I was on the phone with Sarah and Mom this morning and the phone started beeping and then it just cut off. I don’t know what’s wrong with this phone.
Well Mom and Sarah just called back on Skype and we had our first official computer to computer call. It was pretty nice. We got cut off a few times, but finally got things going right. We’ve got all the fruit ready for the birthday party today. Maria is storing the cakes at her place, her freezer is bigger. More later after the birthday party. Jon and I ventured out today again and really enjoyed it. We went down to the big indoor market and I tried on a few coats. I am considering buying one. As Jon reminded me, when is the next time you can buy a leather and fox trim coat for $200.00. I’ll think about it. I’m paranoid about running out of money before we get out of here. But our main reason to go to the market was to buy Almira a pair of earrings for her birthday. Her ears are pierced, but I’ve never seen her wear earrings. Well, we gave Almira her new earrings as soon as we got to the orphanage so she could wear them to her birthday party.
We have just returned from the birthday party. I can honestly say it was not like any birthday I’ve ever been to. Almira was waiting outside for us when we arrived at the orphanage. There were also several other children there from her family to help us carry everything inside. We first went upstairs to where her family suite was and there were ladies there getting everything ready for the birthday party. We had ice cream cakes, baklava, a cake made by the orphanage that was some kind of apple cake. We also brought just loose candy like Hershey’s Kisses, other chocolates, Skittles, Starburst and Smarties.
Right after arriving we were taken downstairs to a small theater. There were chairs all set up for us and the director (or leader) of Almira’s family came and explained to Maria that the kids were going to put on a special show for us. We had singing, dancing and then some of the children from Family #9 came in and did a little dance. They are the 7 and 8 year olds. Almira’s family director, which takes care of Family #5 did all the announcing. He made a lot of announcements and talked about the family and how talented all the children were. There was a young man that played the accordion with an older man and they were really good. The family director introduced us to several of the students after the performance and said he had a very talented group of children. Many of them would be competing in a competition in Astana. He had several good athletes, singers, dancers and of course artist. I actually had to stand up and give a speech (quite unexpectedly) after the performance. Several of Almira’s friends came and gave her home made cards and one gave her fresh flowers and kissed her cheek. The family director talked about how loved Almira was and that she was the shyest in the family of almost 30. I got almost all of the performance on video tapes.
Then after the performance we went back upstairs to the family suite and all the children were in the foyer area. The kids’ places were all set at the table with bowls full of rolls, baklava, fruit, candy and then the ice cream cakes were on the table. Then the family director spoke some more and they presented her with a large picture of the birch trees with a big bow on it. Someone else gave her flowers. There were two ladies there representing a company that comes out and helps put on birthday parties.
The children sat at a long table in the hallway and the adults went into the kitchen with a table set. After the family director shut the door he went to a small closet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. Then they put little shot glasses all around the table. I know my eyes had to be as big as saucers. I tried to tell them I don’t drink but he poured me one anyway. Then they explained that you took a sip and then ate some of the sausage or cheese that was on the table. I’ll admit I did swallow a little bit on that first toast, it singed my throat. I then switched to the juice on the table. No one drinks water here, that just kills me. My throat was so dry and my mouth was so dry that I could hardly talk. We ate a little bit and visited mostly. They did a few more rounds of vodka shots and then we had hot tea with milk. We were there until after 6:00 and did very little visiting with Almira. The teachers and people at the orphanage made several comments today that they hope we will love Almira and take good care of her. I promised them we would and that we already loved her. I also promised that we would keep in touch with them and let them know how Almira is doing.
We did enjoy the visiting with the other folks from the orphanage and found out a lot about Almira and some of the other kids in her family. It was fun overall, but still nothing like any child’s birthday I’ve ever been too. By the time we opened the door to leave that small kitchen, Almira was standing at the door waiting for us. She walked us out and we told her we would see her tomorrow. I couldn’t tell if she was just overwhelmed today with all the attention or if she was embarrassed, but she was really quiet during all of this.
Maria reminded Almira that Boris was coming to pick her up tomorrow and she said “Good!”. I think she is so ready to be gone from the orphanage for good. I hate we can’t take her next week. I want to bring her home next week so bad, but I know we can’t. I’ll post a picture of Almira with her current Family. They made it clear today that they really do love her.
