Picking Up Where We Left Off – Mar 2

Last I left off on the more detailed chronology, we were about to go back to sleep for part two of our afternoon and night at Vladimir's apartment. We did get a few more hours of sleep, then showered, shaved, repacked and ate a little.

Friday, March 2nd – We were ready when the doorbell rang at 9 am. Irina was at the door, but Valdimir was busy elsewhere for the day, so Vladimir was with her instead and Vladimir was waiting outside in the car. That's right, you heard me. Our regular driver Vladimir could not be with us today, so his 18 year old son, also Vladimir, who didn't have regular classes at the university that day, was drafted to guide and translate for us. We left our bags behind, said our goodbyes to Irina and headed out to the waiting car to meet our driver for the day, a friend of our regular driver. The friend's name is also Vladimir. When I have told this to others and mused at the number of Vladimirs, Gayle chimes in, "That's right...JOHN". Yeah alright, point taken.

We are now headed to the clinic that Olga has chosen for our medicals. It is about an hour on streets and freeways before we arrive. We are early, so wait in the car, on the street. When it is time to go in there is some confusion. We end up waiting in two other wings, until we finally make contact with Olga's daughter-in-law who guides us around back to a third entrance.

In the lobby, we were asked to check out coats and put fabric booties over our shoes, then go upstairs where we are greeted by Olga. The wide hallway has several couches. Waiting there
were the other adoptive parents that I mentioned earlier. We took turns going into a small room where three women doctors are waiting and a fourth male doctor then joins us. Olga translated for the doctors, mostly.

We were asked to take our shirts off and sit together on an examination table. The women doctors took turns with us. They checked blood pressure; throat glands; abdomen; tapped our knee caps, wrists and elbows; checked our teeth and tongue. One had me stand, close my eyes, stretch my arms out, then touch by nose. One had us follow her mallet with our eyes. That was about it.

We waited more in the hallway, while we exchanged stories with the other adoptive parents.

Next we took turns going individually into a room with another doctor for a psychological exam. Olga translated. Name? How old are you? What is your job? Do you drink? Have you tasted drugs? When were you married? Did you marry for love? Is this your first marriage? Do you have any biological children? Were you a good student? What did you do after school? Did you have hobbies? That was it. Maybe we just answered all the questions right, so there was no need for others.

We waited for paperwork, which we signed. Next paid the fee, then left. Olga says that perhaps our insurance plan will reimburse for this exam.

Including the delay in getting to the right place and the extra waiting because of the number of other couples, it all took three hours.

Back to the car where the Vladimirs were waiting to return to the apartment to pick up our luggage. We stopped along the way to exchange some dollars for rubles and to buy some bottled water at a tiny grocery. There are lockers (as in a bowling alley or airport). We had to put our bags in a locker while we shopped. There was a guard standing by. The exchange rate at the time was $1 equaled 26.80 rubles. As a guide we said that 100 rubles was about $4.

Then we headed off to buy some souvenirs form the street vendors at Sparrow Hills near Moscow University. We invited the Vladimirs to join us for dinner. They chose a pizza place.

While standing in line at the pizza place, I felt something touch my shin. I realized that it was my money belt about to drop onto the floor. Apparently while trying to quickly put my shirts back on after the exam, I popped the clasp open and it slowly worked its way from my waist and down my leg.

So as not to draw attention to myself, I nonchalantly worked it back up the leg to where I could grab it through my pocket lining and secured it. Wow! That was close. It could have easily dropped out unnoticed.