Здравствуйте! (Hello!)

My boarding passes are printed. My paperwork is all filled out.  And I managed to cram everything into one suitcase and a laptop bag. 

Yesterday when I was running errands, I saw a beautiful huge bird fly over the highway in front of me. It was the first bald eagle I've seen this year. I'm taking that as a good omen for my trip.



This map shows the three places I'll be visiting.  Most of my time is in Minsk, but I have a day trip to Polatsk (which was founded in 862) in the north and Baranovichy in the south.  I'm delighted that I'll get to see some of the countryside, as well as the city. 

As I got dressed this morning, I put on some funny socks that I bought when I visited Vermont last year.  They're white and black cow-spotted. No one will see them, because they'll be under my winter boots.  But I'll know they're there, and they'll remind me not to take anything too seriously.  When challenges inevitably come in getting from Maine to Minsk, I can think to myself. "Okay, maybe so. But I'm wearing cow socks" and that will make me smile. 



:-)