Oh hayyy!
Did you think I died?
Me too.
Euphoric stage is over.
But I have to say, second time around in Samara is better. My new project makes me suffer for all the right reasons. I visit two families with disabled teens five times a week; there's Dasha, who's 19 years old, and Andrei, who's 15.
I see Dasha usually four times a week, helping her with Microsoft Word, teaching her English, doing arts and crafts or playing games, and just chilling out/watching TV/eating her mom's greasey but tasty food.
Today she said the whole alphabet without my help. It made me feel good inside. It made Dasha laugh hysterically for a good minute.
I see Andrei 2-3 times a week. I usually just help him with English and smoke with his mom. She makes me want to not smoke ever (she's missing some teeth, I'm assuming as a result of smoking), but at the same time, I can't resist solidarity.
Russia doesn't particularly give a damn about the disabled (is this the politically correct term in America?, people here just say 'invalids'), and in both the families I work with the fathers split...I don't really know where I'm going with this. On one hand, I really admire the mothers for giving up everything for these kids, who will never become independent. On the other hand, I don't think this kind of life is fair for either the mothers or the kids. But I don't want to go much further with that thought here.
***
I'm bouncing out of here earlier than expected, and I have no regrets about that. I'm getting pretty tired of this program and this "net" of organizations that lacks any sense of responsibility and communication. I'll keep you up to date. I've got an internet rendezvous.
***
Denis: "What is man's laughter? Is it like theft? Like hijacking a plane?"
