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Date: 2015-10-07; view: 383.

My Russian Birth Parents Story

First of all. Thank You for visiting my Website. This part of my Website is all about my huge Russian journey I took in 2013. It all started with a search I decided to give a try at the start of 2013. I wanted to find my biological parents. I was born in Russia in 1992 and I came to New Zealand in 1994 along with my Brother, who actually has different biological parents. Before I get into the story I want to say a huge thank you to Mum & Dad who have supported me the entire time with going to Russia to planning for the big trip.

So I wanted and decided to give finding my birth parents in Russia a try. I had no idea who they were or what they even looked like so I was very curious to see what I will find. I started my Search by visiting Russian Social network websites. These included vk.com and odnoklassniki.ru. The only information I had with me of any clue and help to finding my birth parents was their names on paper. I used Google Translate alot during my search which I still use today to send messages to my Birth Father. Lets talk about that later!!. I could not stop thinking about what I was in for. I managed to find an old school teacher who did in fact teach my Birth Mother when she was younger. Possibly around the time when she had me.

This lady got in touch with me after this guy wrote in Russian in the Community group page on odnoklassniki.ru for me. I was told my birth mother Tatiana moved from where I was born back in the early 90s. This was really interesting because the entire time I was always searching my birth mothers name in the city I was born. No wonder I didn't find anything at all. Actually I wouldn't have found anything on her without all the help of people that know my birth mother as she does not use anything online or even use a mobile phone. I was given a home number though from her friend which this was when I decided to give her a call on her Birthday.I suggest if you want to find your Birth Parents look for Community groups under the last name you have on your Birth Certificate. I found a group that was called the same as my birth last name. I gave this a try as someone could know someone who is related. This was very helpful and I actually managed to find information in the first few days.

I had the help of a Russian friend too while doing my search who helped translate alot of information for me as I couldn't always use Google Translate. From the very start of how all of this started I had always been documenting everything on the go. It is awesome to see now on how fast everything happened!. I was told my birth mothers birthday and so I decided I was going to call her to wish her Happy Birthday. It didn't cross my mind on how hard this was going to be.

I had my Russian friends come round and I had 2 phone numbers to try. I decided to use Skype for the call as this gave me 120 or so minutes to call any number in Russia for only $7. When I say 2 phone numbers this was when she decided to get a mobile phone so I could try keep in contact with her alot more. Sad to say she never replied to any of my txt messages as she never topped up her phone in Russia. So I decided to give her a phone call. I was shaking with nervousness and my friend was standing by me to translate which was very useful!. I also had my friend Steve who was producing my story for TV throughout 2013. First time she didn't pick up. 2nd time she did!. She said it was her on the phone and I immediately started to ask question after question.

It was awesome for me because I felt like I had opened this door which had always been closed and a mystery!. Just a thing when people say “I wonder who she is” and “I wonder what she looks like”. It was awesome to finally know who my birth mother was. The phone call went for a good 20 minutes. After my friends asked me how I felt. I couldn't stop smiling and It was overall a good feeling. A few days after the phone call I turned 21 and I woke up with a message video of my Birth Mother wishing me Happy Birthday. Her friend Eleonora who had been giving my messages to my birth mother filmed it for her and then uploaded it to YouTube for me to watch. She was speaking all Russian of course but I managed to get it translated by my Russian friend here in Auckland who helped me out.

My Birth Mother also told Eleonora who my Birth Father is. By the way… Elonora is my Birth Mothers (Tatiana) friend who lives in the same town as her, I got in contact with her from the Russian Community group I mentioned before. She lives near Tatiana and so she visits her from time to time. So long story short I decided to go to Russia to meet my Biological Parents. I had to renew my Russian passport which I thought I didn't have to do as I am a full New Zealand resident, but I was wrong about that!. This put the entire trip on a stop for over 3 months.

Finally in November 2013 I had everything ready to go and all set for Russia. I went to see Mum and Dad for the weekend before I was leaving and was good because we would all talk about the trip and everything was perfectly planned!. I had everything sorted with Aaron who I can't thank enough for what he has helped with.

