Someday, Somewhere,

The world will have,

Some peace to share.

There will be peace one day,

when all is well,

All together,

We can tell.



"And the world,

Will live as one"

Love, Love,Love,

Bridget

3rd hint to my sisters name:

15-1=?

And all the pretty little horses...

Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, Coach and six white horses.
     Written circa 1884, by an enslaved mother singing to her baby girl who she couldn't take care of, because her owner needed their baby taken care of.




     Now, her baby had a mother. That baby will get taken care of, when the mother escapes (which she did, and the baby was 4). She gets fed, and is a normal height and weight for her age. Look at the kids at Detski Dom #5. Little G, who is 8 years old, really could pass off for being 5. These orphans don't need horses (though, they would love them!). They need enough food and CLEAN water to have adequate care. It just scares me to see an almost 9 year old be so tiny. I don't know how they survive. They all need loving families in a not-so-poverty-stricken country.

     I'm heading off to camp on Sunday, for two weeks. My camp is filled with horses, rock climbing, swimming and loads of fun. In about two weeks, all the kids at the orphanage get deported to camp so the orphanage can get cleaned. I have no idea what its like there, but it can't be fun.

     Everyone reading this, you can comment with a letter to one of the kids. I'll translate and print it. Then sent it to the child.

     And, the second hint to my little sister's name:

6-1=?

A few things that make me cheer up!

Because I'm really down lately, and want to stay away from the computer, I've discovered some really favorite things! Such as:

• Reeses Peanut butter cups
• A very funny blog, Hyperbole and A half, By Allie.
• Coloring
• Baking
• Shiny things covered in glitter
• Walking my dog, he was almost unwalkable.

     My dog never walked normaly before. It would be "Hey DOG you want to go for a walk!"
DOG "Of course I do!!!! *pant*lick*arf*
ME "Okay, lets go!
Dog oh-so-not-gently rips arm out of socket and we end with a crying Bridget running home to mom to punish the dog and get an ice-pack. BTW the dogs acctual name is DOG, pronounced dee-oh-gee.
     But, he walks now. We got him a be-good collar, and it works! Hallelujah!
     Hyperbole and a half is a very funny blog in which a 25 year old Allie takes her everyday situations and turns them into very dramatic scenes. Her "simple dog" and "helper dog" are there to comfort. She does not post very often, but just look around. She's hilarious.
     AND! For all who have been waiting, all of those pointless snow days have come to a close, and the frantic school year of 2010-2011 is coming to a close tomorrow. That means no more teachers who put their foot up on the black board to show you the bunion that they're getting removed on monday. No more walking up and down 4 flights of stairs everyday. No more waking up at 7am. Sadly, no more Ms. Rosenzweig. She's possibly the best teacher ever. And, the shocking reality hits me, I'll be in high school next year. Not next school year, but next year-year. 2012. Graduating class of 2016. I'll be in college in 5 years! Boy, does that put things into perspective.
     And, I'll possibly be going to Russia even sooner to see my Gorgeous little sister (soul) I'm giving you a puzzle and on the 5th post starting now, comment with what you think is her name. :)

8 minus 1... thats your first hint.

Being Home.

     Have you ever heard the saying "Home is where the heart is."? Its a lie. Siberia is where the heart is. In the filthy coal mining region of Kemerovo. In the little, unknown town of Prokop'yvsk.

     Ever since last Monday, I've been in a thick, gloomy fog. I don't want anyone around me. I'm ready to go back to Russia. Even though the people are unpleasant and frowny, they don't fake anything. Americans just smile, even if they're actually not happy, and if you don't have a cheery look on your face, you get asked by millions of people "Whats wrong?". Fact is, if anyone told someone how they were actually feeling, the person who asked in the first place, wouldn't listen!

     I just want to be reconnected with my heart, back in Siberia. Then I can sleep soundly, breath deeply, and let go. But Massachusetts ain't what it used to be, sure, its the same place, with the same Governor and the same people. But, it's lost that comfort that home offers. It doesn't feel the same. Home isn't home anymore. The house that turned into a home, is just back to where it began, a house.

a small village in rural Siberia, where I want to go back.

