Friday morning

Today, I got to the orphanage an hour late. Andre, my driver, wasn’t able to pick me up until 9:30. When I finally got to the orphanage, Anya was in a class. The caregivers that were with her group weren’t the most helpful bunch (new ones, I don’t know them) – but we found her.

It seems every trip, there is one day that Anya is very clingy, very quiet, very close. This morning was that day. It took her an hour and 45 minutes to say a word. The whole time, she sat on my lap, curled up in a little ball – almost asleep.

Julia (interpreter) was trying to help me figure out what was wrong. She felt a little warm, so maybe she didn’t feel well. A few times, she opened her eyes, and looked at me with such a sad look in her eyes. Borderline tears.

I tried to put her down, let her lay on the sofa…she was like a rag doll, wouldn’t stand on her own, hold her arm up – nothing. She just wanted me to hold her. I really think she wasn’t feeling well.

I wonder what goes on in that pretty little head. What she must think about all of this, what does she wonder about. What does she understand, more importantly – what doesn’t she understand, and what has she filled in the gaps with.

Thursday with the Jackson family

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Jackson family yesterday. They are from Illinois – and have been living here in Irkutsk for 8 years. They have 3 beautiful children (who I just wanted to scoop up!), and a great home near the airport. The kids are 12, 9 and 4 (I hope I have remembered that right).

I am horrible with remembering names (Tami, if this is was off base, let me know):

Ashley – the 12 year old, is a very grown up, smart little girl. Loves horses.
Andrew – 9 year old – pretty sure he is going to be an engineer
Melissa – 4 year old, loves Disney princesses, singing. Adorable! (Michelle - Belle and Melissa would have so much fun playing together!)

Steve and came to pick me up around 11 yesterday morning. They took me to their home, where Tami and the girls met me at the door. Ya know, I don’t know what it is about seeing a friendly smile and hearing English – but it was just what I needed!

The kids eagerly showed me their home and things they got for Christmas. We had lunch, then Tami and I talked for hours! She is so sweet! I wish all of you could meet her – to those in my Panera Bible Study – you’d LOVE her! It was great to ruminate about all the distinctively Russian things that we Americans don’t get. Things like:

• Needing the exact change to purchase something
• The notion of what ‘matches’ in outfits here
• How Russian people eat
• The things that is the norm for children
• What we think are crazy medical cures
• The Russian need for fresh air – especially for kids – regardless of the temperature (did you know that it isn’t uncommon for babies to be set out on porches to take naps? Bundled up in a million blankets – but outside nonetheless.)
  
  I am glad to know that the things that have always made me raise an eyebrow and say ‘huh?’ are things all Americans question.

And I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of them! I had my camera, and just forgot.

To other PAPs – the Jackson family would love to meet all of you, and help you in any way they can when you are here. They have graciously offered to open their home if you need a place to stay – or offer any assistance you might need. They are truly the nicest most welcoming people ever! They helped me exchange some money (kind of traded Steve American dollars for rubles), and Steve gave me a longer phone cord (don’t know if I mentioned, but the phone cord is about 1ft. long – and the phone jack is by the front door in the boot room of the apartment. So, to be online I have been sitting on the floor- the longer cord is super helpful – now I can sit in a chair and be online – yahooey!).

Heading to see Anya this a.m., and then hopefully go downtown to get some shopping done for the party. I hope Julia will be able to go with me and help – if for no other reason, than to help me carry stuff – that would be awesome! I don’t think I am going to be able to do the party today – I will need a little time to prepare everything – so tomorrow. Going to have Julia get all the permissions today for that.

I'm working on about hour 5 of my 100 minute prepaid internet access card. Don't you love the small blessings in life?

Happy New Year!

Anya

It bothers me the things Anya is allowed to do – which is stupid. She is a smart, responsible little girl. It bothers me that she is allowed to run hither and yon throughout the orphanage. She is allowed to unlock doors at will, she is allowed to turn on and off, plug in and unplug TVs etc. Maybe this all b others me because I have not been the one to set those boundaries with her. I did tell her that she should never touch the plugs – it will hurt her hand (well, I think that is what I told her). I don’t know if she understood me. It also bothers me when she does something wrong, and I get stern and say ‘no, that is not OK’ – she laughs. But – through the giggles, she does stop whatever she was doing I didn’t think was OK.

I should be clear – Anya’s idea of not behaving is standing on the sofa with her shoes on…or jumping on a chair (ya I know, she is a real rebel!) – Basically, her ‘misbehaving’ is more my over-protective mother ways trying to save her from herself.

