I will be back in the good, old U.S. of A. in less than a week now. It's crazy to think about, but I can't seem to help myself. I think going back to America will be even stranger than arriving in Russia was way back in January. Seeing as the realization that I have very little time left in Russia has been settling into my mind and continuously lurking in my thoughts over the past few weeks, I have recently been riding a roller coaster of highs and lows created by just what leaving Russia and going back to America means. I think it’s time that I write some of it out before my brain gets so shaken from the ride that I can’t think straight and am driven into some sort of a temporary madness. Please don’t feel like you have to read every item on the list (though, you can if you want)- it’s a bit long.
The Minuses of Leaving Russia:
-Having to leave my kids (may as well start with the hardest thing). I seriously cannot explain how much I love getting to work with my students. I could write multiple posts about every single one of them. They blow my mind and make my day every time I teach, even on the days when they’re pushing my buttons and trying my patience. Not getting spend time almost every single day with a bunch of small children (particularly, the bunch that I have been honored to get to teach over the past few months) after I get home is going to be painful. They get excited every time the sun comes out. They are adorable, creative, hilarious, and incredible examples of humility and compassion. I love them and watching them grow and learn has, hands-down, been the best and most rewarding part of coming to Russia.
-No more nearly weekly competitions with my roommates to see who can come up with the most ridiculous dance moves.
-It means saying, “bye-bye, blini.”
- No more being able to talk about strangers you see in public without having to whisper and worry about them overhearing and understanding.
-No more fun excursions into Moscow on the weekends.
-No more adventurous trips, long or short, every month or two over into neighboring lands and countries.
-No more getting to people-watch on the metro.
-No more loaves of bread for 50 cents.
-No more getting to hear Russian everyday.
The Pluses of Leaving Russia:
+ No more having to spend an hour standing on the 121 (the stinky, either hot or freezing cold, extremely over-crowded bus that we ride to and from our neighborhood in the woods to the nearest metro stop) as it slowly jerks its way through the unnecessary traffic jams which are created do to the single fact that the president of Russia is either coming or going from his residence not far from our house.
+No more having to go everywhere with a companion. Having to take a partner with you to do something as simple as going on a walk around the neighborhood or taking a trip to the store is really a headache sometimes. I enjoy my independence and alone time
+No more getting yelled at in Russia by grocery store clerks, doctors, pre-school teachers, random drunkards or crazies on the street, bag-toting babushkas, or anyone else.
+No more being forced into doing things I am not required by some sort of contract to do. Maybe we should blame it on the decades of communism and lack of free choice, but Russians seem to think that they have the right to boss people around and tell them that they have to do certain things, regardless of whether or not the person they are bossing has voluntarily chosen to do something. Example: The other ILP teachers at my school and I are being forced to dress up in silly sailor costumes and sing (in Russian) and dance along with this stupid ‘Kap-i-tan’ song as part of our spectacle (end of semester English program/performance that we help the students put on). We tried telling the school that we really don’t want to do the annoying song and dance, but they said we have no choice (even though, legally, we do). You all are really missing out on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of getting to see me take part in a humilating performance of dancing to and singing a Russian sailor song while wearing a sailor costume that looks like it's from 1910.
+ No more being treated like some sort of show monkey that can be dressed up and forced to do tricks- yes, I realize that this kind of goes along with the previous one. For some reason, the big sister school of the kindergarten that a we teach at likes to tell us on short notice that we have to come over and do some sort of English presentation about Valentine’s Day or Jack London. We go and do what they ask to, and they take pictures, pretend that we know everything remotely related to America or Britain since we’re English-speaking Americans, and then try to use us as a selling point when doing there school promotions. “Look, our school has American English teachers that frequently come and take part in our classes and do presentations for our students. They can sing. They can dance. They can speak English.” It really is absurd, especially since we really only average of one hour of teaching at that school a month.
+Being allowed to sit on the ground. I have been yelled at multiple times by older women for sitting on the ground- they swear it will make girls' ovaries freeze. It really is annoying when there’s no benches or chairs near by on which to sit.
+Being allowed out every night, even though it’s past 8pm. A guard dog is let out to patrol the grounds around our house at 8pm here and isn't put away until about 8am the next morning. I feel like I’m in some sort of prison because I can’t leave the apartment whenever I want to.
Pluses of Getting Back to America:
+Getting to see my fam and friends again
+Having phone and living in a time zone that’s not at least 8 hours ahead of the people I want to talk to. Setting up good times to Skype is nearly impossible, and having to keep in touch with lots of people almost entirely by email is quite difficult, though totally worth it.
+Having a good produce department at the grocery store
+Not having to shop at AШΑΗ CИТИ and finally returning to grocery stores that have some sort of order and almost everything (in English, too!) I could possibly need for a recipe.
+Having a wide variety of delicious and flavorful foods. Can I survive off of cabbage, potatoes, bread, boiled buckwheat, egg/ kefir blocks, and soup alone? Yes, I can, thankfully. Do I enjoy having to live off of only those things? No.
+Getting to see mountains again
+Only having to spend about 5 minutes to get to church on Sunday.
+Getting to drive a car again, even if it means my days of napping on public transportation are coming to hold.
+Being able to understand everything that's being said around me and being able to respond in full sentences and without a game of charades.
I could keep going, but I’ll refrain. I think I’ve named everything off the top of my head that I can and need to name for the time being. Ahhh, the chaos in my brain has subsided a little bit already.
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