Bridget and the very bad no good horrible very bad day..

     Today we woke up very flustered. Today was the day we found out if we were going to the orphanage tomorrow. It was great news when Svetlana called and said we had permission to go to the orphanage tomorrow at 7am! We were all so excited to see them and to spend the day!
      Then, the devastating phone call came. They're only allowing us to stay there for 3 hours. We traveled halfway around the world for these kids, paying thousands of dollars, carrying 7 duffel bags stuffed with toys, and their letting us stay for only three hours, on one day?!?!?! (We hope they will change their mind - and let us return on Friday and Saturday like we planned) Keri and I were in tears. Nastia was sad, and my mom was speechless. We just cried and stayed shocked for over an hour, right before we were about to go to our favorite restaurant, "Shokolodnitsa" (House of chocolate). But, plans were delayed until we calmed down. I hated it. If you know me, I never show any bit of crying unless I'm at home with no one there. I just ran into the bedroom, jumped up onto the window sill, and sobbed. Didn't let anyone in. I was devastated!
     Once we finally got to 'Shokoladnitsa", we calmed down a bit, mostly because we were out of energy. But the pain didn't subside. It was like someone ripped my heart in two pieces. Anya called, and said she was on her way, but we didn't exactly believe her, because she's on "Anya time", which "I'm on my way" means "I'll be there in two hours". But, She showed up! She bright and cheery. Giggly and excited. Happy and adorable.
     After lunch, we went to the "Mall" and got her an outfit from Adidas. On the way there, my mom took a pretty bad fall on the trolley tracks. Ouch! Her camera cracked, but not really broke, which would have made the day even worse, and just when I think this country is so backward, I realize it's memorial day back at home. It's the one time I actually appreciated the US. But, all was well and I got a hand full of Anya hand, proof is in the picture! Well, we've got to get up at 6, and its already 12:30, so, good night!

Me and Anya walking down a street (i forget the name)

Me, Anya and Nastia on the couch, watching her play the fake piano on the ipad.... so sweet

My Russian Adventure: Day 3 and 4

Well, where should I begin? How about when we saw the "Dead Guy" (Lenin). It was so gross!!!! But, after that, we went to the Russian Museum and saw some stuff from the ice age. Me and Nastia got so bored that we decided to speak gibberish to each other to see if anyone noticed. Our conversation went something like "Hoostreekiex ronflre eekee oo mansee!"

     Back to the apartment to pack up. We hauled all 7 bags of donations, plus our personal stuff up and down the stairs and on the creepiest creakiest elevator you have ever seen! I was always the last one on, and the first one off.

     After the sweaty two hour ride to the airport, the people at the luggage check were being extra annoying, just for us! We were stuck waiting to see if we could get the fees waived because they were for an orphanage. They didn't do it. Oh well.

A lock with two newly weds names, to lock in their love forever.

    When we got to Kemerovo, we slept for a loooong time. And when we woke up we got a happy little girl named Anya waiting in the living room! She's such a sweetheart! When she left last night, she gave me a big hug and said with her thick accent "I love you". I love you too, Anya.
     We went to the school that Keri taught at this fall, and when we were coming out of the classroom, some kids heard us speaking english. We were then swarmed by kids wanting "Pictures with a real American" and to email and ask questions. I'm the first American kid they have ever seen! Can you believe it? I'm now talking with a girl named Arina. She emailed me a few minutes ago.
      When we got home from the school, Nast, me and my mom went to the terrifying "Amusment Park" across the street. Those things are going to break any second I swear.
     All in all, we are in Kemerovo safely, all is well, and Good night!
p.s. For more details go here

My Russian Adventure: Day 2

Me and My mom at some church in Moscow, you have to cover your head while in there. I look like a little Baboushka!!!

