Extension #2 and an Enlightenment

I extended today until Oct 22nd.

Many times since I have been here, usually laying awake at night, I have wondered if we are doing any good. Are we making a difference? I have told several fellow volunteers that I think we are. I usually ask them to think about some of the most important lessons or moments in their life and how many of them seemed insignificant at the moment they occurred. And then I say maybe, just maybe, we might be one of those moments to just one of these kids. Maybe. But all we can do is plant the seeds and know that if enough good people plant enough good seeds then Good Moments will happen.
And as I said that to people I really believed it while maintaining some doubts when I was alone.

And then, in a asphalt parking lot at the shelter while playing soccer with Sergia an unusaul thing happened. I swung my leg to kick the ball and I missed. And he laughed. Really laughed. And I thought about how many times I see these kids laugh when we are with them. And I finally got it. Although I still hope I can be lucky and create someone's moment, my expectations changed.
If all I can accomplish every day is to restore one kids right to smile and laugh, even if for only a couple of hours, then it is all worth it and we as volunteers are the recievers instead of the givers.
I have learned so much in Russia. If only my Visa was for a year.....or even 6 months.
борис

Shelter

The Shelter is very different since school started. We go in the morning and for the first half of our time we are with the kids to young to attend school. Since there are only 5-8 of them it is a lot more intimate. I love it and I have two buddies that I play cars with every day. We tape construction paper together and buid road and ramps etc and then use blocks to build houses.
The second half of our time is spent outside and the older kids usually join us so there are 15-25 kids. I play basketball, baseball and futbul with a group of about 8-10 guys who are mostly 11-15.
We really have a good time and the kids are so glad we are there that it really makes you feel good. Every day when we arrive they come up to us with big grins and super hugs and it is just wonderful.
Sometimes I forget about the tradegy that some of these kids are living. Marsha, the one from early photos who made me my back trinket, spent all day last Tuesday in court as her parents parental rights were decided. The father lost his completely and the mother is on 6 months probation. So Marsha will be at the Shelter for at least 6 more months and then, if her mother passes probation, she can go home. Other wise she will be permently assigned to an orphanage. From the girl who had the best smile in Russia, she instantly became so sad that I almost cry when I see her. Only today, almost a week later, did I finally get to see a glimpse of her former self. A hint of a smile.
Another of my friends is at the shelter because his father is in prison and his mother is unfit. Such innonence ruined by irresponsibility.
One of my basketball buddies, Vanya, has been missing for a couple of days and I was wondering were he was. I got a great suprise today at lunch when the group of volunteers that go to the hospital said a new kid was asking them if they knew борис. Suprise, suprise. My buddy Vanya. I will have to visit him at the hosptial before I leave.
And leaving will be hard. I am already dreading it. I am thinking of extending another two weeks, but sooner or later the day will come.
But the new group that is here is terrific. They all have a lot of energy and ideas and are extremely interesting people. That coupled with the CCS staff has made this such an incredibe experience.

Olga hard at work in the office preparing a Russian langague lesson

The only two reconizable signs in Yaroslavl

We also visited a cementary in St Petersburg

The bus was standing room only on the trip back.

Nadia and I in front of the bay of Finland and Becky and Nadia in ront of one of the fountains of Peterhof

Peter had a sense of humor and had several "trick" fountains that go off as you walk by them soaking an unexpected guest including Nadia and Becky

More Peterhof fountains and flowers

The many fountains of Peterhof

Peterhof is known for its fountains and it borders the bay of Finland which you can see in the distance

Peterhof, the summer palace of Peter the Great is about 30 minutes outside of the city

The 6 of us shared a hostel in St Pete for 14.50 a night

Getting Breakfast--Bryan, Leann, Sharon, Becky, Sasha, Nadia, and Jon

Our boat tour along one of the many canals of St Pete

Mosaics from the Church of the Spilled Blood

The Church of the Spilled Blood was built on the sight of the assaination of Alexander II and contains 308 Mosiacs.

An artist painting the Church of Spilled Blood

Scenes from St Petersburg

Two Million people lost their lives during the siege of St petersburg and this is a moving memorial to them.

