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Misha was 10 when he first visited Canada in 2007. Misha's is a very smart kid and extremly kind and generous.
He enjoyes his visits to Canada very much. His host family lives on a farm where they raise Belgian draft horses. They go to the lake on the weekends, and travel to compete with the horses at the local fairs. They spend time at an Aunt's cottage in Golden Lake and like all OVACC hosts, include their child in all aspects of family life. What seems so typical for us, is diffrent when seen through the eyes of a child from Belarus. The first time we visited the cottage on Golden Lake, Misha had never been in a hammock. He stated (through the interpreter) that he never thought he would be sitting at a lake in a hammock because only movie stars could live like that. The Golden Lake cottage has become a highlight of the visit each year.
The reward and benefit of his visits are visible on his face. He is the middle of three boys and lives in a large town close to the rural area where the rest of our OVACC kids live. He was chosen to visit because his father is a Priest in this town. This life is not easy in a post communist country. Misha's younger brother has down syndrom and assistance and support for the family is non existent. Misha's mother has also been undergoing treatment for diagnosed terminal cancer. She has been moved to a hospital 5 hours from her family but has survived much longer than originally thought. Our thoughts and prayers are constantly with them and although communication is difficult while Misha is home, we know that our support of the family is welcome and needed. We asked him a number of questions when he was here in 2008 with the help of Natasha. That "interview" is what follows:
What do your visits to Canada mean to you:
Visits to Canada means having fun, meeting my Canadian family and speaking English
What is the hardest part of your visit?
The trip over.
What do you miss most about Canada when you are in Belarus?
I miss the opportunity to go to Wonderland, to see the horses, huge stores, broccoli and baby carrots.
What do you wish you could show your family about Canada?
He wants his family to see Wonderland, the horses and horse pulls, Golden Lake and the campsite and all the stores.
What do you wish you could take home with you?
He is happy to have a puzzle to take back home.
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