It is so hard to describe how it felt to step on the plane with these children. To look back at the Arkhangelsk Airport one last time, only this time with my arms full of two bundles of love. It is the first of a few more “lasts” of this journey. We were the first to board the flight thanks to a very kind young man who saw me carrying Kathlena and insisted on us moving to the front of the line. This was the first of many sweet nameless helpers we encountered on our flight. Once again, I am reminded that kindness and smiles transcends language barriers.
The flight itself was relatively uneventful and a normal flight for a domestic Russian airline, although it is an experience like no other flight that I have been on.
Here are my top 10 favorite things about flying domestic Russian airlines:
Watching your luggage loaded on to the plane while you wait outside freezing to board the plane. On the up side at least you know that you are on the right flight, or at the least you and your luggage are going to the same place.
- Watching the maintenance crew replace front tires on the plane with ones that are clearly a different size (also while you are outside freezing waiting to board the plane)…this is no joke!
- No smoking areas…this means no one is smoking right next to you this minute (okay, not on the plane but in the airport)
- Going through security with liquids…no one cares!
- Hard candy is handed out at the beginning of the flight to all passengers before take off. You think this is a really nice gesture to the patrons flying, but really it is to help with your ears on take off because you go almost vertical…you feel more like you are in a space shuttle than an airplane.
- You get to fly vintage aircraft. Some of the seat assignment letters are in English, and some are in Russian. Ivan (the young Russian man we met on our way to Ark from Moscow last Saturday) joked with us that this is because all of these planes are pieced together with spare parts…after the tire exchange in front of us when boarding to leave Ark, this was no longer as funny!
- The 1970 Winnebago curtains over the windows, and no doors for the overhead storage. If the guy across the aisle has a heavy brief case, better bring a hardhat.
- Toilet paper…there is none! Bring your own if you want some.
- Flight attendants…stick to the plan: one drink, here’s your food, they come to take it once, and if you are not finished, then you will keep your tray and trash until you land. They are not real concerned about stragglers; you are on your own if you do not get with the program.
- Trash cans…they are scarce as hen’s teeth as “Hank the Cowdog” would say. So, it is a lot like primitive camping…what you bring in you bring out with you.
Kathlena did very well on her first flight…you would have thought she had done this before. She acted like a pro! The extreme altitude change did not seem to bother her at all surprisingly. She even fell asleep on the descent of the plane—which if you have ever been on a Russian airline, you know that this is truly amazing. I wish I could sleep, then I would miss the part where I feel like my head is going to explode.
Andrew did very well on his first flight also. He was so very excited. He had a lengthy conversation with a very nice older Russian man who sat behind us on the plane. This man was very patient and answered all of Andrew’s questions about the plane and flying. I only wish we could have understood this…it was hard to be with him for this first but feel like we missed it because we were not able to communicate as well as the man behind us. I am grateful for his help and kindness though. I know that Andrew is so curious and has so much to say and ask about. Andrew did not fair so well with the descent of the plane…like it was for his mommy, it was very painful. I was able to get him to “pop” his ears which is the only thing that helps me, then he was better but not before many tears were shed. He was very brave though.
After we landed we boarded the bus/shuttle that takes you to the airport luggage pick up. On the bus it is mainly standing room only with about 4-5 seats total. We were near the middle of the plane so by the time we get to the bus it is expected that there are no seats. An older woman spotted me with Kathlena and motioned for me to take her seat. She seemed very interested in Kathlena. With a strong accent she asked me if I was from “USA”. After I said yes, she asked Kathlena’s name and I told her. Kathlena was still really groggy from sleeping, so she said nothing. We disembarked the bus and headed for the luggage. As all six of us were standing there waiting for the luggage to arrive, I see the woman from the bus with her husband. She sees us again and says “big family” to me. By now I am getting use to this response. In the mean time Andrew is in need of the “toy-let” (bathroom, toilet) and of course there isn’t one to be found until you leave the baggage claim area. We are trying to convey to him…can you wait? We get him calm and I overhear the woman from the bus say “that boy speaks Russian, she told me she was from the USA?” Now the woman is very interested in us. I see this and go ahead and introduce my self again and tell her that we have just adopted two children from Arkhangelsk. She was very excited about this and then turns to Andrew and J.Michael and says “these two you just adopted”? I smiled and said “no”, the little girl and boy. She turns to me in amazement as she says Kathlena looks just like you. We talked with them for a while about adoption as Nadia, the woman and Charlie her husband are very interested in adopting. They are in their mid-fifties and newly married (2 ½ yrs). Nadia is Russian and actually is from Severdinsk near Arkhangelsk. Charlie is American and they both live in Maine now. We told them about our agency and they seemed very excited to find out, as they have been trying to go through the Russian channels with no progress. I hope they are able to adopt…I could tell she really wanted to have children and there are so many children that need Mom’s and Dad’s in Arkhangelsk region.
We say our good-byes to Charlie and Nadia and head to meet the driver, only to wait a while as our other driver is stuck in traffic. We now have to travel in two cars as we will not all fit in one, another reminder that we are a “big family”.
Eugene was the driver for the boys and he spoke very good English. Later, I find out that he and his family have self-taught themselves English over the past five years…remarkable. He could speak and understand as well or better than some of the “translators” we have had that have been to “school” for this. He was very good to Andrew and listened to him talk and tell of the plane ride, which he was very excited about still. Eugene translated for us, so it was nice to hear of some of Andrew’s thoughts. One thing I noticed was that Eugene said Andrew introduced himself to Eugene and when he did he introduced himself as “Andrew”. He has really done well with the name change. At first we were not sure, but he seems to really like it and is proud of his new name.
We finally arrived at the apartment—a very spacious 3 bedroom with a kitchen. I can’t even imagine how expensive this apartment is if you live here. I think older Alex found a friend who would let us rent, as there was nothing to rent a week and a half ago. I did do a lot of cleaning, but it is worth it to have the space, especially since it is raining. The apartment is very reasonably priced as we had been told Moscow hotels are quite expensive due to an overall shortage of hotel rooms available. Moscow currently has approximately the same number of hotel rooms as were available under the last Czar! It is so nice to have a kitchen and be able to really cook. The first time I fixed breakfast with Andrew, I set his bowl of oatmeal in front of him and he picked up another bowl and turned it upside down on top of it. This is how we made our meals in the hotel with hot water and interlocking bowls to hold in the steam. It was so cute that he remembered that…he is a sponge; such a very smart kid.
It has been good so far here with the exception of one scare.
David was gone in search of a market and Internet café, so I was here with all four kids alone.
The phone at the apartment rings.
I answer it thinking David or Alex is trying to reach us.
I say “hello” and the person on the other end begins speaking in Russian so I say “ I am sorry I do not understand” thinking that would be the end of the conversation.
Then the voice replies “Policeman, open door!”
I am now quite startled.
I again say, “I do not understand” and hang up the phone. He calls back three more times, but I do not answer the phone. Now I’m just trying not to panic, as I am concerned that maybe something has happened to David.
Alex, the younger, gave us a cell phone with his number programmed in it when we arrived and said to call him at any time we needed him.
So, I call him and explain what happened he said not to worry probably someone just trying to get into the building, as the “phone” is one used to open the building door not our apartment door.
David is back at the apartment within 20minutes, but it scared me.
Alex latter confirmed with the building owner that the actual Police have an access code and can enter the building any time, so it was likely just somebody trying to get into the building. I definitely wasn’t letting anyone in, that was for sure.
Who ever it was didn’t realize they had gotten a hold of a home schooling mom…claiming to be the police is sure not the way to get me to open the door!
