From Russia With Love!

It's so neat to write that! We've had a great day. Our half of the group started out to the orphanage at Pushkin, north of Moscow. When we arrived we were immediately served tea (chai) which is more like what we would call a light lunch. Then the children presented a Christmas program for us. The group was small because many of the children go home to relatives (sisters, brothers, aunts & uncles, etc.) for the holidays. When they finished we gave our puppet show (The Talking Totem Pole) and they loved it. When the show is over we take the puppets out into the audience and let them hug and pet them. Most of the characters are woodlands animals; I have the American Indian mother, Nawaca, and they love to hug and kiss Nawaca (and her puppeteer!). It's hard on my knees to do the puppet show but the rewards are great! After the show we gave out candy provided by the Russian Peace Federation (our sponsoring agency) and left enough gift bags with the staff for all the children when they return from holidays.

We loaded up the bus and headed on to Sergiev Posad Blind and Deaf Orphanage for the afternoon. Again, we were served food the minute we walked in the door. This was a full lunch - salad, cold beef slices and huge potatoes, fruit and candy for dessert. They have wonderful apple juice and hot tea to drink. They gave a marvelous program for us, we gave our puppet show and then we participated in the traditional dance and games around the Christmas tree. The children here are all deaf and blind but the staff are wonderful with them. The children participated in the program and dances - each child had a staff member to help them onstage; during the Christmas tree party the deaf children helped the blind ones and vice versa. I have wonderful pictures. This facility has been greatly improved over the years and many of the veterans on our trip had friends here on the staff.

When we left the orphanage one of our team members got sick to her stomach and we had to stop to find a bathroom for her at the monastery. I would have loved to tour the monastery but not like that! When we finally got on the road it was dark and we snoozed most of the way back into Moscow. We went to dinner at the EurAsia Restaurant; salad, beef stroganoff, mashed potatoes and ice cream! The other team (with lots of teenagers on it) chose to eat hamburgers and French fries at the American Cafe. I didn't come to Russia to eat American food! After we left the restaurant and headed back to the hotel, Rick (one of the veterans) got out his guitar and we sang country and western songs all the way back (heavy on the Johnny Cash songs!)

I didn't go out for this evening's excursion - we're touring the Kremlin and Christ the Saviour Cathedral tomorrow and I want to get plenty of rest.

Comments: Who knew that Russia was famous for ice cream and chocolate candy? Russian (European?) plumbing is strange: you flush by pulling up on a knob on top of the tank and you can't put the used paper down the toilet. You have to put it in a trash can beside the toilet. A lot of the food we've been eating would look right at home on any West Virginia table. Children just want to be loved, no matter where in the world they are and the people who take care of them love you for loving them. David, there are lots of cute Russian boys here - I'll try to make sure Lyndsey doesn't stash one in her suitcase to bring home. My half hour of time is almost up so I'll try to get back on tomorrow evening. The hotel is full of families with lots of kids here in Moscow for the Christmas holidays and it's difficult to get to the computers till late in the evening. Dos Vidanya!

Love, Margie