Kaz "cliff" notes

Not unlike education, many of the things in the adoption world are abbreviated. In addition many of the "places" are new to all of us! I have had some questions about some of what I am talking about so below is some "Cliff Notes" to help you understand some of the things I am talking about....(the good news is there is not as many as in China adoptions!)

Kaz - Kazakhstan. No it is not part of Russia. It was part of the USSR so there is a strong Russian influence in the country. (So I have been told/read...I will get back to you on that for sure!)

CAH - Children at Heart - Our agency out of Mechanicville, New York. At this point they only complete adoptions in Kazakhstan but are working to begin adoptions in Brazil. The directors have 5 children adopted from Russia and the Ukraine. How on earth did we end up using an agency out of NY...ahhhhh GOOGLE! Ok, so it was a tad more involved than that - a very late evening with 4 computers doing searches...

EAC - European Adoption Consultants - Our agency out of Strongsville, Ohio for our China adoption.

Baby House - BH - Where BK is right NOW waiting on us TO HURRY UP AND GET THERE! It is what Kaz calls orphanages. We have seen pictures of BK's Baby House so we know what to expect - sort of - when we get there. It is rumored to be one of the nicer ones in the area - new roof, new floor, etc.

Almaty - Was the capital of Kaz but we will fly into Almaty on the first trip and probably stay there for about 24 hours before our last leg of the journey. It is also where we will go and meet BK on trip 2.

Astana - The capital of Kaz. We will not be there. It is north of Karaganda.

Karaganda - BK's "home" right now and where we will spend 4 weeks the end of October/early November. Again - we have seen pictures....We aren't in C-bus anymore, Dorothy!

BK - Baby Kaz - Not unlike his sister we needed something to call him while we waited. Yes, he will get a "real" name but just not yet....accepting suggestions although we think we have it narrowed down!

MOFA - Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Once our paperwork arrived in Kaz it went here. After a few weeks it left to go to the MOE. It then went back to the MOFA. I assume that is where our "invitation" came from. (Yes, there are some things even we are not real sure how it happened and when it happened...we just "went" with it!)

MOE - Ministry of Education - 2nd step in the paperwork journey within Kaz. We have also been told at some point we will be interviewed at the baby house by a representative from the MOE. We will not know when it will be (most likely) but they will just come get us one day and SURPRISE it is interview time! (I hope it is early when we still have clean clothes!)