Monday, March 22, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Nauryz and the End of the Appeal Period
My appeal period is officially up!!! Hannah Elizabeth's paperwork is processing and in just a few short weeks I will be on my way back to bring her home forever!!! How nice that our "Hannaversary" also happens to fall on the first day of Nauryz. Also, for my friends reading the blog who are not in the adoption world, I wanted to give you some background info on this most important of Kazakh holidays, courtesy of Wikipedia, of course:
Nauryz - Nauryz is Kazakhstan's celebration of the arrival of spring and the end of winter. For the Kazakh nomads, the arrival of spring was a time for great celebration. Life was hard for
nomads on the Kazakh steppes, and Nauryz marked the end of the difficult winter season and
the beginning of spring renewal. With spring came the beginning of a new year’s cycle of life,
the time of year when the nomads happily said goodbye to harsh winter weather, welcomed
warm weather, and rejoiced in the birthing season of their valuable livestock upon which they
depended for food and their very livelihoods.
The roots of the holiday are ancient, and it is believed that the roots of Nauryz began at least
2000 years ago, most likely in Persia. Nauryz is a traditional celebration of the spring equinox celebrated today by many nations throughout Asia and Europe, including Russia, Ukraine, Japan, and China.
In modern Kazakhstan, Nauryz is truly a social event. People gather together at their main city
squares, where holiday organizers erect yurts, stages, and trading tents where crafts and goods
are sold. Food is cooked on open fires in huge pots, and people dress festively. Throughout the
day loud music is played and national singers and dancers perform their arts. Above all, it is a
time for people to spend time with their friends and family, to meet new people and to make
new acquaintances.
As evening approaches, when most elders retire to their homes, Nauryz organizers often stage a
huge open-air disco show. Pop musicians of Kazakhstan and invited guests from other countries
(e.g., Russia, Ukraine, Turkey etc.) perform, and the music may last all night long. There is a traditional belief that people will spend their new year in a manner similar to the way they celebrated Nauryz. So, in the spirit of the season and a desire to have a comfortable year, people work hard to clean their homes, they wear their best clothing, and they cook a lot of good food. Indeed, the Nauryz table has important symbolism: the more food you have on your table, the better and more sufficient your life may be in the coming year.
According to tradition, the number “seven” has a magical meaning and it is good to have seven
dishes on your table. At the Nauryz table, all the dishes have to be homemade and not bought
in a supermarket, for the food must be made very carefully and with great love. You never cook
common dishes for Nauryz, only special holiday foods. Above all, everyone in the family has to
be involved in the preparations – in this way everyone gets to feel the importance of this annual
event.
Kazakhs are usually very conservative in the use of their best possessions, but on the occasion
of Nauryz, people can’t resist the joy of the holiday and exhibit all their best possessions.
Families take out their special carpets, table cloths, blankets, pillows, and whatever is special
to them. People decorate their homes with these treasures and take great pleasure in the
holiday.
In years past, Nauryz also was also a day for sweethearts, similar to Valentine’s Day here in the
west. Young people prepared special presents for their sweethearts. Girls invited their
boyfriends to their homes and treated them with a special dish called “Awakening”.
“Awakening” was prepared a special way, intended to increase a man’s power and help him win
traditional sport contests such as a horse races or wrestling. In turn, guys would bring their
girlfriends presents, like sweets, jewelry, or cosmetics.
In addition, for young unmarried people, there was a game on horseback called “Kyz-kuu”
(chasing a girl). The girl rode a very fast horse to escape a bunch of guys who tried to catch her.
The winner was the lucky guy who kissed the girl on her cheek while riding at maximum speed.
Nauryz is a great day for national sports in Kazakhstan. In modern times, people in the
countryside organize traditional games. Most of the sports are on horseback, and there are
many variations. There are also ground sports, such as wrestling, archery, and tug-of-war. Most
Kazakh sports are actually ancient warrior trainings, so the play often gets very rough, and only
well trained adults are allowed to participate.
For boys and girls there are many games and activities, such as puzzles, memory contests, hide
and seek, chasing, and swinging on traditional “Alty-Bakan” swings. There is also a traditional
Kazakh game called “Asyktar”, which is similar to what Americans know as marbles. Asyktar is
a major children’s game, played with bones from the feet of sheep.
Happy Nauryz everyone!!!
