We adopted our daughter, Daria, from Moscow City Orphanage #13 January 2003, through Across The World Adoptions in Pleasant Hill, California. Orphanage #13 is an old building, but kept very clean. We had to visit Daria for 10 working days (12 counting the weekend and it was a very long twelve days!) before we could take custody of her. There were six caretakers for the eight children that were in the nursery. We were told that the Orphanage houses 100 children from infant to 5-6 year olds and then broken into age groups in the various nurseries. No one spoke any English but we were able to communicate with gestures, pictures, maps, etc. They wanted to know where we live, they keep a map of the USA in the nursery, and they wanted to know what we were naming Daria. They were quite thrilled to learn that we would not change her name. And they really liked it when we brought a whole case of Hershey chocolate bars for them to enjoy! The asked us to bring in disposable diapers, too. The day we picked Daria up we brought other gifts for the Director, Doctor and Caretakers; gloves, scarves, California pistachios, rice and wine, beaded bracelets, bath soaps and bubbles.
After the first two or three visits, we were no longer escorted up to the nursery. So we got to check out the Orphanage pretty good and we video taped throughout the way up to the nursery, including the big kitchen where all the food is prepared before being delivered to the individual nurseries. It too was very clean but again every thing was just old. We were told that this Orphanage was scheduled to be refurbished sometime soon.
We only met with the Director twice, on our first visit and in the court room. She was very pleasant and very busy. I would say we were only in her office for maybe five minutes before we got to go meet Daria. The Doctor
was very good, too, wanted to make sure we understood that Daria was born premature and that she had not developed any problems other than being born with a hernia. We were thrilled to learn that they had a lot of information
regarding her birth mother, had all of her medical records from the day she
was born to present, all her shots were current, etc. Daria was a bit on the small size for her age, only 16 pounds at 13 months, but still very healthy.
The last day at the Orphanage we had to wait in the Director's Office till
they brought us Daria. The Director had to be at another court date so we were assisted by the Assistant Director. When Daria's main caretaker brought her to us, she was in tears, but knew that Daria would have a better life and wished us well and gave us a hug when she couldn't say anymore because she was too choked up! Daria was one of the favorites and was always in her lap.
Daria is healthy and extremely active! A big bunch of TLC and a balanced diet and it did not take her long to grow! She now weighs 36 pounds and is taller than most children her age!
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© Copyright 2004 Alan Bruce Eckman. All rights reserved.