If you’re old enough (unfortunately, I am), you may remember when Americans sent Care Packages to the poor and downtrodden overseas. I’m embarrassed to say that that display of generosity has been reversed here in Siberia.
Lars and Denise got off the train very early this morning in Irkutsk. Rustam knocked on our compartment door at 7:30 a.m. and said he had something for us. He pulled a plastic bag from behind his back and revealed that Lars and Denise had left us their own special care package — candy bars, bagels, cheese, a bag of apples, and best of all, a special Moscow-to-Beijing hat they knew I wanted, but didn’t have enough cash to purchase.
Thanks, guys. How very kind of you.
Please come visit us in the United States.
I swear we’re not destitute. We’ll have all the food you can eat.