At the zoo

Yesterday was our last complete day in America. As a matter of fact, in only a couple of hours our flight back to Stavropol begins, and we have 7 suitcases ready and packed by the door.

Since the 'tzimtzum', as they call it (meaning: since Leviev's funding slowed down), the network established to get Shluchim in Russia kosher meat and milk stopped.

In the past, we would call Or Avner headquarters in Moscow, make our request (usually 90 kilos of chicken and 2 large boxes of long-life milk every 3 months or so) and they would send it to us and take the price off our salary. A simple and efficient plan.

But now things are different. Our ginormous freezer in Stavropol is almost bare, and there is no way to get meat. So this time we have packed lots of meat. Another shame, since the price for Kosher (Lubavitch shchita) meat in the US sky-rocketed.

Anyway, yesterday we finally managed to get to a zoo. It cost 15 dollars to go to turtleback zoo in New Jersey and barely anyone was there. Miriam ran around delighted. Squealing at the eagles, scared at the snakes (she even fell off a chair), and in awe of the horses (we couldn't get her to leave the horses).

It was a fun way to end our time in America, but it's a relief to be going back home.

Now if only we had all the papers for permanent residency.