Last Morning

I was pretty tired waking up Saturday, but thankfully my plane didn’t leave till the afternoon. The previous night I had to head home by midnight in order to make the subway, even though I actually just waited for the bus along Nevsky because I didn’t want to walk through the garden so late (when it was already getting so dark) and the trolleybus is too unreliable at night. It was weird to say goodbye to my friends, even though I’d be flying back with a few of them. When I got home I was able to finish up some packing and talk some more to my host parents and Olga (along with eating more ice cream—I recommend mixing the black currants with the crème brule and the chocolate…mmm). It made me sad to be packing up all my stuff and going through my school stuff to figure out what to throw out. There are so many things I wish I’d done still, just at home, like look through the books more, watch some of their movies and documentaries, look through Yuna’s print and magazine collection, ask to see photos of my host parents from when they were younger, and a score of other things. It consoled me some to think that I might be returning in only a half a year, and I’d already been invited for dinner.

I slept little and woke up early, because I needed to be ready at 11 in case I was picked up early. Thankfully everything fit in my one big dufflebag and I even had a little room to spare. It was definitely over the 50lbs weight limit (mine was at 49 then) when I first flew to Russia. It was sad to fold up my blue sheets for the last time and stack them on my bed. Breakfast was especially tasty and big, with bliny and lots of fruit, and cheese pancake things and jams, and all sort of yummy things.

I had told my host father that I wanted to go to a candy store to bring some Russian candies home for friends and family, so he took me in the morning to a little shop only a few blocks from the apartment. The streets were pretty much empty and it was clean and crisp feeling out, almost as if fall were already poking through. I was even a little cold, but Joseph’s quick pace for his rather small stature warmed me up pretty quick. He basically picked out the candy for me since I had no idea what was what, but thankfully he avoided the jelly filled ones, which I think are really disgusting.

After I got home I threw out stuff I didn’t need anymore and gave Olga a few things because it felt wasteful to throw them out. I made sure everything was ready to go and went around making sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. I took a bunch of pictures of the house so I wouldn’t forget. Here are some:

Last pics of my room:










Packing and lazing:


From the bathroom:


From the computer room/den the previous night:


Sunset from the kitchen window couple of nights before:


Kitchen:













Notice the dictionary on the side there:




We sat down for tea to wait till we got a phone call saying they were ready to pick me up in the van to take me to the airport. Tea was nice, but we weren’t even seated for more than a half hour or forty minutes before someone called to say they were almost there. I got all my stuff, Eena and Joseph of course wouldn’t let me carry anything more than my backpack. As I was getting my shoes on at the door everyone sat down kind of randomly and quietly in the little entry/hallway on a chair that was nearby or on the little table by the door. I had no idea what was going on, but they told me to sit. Olga then explained to me in English, thankfully, that it is a tradition (i.e. superstition) in Russia to sit quietly for a moment before someone sets off on a journey in order to remember if you forgot anything and as just a little moment of peace and quiet to reflect and relax before a stressful trip. It was actually really nice to just sit there for a few silent moments and look around at my little apartment off Tverskaya uleetza and my host family who had been so kind to me.

And then off we went, down the 5 flights of stairs and to the van waiting on the corner. I was thinking I’d probably be either the first or last person to be picked up, since I lived further away than anyone else, but David was already waiting in the van. It was harder than I expected saying goodbye and I really hate crying in front of people because I just feel like a total idiot and it does little to compliment my complexion (thank you to glasses which helpfully obscure the face and eyes in times of need). As soon as I hugged Eena I couldn’t help but start crying, they looked so small and gentle and kind standing there on the empty sidewalk, as if I were their own daughter they were sending away. It’s odd what a strong connection you can have to someone when you can hardly even understand each other. Joseph gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek. I could tell they were both sad and were crying a little. They waited while I got on the van and waved until I couldn’t see them anymore. I will miss them a lot.