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| WE ARE FAMILY |
Life over here…hmmm..let me think. Apart from the -30˚C
or even sometimes -40˚C temperature in the winter soaring up to even a +40˚C in
the summer and also apart from missing your families, life is quite nice over
here.
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| FROZEN |
The first time we set foot over here we
were rather surprised by some things like for example, female bus drivers and
conductors, but in time, they become normal day to day scenarios. And for us,
who are miles away from home, our group mates are like a family away from home.
Thanks to them, we made it through the good and bad and are still standing
strong. And believe me I have the craziest group mates ever. We are 10 all in
all and 6 of us are Sri Lankans, then we have two Nigerians, one Malaysian and
a Brazilian girl.
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| HANDS FROM MANY LANDS |
I remember the first time we saw the snow fall. We were in
the anatomy department and when we looked out of the window it was snowing! We all screamed and dropped what we were doing
and ran outside. And then , we were
screaming and dancing around and it was so nice even though the snow fall that
day didn’t last for more than 5 minutes. Nevertheless, by now most of the
others are sick of snow, but believe me, I and a few of my friends still love
it as much as then (well, apart from the times we almost get frost bitten, that
is). And by now, we are almost used to
seeing unsmiling faces on the road, as if these Russians’ facial muscles don’t
work at all. But, anyway, it is okay as even if they don’t smile because on the
other hand, they don’t poke their noses into other’s businesses, either.
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| EEEEEEEEEEEEEEK! |
And while talking about unforgettable incidents two major
events come to my mind; one is regarding Godwin and the other Yris.
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| MELTING POT! |
Godwin. Well he is Nigerian and you could call him an
average Nigerian guy, but well, I guess he goes a bit beyond that with all his
native costumes and all (including bull’s tails and walking sticks and very,
very strange hats). Some months ago we (I and Godwin) had a dispute and then
some yelling for an issue neither of us remember now but what is important is
how we all got back together being good buddies. This was what he posted on my
wall on face book on my b’day:
I once had an issue with Hiruni . Today at her birthday party this was
what came to my mind which I wish to share with all my friends on the facebook.
“The last plane crash recorded in the world
was on the 8th of this month and it involved a newly manufactured Russian
plane. All 45 people on board Sukhoi Superjet died after it crashed into
Indonesian volcano during flight to impress buyers.
Now imagine the last moments the passengers had while in the
plane when it was announced it would crash. While crashing, there was turmoil
and all passengers were being thrown here and there.
There was no time to notice when one passenger stepped on
another.
There was no time to fight for their luggage.
There was no time to fight for degrees and qualifications.
There was no time for competition, segregation and enmity.
It was a moment to make peace and prepare to meet their
creator.
This life is like that plane. And we are like those
passengers.
None of us will leave this world alive.
One hundred years ago neither we nor our parents were on
earth and 100 years from now it will be same, as it was 100 years ago. We will
not be here again.
There is no time therefore to fight over race, face, place
and position.
There is no time to destroy others while struggling for our
own survival.
There is no time for religious and ethnic wars.
No time for gossips, backbiting and jealousy.
No time for character assassinations.
Knowing that our plane of life will soon crash, let us come
together as one leaving behind our differences so that when this life is over,
those we left behind will have a course to rejoice that we lived well and while
they may be crying that we are gone, we will be smiling to meet our creator
knowing we have fought the good fight of faith, love, togetherness, unity and ecumenism.”
And
this was what brought our group back to what it was. It was all of our family
away from home so a dispute just ruins everything for all of us and I am glad
that we all are best buddies ever. And, as crazy as ever. The craziness doesn’t
stop there.
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| NO TIME FOR DIFFERENCES! |
The
other day, Godwin and our fellow Nigerian group mate Chuks left for home. And, around 11.00 pm, Godda (Let’s
call him that from now on) came to chat and told me that Chuks was missing.