    Yesterday, well, it was better! We ate blini for breakfast, and we played on the swings behind our apartment. An old lady came and yelled at me and Nastia (in Russian), "Get off those swings! Your butts are too big!" And she left. We continued swinging. Then we got swarmed by pigeons. But, then, moms to the rescue! Off to Red Square.
     We got there, and there was a gigantic sports stadium just set up in the middle of it! We had to go all the way around it, just to get to St. Basils. Which they were filming a movie at.  Okay, fine, we'll just go to Lenin's tomb. Nope, thats closed too. Where to next? The Russian Museum. Too bad that was also closed. We found out this morning, everything is closed on Tuesdays. That was yesterday. 

    So, we headed into the "Goom". It's this huge mall that is one of the easiest places to get lost in. We all decided now was a good time for lunch, so we headed to a little cafe in the mall. I swear, our server looked exactly like Ellie from the movie "Up". She was super nice. 
     After lunch, we headed back to the apartment for a nap! I did'nt feel like I needed one, but, guess what... I did. We lazed around most of the day, then went to another cafe for Dinner. There we saw two boys, who seemed to be homeless were selling newspapers for extra money. 
     At the and of the day, all was well and we slept!!!
    

My Russian Adventure: Day 1

All right, where do I begin? How about in London, when Nastia's name on her passport was'nt spelled right? We were trapped in a "que" waiting for the approval to get on the airplane. When she was able to get on, we had about 10-20 minutes to run through security, and get food, and get on the airplane. 
     The flight to Moscow must have taken at least 4 1/2 hours. At least there was movies!
     We acctualy got off the plane in Russia (Yes!) we went to the van driver, and, boy do they obey the rules of the road! (Not). But after two hours of being scared out of my mind, and not being able to tell the driver...we finally got to the apartment, and pretty much fell asleep. But, First, we went to the "Magazeen" or the store. Then, after a very brief dinner of some bread and jelly, we slept! Thankfully, Jet Lag seemed to have skipped me.
     So, off to red square! More later!

Todays the Day!

Woot!!!!!!!!!! only an hour left!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'll be there in 10 hours!!!!

6?!?!?

Oh my! These days are just flying by! There's less than one week left until we board the plane east-bound to London. The exact time until that is: (as of 3:45pm on monday) 6 days, 7 hours, 15 minutes and 13 seconds! I could be possibly the most excited girl ever!!!!!There's 6 days, 7 hours, 13 minutes and 4 seconds I will be on the way to:

• See so many little kids (and big kids!) faces light up with joy from seeing all of the toys that people donated to them! Thank you guys!!!!!!!!!
• See Anya! On the phone, she sounded so nice, from what Nast translated, or, she just translated it to sound like she's nice...

• Go out of the country for the very first time. I'm exited for that so so so much!

     I guess you don't want to hear me ramble on about how excited I am. I know thats all you've heard for the past week or so from me. So, if you'll pardon me for a while, I'm not going to post until Sunday, when I'm on the way.

p.s. Just in case you wanted to know:

I'M SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!! WHOO-HOO!

10 days left!

There's only 10 days left before my expedition to siberia! I simply cannot wait! Still, there are more expenses to cover, so, donations are still accepted. Here are some things that we still need to pay for:

• Bags... We have lots of stuff for the orphanage, and airlines cost money to store things under the plane... and we can't just bring 20 carry on bags either. Thats really it, but, there's so much to bring, we need donations. We have already accepted that we can't bring all of it, but, we want to bring most. Please save up the pennies you fing stuck between the couch cushions, or the quarter you found in the bag of hand-me-downs from your cousins. Every penny counts.

The next 10 days of my life are going to be sleepless, jumpy and jam-packed with excitment.    

Exacly what every moment feels like.

I hvae no idea what the next ten days have in store for me, but, I'm finally sleepy, so, goodnight!

The Wait

The butterflies are on full flutter mode now. Its so annoying, they just won't stop. Flitter Flutter. All day long. Of course, these are imaginary butterflies. I found out last night that I was for a fact going to Russia. It will be sometime in the next two weeks I can say. No absolute dates yet though.

