This Reminds Me

Our guide began our morning with a visit to a Russian Orthodox service.  Congregants standing near the raised pulpil as the priest chanted prayers – a hidden choir singing acapella hymns – thousands of candles, gilded pictures of saints – an eerily beautiful contrast to the gray exterior of virtually every other building in sight.  Keith and I enjoyed it, and bought three CD’s of hymns to play at home.  (I can hear Rachel, Lois and Hannah groaning now.)

Naturally, we were anxious to get to the orphanage.  Keith and I were allowed to take Guanna off the Children’s Home #47  premises - to a nearby playground, followed by her first-ever trip to McDonalds.  Now, I know some folks dear to me hate McDonalds, and I totally get that – but for a child in a St. Pete orphanage, a trip to McDonald’s is much-coveted and heavily-fantasized experience.

The playground was nearby – a small slide, playhouse and jungle gym, buried in snow, which deterred Guanna not a bit.  Keith had to swing her around repeatedly, plus chase her.  We clapped repeatedly when she went down the slide.  Too many beer and liquor bottles scattered about for my comfort – I was afraid one of us would step on a snow-covered one.  (“Mama” is from the Greek, meaning “worrier.”)

She was very excited about McDonalds, knowing about it from commercials on TV.  We ordered her a plain hamburger Happy Meal, which she had no idea how to eat.  The caregiver that told us she liked hamburgers must have meant ground beef.  I held the burger together and put it up to her mouth.  Ditto for demo’ing french fries – a first for her, and she loved them dipped in sweet’n'sour sauce.  Guanna ate every bite, which is an orphanage rule.  She asked for and received a bite of my cheeseburger (“Royal Burger”), but didn’t care for it.  We’re thinking she’s not familiar w/cheese.  Their main diet is cereal and soup.  Keith was smart and ordered our Coca-Cola Lights (Diet Cokes) with no ice, since we can’t drink the water.  I’m not sure I would have remembered to do that.

Now, the child had never been to McDonalds, but knew there was “something else” in the Happy Meal container.  We said, yes, a toy, which she could have after she ate (a Woodworth rule.)  As soon as the last french-fry-in-sweet’n'sour-sauce was chewed, she reached for the box and pulled out a small plastic-wrapped Tigger, which really pleased her.  Tigger and the torn packaging went into her pocket post-haste.  Does anyone still doubt the power of marketing?

All the toys we’ve given her have been “absorbed” into the orphanage playroom, which is fine, we expected that. We noticed one little girl working one of the puzzles, and several of the nine children in her pod playing with the Cinderella doll set.  Something new to play with is always more fun.  Tomorrow we’re taking art supplies, Play Doh, an Etch-a-Sketch and a building set.

Keith was immediately surrounded by the nine children when we entered the playroom, all clamoring for his attention.  Guanna affixed herself to his leg.  A friend said, “Guanna, your papa is so big!” Guanna responded, “He’s MY papa.”  The interpreter and I chuckled; by that time, Keith had been pulled onto the couch to better appreciate all that was being shown him.

After visiting Guanna, Keith and I toured the Hermitage and the ice palace outside it.  The Van Goghs, the Renoirs, the Da Vinci’s – all lovely, of course, but I’ve long felt that the best art I’ve ever seen is on my refrigerator.  Tres gauche, I know.

“Do we need one of these to go with the pond?”

Two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun?  Maybe one day.  But today was a plain hamburger with Tigger, and that, friends and family, was definitely a happy, happy meal.

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