[Once a year, Emily’s group from her Russian orphanage went camping. She shares about those trips in today’s blog]

First time I went to the Russian camp and we have so much fun. I spent time with my friends and also we cook food and play in the water lake. We went swimming and jumping from lake to the water. And also we have potatoes and tomatoes and chicken and we cook in the bucket. We also been swimming in the lake. I spent time with Natasha and she was swimming too.

The people in the orphinige organize people to go to the camps every year. Some people not go to camp because they weren’t good, didn’t obey rules for the camp. I had to help at work at the camp. We make a big fire to stay warm.

We went to the camp all summer. [More likely, a couple of weeks.] In the summer we could wear shorts because it is so warm. Sometimes we have to work. Sometimes it’s fun. The work it wasn’t very fun because it’s so hard because it’s so hot.

The hard work make me want better. I run away from camp, we throw rocks everywhere. We jumping in the rocks. When we bad they hit us with sticks on the heads. In Russia we never obey rules because nobody don’t care to obey rules. [Emily’s orphanage was set aside for children and youth with behavioral problems.] But in Amarica we obey rules. In the Amarica can keep rules because of government. I keep sometimes rules because I trust government. I hated [and] disobeyed rules [in Russia]. They tell me to do bad things and I don’t like it at all.

My friends make me to make fun of people. If I hadn’t done what they wanted me to do they throw rocks on me, punching me and fight.

I like to go swimming and jump [from] rope. They don’t have anything like Amarica. They let me help with cooking and make a fire [a] big one. It’s hard for me because I never done before. And also it’s hard for me when I make a big one fire for me or friends. And also we build huts like with woods. We went [to the] forest and we cut woods and build house for the camp. We have to use saw and hammer. We put wood on top of the roof make sure we get nice and cozy and warm. [It was} for five people we stay at little wood house. I live with my friends. They assign people to be my roommates. They warm and secure.

Sometimes we have to pull weeds. It’s very hard for me because get scratchy hands and hurts. We use restroom in the bucket outside. We never shower in the camp because they not have any shower thing. They always told me where you had to be and what to do. They never have a nice free time. I just work every day and make me so tired. My friends expect me all to do work and my friends been lazy. The adults make sure we work all the time.

Emily finds great strength in the support she receives from those who read her blog. Please scroll down and leave your comments.

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