Jack’s Paper Chase

Well, Stephanie asked me to write about The Paper Chase.  I don’t know that I can adequately explain such a process.

These events occurred between 8:30am and 6:00pm on Thursday, the 22nd. dum-dum-dum

The process started with going to the Orphange, getting the girls and signing a few documents to check the girls out of the Orphange.  After that Sergei (our facilitator) and I had to go to the Notary’s office to get a few documents notarized before we could go to the Vital Records office in Severodonetsk.  The vital records office is responsbile for creating new birth certificates and adoption certificates for the girls in their new name.  Yes, that would be the Higgins name.  Quick procedural note: the girls now live in the Serverodonetsk orphange but this is not where they are from.  We would eventually have to visit the vital records office in their town of birth, about one hour away (will discuss this distance later), but had to first start the process in Severodonetsk.  I know your asking yourself, how much more efficient can  this process be?  Upon arriving at the vital records office, Sergei asked me to wait in the hallway.  I quickly realized that I was not going to be needed much for the next 48 hours but to sign off on final documentation, but I had to tag along none the less.  Sergei moved quickly, going from room to room, getting his contacts started on our documentation.  While waiting in the hallway, I noticed that there was a wedding chapel in the next room.  Apparently, the vital records office is where the Justice of the Peace equivalent performs ceremonies.  A gentleman approaches me and starts speaking to me in Russian.  He quickly realized that I was not from the area.  Imagine that, Me, not from around here?  Well, not to be deterred by my lack of Russian skills he proceeds to show me pictures.  He is professional photographer.   Okay, now I understand, he takes the wedding photos.  What I didn’t understand was that he was trying to tell me something involving 30.  How does this relate to the paper chase you ask?  I guess he couldn’t tell by Sergei’s sharp movements from room to room or possibly his exasperated expression, that he was busy so the photographer entered the office Sergei was in asked him to come outside and explain to me that he had been a photographer for thirty years.  Yes, that was really top priority at the time.  With a smirk on his faced Sergei apologetically explained to the photographer that we were in a hurry and had to leave.  By this time Sergei and I had an unspoken communication.  When he would dart for the doors, I would quickly follow.  I knew we were on to something important and also, I wasn’t getting left without him.  Outside Sergei explained that he was told that we now needed a notarized power of attorney.  He was quite upset since he had just been to that office two weeks before and they didn’t tell him that he needed it.  One more complication to the power of attorney is that Sergei could not translate it to me because it was giving him, wait for it, power of attorney.  We had to get another translator to come and translate the document.

Our Caffiene Cafe

Well, we get the power of attorney done and returned to the vital records office.  They tell Sergei to stay close but come back in about thirty minutes.  So Sergei and I went for a quick caffeine intake.  I say that because for Segei, this is Coffee but for me that would be good old Coca-Cola.  We go to a nearby cafe that none of us had been to while in Severodonetsk.  Remember, Sergei has never been there before either, except to help with our adoption.  We enter the cafe and order a Coca-Cola and Coffee at the counter.  We proceed to a nearby empty table and take our seats.  After sitting down I glance around the room and notice a bright silver poll mounted on a tiny stage in the middle of the room.  I then notice disco balls and strobe lights in the ceiling.  I quickly told Sergei “I believe that this is a Strip Club”.  Thankfully there were no festivities going on at the time.  After enjoying our drinks, we returned to the vital records office to pickup our documentation.  We return at the appointed time (12:30pm) to discover that the building is locked up tight.  Everyone is at lunch.  Sergei calls our contact and she says “I just said be back around 12:30, we will open at 1:00″.  The doors finally open and our documents are ready.  We just need the office director to sign off so we can go.  The only problem is that she is not there.  We are told that she will return in thirty minutes.  About one hour later she shows up and signs the documents. We are now at about 2:15pm.  We need to drive the one hour distance and hopefully visit two more offices before the day is out.

