Summer Visit 2005
On 15th June 2005, thirteen children and their interpreter flew into Edinburgh Airport to begin a four-week health break with host families in the Perth area. For these children, many who come from rural villages in Belarus, it can be a bewildering experience. They have been transported from their homes in the Stolin area of Belarus to the capital Minsk, a 4-5 hour journey by road, then by air from Minsk to London Gatwick followed by an internal flight from Gatwick to Edinburgh. After this long journey they are now to meet strangers who will be their host family for the next four weeks. No wonder they appear tired and bewildered when we meet them!
For the host families the weeks and months of preparation had finally come to an end when we all boarded the coach to go to the airport and meet the children. New host families can be especially anxious at this time, having thoughts such as “ will the children like us?” One new host mum once said it was like having her first baby but without the labour! Help and advice is, however, always available from others who have hosted in previous years. Any anxieties were soon forgotten after we met the children. Introductions were made, what little luggage they had was reclaimed and we all set off on the final leg of their journey back to their new homes for the next four weeks.
It never fails to amuse us to see the look on the children’s faces when we show them round their new home. What to us is your average modern house seems like five star luxury to these children who, in many cases, may not even have running water in their village homes. They soon settled down and began to enjoy all the new found “luxuries” of modern living.
Next day the whole group met at a local church hall where they were kitted out with “good as new” clothes that we had been collecting. I am sure many of the children had never owned so many clothes. A few days later all the children were given new school shoes by Clarkes Shoes and trainers by Asda for which we are very grateful. The children arrive with very little in the way of clothes but return home with as much as they can carry or more.
The main reason the children are here is to improve their health but to a ten-year-old child it is the holiday of a lifetime. To this effect the Perth Link had organized a very busy program of events over the visit ranging from swimming at Moness Country club, horse riding and sports at Crieff Hydro, a visit to Noah’s Ark play area, a tea party with the Lord Provost of Perth, a visit to the fire station, a Sports day at Norwich Union Healthworks, swimming and tea at Windlestrae Hotel Leisure Club, a visit and BBQ at Blair Drummond safari park, 10 pin bowling, a trip on a canal boat and many more parties, BBQs, etc.
To all those individuals, businesses, Perth and Kinross Council, Rotary Clubs and other organizations who helped us both financially and materially and who gave of their time, we are indeed grateful.
This summer, unlike 2004, the weather was kind to us. Sunny, warm days allowed several visits to the beach at St Andrews where the children enjoyed their first ever visits to the seaside. It can be very entertaining listening to an excited ten year old telephoning home and telling parents about their day at the beach.
In between all the trips we somehow found time for each child to visit the dentist and the optician for check ups and any remedial work. Again we are very grateful to all the dentists and “Specsaver” opticians who gave their services free of charge to help the children.
Towards the end of the visit we held our “farewell ceilidh”, a good old-fashioned Scottish party. This year our Belarussian boys all appeared wearing kilts. With the girls in their “posh frocks” a good time was had by all.
As with all holidays they have to come to an end sometime. At 05.30 on 13th July we all boarded the coach to return to Edinburgh Airport for the long journey home. At the airport final farewells were said, lots of hugs and kisses and a few tears shed. (On both sides!) These children had been part of our families for the past four weeks and it was hard saying goodbye. Bonds had been formed and friendships made between families here and in Belarus. A rather subdued group of host families returned to Perth on the coach – to start planning the next visit.
A few weeks later when we received letters from parents in Belarus telling us how much their children had enjoyed the visit, how healthy they looked on their return and thanking us for everything that had been done for their children - we knew that all our time and effort had been worthwhile.
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