Nauryz - Nauryz is Kazakhstan's celebration of the arrival of spring and the end of winter. For the Kazakh nomads, the arrival of spring was a time for great celebration. Life was hard for
nomads on the Kazakh steppes, and Nauryz marked the end of the difficult winter season and
the beginning of spring renewal. With spring came the beginning of a new year’s cycle of life,
the time of year when the nomads happily said goodbye to harsh winter weather, welcomed
warm weather, and rejoiced in the birthing season of their valuable livestock upon which they
depended for food and their very livelihoods.
The roots of the holiday are ancient, and it is believed that the roots of Nauryz began at least
2000 years ago, most likely in Persia. Nauryz is a traditional celebration of the spring equinox celebrated today by many nations throughout Asia and Europe, including Russia, Ukraine, Japan, and China.
In modern Kazakhstan, Nauryz is truly a social event. People gather together at their main city
squares, where holiday organizers erect yurts, stages, and trading tents where crafts and goods
are sold. Food is cooked on open fires in huge pots, and people dress festively. Throughout the
day loud music is played and national singers and dancers perform their arts. Above all, it is a
time for people to spend time with their friends and family, to meet new people and to make
new acquaintances.
As evening approaches, when most elders retire to their homes, Nauryz organizers often stage a
huge open-air disco show. Pop musicians of Kazakhstan and invited guests from other countries
(e.g., Russia, Ukraine, Turkey etc.) perform, and the music may last all night long. There is a traditional belief that people will spend their new year in a manner similar to the way they celebrated Nauryz. So, in the spirit of the season and a desire to have a comfortable year, people work hard to clean their homes, they wear their best clothing, and they cook a lot of good food. Indeed, the Nauryz table has important symbolism: the more food you have on your table, the better and more sufficient your life may be in the coming year.
According to tradition, the number “seven” has a magical meaning and it is good to have seven
dishes on your table. At the Nauryz table, all the dishes have to be homemade and not bought
in a supermarket, for the food must be made very carefully and with great love. You never cook
common dishes for Nauryz, only special holiday foods. Above all, everyone in the family has to
be involved in the preparations – in this way everyone gets to feel the importance of this annual
event.
Kazakhs are usually very conservative in the use of their best possessions, but on the occasion
of Nauryz, people can’t resist the joy of the holiday and exhibit all their best possessions.
Families take out their special carpets, table cloths, blankets, pillows, and whatever is special
to them. People decorate their homes with these treasures and take great pleasure in the
holiday.
In years past, Nauryz also was also a day for sweethearts, similar to Valentine’s Day here in the
west. Young people prepared special presents for their sweethearts. Girls invited their
boyfriends to their homes and treated them with a special dish called “Awakening”.
“Awakening” was prepared a special way, intended to increase a man’s power and help him win
traditional sport contests such as a horse races or wrestling. In turn, guys would bring their
girlfriends presents, like sweets, jewelry, or cosmetics.
In addition, for young unmarried people, there was a game on horseback called “Kyz-kuu”
(chasing a girl). The girl rode a very fast horse to escape a bunch of guys who tried to catch her.
The winner was the lucky guy who kissed the girl on her cheek while riding at maximum speed.
Nauryz is a great day for national sports in Kazakhstan. In modern times, people in the
countryside organize traditional games. Most of the sports are on horseback, and there are
many variations. There are also ground sports, such as wrestling, archery, and tug-of-war. Most
Kazakh sports are actually ancient warrior trainings, so the play often gets very rough, and only
well trained adults are allowed to participate.
For boys and girls there are many games and activities, such as puzzles, memory contests, hide
and seek, chasing, and swinging on traditional “Alty-Bakan” swings. There is also a traditional
Kazakh game called “Asyktar”, which is similar to what Americans know as marbles. Asyktar is
a major children’s game, played with bones from the feet of sheep.
Happy Nauryz everyone!!!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Memoirs
This blog entry isn't for anyone but me (and Hannie). It's just a list of some things I want to remember about the best time of my life, the trip that led to me becoming Hannah's mom. Except I have already written most of the stuff about Hannah, so these are just some memories I don't want to forget about the city, the people, and the experiences.
1. The crazy 60 hour trip there, cars, planes, and trains. If it weren't for Season 1 of Glee on my itouch, I might not have made it.
2. English Club and the yummy tea and pastries every Friday night -- getting to talk to the man who ran the Kazakh baseball league
3. Our apartment with the TV where we watched Olympic biathalon for hours on end.
4. Best line: "Have you been to our Mega?!"
5. Joe breaking our toilet
6. Going to the Superbowl party
7. Going out dancing at Cinema for Sipra's birthday
8. Riding the bus to the 11th microregion to Sipra's host families home, and having a delicious lunch.
9. Swimming outside at the Spartak
10. The visa hassle and learning about corruptness (is that the right word?) and being grateful to Marina for all her help.
