Q & A

A lovely reader asked a few questions I thought the rest of you might also want to know. So . . .

Can children write?
Yes! Please! The kids LOVE hearing from children in the US and learning about the differences between cultures. Some families all write together, some parents help children write their own letters, some kids do it all on their own. Some write to a child in their age range, others write to an older child. This is a GREAT activity for kids!

Can we write in English?
Yes! You can either send an email to HopeChest or mail a letter to HopeChest, in English, and they will have it translated into Russian before they send it to the kids. The kids will receive the English letter, the Russian translation, and any photos or drawings you send along. Each child has a specific number that should be included on all correspondence, which helps ensure the right letters get to the right kids. If you're interested, email me and I'll get you the contact information.

We do have at least one brave soul who writes in Russian . . .

How do the letters get to the kids?
Our disciplers, Lena and Ann, deliver the letters. They help a lot with translation, too. If you send an email, HopeChest will forward it to them. If you send letters via mail, travelers to Russia will hand-deliver them to the Russian staff, who will make sure they are translated and get them where they need to go. Obviously, email is much faster.

Any other questions, send them our way!