Saying goodbye to Russia...

We were stuck over in our side of town for the entire weekend. For those who haven't heard, Russia held their presidential elections a couple of Sundays ago. Vladimir Putin had won and apparently, there had been some rigging and frauds in the election. There was a protest the day right after the election that resulted hundreds being arrested. Last Saturday, we were going to go out to a sauna, but that very morning, we were instructed by our director that we couldn't travel until further notice. In Moscow, there was a protest of 30,000+ people (but there has been reports that it was even bigger than that) and Putin accused "America for encouraging the protests", so it wasn't safe for us to travel. We are now "Canadians", in case anyone asks ;) hahahha. BUT if I had to be stuck at home for a weekend, okay... at least it was a "COOL" reason...am I right? I can now say, "Yeah, when I was in Russia, there were protests going on!!!" - everything was fine. The protests were reported to have gone down "peacefully" with no violence. Also, we had a good weekend! We went on a walk near the kindergarten buildings we teach at and we saw people RUNNING ACROSS THE LAKE!!! IT WAS FROZZZEN!!! Oh... NO WAY!!!!! We went and ran across it, "ice skating" and sliding on our knees, and there were dozens of people ice fishing. I have always wanted to go ice fishing and I touched some of the people's fish that they caught, hahaha.

WHAT A CRAZY WEEK... the way I love them :)
I walked out into our hallway and I wanted to puke. It smelled....AWFUL.  To me, it was a combination of fish and vomit. Hailey and Selina asked the cleaning lady what that smell was....oh, don't worry - it was just a rotting fish. I think one of the students put it there, hah.

Goofy Nastya :)

Big Kindergarten...story of the week: So Hailey was making an arts and crafts with the kiddos making Christmas trees. They were about to put on the star and she joked (or at least I hope, hahaha jk), "Okay kids! Instead of using glue, lets put our fingers up our noses and get out a sticky booger!" AND ONE OF THE KID DID IT!!!!!!! I DIED! died. died!!!!! Also because it was NASTYA who did it! She's like the "princess" of the class! HAHAHHHA!!!

Little Kindergarten - I spend most of my time at Little K because of the craziness of these little 3-4 year olds. Misha *sigh*...that child, he had his ups and downs. After receiving a prize that one day, the next day he was being so bad, so no prize. I went up the stairs to check on my teacher and her lesson and Misha came up to me and hit me. I was like, "HEY!" - what the heck, I'm not even your teacher! He was pretty upset that he didn't get a prize that day, so he took it out on me! Haha. We think he has a crush on me, hahaaha. Yesterday, he lined himself up for class and Selina asked him, "Misha, you want to come to my class today?" He shook his head no. She asked, "Oh, are you going to go with Teacher Laura?" and he shook his head no. I exclaimed, "Mish, do you want to go with ME?!" and he nodded his head and got a little sly smile on his face, hahahahha!! I laughed so hard when I heard all the English he would say at home was, "SIT DOWN! SIT DOWN!" - maybe because thats what we're always saying to these kids, hahahhahah!!!!

Vova ....oh Vova :)

That same day, Velizar came up to me and he was whimpering and by the way he was dancing about, I could tell he needed to go to the bathroom. So I told him, "Yeah, go right ahead" (I don't even know why he was asking;  they usually get up and leave the class themselves!), but Velizar was still pleading with me still and I was like, "Go Velizar! Go dude! It's okay!" and he just started crying his eyes out and going to the bathroom right then and there...and then there is Vova. Looking over at him and of course he isn't sitting in his chair, but instead he is dragging his TONGUE across the CARPET.

Yesterday, they were convinced there was a "monstro" (monster) in the closet and Kirill pretended to be a zombie while Misha was fighting him off.

Oh Little Kindergarten is my favorite :)

Yesterday was the last day of teaching. We leave on Tuesday morning for America. When I walked up the stairs at Little K and saw all craziness, I couldn't help but smile. As psycho as these kids were, I loved them... you never had a boring day there. All the kids that we teach, they seriously know how to put an instant smile on your face and you are reminded how the past 4 months were worth it. I went over to Big K and sat in Chelsea's class. Nastya was hugging Hailey and when she looked at me, I saw her little eyes filled up with tears. I couldn't help but tear up myself. Nastya came over to me and jumped unto my lap. As I cradled her back and forth, I couldn't help but start crying. Nastya looked at me and asked, "Why sad?". She wiped my tears away with her little fingers continually since they kept flowing from my eyes. I couldn't help it. She asked, "May I go to the toilet?" and when she returned, she gave all of us tissues.

Nastya couldn't stop crying and neither could I. It was sad because only 6 kids were there that day. Usually we have 25 kids, but attendance has been low for the past couple of weeks due to an outbreak of the chicken pox... it makes me so sad knowing that I never had a chance to say goodbye to the others...

