Murphy's Law... My counterpart and I took a taxi with my cats to Baku (Peace Corps will reimburse you 2 taxi's places). The driver wanted to put the cats in the trunk but I wouldn't let him. My boy cat Butch who adopted me had kittens the week before (apparently he is a she) another story for the blog. First time I made that mistake but for the record she was so small when she was "tossed" in my garden and when I checked I thought she was a boy!! Anyway, she had 3 tiny kittens (she is barely 6 months old herself) so now I was shipping 7 cats. My counterpart's brother was going to pick us up in Baku and take us to all the places I had to go. Well, the taxi driver drove right pass the clinic and I told him to just drop us off there and we could wait for my counterpart's brother to come and pick us up but no (a red flag there). So we traveled another 30 minutes to meet my counterpart's brother and then another 45 minutes back to the clinic. The vet could not sterilize Butch because she was nursing the kittens, but they gave Butch, Jr. Mint and Snickers shots and completed their part of the passports. I asked if there would be any problem with sending them to America, and the vet said no (red flag number 2). So I boarded them at the clinic for the night and off we went to the Chinese Embassy to pick up my visa. When I got to the Embassy, the same women who helped me process my visa (she only spoke Chinese and Russian) told me I could only pick up the visa in the morning and they are only opened Monday and Wednesday (this was Wednesday) and that next Monday they would be closed (so I would have to wait a week). No way.... I stood there and told her that NO one told me to come in the morning, that the American Embassy called to make sure they were opened and were not told about the time either. I needed my passport to shipped my cats the next day. So after an hour another women came down and gave me my passport after scolding me (didn't care just wanted my passport and visa). Whew, I then went to the store and bought veggies for marina sauce and pasta. I made great dinner for my counterpart and her family and then showered and went to bed. The next day I was ready for day 2 of this nightmare. We got up and went to (God knows where) for the government official to gave me stamp number two for their passports. It took us 2 hours to find him and he said all of the documents were wrong and he had to correct them (I think this was his way of justifying his bribe of 50 azn.). After we then picked up the cats from the clinic and went to the airport. I had called the airport ahead and the airlines started the paper work. But when we got to the airport is was a mad house and no one knew where I was to go and who I needed to see. First, Freight counter, then warehouse, then freight, then the airline (which by the way was across the airport and away from the cargo terminal!) to pay for it, then back to freight, then to customs (and that was fun, they sent us to 3 different offices) and then finally back to Freight were I had to pay an additional 50 azn for the pleasure of running around!! After 4 hours I was done (they close at 6 PM, I finished at 5:57 PM). I was at the freight window and I heard my name and turned around and there was another PCV trying to ship her very big backpack which was not going to happen that day My counterpart brother convinced them to shrink wrapped the bag (so no one would steal it) and gave her an invoice for her the next day. That took another hour but at last it was done. They dropped me off at the hotel and I collapsed I was so exhausted!! I then get a call from the airline, we cannot ship the kittens they are too small and we cannot be responsible. What?? the vet said it was okay, I argue, pleaded and cried for them to do whatever they could. I said I would e-mail to confirm whatever age they want the kittens to be and I was responsible not them. They were not bulging and if I don't come and pick up Butch and her kittens the other 3 will not be shipped! So I got a taxi and went to the airport and picked up Butch and her kittens. I brought a box and I had cat food so I brought her back to the hotel and set them across from the hotel and gave her food. I knew she would stay close to her kittens and it was a warm evening. The next day I took them to the Peace Corps office and put them under a tree on the grass. I went inside got her water and fresh food and just broke down. We just started calling everyone and another PCV was at the rescue center (they wouldn't take them because they were full), but her Directors wife was willing to take them. So the PCV came and got them and the next day they would be brought to the Directors wife. Sunday I was so exhausted but I went to church and it was an excellent service and we had communion. After I text the PCV and asked how did everything go. Well the women backed out because her husband said no. And the PCV has 3 cats herself and cannot keep them. Now we are back to square one. I started texting PCV's and asking for help and the church bulletin had several e-mail address so I started e-mailing them. I must believe that we will find a home for Butch and her kittens. They are in Sumqayit and I am back in Zaqatala for a week, please keep us in your thoughts and prayers that we find a home for Butch and her kittens.
Life Challenge: Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God...... Corrie Ten Boom
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