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Going over, we take alot, but mostly donations and just some "essentials we HAVE to have". After six trips we have found that the four foods we found we can't get there: Peanut butter, a box of jiffy mix (there is SO much you can do with a box of jiffy) pancake syrup and plain cheetos. Russians love candy and we buy good quality boxes in region once we arrive as well. We leave as much as possible behind, leaving room for souveniers on the way back. Our region is very remote, yet we have found that you can by just about ANYTHING you need in the stores. We made our very first trip in 2003 and even in the 4 years since then, it is remarkable how much progress they have made and how the economy improves.

Our now 4.5 year old goes with us, and both his clothes, and the ones our new little guy wears when we are there are generally left behind as donations for the orphanage. We bring only 3 or 4 outfits for wearing when we go out, and what we wear inside (80 degrees in the apartment we stay in, summer or winter) we wash with woolite, line dry, and wear over and over. We do wash every nite so we need little for daily wear. Gifts we try to buy "lightweight stuff and buy at the airport duty free shop when possible". DVDs, are big hits and don't take room or weigh much. They love american cigs - though I don't smoke nor normlly promote it, Russians LOVE american cigs and they are cheap at the duty free shops." Flavored tea & coffee, again, lightweight.