We rode out to camp again by taxi- the roads are pretty full of potholes and when you hit a half mile stretch that is pothole free, you are thankful- while our driver had Barry White singing on the radio. It's about a 30 minute drive and we have found a reliable driver that we rebook for the next day!
Yesterday, we played a lot of volleyball at camp and learned quickly that the kids all want to hit the ball to the visiting adults- a sign of respect that they want you to play, no bad intentions. We brought out bananas and juice and it just cracks us up that the first thing the kids do is break the banana in half and offer you part of it.
We had dinner with Sergei's lead teacher, Larissa and her husband, last night at the restaurant at the hotel. She gave us a lot of background on Sergei - teachers follow kids through the orphanage, so she has had Sergei in class for the 8 years he has been here. She is thrilled he is going home with us and will have parents who will help him with homework- that is the missing link here. There are about 35 kids in the class and due to sheer numbers, there is little ability to follow through on homework after class is over.
Today is Sergei's birthday- we arrived at camp with two cakes from our local market. One sheet cake already had a slice taken out of it and one full round cake...just to give you the full picture of how life is a little different here. We had some yo-yos from the US and got some goodies from the Severodonetsk grocery store. But---we got to the gate of the camp and with some hand signals from the security guard, realized that there was a "commissioner inspecting the camp" and that we were not allowed in. So--- we spent our three hours sitting at a covered picnic table. Sergei and his friends Artur and Ghena joined us and once we realized that was going to be our spot for the day, we actually had a good time. We talked a lot about what is going to happen next in the move to the US. Sergei got tears in his eyes when we asked him if he would miss the orphanage- this is his entire world and network of friends. We kept talking about what would await him at home...good stuff and he is ready to go.
Our picnic table conversation also got us to dig a little deeper with the friends. Artur lost his home in a fire and we were not sure if his parents died in the fire, but we learned that the parents are dead and that he has no siblings (he is in the photo with Dana- any takers?). Ghena is the oldest of four boys who are here at the orphanage and we've played with all 4 and he sees himself as the quasi-dad responsible for his brothers.
As we sat at the table, just like Pat and Evan used to do, Sergei was trying on Craig's watch and wedding ring....funny how that seems to be a universal dad/son thing. He also kept sticking his finger on the frosting on the cake and reducing the level bit by bit. Before all of the frosting was gone, we lit candles, sang happy birthday, Sergei took a long time for his wish, and then cut the cake and these boys went to town. We had the extra cake too and Sergei wasn't sure it was going to be ok to have with him, so when it came time to say goodbye, Sergei smuggled it under his shirt back into camp.
We are going to venture out for dinner away from the hotel tonight on our own, as the Trumps from Atlanta have gone to Germany/Austria on their 10 day waiting period. We hope to hear tonight or tomorrow that the Interpol clearance has come through and that we'll be in court on July 5. Dinner for two with appetizer, entree and a beer or two runs about $25....and the food is excellent. Who needs Cape May when you can come to Severodonetsk?
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