      There's a feeling coming around with me saying that this is not where I belong. And I agree with it. This is not where I belong. Most nights I've been waking up at about 3-4 am. I can't fall back to sleep. Why? Because when I look t my right, I see a window. Out side of the window is a car, so that I don't walk to school, 2 miles. When I look to my left, I see a bottle of water from the sink, that doesn't have parasites in it. I see a closet full of shoes and clothes that fit. I can't fall back to sleep, because I feel too greedy looking at all of this stuff, that is exclusively mine. I know what you're thinking, be grateful for you have yadda yadda yadda. I am grateful for what I have, and I want less. But, Truth is, the thought that has been occurring to me the most," If I sell all of my stuff that I don't need, I'll be able to go back there in no time.". So for now, anybody want a small bookshelf? $5. lol.

      I guess I'm just saying, I want to go back. The shirt that I wore for most of the trip couldn't have said it better "Home sweet Siberia".

Orphanage visit #2

First off, let me apolgize for not posting in a while, after we went to the orphanage, it was sleep, then travel. Sorry!
    Anyway, orphanage visit #2 was amazing! I want to adopt them all! Of course, I'm not old enough to adopt, so, I've just been begging my mom! There's just so many sweet kids! I love all of them! I'll post pictures later. I ended up walking to the "Magazeena" at least four times, buying candy and ice cream for all of them. I want to find them all homes! 
     I spent most of my time there running around with at least 13 kids following me. I felt like a celebrity! I find each and every one of them special and amazing.  I would go to the bathroom, and come out to see 10 kids waiting for me to come out.
     When I got the chance to sit down on one of the couches, I was immedeadtly seated with  9 kids! 
     The swing in the back yard is beyond broken, its just two poles with "Foot holders" on the bottom, but they continue to use it! Their playground is the most depressing thing I have  ever seen! The slide has spilnters all over it, and the soccer field has no grass on it, just hard, packed in dirt. Oh my!
      When we got back from the orphanage, to Kemerovo, we fell right asleep, for we needed to get up early for the plane. It was 42 hours of no sleep, in a plane or an airport, just waiting for the sad reality of going home to hit us.
     But now that we are home, it feels good, unlimited toilet paper, hot showers, a comfy bed for myself. Milk that's cold and drinkable,water that you can drink from the tap. You don't realize how much you have, until it's taken away. Thats another post for another day, differences from Russia to America. Oh! And I get to tell you about the $12 cokes!
     When we were at the Shermat'evo airport, in Moscow, We saw an italian restaurant, and we were craving it! We went and when we got the check, we discovered they had charged is $32 for four cokes! Thats $12 each! Their excuse "You ordered the big ones, and they have 3 cokes in each one, its not our fault!", But they never told us that we were going to pay that much! Oh, Russia, what are we going to do with you!
     And to all of you who donated... THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! You don't know how much I  appreciate every single one of your donations, whether it be by thought, or by money. What matters is I got there and I couldn't have done it without you guys!!!! You sent me to the orphanage and back again, and it's the best thing that ever happened to me! All of you have enormous hearts and they will never go to waste! Everyone at the orphanage was elated when I got there, and you guys made that happen! Thank you!!!!

Orphanage visit #1!

      Yesterday was just a roller coaster ride. Horrible at some parts, amazing at others, but in the end, you just want to do it again. The three hour car ride was like a real roller coaster too, up down up down bounce bounce swerve...lol. Since we got back to the "Gasteenitza" yesterday at 7pm, My mom heard nothing but "Please please please!!!! She needs a home! I know she's my sister! How can you just leave her in an orphanage? PLEASE!". Of course, I was referring to this little girlie:
    I love her! And another G and P and S and A and Y and S.  I can't write their names here, but they all need homes with lots of love! Sadly, we didn't get to take too many pictures because it was against the rules of the chaperone, but we snuck a few. 

     I simply cannot wait to go back to the orphanage. Poor G (the other one), when we were handing out bags, the one we packed for her had pierced earrings and hair bands. Her hair isn't long enough for the hair bands, and she doesn't have pierced ears! The poor girl! And K (a teen) got earrings, but she wasn't going to let them go to waste! She pierced her own ears! Oh my!
     

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