I love the Russian people. I am going to miss them. The Russians that I am friends with, they are the kindest! You really just have to get to know them and once you do, they are so loving back! Once you enter a Russian's heart, you stay there always. You know, I am so grateful for the time I had with the Russian people for these 4 months. There are many stereotypes about people in this world. When my friends found out that I was coming here, they would say to me, "Ohhh...Russians never smile. They're bitter and mean people. They're depressing," - but now I know..Russians are DELIGHTS and when a Russian smiles, they smile with most of sincerity :) It's never easy saying goodbye to people you love. Your heart will always be with them. I am so lucky to get to meet all these people from around the world that I'll reunite with as a big family in the next life. Time is strange. The days can feel like weeks and the weeks can feel like days. It goes by in a flash and you won't be able to believe it when it passes.... especially when you find yourself saying goodbye to your dear friends or family for a time... people are so precious and its of no wonder why souls are great, glorious, and beautiful in God's eyes. They are in mine too.

D&C 18:10: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God"

Misha, Babushkas, and Drunks...OH MY!

You guys... Misha is becoming one of my favorites. YES, the kid who BIT me a couple of weeks ago has been pretty good lately!!! What is going on??! Today, he got a prize for his good behavior and speaking. He picked out a little pink hair dryer toy, but I think he thinks its a gun cause he was shooting everyone with it, hahaha. I cannot believe we only have 2 weeks left with this kids... today, little Lera was bawling her eyes out because we were going to be leaving. It made me tear up...oh man!!!!

I had a goal before I was going to leave Russia. A couple of weeks ago, it was early in the morning while we were traveling and I was very tired. I was sitting next to a babushka on the bus and she was out of it too. She was kind of bigger and kind of leaning on me. I wanted to just lay my head on her shoulder, but thought that I'd better not. Oh why! I totally should have!! Cause how nice would it be to take a little doze on a babushka??? Yeah maybe they'd tap me awake, but what if they smiled and let me rest until they had to get off at their stop. I'll just pull the little number where I smile and emphasize my tired state, closing the eyes, add a little head bopping, and then lay back, slowly getting closer to their shoulder...

When I realized how much thinking I put into it, I thought: I am doing it. Everyone travels early in the morning on Monday to get to their jobs. When I got on the #549 bus, there were a few empty seats (rare), but I spotted a seat next to a babushka!!! WELL TODAY WAS THE DAY LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!!!! I went over and sat next to her. She started talking to me, but I said "Niet puruski" (I don't speak Russian/No Russian) and I think she understood, but not sure. I just gave her a big smile and laid my head on her shoulder. She started laughing and I just snuggled to her. It was a nice rest too because she was a bigger babushka...not the little ones that seem if I leaned on them, they would break. It was the BEST nap I ever had!!!! I miss her!

I had the best weekend ever ever ever ever. One of the missionaries us if we would sing a musical number at one of the African brother's baptism on Saturday. We were only able to practice it for a night, but I knew we would do okay because it was for a good cause in CELEBRATION!!!! His name is Segun and I am telling you, when he came forth out of the baptism water, my heart grew. It called me upon reflection of my baptism day and of our very purpose here on earth. I have the key to happiness because I have the gospel in my life! There are millions without and there are so many searching for it...whether they realize it or not. Segun was someone who was searching and he FOUND IT! It was a wonderful day :) Later that day, I got to go to Olga's to teach little 5 year old Masha and Maxism an English lesson. I am going to miss those kiddos and I wish I was able to spend more time with them. Right when I walked into the flat, they exclaimed, "Nusly, I love you very much!" - awwweeee and they said, "Nusly! Nusly! CRA-SI-VAYA!!!" (beautiful in Russian). Oh yes, if you remember Olga she is my librarian that belly dances. Her and her friend taught me some more belly dancing skillzzzzz, hahahhaha! Belly dancing is HARD - they are way good at it. I am going to miss Olga so much when I leave...

On my way home, I jumped on the metro. I was sitting next to a woman who was trying to tell me something, but I had no idea what she was telling me. She was pointing across to the seats, but the metro was very crowded and there were people standing in front of us. I couldn't see anything. As people were filing out to get off at their stops, I think I saw what she was talking about. There was a man sprawled out in his seat, his arms dangling over the railing and his legs taking up all the space in the aisle. He was passed out. I looked at her and imitated drinking and she said, "da" (yes) and I said, "ohhhhhhh,". Everyone was trying to keep a good distance from him while trying to hold on to something as the metro was operating. He was fidgeting in his sleep - must have been having a nightmare because he was kicking his legs and moving his arms. A young woman came in listening to her Ipod. She was standing next to the man, oblivious to him until (he is still sleeping) he reached out and grabbed her hand. She freaked out and jumped away. Her and I made eye contact and started laughing! There was a man who knew his stop was coming up, but he was on the other side of the doors...he would have to step over the man to get to them. I could tell he was struggling to figure out his strategy as he had one leg up in the air trying to figure out where to place it as the passed out drunk was fidgetting. We were all giggling at his attempt. He finally got over the him in time as his stop came up, but the drunk kicked his leg (yes, he is still sleeping) and we all BURSTED out in laughter!!!! That made the guy wake up and he quickly adjusted himself and sat up straight. As he was becoming aware of the situtation, he got a smile on his face, gave a little laugh, and crossed himself - HAHAHAHHHAHA!!!! For me, that was an unforgettable experience because that is the most I ever laughed with Russians :)