact lenses. That's right honey, someone rifled our bags and all they took were your contacts? How about we look again? Panic over, contacts found.

We make it downstairs with seconds to spare. I, with big, high humidity hair, and my husband with his shirt buttoned askew all wild eyed. We're a handsome people! We once again pile into the car and beg for the a/c to be turned up so we can cool down a bit before the big moment.

We arrive at the orphanage... this is sooooo cool!! I've seen the photos on the message boards and now I'm here!! We walk into the Directors office. She's so kind, and dressed a little like a christmas tree... all red and green. They sit us down and immediately launch into the social and medical history of our little man. Mom's young, yes... can't care for him, yes.... he's got all the normal orphanage ailments, yes, yes....all the while we're sitting with our ears cocked waiting for the door to open behind us.

The door opens....

[havefaith]

Hurry with the ending!!!!!!

[havefaith]

By the way, AWESOME getting the renovated room for your first trip. We had a hose coming from the sink to shower and.......... they lost all of our luggage on the second trip. NO CLOTHES FOR COURT, HAIRDRYER, BABY CLOTHING--- NOTHING!
You should write a book of your adventure. You have a way with words!

[Ebadge90]

Since I am travelling the same route, all the way to Novokuznetsk, I am literally on the edge of my seat waiting for the end.

[catmele]

Me too! These are great postings!

Cathy

[Amysue1112]

I am laughing my butt off!!!!! the visuals are to die for, especially when we have gone through them and they are TRUE!!! (especially what we affectionately called the "euro smell"...sorry no offense to Europeans!
We stayed at a "no tell motel" too for a night..scary!
Can't wait to hear more!!! Don't worry, some of the Russians have big hair too! hahah
Keep the stories coming, I am loving every minute of it!!

[papedge]

dont make us wait this toooooo funny

[havefaith]

COME BACK! Pleeeeeease! I am dying!

[trnews71]

And then what happened???? PLease come back...we want to read more!!

[jaw's mom]

Keep it coming! I can't wait to go for our second little one!

[Amysue1112]

I had to re-read to my dh just waiting!!! Keeps reminding me of things...like when a PIECE of the airplane FELL OFF when we were landing!!!!!!!!
Ok more, more!

[jkkclinton]

oh my goodness....you are a wonderful writer!! I was loving your story. Keep going..keep going!! you have a gift...remember, print these out for your new baby to keep forever too!!

[daddynwaiting24]

Your story is so good. We are just back from trip one also and all your stories bring back so many memories. The airports must be the same everywhere. We did find one with just holes in the floor for the bathroom. Cant wait to hear more.