Calm before the storm

To say that it's been a long day would be an understatement.  A more accurate statement would be that it's been two long days.  All I can say is that people that travel between the U.S. and Europe on a regular basis and sit in coach are tough as nails.  After experiencing this trip I am amazed how well the ABRO chaperones are able to manage this difficult task while being responsible for anywhere from 10 to 20 children. 

Yesterday started off well enough.  After failing to pack everything I was bringing into one suitcase I had resigned myself to paying the extra bag fee of $50.  Much to my surprise the ticketing agent looked at me and said, "you know I'm supposed to charge you for your second bag........but I am not charging you today, Happy Holidays."  This was really starting out on the right foot and this went a long way to help with my needed attitude adjustment.

I won't bore you with all the unpleasant details, lets just say being in the back of a plane crammed in and claustrophobic with 4 screaming children for 7 1/2 hours is not my idea of a fun time.  I would have confessed to just about anything if it got me off that plane quicker.  I resorted to the old faithful MP3 player (cranked way up) and some seriously long prayers.  When the guy in front of me reclined his seat to within an inch of my nose I almost lost it (that's when the prayer came in handy).  Then there was the severe turbulence that not only upset me, but it wasn't exactly having a calming effect on all those screamming children. 

After I survived the flight to Frankfurt the rest of the trip was a breeze.  The 2 hour layover, followed by an almost 3 hour flight (we were late leaving) and topped off with a 4 hour bus ride in a snow storm.  (Am I making it sound fun yet?)  I really think my wife, Leslie, should experience this trip just once.  She is always so supportive and encouraging...."Rich, I really think you should to to Belarus this year."

I am certain that I am making it sound worse than it is.  I was still a little sore from my last workout at the Y with my buddies Roger and Stu. Sitting doesn't help the eleviate the soreness.  All those lunges seemed like a good idea at the time.....

Ok, I think I'm over it now, thanks for letting me vent.

It was great to see the happy, excited faces of Natasha and Vadim, who had come to meet us.  Both children had spent last summer with host families in Frederick.  After meeting Vadim's parents it was time to move it along. 

This is a good time to introduce you to a couple of my travel companions.  Frank is along on the trip for the first time.  He is deaf and hosted Vadim who is also deaf.  Joe is back again this year after making the trip with me last year.  A lot of you who live in Frederick would recognize him if you've ever been to the post office on 7th St.  Joe is also deaf and has hosted "little" Krystina for the last 2 years.  The 3 of us will be doing some of the orphanage visits together, however, they will be on their own some of the time.  Like tonight for example.  They both went home with Vadim's parents to spend a few days. 

I am staying at the ARK house for the entire time this year.  The ARK house is a house/office run by ABRO Belarus.  The house part is used to help some of the ABRO children who age out of the orphanages or need a little extra help becoming independent.  The house has several bedrooms where a child can stay for a short time while they assist in finding a job and a place to live.  The ABRO office is on the first floor of the 3 story house.  I am currently staying on the third floor which has four bedrooms and one bathroom.  The house is very nice and probably one of the best places I could stay while in Mogilev.  I am hear by myself and don't mind enjoying one last quiet night before the storm of activity hits tomorrow.

Tomorrow I will be going to Drebin (I don't think I spelled it right) to pick up my Krystina.  I refer to her as my Krystina as there are a lot of Krystina's in Belarus.  There are several names that are extremely popular here and it is sometimes hard to keep all the Lena's, Natasha's and Krystina's from getting confused. 

I will be meeting Krystina's new foster mom tomorrow.  It is a very sad story of both mental and physical abuse as to why Krystina has a "new" foster mom.  Leslie and I are very proud of her for having the courage to leave a bad situation and report her old foster mom to the local authorities. 

After that things will start to happen pretty quick and it will be go, go, go for the next 10 days.  So I better try to get some sleep and start the process of adapting to the 7 hour time difference.  Even though I hadnt slept much in the last 2 days, I still feel like it is 3:45 PM instead of 10:45.  Hopefully the Advil PM will help.