Well, here it is. The LAST post documenting what was, without a doubt, the best experience of my life. I made a lot of friends who I love and cherish; learned a lot of things I never would have learned with my nose stuck in a book; and for the first time im my life, just let myself have fun and not stress about life, the universe, and everything. Hopefully, this won't be the end for good. If all goes well, I will be back in Moscow next year. So, without further adieu, here is the last day...
Well, here I am. Sitting in Moscow's Sheremetov airport, waiting for my flight home. It's been 3 ½ months, many fights just to get through the day with no disaster, many awesome friends, and countless bottles of vodka and beer later (just kidding on the alcohol, mom – it's not like I am writing this from the airport bar with my freaking LAST bottle of Baltika 7 or anything). It has been, without a doubt, the best 3 ½ months of my life. I know it is very cliché, but I have changed a lot. I think its for the better, some may say the worst. I guess we will see...
I don't know. I can't really think right now. I just finished my last Russian all-nighter (for now). It was a blast. I started off with one last hurrah at Scans with Joe, Brian, and Natasha. We said our goodbyes (or see you laters), drank some vodka (I blame dad, or Joe, take your pick), and compared ipod playlists. After that, I headed out to meet friends at Arbat. Of course, as this is Russia (and not just Russia, but my very last night in Russia), nothing went right. There were changes of plans, people who didn't show up that should've, people that showed up that really should NOT have, and, of course the fact that the entirety of Arbat was closed.
Because THAT happens ALL the time. But, hey, we haven't been in Moscow for many months without learning how to be resourceful. So, we headed off in the general direction of Red Square, stopped along the way for some midnight blini, and found this really cool bar right off Tverskaya. We got a private room just off the dance floor, danced, drank, took loads of pictures, and just hung out. We finally left as it was getting light, only to walk outside and see an absolutely beautiful sunrise.
We walked to the Red Square with the sun rising behind the Kremlin. Thus was my last sight of the Red Square. As far as last glimpses go, that wasn't all that bad. It was one of those perfect movie moments. We started out all walking together and slowly a couple of us fell back until it was just my closest group of friends. Then, they left, leaving just me and Susan, walking in the sunrise to Red Square. Finally, Susan left, leaving just me standing on the steps, overlooking one of the best sights in all of Moscow, for the last time. I stand there and until a couple of them run back, laugh at me a bit, and we take off for the metro. It was such a complete movie moment I would have laughed if I wasn't trying so hard not to cry.
And I didn't. Cry that is. There were many more movie moments: from everyone falling asleep on each other in the metro, except for me, to locking the door to our little room for the last time, to mine and Susan's last breakfast together (eggs and the nutella blini I mastered all of this morning after everyone but Susan and I went to bed). It was close, hugging Susan goodbye just about did it, and saying goodbye to Joe at the airport as well, but I didn't cry. Why bother? I am here in the airport anyways. Tears are pretty useless as far as things go...
Normally, when I leave something, I can look back and be satisfied. Usually, it's time to move on and I can close the little box on that section of my life. I don't think that is going to be the case with Russia. I think, and I really, really hope, that this will not be my last time here. There is still so much I still haven't done. This can't be it. If I do come back, it will be different, I am sure. There may be no little, wooden room. There will definitely be no Susan, or Francesca, or Sarah. Nevertheless, I can't believe I am done here. We will see what happens. And until that time, I am going to go get another beer...
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Two Months Later...
So, two months later, I am finally getting around to posting the last two blogs I wrote in Moscow. I'm sure nobody's reading this anymore (except Grandma. Hi Grandma!), but I wanted to get these posted. Later, if I ever get around to it, I will post all those blogs I never got around to writing, the ones that are actually more than my exhausted ramblings documenting what I actually did. All the cool cultural things I noticed, but never had time to write. And maybe even those posts I did write, but couldn't post because they would give mum a heart-attack. ...Then again, maybe not. She might not let me go back. Anyways, here is my second to last blog in my dear Moscow: The Last Week.
OK. So, a lot has happened since my last post. It's been less than a week, but what a crazy week it's been. I hope I can remember everything. Let's see... I had class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so I wasn't really able to go out much. Last week, the summer cafe opened at Scandanavia, but it snowed and I was busy/sick, so I didn't go. On Monday, I went out after class (can't remember where, I think I just walked around...) and then met Joe at Scans for the summer cafe. It was very, very cool. Everyone always talks about the summer cafe at Scans like its Eden, but I never really got it. It's an outdoor cafe. Whipdeedoo...