11. Walking through Central Park and getting ice cream
12. Eating at the donor stand with Sip and Brit
13. Joe's apartment for yummy quiche and Bailey's
14. Eating Plov with Joe and Britt at the Uzbek restaurant on Valentine's Day, eating Lagman at Caravan
15. Meeting the other families at Mozzarella's to compare cute kids and commiserate about court dates
16. The Mega -- shopping at Ramstore, checking out the Central Asian Claire's, watching people ice skate
17. Address cafe -- ordering the same thing 3 times and getting 3 different meals -- once my food came wrapped in a egg!
18. Hearing Barry Manilow at Madlyns the night before court --- and knowing that was a good sign
19. Going to the bazaar and souvenier shopping
20. Going to El Dorado for Sip's birthday and eating great pizza
21. Discussing Lifetraps
22. playing Euchre with Joe and Tyler
23. Talking about adoption and the vagina monologues at Women's Club, Miras College
24. All the good restaurants and food especially Caravan, Barbeque, Mozzarellas, Address, Madlyns, and LaDushkey (I know I am butchering the name and spelling of that)
25. Drinking Russian vodka with poetry on the bottle and celebrating our last night.
26. The cell phone mafia
27. Instead of getting 5 tenge for change, getting a bandaid or a stick of gum
28. Hanging out with the 7th and 8th graders, and them asking us about Twilight
29. Going to the Ghengis Khan play
30. Cooking frozen pizza and chicken nuggets that turned out to be fish.
Random Hannah/baby house memories
1. How HOT it was in the changing room
2. Taking Hannah outside and watching her see snow for the first time
3. Trying to distract Hannah from pulling the sign off the wall (we were unsuccessful, she got it).
4. Taking her to the doctor to get her cast off in the car without a carseat
5. Hannah rolling over, sticking out her tongue, and babbling.
6. How much she loved her books, beach ball, sunglasses, and toys she could shake.
7. Taking off ALL the layers of clothes so we could dress her up
8. Dressing up like a BH worker to feed her a bottle
9. The BH celebrating Women's Day
10. Her falling asleep in my arms
1. The crazy 60 hour trip there, cars, planes, and trains. If it weren't for Season 1 of Glee on my itouch, I might not have made it.
2. English Club and the yummy tea and pastries every Friday night -- getting to talk to the man who ran the Kazakh baseball league
3. Our apartment with the TV where we watched Olympic biathalon for hours on end.
4. Best line: "Have you been to our Mega?!"
5. Joe breaking our toilet
6. Going to the Superbowl party
7. Going out dancing at Cinema for Sipra's birthday
8. Riding the bus to the 11th microregion to Sipra's host families home, and having a delicious lunch.
9. Swimming outside at the Spartak
10. The visa hassle and learning about corruptness (is that the right word?) and being grateful to Marina for all her help.
11. Walking through Central Park and getting ice cream
12. Eating at the donor stand with Sip and Brit
13. Joe's apartment for yummy quiche and Bailey's
14. Eating Plov with Joe and Britt at the Uzbek restaurant on Valentine's Day, eating Lagman at Caravan
15. Meeting the other families at Mozzarella's to compare cute kids and commiserate about court dates
16. The Mega -- shopping at Ramstore, checking out the Central Asian Claire's, watching people ice skate
17. Address cafe -- ordering the same thing 3 times and getting 3 different meals -- once my food came wrapped in a egg!
18. Hearing Barry Manilow at Madlyns the night before court --- and knowing that was a good sign
19. Going to the bazaar and souvenier shopping
20. Going to El Dorado for Sip's birthday and eating great pizza
21. Discussing Lifetraps
22. playing Euchre with Joe and Tyler
23. Talking about adoption and the vagina monologues at Women's Club, Miras College
24. All the good restaurants and food especially Caravan, Barbeque, Mozzarellas, Address, Madlyns, and LaDushkey (I know I am butchering the name and spelling of that)
25. Drinking Russian vodka with poetry on the bottle and celebrating our last night.
26. The cell phone mafia
27. Instead of getting 5 tenge for change, getting a bandaid or a stick of gum
28. Hanging out with the 7th and 8th graders, and them asking us about Twilight
29. Going to the Ghengis Khan play
30. Cooking frozen pizza and chicken nuggets that turned out to be fish.
Random Hannah/baby house memories
1. How HOT it was in the changing room
2. Taking Hannah outside and watching her see snow for the first time
3. Trying to distract Hannah from pulling the sign off the wall (we were unsuccessful, she got it).
4. Taking her to the doctor to get her cast off in the car without a carseat
5. Hannah rolling over, sticking out her tongue, and babbling.
6. How much she loved her books, beach ball, sunglasses, and toys she could shake.
7. Taking off ALL the layers of clothes so we could dress her up
8. Dressing up like a BH worker to feed her a bottle
9. The BH celebrating Women's Day
10. Her falling asleep in my arms
Monday, March 8, 2010
Modern Love and Adoption
Modern Love is a column in the New York Times. Daniel Jones is the editor, and once a year, on Valentines Day, he writes a personal essay. This year's was very special to me and I wanted to share it.
