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The Holiday Season Part V: New Year's Retreat

We were invited to go on a retreat with Safe Haven to celebrate New Year's, and of course we said YES! It would be for two nights and we had to bring costumes to wear. It is rather interesting thinking about dressing up at the end of the year and not Halloween! I had a brilliant idea, so we weren't too worried about what we would wear. That's usually how it is. I supply the idea, and Daniel the engineer creates it! The retreat was great fun and I think pictures would be better than me trying to explain everything.
Making appetizers for the big night!
After we finished that, everyone left to dress up. And in some cases, get "dolled up." See below.
Dima, Vova, and I think her name's Kolya. She's cute.
Commodore Norrington and Captain Jack Sparrow. Daniel did good, huh?
Two Arabians that I love!
A cowgirl and a Scotsman. In other words, a perfect match!
Some traditional Ukranians...I think.
A soldier and his lovely wife and child. The child is kinda chubby.
This picture just makes me laugh and smile, and then smile and laugh.
Two skeletons we found in a closet.
I'm not sure what she's supposed to be, but she's beautiful nonetheless!
I challenge you to a duel.
I accept.
Anya and Bogdan, the house parents at Safe Haven, with their two kids Pasha and Danya.
The coolest family ever!
Captain Jack Sparrow and his reindeer friend Masha! Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate!
Playing Pirate Farkel!

The retreat flew by; we enjoyed playing tons of games (a good chance for us to learn Russian numbers), going to church, eating, playing ping-pong (Daniel), and talking to the kids, especially the ones that know some English. Notice I did not mention sleep. We didn't do much of that. 

My "Huh?" Moment
It was New Year's Eve, technically New Year's Day because it was around 2:00 a.m., but New Year's Eve sounds better. A group of us were gathered around a table playing Farkel, a dice game that is similar to Yahtzee. The kids were practicing English, and so I kept hearing numbers..."three hundred!" and "six hundred and fifty!" and the like. All of a sudden somebody turned on some music so people could dance. Like in the States, everyone's goal is to stay up all night. What did a bunch of  young adults choose to play on New Year's Eve? Oldies!!! I tell you, it was so funny to hear songs by Elvis, Simon and Garfunkel, The Drifters, Jerry Lee Lewis, and the Mamas and the Papas! Best of all, the kids could dance! It was just like watching a sock hop! I thought to myself "where am I again?" I was playing American games, listening to the English language as well as American music, and watching sock hop style dancing!

Someone asked me what we will be next year. I said a rock. Seriously, how can you top a pirate in a pirate ship? 

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