Yea, I was wrong. It may just be an outdoor cafe, but an outdoor cafe, in the middle of Moscow, is a lot cooler than an outdoor cafe in Florida. Oh course, I just happened to go on a night when they were practicing for the Victory Day parade. And when I say “they,” I mean Russian military. And when I say “Russian military,” I mean hundreds of tanks and missile carriers. And when I say “practice,” I mean close off all the streets running from Arbat, past the Red Square, and up Tversksaya and running these tanks and missile carriers around the city. It shook Tverskaya, one of Moscow's main streets. SHOOK it. As in parts of the road ripped apart and the metro rumbled 20+ feet underground. And Scan's summer cafe just happens to be located about 5 feet off Tverskaya and Pushkin's statue. And I just happened to be on the front line as the tanks rolled past. How lucky am I?
I stayed out at the cafe until about midnight with Joe, Brian, and Natasha. We talked, ate, drank, and made plans for Tuesday to go to the beach. Yes, I said beach. There is indeed a beach in Moscow. It's actually more of a park/beach as it is on the side of the river (apparently, one of the only swimmable parts of the river). But still, beach. Unfortunately, the beach was closed, so instead, I went out with Cara and walked up and down Arbat, drank some coffee and beer, and went to Dom Knigi. After that, off again to Scans for another night at the summer cafe.
I had my last classes on Wednesday. I was very sad. I had a very neat professor (once we started getting along) and we would spend class drinking tea, making fun of men (specifically and in general), and talking about different Russian legends and historical figures. It was one of the most difficult classes I have ever taken. I didn't have any tests or write any papers, but I walked out of class everyday exhausted. In a normal language class, there are about a dozen or so students. You have time to think or pass questions if you just don't get something. You may only get one or two problems per exercise and can generally work things out by the time it gets to you. My class was one-on-one. Three hours: ready, set, go. No stops, no passing, no time to think. If I didn't get something, we sat there until I did. There was little grammar, few exercises. We sat in a little room for 3 hours a day and I just talked or was talked to. In Russian, if you haven't figured it out. At times, I felt like the most stupid person on the planet. At other times, I walked outside after the lesson and just cried. And other days, things just clicked. There were many of those epiphany moments where I understood everything, could speak well, and just GOT it. It was so cool. I can't imagine I got that good of grades, but, frankly, the grades don't matter to me at this point. I did something few people have done or are able to do. And it was cooooollllllllll..............
Anyways, that was not the point. I have just kept that inside for a little too long. Where was I... Ah yes, Wednesday was my last day of class. We read about the first woman ruler or Russia, Olga. Basically, her husband was a wimp and her son a pimply-little-punk and see was left to rule the country. And kicked major butt doing it. It was not a bad ending, as far as endings go. We finished everything and just sat and looked at each other. I knew we were done; she knew that I knew. But I just couldn't bring myself to get up and walk out for the last time. So I didn't. We grabbed another cup of tea and talked for another hour or so. I am looking into a trip on the Trans-Siberian railroad next summer, so we talked about that. She gave me some tips and her email address in case I need any help. Finally, I got up and left.
I went home and was promptly dragged out by Susan, who could tell I needed some pick me up. We stood in her window and threw stale bread at Francesca, who was sitting in her window, just because we could. Then we found a bottle of vodka and some Cadbury chocolates. And promptly finished both, using Sarah's shot glasses I forgot to give back to her. Then, we headed off one last time to the Ashan, our lovely Russian-version mall. Yes, yes, I know, what am I doing in a mall in Russia. But you don't understand, its a RUSSIAN mall. And thus, quite the hard-core experience. You see, they wrap up your bags in plastic so you can't use them; they sell zebra balloons. 10 RUR ice cream cones and, wait for it, beer in movie theaters. I thought Dr. Denner was joking. He wasn't. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing. So, we went to the movies and watched the new X-Men movie in Russian while drinking beer. Overall, a very culturally-educational night.
Thursday was the beginning of the end. There was Scans, blini, deadly champagne, and vodka in water-bottles. But that is for later...
