Nikolai's orphanage

[DCJenn]

Here are some outside pics of Nikolai's orphanage.

This was December, 2004. Nikolai was 9 months old.


The is the road in front of the orphanage. It's dirt in the summer, snow in the winter




These two were the front and back of the orphanage. The green hue is the baby room.

This is the building that we were in during the second half of the trip. Once they knew we had signed the papers and that Rick was a doctor- it helped us get 'alone time'

[MissCrabette]

Looks like home or pretty close to it. I've been following your posts in which you mention the adoption process and I find myself nodding and thinking that not many people here really understand the situation in countries like Russia and Romania. It really is as bad as you say.

[rainbabies]

:{ buurrr. thanks for posting, jenn. so sad

[DCJenn]

Here are some 'inside pictures'.

Cristina- I post this first one for you and Julie (Vishenka)- this is the Ministry of Education Building where we met Galena. She was the woman who gave us the referral. Not coincidentally, she was also the MIL of our driver.








Jenn

PS- two of these were taken on the second trip. Nikolai was 14 months old.

[DCJenn]

In that last picture, the criblike thing behind us was a built-in. there were seven other kids in that thing! and note the radiator IN the built-in.

There were some seriously dysmorphic kids in his room. I'd post pictures of all of them but there are some pretty serious consequences to posting kids who aren't adopted yet. I don't want to screw it up for anyone else.

Jenn

[MissCrabette]

I noticed it and the linoleum cut around it. Heh! To their defense, although sadly, those radiators probably never got too hot. I remember we always used electric heaters in the bedrooms at night so we wouldn't freeze to death.

[Vishenka69]

It looks so institutional. Reminds me of my kindergarden, in a sad way. I do miss the fluffy snow though.

Thanks for posting these.

Jenn,
SO and I have always agreed that we would really like to adopt someday (when he's finished) we have 3 boys now 9 months, 9 and 10 years old....do you have any good links you would recommend? I haven't looked into anything yet because it has always been so far away, but only a few more years now until he is finished and I think it's time to start educating ourselves.....