This morning started off in typical Helsel fashion – messy. Eric took a back-flip into the very solid Kazakhstan cement wall of the orphanage after a combination of dancing around on one foot on a slippery rug covered floor while Danny pulled on his shoe. The reward was a nice gash on the back of his (my) head, bruised hand and wrenched back. After multiple consultations with all the orphanage medical staff, including the head doctor/director, I got nervous when hearing the word surgeon and quickly called for an American medical professional – my wife the Veterinarian. Upon announcing she is a surgeon they quickly retrieved her (she didn’t even have to take off her shoes!). Her stock went up with the staff immediately I believe. Once the bleeding was ebbed Sue took Danny out for some one on one time while we (Madina, Velara and I) went to pick up his passport photos and an attempt to find a butterfly bandage (Not even my crude drawing helped them identify it in the Chemist [pharmacy] shop!) Being the resilient Americans we (Dr. Sue) fashioned our own and fixed me up after bonding time.
Danny was in fine spirits for the most part today – at least for a two year old. Walking, riding in the stroller, swinging and tossing the old Maze and Blue pigskin (OK – it’s a nerf ball, but it’s still Michigan colors!) took up our bonding time today.
Today’s cultural experience was a trip to the street bazaar in search of a Kazakh-ish cap to cover Eric’s scalp wound (and his widening bald spot – thanks to Sue and her scissors – sterilized of course.) The bazaar is about 4 square blocks of tightly packed shops somewhat like a swap meet, except these are permanent as they are made of steel shipping containers. Everything imaginable could be found here, except a Kazakhstan T-shirt in Cyrillic. The rage for their teens seems to be everything written in English and from America. We didn’t realize Eric’s dad had tagged along until Sue took my photo. (The wrenched back even makes me walk like him – Uuuuggghhhh!)
It looks like rain now, so hopefully we won’t be stuck back in the orphanage for our time tomorrow. Check tomorrow’s blog to see!
Danny was in fine spirits for the most part today – at least for a two year old. Walking, riding in the stroller, swinging and tossing the old Maze and Blue pigskin (OK – it’s a nerf ball, but it’s still Michigan colors!) took up our bonding time today.
Today’s cultural experience was a trip to the street bazaar in search of a Kazakh-ish cap to cover Eric’s scalp wound (and his widening bald spot – thanks to Sue and her scissors – sterilized of course.) The bazaar is about 4 square blocks of tightly packed shops somewhat like a swap meet, except these are permanent as they are made of steel shipping containers. Everything imaginable could be found here, except a Kazakhstan T-shirt in Cyrillic. The rage for their teens seems to be everything written in English and from America. We didn’t realize Eric’s dad had tagged along until Sue took my photo. (The wrenched back even makes me walk like him – Uuuuggghhhh!)It looks like rain now, so hopefully we won’t be stuck back in the orphanage for our time tomorrow. Check tomorrow’s blog to see!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.