I know I am going to be overprotective. I know I am going to be one of those Moms who wants to do it all for her little girl. I know I can’t…but I want to. I was never able to rock her to sleep as a baby, put a band aid on her knee when she fell as a toddler, babied her when she had chicken pox, calmed her fears when she went to the eye doctor or got shots. Part of me thinks I am due to baby her a bit. And I know I shouldn’t…I don’t want to be one of those Moms who turns her child into a demanding brat. I want to be one of those Moms who shows her child the right things to do, who thinks of others, who is courteous, who is thoughtful, who loved God, who loves her friends…and of course who respects and loves her mama and papa.

travel question

Why is it when you fly, you get bloated? Any scientific types out there have the answer?

Lost and Found

If anyone sees a pair of buttery soft black leather gloves with rabbit fur lining…probably in the street on the ‘walking street’ just off Karl Marx Avenue (outside of the pizza / sandwich joint called Fiesta) – they are mine and I would like them back, please.

Thank You.

seeing God's hand

It just occurred to me (maybe not ‘just’ – but I was reminded) about God’s hand in this trip. I think back to a few weeks ago – and how God provided amazing resources, energy and help to pull this trip together without much headache. I know it wasn't me...I don't have it in me to do what all needed to get done.


Quick note to Kelley – thanks for the pictures! I took a copy of them to Anya to have, and the caregivers were having a wonderful time looking at them. Anya folded them up (ouch, folded photo paper! Oh well, she’s 6!), and put them with her “special stuff”.

thoughts on my trip here...

So, what do you do when you are on a 10 hour flight to Moscow? First, you try to take a nap. After that, you look at the other passengers, and try to figure out what their stories are. Of course, there is the snacking, book reading, Sky Mall shopping…

And you’ve only got 8 hours to go.

Then you go through the podcasts and rebroadcasts you have on your IPod, listen to some tunes (trying not to sing TOO loud).

What is the deal with everyone sitting around me (ya, back to that one). The guy sitting nest to me, I would guess him to be about 25. Clearly Russian, looks like some kind of mod hit man (note to self: DO NOT make him mad or accidentally step on his foot while crawling over him to use the restroom).

Back to the IPod…and a little David Crowder – and air drumming with my ink pen and Vogue. Oh ya, did I mention that I might have accidentally been singing too – ya know how you can’t hear yourself singing when you have headphones on? Um, ya – I think I did – but I am looking at it this way – I was spreading the Word of God…I mean, it was David Crowder (and a little Hillsong).

Party for the Kids

I think I am going to have the party for the kids at the orphanage on Friday afternoon. I try not to do anything grand for the kids at the beginning of my trip. I’ve learned if I do that, every day when I get there, I am mobbed – they think I am bringing them gifts or candy every day.

This will also give me some time tomorrow to purchase what I need for the party – and get “official” permission with my translator. I wanted to do this party thing yesterday (i.e. Wednesday) – but I was without interpreter – and I can’t imagine what it would take for me to try to get them to understand what I was asking. Ugh!

Good morning all...

Good Morning,


Since I can’t go see Anya today, I thought I might figure out how to get to downtown, and shoe shop – er, I mean check out the local retail offerings as fodder for an upcoming article (haha!). Well, nothing is open tomorrow.

The missionary family that lives here (Jackson’s), called me tonight and invited me to their home for lunch tomorrow. So excited! I love meeting people here that I have been corresponding with or following online. I am very excited to learn about their time here (have been living here for 8 years!). They are from Illinois originally. Can't wait to post the exciting story I am sure they will share!

more pics

Where am I?

Thanks to the Jackson’s, I have figured out where I am! I am near the large university – by the new bridge. Well of course! That is exactly what I thought!

Wednesday

I was so nervous about today – the whole day without an interpreter.

Got to the orphanage at 9 – and Anya met me at the door. She asked where Julia was (interpreter), I told her she wasn’t coming – it was just me an Anya…she got a big grin on her face, and said “yay!”

We had such a good time today. We colored, folded all the doll clothes, read books, watched TV…pretty low key day. To avoid the sugar-crazies, I opted for an apple today, and some juice. Both – a big hit! One good thing, the apple lasted all morning – so Anya wasn’t asking me every 5 minutes ‘can I have another cookie’, or ‘is it time yet for candy?’.

Did I mention that Anya is reading? She sounds out the words like a pro! Even the big words (most Russian words look big to me!). She will sound out a word, and look at me and ask if that is right. I always say ‘Da’ – I have no idea! I figure ‘da’ is better than ‘I don’t understand’ over and over again.

Anya has been sick. The cough cold thing. I am getting her to blow her nose rather than sniff it (ewwww!). This afternoon, she blew, and got a bloody nose. One of those bad 4 tissue – tilt your head back ones. She looked at me and very sweetly said ‘mama, please help me’. So, I put her on my lap, laid her head back with Kleenex stuck up her nose. She curled right up into me, looked up at me and said ‘thank you’. That might be the first time I have really felt like her mama. She didn’t run to her care givers, deal with it herself – she said ‘mama, help me please’.