OK. So, a lot has happened since my last post. It's been less than a week, but what a crazy week it's been. I hope I can remember everything. Let's see... I had class Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, so I wasn't really able to go out much. Last week, the summer cafe opened at Scandanavia, but it snowed and I was busy/sick, so I didn't go. On Monday, I went out after class (can't remember where, I think I just walked around...) and then met Joe at Scans for the summer cafe. It was very, very cool. Everyone always talks about the summer cafe at Scans like its Eden, but I never really got it. It's an outdoor cafe. Whipdeedoo...
Yea, I was wrong. It may just be an outdoor cafe, but an outdoor cafe, in the middle of Moscow, is a lot cooler than an outdoor cafe in Florida. Oh course, I just happened to go on a night when they were practicing for the Victory Day parade. And when I say “they,” I mean Russian military. And when I say “Russian military,” I mean hundreds of tanks and missile carriers. And when I say “practice,” I mean close off all the streets running from Arbat, past the Red Square, and up Tversksaya and running these tanks and missile carriers around the city. It shook Tverskaya, one of Moscow's main streets. SHOOK it. As in parts of the road ripped apart and the metro rumbled 20+ feet underground. And Scan's summer cafe just happens to be located about 5 feet off Tverskaya and Pushkin's statue. And I just happened to be on the front line as the tanks rolled past. How lucky am I?
I stayed out at the cafe until about midnight with Joe, Brian, and Natasha. We talked, ate, drank, and made plans for Tuesday to go to the beach. Yes, I said beach. There is indeed a beach in Moscow. It's actually more of a park/beach as it is on the side of the river (apparently, one of the only swimmable parts of the river). But still, beach. Unfortunately, the beach was closed, so instead, I went out with Cara and walked up and down Arbat, drank some coffee and beer, and went to Dom Knigi. After that, off again to Scans for another night at the summer cafe.
I had my last classes on Wednesday. I was very sad. I had a very neat professor (once we started getting along) and we would spend class drinking tea, making fun of men (specifically and in general), and talking about different Russian legends and historical figures. It was one of the most difficult classes I have ever taken. I didn't have any tests or write any papers, but I walked out of class everyday exhausted. In a normal language class, there are about a dozen or so students. You have time to think or pass questions if you just don't get something. You may only get one or two problems per exercise and can generally work things out by the time it gets to you. My class was one-on-one. Three hours: ready, set, go. No stops, no passing, no time to think. If I didn't get something, we sat there until I did. There was little grammar, few exercises. We sat in a little room for 3 hours a day and I just talked or was talked to. In Russian, if you haven't figured it out. At times, I felt like the most stupid person on the planet. At other times, I walked outside after the lesson and just cried. And other days, things just clicked. There were many of those epiphany moments where I understood everything, could speak well, and just GOT it. It was so cool. I can't imagine I got that good of grades, but, frankly, the grades don't matter to me at this point. I did something few people have done or are able to do. And it was cooooollllllllll..............
Anyways, that was not the point. I have just kept that inside for a little too long. Where was I... Ah yes, Wednesday was my last day of class. We read about the first woman ruler or Russia, Olga. Basically, her husband was a wimp and her son a pimply-little-punk and see was left to rule the country. And kicked major butt doing it. It was not a bad ending, as far as endings go. We finished everything and just sat and looked at each other. I knew we were done; she knew that I knew. But I just couldn't bring myself to get up and walk out for the last time. So I didn't. We grabbed another cup of tea and talked for another hour or so. I am looking into a trip on the Trans-Siberian railroad next summer, so we talked about that. She gave me some tips and her email address in case I need any help. Finally, I got up and left.
I went home and was promptly dragged out by Susan, who could tell I needed some pick me up. We stood in her window and threw stale bread at Francesca, who was sitting in her window, just because we could. Then we found a bottle of vodka and some Cadbury chocolates. And promptly finished both, using Sarah's shot glasses I forgot to give back to her. Then, we headed off one last time to the Ashan, our lovely Russian-version mall. Yes, yes, I know, what am I doing in a mall in Russia. But you don't understand, its a RUSSIAN mall. And thus, quite the hard-core experience. You see, they wrap up your bags in plastic so you can't use them; they sell zebra balloons. 10 RUR ice cream cones and, wait for it, beer in movie theaters. I thought Dr. Denner was joking. He wasn't. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing. So, we went to the movies and watched the new X-Men movie in Russian while drinking beer. Overall, a very culturally-educational night.
Thursday was the beginning of the end. There was Scans, blini, deadly champagne, and vodka in water-bottles. But that is for later...
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