[Abdulina]

Give up--LOL!!! After doing this several times, we don't even pack until the night before. Literally. We don't stress it. Take what you need. Pack some food for sure. Gifts, we learned to give money instead. That way, they can buy what the orphanage needs. As far as this past trip, I didn't give our coordinator in Moscow anything. I did in Murmansk. However, our luggage got deplaned in a storm in Atlanta. Most of the gifts got ruined. They all seemed to understand. Plus, the lady in Moscow kept telling Nik to shut up. I said he's Deaf. She said what will they do w/ him there. I said most likely he'll be able to eventually hear. Anyway, you could see the look of disgust on her face. You know, the mentality toward teh "disabled" in Russia is not so good. Urghh. Anyhow, don't stress the whole gift thing. They get teh common gifts all the time. Find out what they like on the first trip if you can. Ours liked liquor...shh. And the one guy loved jazz music. Just ask a few personal questions on the first trip as to what they like. Casual conversations but in the back of you minds, remember for the next trip.

I wish you all the best. BTW, even packing light, we had to pay the extra fee for our in country flight. Oh well. Thank goodness you only have to do this once,...oh wait, no we don't ---LOL.

Seriously, have a wonderful ansd safe trip. Don't stress the luggage issue.

TAke care,