We have permission and a funny mistake

We just got back from meeting with the regional adoption official. He was very polite and he smiled often. I noticed in the airport that no one would smile back at me, but he was friendly. He "introduced" us to our little guy and made sure we knew we would get more information when we visit the baby home. He signed our paper that gives us permission to visit the baby home. He asked us if we wanted to meet him and we said "YES!" Well, not so much out loud, but on the inside. We also got to meet Dimitri who will travel with us the rest of the trip to Kotlas. He also seems friendly and responsible. We were able to change money at the hotel. I got nervous yesterday at the airport when our Visa wouldn't work. It worked just fine at the hotel though. Maybe the boy at the restaurant ran it incorrectly. Now we have a few rubbles for just such an emergency.
I have to tell this funny story on myself before I rest a little. Our driver picked us up at the airport last night and he seems to know about as much English as I know Russia. I tried out my horrible Russian by asking, "How are you?" and when he said okay I said, "Si"!! I don't think he noticed, but I was so embarrassed. I would like to justify myself by saying that I had been awake for about 24 hours and I have several Spanish speaking students, but it doesn't make it any less funny. I am like Mr. Bean. Traveling the world and saying, "Gracious" in every country!