Gifts for the Russians

I have decided something. I have decided that people from other countries are much more giving than I am. I need to work on this.

In 2005, Kerry and I went to Russia to be with Erik Lauritzen at the end of his mission. As we were getting all of the visas, passports, and everything else we would need in place, our travel agent suggested we take gifts with us to give to the Russian people, for they would be giving them to us.

I had no idea what to take. I heard that they love Levi jeans, but I couldn't pack up a suitcase full of them, not knowing the size of anyone.

I tried to think of something "American", and my mind was blank.

Finally, the agent suggested something that the Russian people love that they can't get in Russia -- Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Kool-aid.

What?

She assured me they would be loved by the many people we saw. So, I went to Big Lots, and loaded up my cart with as many as I could find. Then, off we went.

They we were warm and welcoming. And, as we would leave each home, we exchanged our gifts. I gave them salt and Kool-aid. They gave me Russian nesting dolls, hand-carved boxes, handmade lace, tablecloths, crystal bowls, fur hats, etc.

I was mortified!

But, they really did love my gifts. They would open the salt, take a whiff, and just moan. They made the Kool-aid, not even adding sugar, and drank it with gusto! Their version of the drink was using what was left in the bottom of a jam/jelly glass, and adding water to it.

Today I received a beautiful gift, and I am always stymied at what I can do in return.

Salt and Kool-aid just seems to lame...

What we gave...

What we got...

Christmas beauties of the day - Russian Nesting Dolls

Christmas beauties of the day.

Russian nesting dolls.

I can't remember how or why my collection began and continues to grow. The biggest set I have nests five figures, but believe it or not, I have seen them nested up to nine.

When we toured Russian after Erik Lauritzen's mission, we were told the proper custom was to bring gifts. We asked what types of things Russians are fond of, and we were told they love Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Koolaid. So, went to Big Lots and filled half a suitcase.

Their gifts to us? Russian nesting dolls, lace tablecloths, handmade wooden boxes that pull apart, crystal, crocheted items, painted eggs, and aprons.

And, here I am with my Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Koolaid.

They would open up the salt and practically swoon from the smell. And, the Koolaid? They mixed it up and drank it with no sugar! It was different from the way they made a fruit drink -- the remains of a jar of jelly mixed with water.

My collection

My fingers are added for comparison to this five stack.

My finger added for compatison

Christmas beauties of the day.

Painted eggs from Russia.

The first two photos are a front and back of the same egg. When Erik Lauritzen served his LDS mission there, a woman he met was very proficient at painting them. He asked her to do one to commemorate our December anniversary. The first view she painted from photos he had of us. The second is the Washington Temple, where we met and married.

When we were able to meet her and have dinner with her and her family, she presented me with another one that she had just finished a few days earlier -- the Nativity.

Remarkable detail!

The images above were taken from a photo Erik had of us, and the temple was one she had seen a photo of that belonged to someone else.

She had just finished this, and presented it to me.