Claire and I have arrived in Moscow. We left the Hotel Kaluga this morning around 9:00 AM after having our room checked by the hotel maid to be sure all was in order. Claire has a destructive streak that must have preceded us even to Russia. After a nice breakfast, we loaded in the van with Vasily (our driver not our son) and headed to Moscow. The ride to town was about two hours of which Claire stayed awake about 20 mins. I was happy to have her resting next to me. I read JD and Jill's Kindle (thanks so much!). Claire tells me that Jill and Allie wouldn't haven enjoyed the ride as it was bumpy and many cars were on the road. We arrived in Moscow about an hour before we found our way to the CSS office. Claire and I were completely in the trust of Vasily. He can't speak English and us no Russian so we road in the complete trust of our Father! He parked and asked us to come. We crossed the street went into a building up some stairs (eerily their was Russian being spoken above us on the stairs) my ninja training began to kick in naturally as I thought I might have to protect all that is most important to me in my wife. Thankfully we entered a room with two older ladies who spoke English and told us they were Svetlana and Irina - our Moscow CSS workers.
They had pictures of Vasa - the ones we had in email form - for us. We received paperwork that will be completed back home, notarized and apostilled then returned for our Court petition. Claire almost offended Irina when we were questioned about our medical records which we don't have with us. We have a letter from Chris stating our health however we didn't bring our background lab work for proof. Of course no one told us this was needed so Claire, who has worked so hard to keep all in order, was a bit defensive about us not having something. There was obviously no offense taken as Claire is probably the sweetest woman on the planet (no offense to any women reading this). After about 30 mins of rapid Russian being spoken because Vasily didn't know how to find our hotel - another woman graciously told us what was being said. Then randomly Svetlana asked if we lived in Atlanta...then more rapid Russian...you've got us! Without any further chatter we left. Vasily looked at a map then we left and made our way to the hotel.
Now, our parents did not raise us this way. Claire and I think we have found that we have a taste for more simple but typical American tradition as it comes to hotel choices. That being said, enter the Courtyard Marriott Moscow. Beyond the metal detectors at the doorway (which is better than the three men carrying ozzis in our hotel lobby in Kaluga) we found much of what we are used to in a full service hotel. Now I'll explain our spoiledness. We only missed fitted sheets on our bed, a decent toilet paper, more than one towel, WASHCLOTHS, tv in English, people who speak our language...these are all that we are so thankful for in our new hotel. We have had a nice simple sandwich in the lobby as we type this update. We are going to make reservations in an upscale restaurant in the hotel tonight.
Tomorrow Violet, our translator, will pick us up at 10 AM for our medical. We are not sure what this will entail as we don't have any blood work proof of our medical reports. We know we will have chest x-rays as proof of no TB. We might each have bloodwork done as well. Beyond that and we are excited Violet will take us on a tour of Moscow. We are staying just off Red Square - we saw the Kremlin on our way in. Then Saturday we are heading home.
Tell the girls how much we love them, Mr. U - know that this hotel meets requirements for your daughter's safety and health, Sharon be sure to know we will take in some Moscow sights and tradition. Jill, Kaci, and the rest know that we love you all and are ready to be with you guys.
We will check in later as I think we are staying in the hotel most of the day. Love to all! Josh and Claire
They had pictures of Vasa - the ones we had in email form - for us. We received paperwork that will be completed back home, notarized and apostilled then returned for our Court petition. Claire almost offended Irina when we were questioned about our medical records which we don't have with us. We have a letter from Chris stating our health however we didn't bring our background lab work for proof. Of course no one told us this was needed so Claire, who has worked so hard to keep all in order, was a bit defensive about us not having something. There was obviously no offense taken as Claire is probably the sweetest woman on the planet (no offense to any women reading this). After about 30 mins of rapid Russian being spoken because Vasily didn't know how to find our hotel - another woman graciously told us what was being said. Then randomly Svetlana asked if we lived in Atlanta...then more rapid Russian...you've got us! Without any further chatter we left. Vasily looked at a map then we left and made our way to the hotel.
Now, our parents did not raise us this way. Claire and I think we have found that we have a taste for more simple but typical American tradition as it comes to hotel choices. That being said, enter the Courtyard Marriott Moscow. Beyond the metal detectors at the doorway (which is better than the three men carrying ozzis in our hotel lobby in Kaluga) we found much of what we are used to in a full service hotel. Now I'll explain our spoiledness. We only missed fitted sheets on our bed, a decent toilet paper, more than one towel, WASHCLOTHS, tv in English, people who speak our language...these are all that we are so thankful for in our new hotel. We have had a nice simple sandwich in the lobby as we type this update. We are going to make reservations in an upscale restaurant in the hotel tonight.
Tomorrow Violet, our translator, will pick us up at 10 AM for our medical. We are not sure what this will entail as we don't have any blood work proof of our medical reports. We know we will have chest x-rays as proof of no TB. We might each have bloodwork done as well. Beyond that and we are excited Violet will take us on a tour of Moscow. We are staying just off Red Square - we saw the Kremlin on our way in. Then Saturday we are heading home.
Tell the girls how much we love them, Mr. U - know that this hotel meets requirements for your daughter's safety and health, Sharon be sure to know we will take in some Moscow sights and tradition. Jill, Kaci, and the rest know that we love you all and are ready to be with you guys.
We will check in later as I think we are staying in the hotel most of the day. Love to all! Josh and Claire
Praying for a fast court date for you guys and safe travels back to the loving and waiting arms of your girls.
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