Несколько из моих подруг

Anne showcasing our homemade strawberry shortcake. We made a model bowl to show the rest of the congregation how it's done ;)  Needless to say, it was delicious and a big hit; how can a dessert go wrong with strawberries and cream?? I had a great time going over to the Cottle's, who were gracious enough to run with my idea and offer up their oven, as I don't have one.  Easter at the church consisted of a nice service with some great musical numbers followed by LOTS of very good food! 

Anne comes on Thursdays with me to the orphanage and I am so grateful for her help! She's fluent in Russian and translates for me when my Russian fails me.... which happens more than I would like to admit ;)  But more than that, Anne is a great sister in Christ, super fun, and a competitive frisbee player.

 

Though Easter had officially come and gone both in the States and in Russia, Janae was set on using the egg-dyeing kit her mom had sent her. On a snowy, snowy Tuesday in late April, Janae came over in the morning (we didn't have class!), we whipped up a batch of berry pancakes, and dyed just over a dozen eggs. Janae is my good buddy here; we sit together in class, eat chocolate and Russian pastries, wonder around downtown and have basically just shared most of our Russia experience with each other. She's flying home next weekend and she will be greatly missed!!

Julia (on the left) reminds me so much of Violet. Beautiful, utterly sweet, very honest and open, and yet very street savvy, Julia has helped me out in so many different situations (including my Post Office Adventure!).  Marionne (on the right) is a relatively newcomer into my life--and how thankful I am that she did! From Lyon, France, she and her boyfriend are studying and working here in Irkutsk until the summer. She started studying in my group a few weeks ago and earlier this week we celebrated her 23rd birthday! It was quite the chic boom, if I do say so myself ;)