During WW II St Petersburg was under siege from the Germans for 900 days

Yidbits from Yaroslavl

*The 8 new volunteers came in Sunday. It is nice to have their energy and enthusiam.
*While walking along the river the other day I Heard a bell ringing. A small sounding bell. I was thinking that i sure seemed to here it a lot on the river walk. Then I noticed that all the fising poles had bells on them. The fishermen cast his line, secures the pole, and then before he sits down to wait on a bite he attaches a small bell to the end of the poll. The fish bites and the bell rings. You can fish with your eyes closed...neat idea :)
*When I arrived the sun was setting at aroung 10.15. last night it set at 8.30.
*Eight of us are going to St. Petersburg this weekend. We leave Thursday evening at 10.00 for the 12 hour train ride. We are going third class..40 or so beds in an open train car and then 6 of us are sharing a room at a hostel. It should be a good binding weekend :). This should really bring out the introvert in me.
* This weekend is the festivel of the fountains in ST Pete. At noon on Saturday they start a big festevil at the fountains with music, a ballet, dancers, etc. It should be blast. The fountains close for the season in a couple of weeks.
* This is Andys last week so tomorrow is the last time I will see him. He came in with me and has been a real great guy to hang with. His photography is awesome. I hope to post some of pictures soon. Andy is considering coming back to Yaroslavl to go to college. Good luck Andrew.
*Sharon, the Russia director from New York is one of the 8 volunteers this week and will be going with us this weekend.
*I extended 2 weeks today so now my last day, unless I extend again, is Oct 8th.
Until Monday...борис

A cool rainy Sunday--Sept 10th.

I awoke this morning to a little nip oin the air. By the time I got up and out it was 48 so I suppose when I awoke it must have been in the low to mid 40's. Awesome. And I assume it is rainy here in the Autumn as it has rained 9 out of the last 10 days. But it never seems to rain all day. Very very nice weather. I do not miss the 90 degrees and 90% humidity at all.
This past week we went to the elderly every morning and the shelter or city camp in the afternoon. The elderly was real different from working with the kids. The place we go is a place that retired people come to for three weeks at a time. The group that started Monday are blind although most are not completely blind. It was an interesting week. One day Harry did a lecture on thye Bush/Gore election and how we can elect a president without him getting the most popular votes, and a lecture on the civil war. Very interesting..you can tell harry is a college professor. One day we took a field trip with the elderly to the Firemans museum. That was very interesting. Thursday Harry taught, or tried to, everyone (including me and Andy) how to Waltz. Everyone loved it. Since there are 21 women and only 4 men, Andy and I had no choice....wow. My first waltz was intiated by a elderly blind, Mormon, Russian woman( and Andy took pictures if we can figure out how to get them from his camera to my blog). After the intial shock and ambarrassment it was fun and I danced with seveal of them. I owe here for insisting on me dancing. Friday I led a group in a craft where we made small jewerly boxes out of construction paper and then decorated them with crayons, stickers, cutouts etc. And we had two different days were Russian folk singers and dancers came in and performed. Man how life has changed :). If I wanted to get out of my comfort zone, and I did, I have suceeded beyond my wildest dreams.
Today 8 more volunteers arrive so this week will be different. And Friday is Andy's last day. He is the last one here who came the day I did. I will miss him. He has been a good companion and fellow volunteer. Monday it will be me, Harry and Andy again as the new volunteers go through orientation and then Tuesday we will all go. I think I am doing the hospital for kids, city camp, and the transitional shelter next week. All good placements for me as I love being outside and with the kids.
Also of note...Dasha (one of our transalators, shown in several of my photos)botfriend Illya is a DJ at some of the dance clubs on the weekends and they invited me and Andy to go out with them Friday night. It was great, the most fun I have had since I have been in Yaroslavl. Thanks Dasha and Illya.
Also thanks Dasha for showing Andy and I one of the funniest and sadest movies I have ever seen. Thursday night Dasha brought over a movie she has called "Everything Illumuinated?". It is an awesome independent movie.

Yaroslavl The Wise--Founder of Yaroslavl in 1010