     I can just imagine smiles of the orphans. Smiles of me, even. I'm making video "Diaries" of me in various places in Russia. This girl right here cannot wait. I just wish I could get there sooner. I can't wait to see St. Basils, Red Square, and most importantly, The orphanage.

     I also can't wait to see the kids at the school. Keri said that they probably want me to present there, give a little show about what lifes like in America. I'll take pictures of our house, my school, friends, the park and everything else that we Americans do on a daily basis. I get the jitters just thinking about it. Its a good jitter though.

     On another note, My passport came in the mail today. That means I can officaialy leave the country now. Though, do you need a passport to swim in the ocean? Your leaving the country then, are'nt you? Whatever. I can't wait to get that "Moscow"  stamp in the book. Its exiting.

     Soon, I'll get to meet everyone in this picture. All of them! Its just a dream come true. Or, more than a dream come true. Its a dream, a reality, and a hope come true. Its love, Amor. Adoration. Bliss. Joy, Happiness. Amazment. Its a feeling that you can't just think of. Its the right before you go o Disneyworld feeling. To me, this orphanage is better than Disneyworld.

      Multiple people have ordered sock animals for the orphans. I need to make and bring 35 of them, and give them to the kids. If anyone would like to, you can let me know who to give it to, and you can pay eithe in cash if I know you, see you and come in contact with you, or, you can pay here, on Keri's blog. I honestly can't wait. That anxiety last night, nowhere near what is to come. Here's a preview of all of the sweethearts I get to meet, cuddle with and talk to.

Lots of kids!

     While at Nastia's and Keri's today, we mde a list of all of the things we will do on the 10 1/2 hour plane ride to London, then the 2 hour flight to Moscow. Here it is.
First hour: Fantasize about what fun we will have.
Second Hour: Play cards
Second and a half hour: Write a book
Fourth Hour: Watch "A Charlie Brown Halloween"
Fifth hour: Read
Sixth hour: Attempt to learn Russian through my book
Seventh Hour: Try to fall asleep
Ten and a halfhour: Get off plane, spend 4 hours at airport (Its more like a museam...or so I've heard)
Twelveth hour: Board Plane to Moscow
Fourteenth hour: Wake up in Moscow, exhausted
Fifteenth hour: Get into a bed and SLEEP!!!!!!!!!!!

     Thats pretty much our plane ride expedition. But, It will get me to the orphanage, won't it?

If everyone demanded peace instead of another television set, then there'd be peace.
John Lennon

Its so exiting just thinking about it! The happiness of everyone, the very pretty language. Playing "Poopsick" with all the little girls. (poopsick means babydoll, fyi.)
     I also have one of those large Uhaul boxes stuffed to the brink with stuff for the orphanage. My list of what to bring staarted like this:
     Clothes:
7 shirts
4 pants
2 pairs of shoes
North Face Jacket
5 pairs of socks
9 pairs of underwear
1 Bathing Suit

But then it changed to

2 Shirts

2 pants

2 pairs of shoes

North Fce Jacket (Wear onto plane)

3 pairs of socks

3 underwear

And then to

2 shirts

1 pair of pants

1 pair of shoes

2 pairs of socks

2 underwear

I'm going to wash everything every two days, its not like I'm going to see anybody I know there! Plus, a very wise person told me, "Every one thing that you bring for yourself, id one less thing you can bring for the orphanage" so true.

     Also, my "Other stuff" has shranken alot too. It started as:

Sheet (The sheets there are pretty itchy)

Toothbrush

Hairbrush

Towels

Orphanage Stuff

Stuffed animal

Shampoo

Moisterizer

Letters for Genya

Bathing Suit

Toothpaste.



But then changed into

Toothbrush

Hairbrush

Orphanage stuff

Shampoo

Letters for Genya

Toothpaste

See? The less you bring, the more you can give!
Well, off to make a birthday card for my friend