Over the winter holiday break, I had some paperwork problems that led me to envision what would happen if I had to go back to the U.S. now, six months before the end of my program.
That fear is gone now, but in its place is a renewed thankfulness for the opportunity to be here. Russia is still a damn hard place to live some days, but I’ve been trying to enjoy the sweet moments, like this handful from yesterday:
-At the grocery store, helping a tiny, stooped babushka make sure her storage locker was locked. It feels great to help people, even in very tiny ways, when you’re used to being the foreigner always seeking help.
-Wishing one of the international studies employees a happy old New Year. (By Russia’s old calendar, yesterday was New Year’s Day.) Not only did it make her smile, it reminded me of a language learning cheat: if you can’t remember how to reply to a well-wisher or a compliment, simply compliment someone else and listen carefully to their response. Plus, then you’ve made another friend by giving them a compliment.:)
-Picking up a long-awaited Christmas card from my grandmother, which folds out into a 3-D snowglobe. As I carried it home, it made everyone smile–the postal workers, the dormitory door guards, and another foreign students from Morocco.
-A cab driver, during my five minute ride, telling me he’s never talked to an American before. He couldn’t find the words fast enough to ask me about my impressions. I told him that I appreciated everyone’s hospitality here, and he agreed. Then he went on to tell me that his wife had been a world champion gymnast. Her talent got them invited to Canada, where he said they had a small hope of emigrating to, but they weren’t allowed to leave the country. It was a sad story, but we parted with good wishes. I hope I can find his taxi again before I leave.
