On Monday night our translator spoke with us about what we would be asked in court. He said Kevan would be asked most of the questions if not all the questions. He said there were five or six answers he should have in his head.
Tuesday morning, Our Day in Court!
We are not due in court until 1:00 so we had a very easy morning. We got up made coffee, checked outside the window to see what dogs were in front of the chicken store. I got us all packed and eventually our time to leave for court was here. We just need to put our coats on and walk down to our driver. We can't unlock the door! Kevan gives it several tries with and with out the key. I do the same then Kevan takes his coat off and tries some more, then he is on one knee at the level of the lock, IT WON'T OPEN! The doors are different, they are like fire doors, thick and heavy. We can hear it lock and unlock. NO GO this door will not open! We know our translator is in court with the other family and we cant think of what to do other than to call our translator. We are on the 4th floor and the front door is the only way out. We didn't come all this way to miss our court appointment by a door lock. Well by now Kevan is busting out in a stress sweat and starting to kick the door. We phone our translator says don't worry. The driver comes up stairs and unlocks the door first try. The driver giggles and it all works out. We get to the court in plenty of time for our appointment. The court looks at our passports and we are allowed to go up stairs. It is well past the other family's appointment time, hope everything We walk past an open door and see the other family waiting in the court room. It's well after their appointment time of 12:00. We hope everything is okay. We patiently wait in the hall watching aids walk back and forth. Finally about 1:10 the judge shows up. He goes into the room for the other family and their hearing starts. Then about 20 minutes later they all exit the court room and then we are ushered in. It's a small room where the judge sits in the front at a long table with an aide by his side. He is a big Ukrainian man. Then on the left of the room there are about 5 people whom have an interest in this adoption. Kevan and I sit with our translator facing the Judge. The judge reads us our rights then a bunch of other formal stuff. Next, the translator ask Kevan to stand up and tell the court what his asking, he reply, "To become V's parents, keep his place and date of birth the same, the things our translator went over the night before. As we are sitting there I think to myself, "This is all Kevan. They won't talk to me." Ginger please stand. I do and I'm nervous. I know what to say but I was still nervous. It's not understanding the language then having to answer the question the translator whispers. We got through it. Next, we were ushered out to wait in the hall next to the judges chambers. The judge gave us his decision in his office. That was it! We are the parents of V. We took off and stopped by the notary then to the orphanage.
The orphanage had a New Year's dance in the morning and with the quarantine of the orphanage there was no party so we only stayed to see V. for about 20 minutes. We gave him his New Year's gift. The New Years gift is like a Christmas gift for us. Then we jammed back to the apartment and grabbed our luggage and drove to the train. We had first class sleeper cars. Don't think you'll sleep in the sleeping car! It's worst than an all night flight. There are many stops and the train is heated with coal so it's very toasty all night.
Once we got settled into our car we opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate with the other couple and our translator. We opened some munchies, drank champagne and shared stories of our trip.
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