We've had a good couple of days in Moscow but we sure are ready to get home. We're all three quite stir-crazy in the tiny apartment since we just came from a tiny hotel room in St. Petersburg. We go out most days for quite a while but you have to go back some time. We're tired of tourist attractions, museums, and eating out.
One nice thing about being in Moscow is there are more American things here and there. We ate lunch yesterday at Hard Rock Cafe Moscow. The Moscow location is HUGE. Three floors- a bit overwhelming.
They have Starbucks in Moscow also. Yes, I got my Moscow City Mug. Just love those city mugs. You hear more English here and there also. A British couple struck up a conversation with us just so they could talk to someone else in English. Cracked me up.
We also visited the Kremlin, Red Square, and St. Basils yesterday. So much history here. Some of the history is sad and some of it is awe inspiring. Sasha loved the architecture and history as usual. She also loved the fountains and flowers. Everything is sunny, blooming and beautiful over here this time of year.
Today we spent the morning at the US Embassy getting Sasha's immigration paperwork taken care of and then we were just lazy all day around the apartment. The US Embassy was really an interesting experience. We met adopting families from Indiana, Connecticut, New York, Puerto Rico, and of course our friends from Texas. But the interesting part for me was the fact that it was "Student Day." What is student day you ask? Well, student day is Tuesdays at the US Embassy. This is the day that Russian students can apply for a student visa to study at a university in America. The lines were quite long and each student looked nervous, anxious, and ripe with anticipation. As we were entering the Embassy I saw several girls come out jumping up and down celebrating as they waived their coveted paperwork in the air. They were overcome with joy at the prospect of studying in America. As we left the Embassy I witnessed the exact opposite. Several young ladies were leaving the Embassy in tears. They had been rejected for some reason. They were completely grief stricken and their sorrow overwhelmed me. My heart really went out to them.
It really made me stop and think. I live in a very unique country. You can actually start at the bottom and make something of yourself. Opportunity is open to most anyone who wants it. That is just not true in most parts of the world. These young Russian students know the enormous opportunities open to them in America. Question is, do most American students realize it? The familiar becomes just that- familiar.
Thank you Jesus for the unique blessing I enjoy just because I was born in America. Give me wisdom to teach Beth and Josiah how blessed they are to be young American adults with a bright future ahead of them. And give me wisdom to teach Sasha to take full advantage of the unique blessing she enjoys as both a citizen of America and a citizen of Russia.
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