One day I met 6 boys who became my best friends. Their names were Zakhar, Ruslan, Maxim, Vlad, Dima and Egor. We played a little and went to our apartments.

The next day I found Max playing soccer with a girl named Nastia, and 3 boys named Roma, Simon and Arsenii. The match was with a lot of action. I’m pretty sure I scored at least 1 goal (I said I’m not sure). I spent the rest of the day making new friends and playing soccer. It was a great day.

Okay, I will tell you about 2 of my favorite (soccer) victories.

Once me and my friends were playing a game against the teenagers. They were winning about ∞-0, and there was no scorer (yet). We went to attack their goal.

Our team got the ball. Somehow we got very close to the goal. Ian (avoiding 3 people) passed the ball to me and I kicked the ball through a defender’s legs and past the goalie! I had scored!!!!

Second one.

I was walking past the big soccer field when I saw 4 people playing soccer. I came in to join them. I only knew one of them, Milan, and he put me on his team. The teams: a boy, Milan and I vs. 2 more boys. I was goalie on our team. I made a few good saves in the match.

My first and favorite one was when the other team got very close and kicked the ball: hard. I caught it with my foot and kicked it into my arms. Nice!

The next one was where the ball came flying and I jumped up and kicked it in midair. The goal was blocked!

I  saved the ball 2 more times but I don’t remember them.

At the end of the game our team won 5-4. It was a good match!

I did this EVERY. SINGLE. DAY until the flight day. I liked being outside as much as I like traveling and eating and a few other things (which is a lot)!  I hope that next year I will do the same thing and have as many friends as I do now!

What I liked a lot about being in Minsk is that kids in Belarus have much more freedom and independence. They can play by themselves, they can go to a store and buy ice-cream and parents don’t have to drive them everywhere! They can even take a bus to go places. It’s really great!