Aaron Carottta I actually meet back in the middle of 2012. I have since been filming for him from time to time. I filmed with him in South Korea and more recently in Europe after we left Russia. I finally got the name and how to contact my Birth Father whos name is Mihail. His name was incorrect on my Adoption papers as my Birth Mother never actually told Mihail about me. So he only found out about me when I messaged him for the first time in April 2013.

This was my Birth Mothers decision at the time to not tell my Birth Father Mihail about me which is all fine. Everything is cool!. I messaged Mihail and I tried to not look like a crazy person who just out of the blue says I am your Biological son. I said each message slowly at a time. He at first thought it was all a joke. Eleonora also got in touch with Mihail to confirm who I was and Tatiana also spoke to him which they haven't actually talked in over 20 years. It was great news for him and for me. In fact everything so far was just awesome and it was all working out really well.

Aaron told me he was going to meet me in one of the Moscow airports. I decided Ok! and then booked my flights. It was a long flight, about 24 hours flying. Two 12 hour flights. I stopped in South Korea for a night which was what I needed after the first 12 hour flight from NZ. I was planning everything and txting Aaron making sure everything was all good. I landed in Moscow the next day, saw Aaron, drove to the Hotel then straight to sleep. 6 Hours and driving we finally made it to Rybinsk.

We did 6 hours there and we also drove back the same day. I was very exhausted by the end of the day but was ultimately worth it.It was about 4am the next morning as I just couldn't get back to sleep. It was about 5 ° C outside which I always wanted to avoid.

I had a jacket so I was alright!. Aaron had organised this Russian guy called Dmitry who drove us to my Birth Mother. He did all the filming along with Aaron and he also translated for me so I could talk to my Birth Mother and Birth Father. Once we arrived to Rybinsk I got out of the car then was told my Birth Mother Tatiana was waiting outside her apartment. I got out nervous as anything and walked.. pretty much ran and then saw her for the first time. First time I mean in person!. I had seen a photo of her when I first did my search. I didn't know what to say to my Birth Mother I mean what can you say!. I asked how she was doing and what has she been up to. We all decided to go and have lunch so that broke the ice. I was no longer nervous and we just talked and talked.

The time was going very fast and I gave all the gifts I had got her to give to her and she loved them. I also met her husband Andrew. He talked the most!. He was funny and he asked me alot of questions. Meeting my Birth Mother was one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I felt like I had achieved alot and planned everything perfectly and with the help and support of Mum and Dad I would have never been able to do it. That was not all though!. The next day we all flew to St Petersburg and I then meet my Birth Father for the first time.

It was cold in St Petersburg when we all arrived and I knew I was ready to meet Mihail!. I couldn't stop talking about meeting him and we were in the Taxi on our way to meet him. I was txting him on the way with the help of my translator Dmitry who called him too to let him know I was on my way.
I then knew I was going to meet him any minute. It was time!.

He was waiting outside of his apartment with his wife and then he saw me walking up to him and he just gave me a huge hug. Pretty much lifted me off the ground!. I was very happy to meet him and he could not stop smiling. Same with me!.
I walked into his apartment and I had an awesome dinner with his family and I also got to meet his 8 month old daughter Sophia who was also my half sister!. Mihail showed me everything in his place and he talked so fast in Russian the translator couldn't keep up. He was very happy!. I asked him many questions and one question he answered which I thought was funny was when he told me how he thought everything was a joke when Eleonora contacted him to say he had a son. This entire trip was an incredible experience. I am very happy with how everything went. Was awesome once everything was all done in Russia because then I was all set to go to Europe with Aaron to do some filming. We first went to Austria then took a train into Italy. Italy is one amazing place!. We did a cooking show in Austria and actually did one in Russia with me not being the camera man for first time!. He did a special episode with me going to Russia to meet my Birth Parents for the first time then cooking with Mihails family in a park in St Petersburg. Was awesome!.

Thank You for reading this. I have written a longer 50 page version of my entire Russia trip which I have not yet finished but getting there.
Updates will be here on my Blog.

- Alex Gilbert

Meeting my Birth Father for the first time

Walking up to meet my Birth Mother for the first time

Waiting in the car before meeting my Birth Mother

Outside my Birth Mothers apartment in Rybinsk, Russia

Having a talk to my Birth Mother the day I met her

Walking around with my Birth Mother

My Birth Fathers Family at our BBQ in St Petersburg

First night in Russia. Looking outside the Hotel.