Vital Records Office in Girls' Hometown

About 2:15 we begin our journey to the other town.  Sergei tells me it is about one hour away.  He didn’t explain that time was determined by driving at 140kph.  When we settle in the car Sergei quickly engages his Radar detector (Fuzz Buster) and turns on Ukrainian Techno music.  He says that this music helps him focus when driving fast.  You have to understand that we are also dealing with potholes bigger than basketballs.  Tony Stewart would never drive under these conditions.  As we are streaking down the road, Sergei says “The speed limit is 60kph, the law allows that we can go 20kph over so that would be 80kph, but we are doing 120kph”.  Needless to say it is a very intense hour but I know that we are in a hurry.  We finally arrive at the other town and Sergei drops off our documents to be processed.  While they are working on our birth and adoption certification we use the time to find the local tax ID office and request that they give us the new tax ID’s before closing.  They agree to try, but they need our new birth and adoption certificates to prove custody.  We get the call from the vital records office at 5:00 to come and pickup the records.  We have been at this for about 8 hours now and it is my time to shine.  I get to sign some documents!  While signing the documents, the ladies in the office are fascinated that I have a III at the end of my name.  This is not typically done in Ukraine.  Sergei, had to ask me more than once what it meant.  After explaining, the ladies then wondered why the girls didn’t have the III at the end of their names as well.  I then had to explain that III is part of my name, not the family name.  After receiving these certificates we go to the tax ID office to get the new tas ID’s for the girls.  We have accomplished our wish list for the day and now all we have to do on Friday is get passports.  We were right on schedule for heading to Kyiv on Saturday.  We are feeling pretty good at this point.  Now, back to the hotel for a nice dinner and good night’s sleep.  You would think that the drive back could be a little more leisurely.  Not so, 140kph, bouncing all the way.

These events occurred Friday, the 23rd between 8:00am and 3:45pm. dum-dum-dum

Sun’s up, quick shower, get dressed and a quick breakfast.  We have to be at the passport office with the Orphanage attorney at 8:30.  Note: by this point, I am referring to myself as Goose & to Sergei as Maverick.  When we arrive at the passport office Sergei just asks me to wait in the car.  I am okay with this. I am not needed at this juncture anyways.  I kicked back to catch up on some sleep that I missed the night before due to the Jet lag.  All the while Sergei is inside quickly getting stuff done.  Passports are a bit simpler that the birth & adoption certificates.  We have to visit two towns also about an hour apart at 140kph.  About an hour into my nap, I am requested to come inside to sign some documents.  I know you’re asking yourself, “How does he keep up with such a rigorous schedule?”.  Amazingly, it’s easier than it sounds.  After signing the documents we are asked to go pay some fees and then come back around 1:00.  We are told that we will drive the passport office director to Lugansk where we will get the actual passports.  There is still no guarantee that we will receive them today.  I asked Sergei if most of the actual work is completed at the Severodonetsk passport office.  He explained that it is and that once in Lugansk, he has seen the passports be made in about the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee. And Sergei drinks it fast!  He explained that they still like to make you wait awhile though.  It allows them to show their authority.  After picking up the passport office director, I’m wondering how Sergei will make the drive with a government official in the back seat.  My questions are put to rest when I see Sergei place the radar detector up in the window and turn on the Ukrainian Techo music.  Engage Afterburners!!  “Here we go again”.  Surprisingly, the passport office director handles the 140kph quite well – even answer a few cell phone calls while bumping through the potholes.  We arrive at the Lugansk passport office in forty-five minutes and the passport director tell us to wait in the car while she delivers our documents.  She will call us when they are ready, she says.  This time Sergei and I both kick back for a nap.  About one hour later we get the call.  “Come up stairs and sign for the passports”.

Mama, Papa, Zhenya, Kristina & Katya Passports!!!

Now with passports in hand we can leisurely drive back to Severodonetsk, but wait, the radar detector is once again in the window. Here we go yet again.  We arrive back in Severodonetsk with a severe headache (my head can’t take much more bumping around), deliver the passport director and have but one more task to complete.  Purchase plane tickets to Kyiv.  Mission Accomplished!!!

I want to add that Sergei was awesome!!!  He worked so hard and stayed on top of things while we were in the region.  Thank you very much, my friend!  God bless you!!  I hope our paths cross again someday.  Just hope that they cross in Atlanta.

Jack