Posted by Korin Munsterman In August 2006, I returned from Yaroslavl, Russia with my 13 year old daughter, Julia (she is now 14), who I adopted. Since about 3 weeks ago, Julia has been having a very difficult time. She is doing well in school academically - her grades are very good. The bad news is that she hasn't made any friends yet. There are a couple of girls in her English classes who she likes, but she has never been to a friend's house and has never had friends over to our house. I think English is much more difficult for her than she thought it would be, which has caused her problems making friends. I was wondering if maybe someone out there has some kids around 13-16 who speak Russian and who we might be able to meet. Please contact me by email, or at 202.274.4020 (office phone) or 202.957.1362 (cell phone). Even if you don't have kids - I'll take advice too! Thanks so much.
on 4/2/2007, 8:18 pm
69.140.156.72
Hello -
When she first arrived, my friends would tell her, "Oh, you'll be speaking English in 3-4 months." But she isn't. She speaks only Russian at home, and I speak only English back to her. I understand about 70% of what she says, but, like any 14 year old girl, she wants to talk to girlfriends, not only to her American mother.
Lately, she has been saying that when she is 16, she is going back to Russia. She misses her friends in Russia and looks back at life there as being perfect. She asks me all the time, "What am I doing here?" I try to reassure her, but nothing I say seems to help.
I am sure that this will pass as soon as she makes some friends.
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