What is love, anyway?
Ah, best for last. If I were Spock from “Star Trek,” I would explain that human love is a combination of three emotions or impulses: desire, vulnerability and bravery. Desire makes one feel vulnerable, which then requires one to be brave.
Since I’m not Spock, I will tell a story.
Say you decide to adopt a baby girl in China. You receive her photo, put it on your refrigerator and gaze at it as the months pass, until finally you’re halfway around the world, holding her in your arms, tears of joy streaming down your face.
But later in your hotel room, after undressing her, you discover worrisome physical signs, in particular a scar on her spine. You call the doctor, then head to the hospital for examinations and CT scans, where you are told the following: she suffered botched spinal surgery that caused nerve damage. Soon she will lose all bladder and bowel control. Oh, and she will be paralyzed for life. We’re so sorry.
But the adoption agency offers you a choice: keep this damaged baby, or trade her in for a healthier one.
You don’t even know about the trials yet to come, about the alarming diagnoses she’ll receive back home, the terrifying seizures you’ll witness. Nor do you know about the happy ending that is years off, when she comes through it all and is perfectly fine. You have to decide now. This is your test. What do you do?
If you’re Elizabeth Fitzsimons, who told this story here one Mother’s Day, you say: “We don’t want another baby. We want our baby, the one sleeping right over there. She’s our daughter.”
That’s love. Anyone can have it. All it requires is a little bravery. Or a lot.
Happy Valentine’s Day
What is love, anyway?
Ah, best for last. If I were Spock from “Star Trek,” I would explain that human love is a combination of three emotions or impulses: desire, vulnerability and bravery. Desire makes one feel vulnerable, which then requires one to be brave.
Since I’m not Spock, I will tell a story.
Say you decide to adopt a baby girl in China. You receive her photo, put it on your refrigerator and gaze at it as the months pass, until finally you’re halfway around the world, holding her in your arms, tears of joy streaming down your face.
But later in your hotel room, after undressing her, you discover worrisome physical signs, in particular a scar on her spine. You call the doctor, then head to the hospital for examinations and CT scans, where you are told the following: she suffered botched spinal surgery that caused nerve damage. Soon she will lose all bladder and bowel control. Oh, and she will be paralyzed for life. We’re so sorry.
But the adoption agency offers you a choice: keep this damaged baby, or trade her in for a healthier one.
You don’t even know about the trials yet to come, about the alarming diagnoses she’ll receive back home, the terrifying seizures you’ll witness. Nor do you know about the happy ending that is years off, when she comes through it all and is perfectly fine. You have to decide now. This is your test. What do you do?
If you’re Elizabeth Fitzsimons, who told this story here one Mother’s Day, you say: “We don’t want another baby. We want our baby, the one sleeping right over there. She’s our daughter.”
That’s love. Anyone can have it. All it requires is a little bravery. Or a lot.
Happy Valentine’s Day
Home at last!!!
Friday, March 5, 2010
The judge said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Hannah,
Today we became a family. Aunt Elizabeth and I woke up early and headed to the court house. The judge was an hour late but the hearing only lasted a half hour. I gave my speech and he asked some questions, then left for a while. We headed to the baby house to see you, and on the way there, a phone call. He signed the decree!!!! Now we wait for the 14 day appeal period to be over, your passport and visa to be issued, and then home forever!! Hannah Elizabeth, I am proud to be your mom and you were worth the wait!!!!
Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now.
Today we became a family. Aunt Elizabeth and I woke up early and headed to the court house. The judge was an hour late but the hearing only lasted a half hour. I gave my speech and he asked some questions, then left for a while. We headed to the baby house to see you, and on the way there, a phone call. He signed the decree!!!! Now we wait for the 14 day appeal period to be over, your passport and visa to be issued, and then home forever!! Hannah Elizabeth, I am proud to be your mom and you were worth the wait!!!!
Hotmail: Free, trusted and rich email service. Get it now.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. Sign up now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