Well Mom and Sarah just called back on Skype and we had our first official computer to computer call. It was pretty nice. We got cut off a few times, but finally got things going right. We’ve got all the fruit ready for the birthday party today. Maria is storing the cakes at her place, her freezer is bigger. More later after the birthday party. Jon and I ventured out today again and really enjoyed it. We went down to the big indoor market and I tried on a few coats. I am considering buying one. As Jon reminded me, when is the next time you can buy a leather and fox trim coat for $200.00. I’ll think about it. I’m paranoid about running out of money before we get out of here. But our main reason to go to the market was to buy Almira a pair of earrings for her birthday. Her ears are pierced, but I’ve never seen her wear earrings. Well, we gave Almira her new earrings as soon as we got to the orphanage so she could wear them to her birthday party.
We have just returned from the birthday party. I can honestly say it was not like any birthday I’ve ever been to. Almira was waiting outside for us when we arrived at the orphanage. There were also several other children there from her family to help us carry everything inside. We first went upstairs to where her family suite was and there were ladies there getting everything ready for the birthday party. We had ice cream cakes, baklava, a cake made by the orphanage that was some kind of apple cake. We also brought just loose candy like Hershey’s Kisses, other chocolates, Skittles, Starburst and Smarties.
Right after arriving we were taken downstairs to a small theater. There were chairs all set up for us and the director (or leader) of Almira’s family came and explained to Maria that the kids were going to put on a special show for us. We had singing, dancing and then some of the children from Family #9 came in and did a little dance. They are the 7 and 8 year olds. Almira’s family director, which takes care of Family #5 did all the announcing. He made a lot of announcements and talked about the family and how talented all the children were. There was a young man that played the accordion with an older man and they were really good. The family director introduced us to several of the students after the performance and said he had a very talented group of children. Many of them would be competing in a competition in Astana. He had several good athletes, singers, dancers and of course artist. I actually had to stand up and give a speech (quite unexpectedly) after the performance. Several of Almira’s friends came and gave her home made cards and one gave her fresh flowers and kissed her cheek. The family director talked about how loved Almira was and that she was the shyest in the family of almost 30. I got almost all of the performance on video tapes.
Then after the performance we went back upstairs to the family suite and all the children were in the foyer area. The kids’ places were all set at the table with bowls full of rolls, baklava, fruit, candy and then the ice cream cakes were on the table. Then the family director spoke some more and they presented her with a large picture of the birch trees with a big bow on it. Someone else gave her flowers. There were two ladies there representing a company that comes out and helps put on birthday parties.
The children sat at a long table in the hallway and the adults went into the kitchen with a table set. After the family director shut the door he went to a small closet and pulled out a bottle of vodka. Then they put little shot glasses all around the table. I know my eyes had to be as big as saucers. I tried to tell them I don’t drink but he poured me one anyway. Then they explained that you took a sip and then ate some of the sausage or cheese that was on the table. I’ll admit I did swallow a little bit on that first toast, it singed my throat. I then switched to the juice on the table. No one drinks water here, that just kills me. My throat was so dry and my mouth was so dry that I could hardly talk. We ate a little bit and visited mostly. They did a few more rounds of vodka shots and then we had hot tea with milk. We were there until after 6:00 and did very little visiting with Almira. The teachers and people at the orphanage made several comments today that they hope we will love Almira and take good care of her. I promised them we would and that we already loved her. I also promised that we would keep in touch with them and let them know how Almira is doing.
We did enjoy the visiting with the other folks from the orphanage and found out a lot about Almira and some of the other kids in her family. It was fun overall, but still nothing like any child’s birthday I’ve ever been too. By the time we opened the door to leave that small kitchen, Almira was standing at the door waiting for us. She walked us out and we told her we would see her tomorrow. I couldn’t tell if she was just overwhelmed today with all the attention or if she was embarrassed, but she was really quiet during all of this.
Maria reminded Almira that Boris was coming to pick her up tomorrow and she said “Good!”. I think she is so ready to be gone from the orphanage for good. I hate we can’t take her next week. I want to bring her home next week so bad, but I know we can’t. I’ll post a picture of Almira with her current Family. They made it clear today that they really do love her.
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