Sunday, May 14, 2006

Our schedule was different today since it was Sunday. We got to the Ark just as they were getting breakfast ready. Zarina was on kitchen duty and it was fun to watch her set the table and giggle with her friend every time they looked at us. Her caretaker let her sit and eat first so she could change for our visit. It was the first time we had seen her hair out of braids. It is almost down to her waist. The others came down with their group and inhaled some food so they could join us. Today we were sent to a common area upstairs for our visit. It was much too cold to be outside. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate soon and we can get to spend some time in more active play with them outdoors. Zarina’s buddies kept coming to the door and calling to her. She tried to shoo them away. When I asked what they wanted Valentina said the girls were calling her to come with them so they could make her hair beautiful for us. I gave them some M&Ms and they scurried away. Zarina let me comb her hair and give her French braids. She then added some of her new hair clips. Sholpan drew pictures for me while I braided. Sholpan then wanted hers done. That girl has got some thick hair! Her braid was solid. Meanwhile, Keith and Rinat kept busy playing Traffic. Rinat is a strategic thinker and quickly advanced to the higher level games. Since we seemed to be alone out came the Heart cards! It is nice to have something to do that does not require too much communication. Rinat won more often than not. Everyone enjoyed the games win or lose. The children tried the small camera and took some of today’s pictures for us. They really thought that was cool stuff. Oh no, time to go. No tea today. Director Sandi was caught off guard by our early arrival! Besides she was busy telling the children where to plant potatoes. The older groups of children have spent the last couple of days digging holes to plant the garden for food for the winter. Director Sandi says it is “gardening therapy”. I think it is free labor. She loaned some of the kids to older village ladies that can’t dig their own gardens. Actually, they did look like they were having a pretty good time.

After our visit we hurried to the hotel to get Kim for her visit at the baby house. Then we had a nice lunch at the Slavic Restaurant before Valentina had to head to the airport to fetch a new couple from Silver Springs. We had a nice walk to the hotel through the park and did a little shopping. When Kim finished her visit Valentina’s husband, Andrei (yes, John, the mystery man in the flesh) came and accompanied us to the Museum of Nature and History. Andrei is a teacher of English and history in a local school. The museum is newly built and very nice. It would probably make more sense if we could read all of the placards, but it was enjoyable. It relied heavily on taxidermy and bones.