Well, our Russia trip is now all over. The last week and a
half was probably the best there. Somehow Maria and I were
able to break through the ice with the caretakers and many
of them loved us by the end. They would ask us to come and
play with the kids, take them on walks etc. Once they even
brought a few kids to us to paint/play with! That would
have NEVER happened at the beginning. One day we had four
children we were working with at the same time. Usually we
were only allowed one because they get the blame if
anything happens while they're in our care.
In Christina's group the caretakers got to know me
very well and let me do whatever I wanted within reason.
They would speak very slowly to me in Russian so I could
understand (and I usually did!!!) and play charades when I
didn't. I think they found me to be some form of entertainment
because when I came into their group they would flock
around me and talk incessantly. They would clap whenever I
spoke in Russian and constantly were telling me what a
kind and beautiful girl I was. I wish this transformation
could have happened a few weeks earlier.
A couple days before we left they had a little
presentation (they have them a few times a year). All the groups
who could "go" (are able to either walk or roll their own
wheelchair) performed little songs/dances for the other
groups. All of the teachers were given a box of chocolates
and I played Russian folk songs on the violin. It was a
really fun time. Right when I thought it was over I
heard our Russian names "Nadia and Masha" and I noticed a
worker was calling us to come to the front of the room.
She then told the audience how great we were and went on
and on about what we have been doing. We each got a big box of chocolates and little Russian souvenirs.
I thought it was going to be very difficult to say
goodbye to Christina, but the best thing happened on the
last day. I was walking towards her group to take her on a
walk when I saw a lady pushing a stroller with Christina
in it! I went to her and talked with the lady. She spoke
no English but I was able to understand enough.
She was the grandma and had come to visit Christina! I was told her family visits her about once a year and I happened to be there when she did!! I really love the
grandma. Once we were back in the group she fed Christina
strawberries, cherries, and peaches instead of the nasty soup stuff she hates. When the doctor came in she told the
grandma to stop feeding her the fruit and got mad at her,
I was afraid because the doctor is an all-powerful woman.
However that grandma stood up and started yelling right back at her! When the doctor left the she made faces at her back and kept on feeding the fruit. The next time the doctor came back she was nice and said nothing about the fruit.
The grandma then danced with C. She had me play my
cellphone music and bounced her up and down. She laughed and laughed because she loves any movement. Many of the children's limbs have hardened from never moving so when they get to feel like they're moving they absolutely love
it. I said goodbye to Christina when the grandma put
her down for her nap and that was it. I felt so much
better about leaving knowing that somebody else cared
about her. I believe the grandma lives far away but at
least she seemed to care. She told me C. is her son's
daughter and her only grandchild. I asked about her spine
because I still can't figure out what exactly is wrong
with it. She said something in Russian but all I could
understand is her spine is bad and something is wrong with
her head too. I'm going to see if I can have a real doctor evaluate her with the money I fundraised.