Saturday, February 26, 2011

Winter Camp

Right after our New Year celebration, Beth and I spent the next week out at a Winter Camp hosted by the English Exchange.

The Winter Camps have a totally different feel from the Summer Camps (temperature and weather aside)-- the pace is much more relaxed, and although it was a few weeks since Christmas had come and gone, the time was spent singing Christmas carols, decorating gingerbread houses, and other festivities as if Christmas was right around the corner.







We all played several holiday-themed games.


















Vasya and Zhenya reenacting pouting and crying (from "Santa Claus is Coming to Town).  But I think they are also a little disappointed they lost their respective games.




We decorated gingerbread cookies and houses.











One very special aspect of this camp was the theme-- it was a going away camp for Beth and Liam and I. One of the evening was spent with each team performing a Christmas themed skit (Home Alone, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and a Christmas Carol) but adding in the three of us somehow. The performances were hilarious and moving.




















Here is a video of one of the skits (there's one moment that's my favorite. If you see it you'll know it):





Later that evening we all had coffee and our gingerbread cookies together.






Hook and Vika (or their band name: Hook and Snow White) performed together.






Life in Moscow was difficult at times. But there were many more times of incredible joy and value. Times where we never want to leave. This week was one of those times.