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Published: June 10th 2008
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Minsk Airport
Our view driving away from a somewhat dark and dingy airport. I'm listing this as Belarus since I'll have plenty of time to list for Poland again since today is my first day of that two week vacation.
Our trip was fantastic. It started out in Krakow with some typical large group drama. We had about a million walking tours and went to Aushwitz as well. After 3 days there we flew back to Warszawa to take another flight to Minsk. Both the Minsk airport and Krakow airport are tiny. Warszawa airport, on the other hand, has undergone serious renovations and the security there now rivals that of the US. What insanity we went through.
Okay, so onto Minsk. We spent the night there in simple insanity. Everyone was beyond tired and tensions were high. I started to wonder if we would be able to come together as a group for our actual project. Luckly, the next day we were onto Rubiezevichi and things started to come together as we immediatly began work on the fence. You could hardly tell that where we were was a cemetery when we arrived that first day. Only about 10 stones seemed to be visable. After days of working to clear brush and trees
and garbage, placing a fence along the 4th side, and digging up almost 300 stones this was like a new place.
Regarding our host family- they were the best we could have ever hoped for. I'll be posting my reflection paper in a few days when it is finished and I know it will have a lot about them, but I am going to write about our trip to the banya here because that will not be going in my paper. A banya is a Russian bathhouse that was traditionally used especially by women as a time to relax without the men around and to sort of have time to themselves. It's a big, steamy room where basically you take a bath. In addition though, it's a bit like a spa..if you could call it that. There are birch branches used to basically beat the back of someone. It sounds horrible but actually feels awesome- especially after days of hard work outside. Oh- did I mention there were 5 of us (my host mom and 4 Americans) and that we were all naked? Oh, well we were. Talk about not normal feeling at all. We tried to keep our
Part of the group.
This was the inside of the bus we rode on. It was referred to as the "Litte Miss Sunshine Bus" more than once. towels and I tried to expain to Tanya that it wasn't normal for us since I somehow ended up being the voice of the group. However, she would have no part of that and whipped away our towels in an instant. It was good she did because after about 15 seconds of feeling wierd and uncomfortable, it was the best experience. We were all sooo dirty and sore and towels would not have allowed us to be totally clean. I almost didn't want to work the next day because I felt so totally amazing afterwards. Once dressed and back in the house, we had a bottle of champagne that Allyson brought and spent time with the 4 host sisters (our two and the two from next door staying with Erin and Courtney). We braided the girls hair and then went on a walk together to see the school in the dark with no street lights. It was really a fantastic time. I know it sounds so strange. It was strange but also really an amazing experience.
Other than that, we had the ceremony on Sunday with a huge banquet and too much alcohol and immense amounts of dancing. I
love dancing- even if I look like an idiot most of the time. I know I'm happy and I know I'm smiling so that's really all that matters to me.
Spent a couple days in Minsk shopping. Had sandwiches again. We had done that so much in Krakow- going to the store to get everything to make sandwiches. It was nice to do again. Lunch at the American embassy one day. Not many people left there and apparently all of the computers were smashed right before the Marines left.
Warsaw on the day everyone was to leave suddenly. They left the airport for awhile and we all met in the Old Town after my family and I took Michael to his hotel. Michael stayed behind with me since his flight wasn't until the next day and we walked and talked and had coffee and dinner. It was nice that not everyone left all at once. I really had a hard time saying goodbye- but kept it together better than I expected. I don't know if that's good or not.
Anyway. That's pretty much Belarus.
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ollyjames
non-member comment
greatness
i think Minsk airport is one of best airport in the whole world ,,so beautiful.