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| Such great smiles and laughs at the school. |
Day 3 was our first day at the school this year. It felt like coming home. The kids squeal with laughter and giggles as we walk in. Several run to me calling "Cheep!Cheep!" and reach up for hugs. My favorite part of this trip is greeting the children at the school and collecting hugs! If your soul ever needs rejuvenating, just hug a child.
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| The kids love Freddy too. |
After hugging and playing with the kids at the school, we headed to another local orphanage. The kids at this orphanage have serious neurological disorders, among other things. Nobody has ever visited them from outside the orphanage. I was happy and proud to be part of the first group to visit. I hope we can visit more in the future, and maybe the orphanage will allow other visitors now. These kids need love, hugs and fun just as much as any other kid, maybe more so?! For instance, Masha doesn't have an eye, but she has arms! So she can hug as well as any kid I have ever met.
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| Masha with Freddy |
After the orphanage we went to the mountains to have dinner with our friends Zeta and Marat. Zeta used to be the minister of education. She was very instrumental in allowing Maria to continue her visits to the school, when some people wanted to stop her. God Bless Zeta and her husband Marat. They are true friends and have a beautiful dacha in the mountains.
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| Not a bad place to have dinner. |
Day 4 was spent playing at the school some more. This is also the day we go on our ice cream excursion with Maria's class. I am fortunate enough to be invited every year! Not every clown gets to go :0)... This year we walked to the restaurant which allowed for more great bonding time. I love the walks with the kids, and of course enjoying ice cream with them. Yummy Marozhna!
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| Leading the kids to ice cream |
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| It is a fancy restaurant, the kids love it! |
Later we toured the museum and old school. Every year I hear new stories about the tragedy. It keeps me focused on continuing the visits with Maria. Maria bought a house in Beslan this past year. The teenagers and young adults from Russia stay there during our visit. We went there after school for dinner and social hour. It is a great time to hang with some of the older kids from the school who are allowed to come over and have dinner with us.
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| The older boys cook Schlaslik for us. My favorite! |
Day 5 is the concert. The kids perform for us and the their fellow classmates. Showing off skills, dances, or artwork they did during the week. Plus the older kids do some local traditional dances for us. It is always great fun to watch. After the concert we went to an orphanage we visit every year as well. There weren't as many kids there as usual, and I think it is because it was Easter weekend in Russia. Orphans still visit their families on weekends, and especially on holidays. We had our farewell dinner in a restaurant in the countryside and said our goodbyes. As always, it was a lovely week. I can hardly wait for next year.
The next day on our way out we stopped and visited the gravesites of the 334 victims. It is always emotional, but still important to visit. On the way to the airport I got to ride in Campbell's fancy "race" car. He is a bit wild with his driving, but it was so much fun! We boarded our plane and headed back to Moscow. Such bitter sweetness. I flew home to America the next day. I am always exhausted, yet rejuvenated after my Russian trips. I wouldn't trade that feeling for anything.
Now Go Out and Hug a Child Today!!!
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