Some fireworks started while I was still at the orphanage. We crawled up on the window ledge (that is like 3ft wide) and watched. Anya was going on and on about it all – not sure what she was saying – it didn’t matter…it was a moment. Me and my little girl, watching the fire words. She would point out the sparkles in the sky, and made sure that I saw every single one.

To whoever donated the brown and blue polka dot pants to the Junior League Thrift Shop – THANKS! Anya told me tonight that she loves those pants, they are her favorite (which is pretty funny…I can’t tell you how many pants I’ve purchased for her at all price points…and her favs are used ones I got at a Thrift Shop for what, $3?)

Anya's English Phrase of the day

Anya’s English Phrase of the Day – "silly girl"

Yes, that is my hat!

Can someone tell me...

Can someone explain to me how I can be walking around outside, in sub-zero weather (literally) - my legs are frozen, my nostrils are frozen shut…but I am sweating like a pig!

THE PLIGHT OF THE INTERNET CARD

I came to Russia with 5 internet cards. To get online here, you go the old fashion route – plug in your telephone into your laptop, use the codes on the back of a little card you purchase from a magazine stand…and wonder how many minutes you are really going to get.

For some reason, 4 of the 5 aren’t working…most were new. I ventured out this afternoon to find more cards (need to make sure I have enough to get through the next few days). Walked for 15 minutes down one street, nothing. Decided to stop at the market (got some Nutella! Judy – I am going to try to smuggle it home). Noticed some shopping areas next to my apartment…and lo, there was a magazine stand RIGHT NEXT DOOR (the opposite direction I had been searching!). Walked up to the stand…practicing what I was going to say in my head (I can purchase things like nobody’s business here!)…and the grumpy-needed some coffee or chocolate-mad at the world woman at the counter decided to close at the exact moment I walked up to her window. I pleaded with her – and all she said was ‘neit!’…meany!

Thankfully, Andre (my driver) helped me. He doesn’t speak (much) English – but we figured it out. He even pulled over at one point, got out of the car – ran from stand to stand until he found one for me. What other driver would do this?

Random thoughts...

HUGE day! I found chips and queso at the market! WOO HOO!

a word on documents.

DOCUMENTS
Our docs are in review. I already know of a few things that I need. I need to get reference letters from some kind of powerful gov’t. person – like a mayor. HUGE bummer that Mayor Dave Miller isn’t the mayor anymore! And – for the record, we had a reference letter from him for YEARS when he was still in office.

She also wants references from our employees – however, we don’t have employees. We do have a ref letter from business people in our stuff – so hopefully that will work.

If anyone has any suggestions for this – I am all ears!

When our coordinator learned of our approved association with the accredited agency – this came as very good news. The comment was “this is very good, you will not have any problems”.

Also – I learned that there is an alternate way to present our tax information. Another family who also owns a business did this in a different way – so I will be interested to know what that is all about (‘other’ family who is also in the mid-west – any ideas?)

Need to get ready to see Anya. I don’t think I am going to have any interpreter today either.

thoughts on Tuesday...

Tuesday

Today was a great visit with Anya. She sat and colored just about all morning. In the afternoon, Julia (our interpreter) was not able to work – so I went to see Anya by myself. I was concerned about the language thing, but it went OK.

One thing about our little princess…she can be a stinker when she has too much sugar. She had 2 cookies and 2 pieces of candy – then, watch out! Little miss over excited was bouncing off the walls! Today, I won’t bring any candy with me – maybe an apple

Had lunch with our coordinator today. He told me of a court date for one of my friends…SO EXCITED about this! I don’t want to spoil it for her, so that is all I am going to say about that

I found out that no one is going to be working on Jan. 1. This week is like the week of Christmas for us. Because no one is working, I won’t be able to see Anya. I am going to try to find a work around for that – make some calls etc.

One bad thing – this afternoon we went to exchange some cash, and couldn’t. The bank’s ONLY exchange window was closed – and won’t reopen until Jan. 11th. To my ‘other’ friend who will be coming here on the 6th – you might be wise to exchange some money before you get to Russia. Thankfully – I brought some with me…and more and more places take credit cards now - kind of nice.

Debbie - yes, I got a flat iron, and will give it to Alex for you. You can also have the pot, pan and knife I had to get :).

Anya

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcSayFcDvZk

I can't get this to post, I will keep trying! BUt I wanted to get it out so Marty could see it...

Anya

This is a photo of ANya's group - you can see me squating down by her. THis was taken after the holiday presentation. see how stinkin' tall she is?