I quickly asked him to come on Skype (through the Moscow airport WiFi] and
asked what happened . Before he came on Skype I got to know that (when he
chatted on face book) that Chuks had left to buy something around 3.00 pm. And
it was 11.00 pm then and still he hasn’t turned up. To make the matters worse,
Chuck’s passport was with Godda and Godda’s registration was with
Chuks. I was really worried.
I told him to inform the airport authorities so that they can make an
announcement over PA. It wasn’t practicable as Chuks was not in the
airport and so not in range. He had got
into a train and gone to the city, leaving Godda at the airport.
Then, when Godda came on Skype
I got to know the details . He said that when they arrived at the airport, Chuks has said that he wanted to buy some pen
drives to take home and got into a train and gone . And after 8 hours he still hadn’t returned and we were worried that he was
hit by some drunk Russians, or lost, or even in jail because he had no document
to show for himself . And, I asked Godda why he doesn’t call him, to see he has left his phone also with Godda. And
anyway their phones don’t work he said
but I don’t know why.
Somehow their check in was
at 3.00 am and even by 11.20 pm he wasn’t back. . And, if they miss the
flight they have to buy the ticket again and to avoid that I was going to ask Godda
to wait till about 2.00 am and then go and cancel the ticket himself because
then they have to pay only a little extra and don’t have to buy the ticket
again. It wasn’t possible for Godda to check in
and board the aircraft anyway because his registration was with Chuks.
Then around 12.20 am Godda
said Chucks was back and he(Godda) was eating a chicken Chuck had brought . I yelled
at Chuks first and asked where on earth
he had been all this time. He said
meekly he has gone to see the city and I asked why the hell he couldn’t buy the
pen drives in Kursk then he said they were cheaper in Moscow. So, after some more scoldings I said good bye
to Chuks and Godda.
See what a pair they made?
Like Thompson and Thomson in Tintin.
Our whole group is like
that.
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| The Good Times We Have... |
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| FRIENDS FOREVER! |
But I know one thing for
sure, that is one day when we finish our work here and leave we will miss each
other a lot. And we make life in a strange land away from our families easier
for each other. And also sometimes we
need each other to avoid ourselves from punching some fellows in the face. This
is something like that.
Yris: The other day we were
coming back from the hospital on a bus and I and one of my fellow Sri Lankan
girls were sitting at the back. And the Brazilian girl Yris was sitting in
front of us and the seat next to her was empty.
And then, an obese lady came and sat beside Yris who was on a call.
After some time we heard the lady shouting aloud in Russian and we turned our
antennas to that side. Then we heard her telling at Yris not to speak on the
phone in the bus (See the nerve). She said that it irritates her and to turn
the phone off. And she wasn’t very quite either in telling that. The whole bus
was watching the incident by now. She was also saying that if she wants to talk
on phone she had to get off the bus and take a taxi. By this time my blood was
boiling. And on top of that she was nudging Yris. And the amazing thing was
amidst all the uproar centered on her, Yris didn’t bother to pay any attention
to the lady, and just went on talking on the phone calmly.
Then to every one’s
surprise and humor this lady took out her phone and was trying to call people
on her phone book but unfortunately no one answered. And finally when someone
answered, I guess that person didn’t have the time to be wasting, so all she
got to say was “ Sdrasthithe, vciyo harasho? Dasvidaniya” which means, “Hello,
is everything ok? Bye”. And everyone in the bus started laughing. And I must
mention that some other people in the bus asked her what her problem was when
she was yelling at the girl. And when it was Yris’s stop she never gave her
room and when Yris pushed past her she just smacked her on the butt. Can you
believe these people’s behavior? And, all this while all I wanted to do was go
and confront that lady but my good friend next to me was stopping me.
So, these are just two
stories out of the many many incidents we have faced. And to say all I will
have to write on forever. But what matters is that we have our own faults and
misunderstandings but we all stick together in the end. No matter what. And
right now they are in their own countries or traveling the world. And I want to
tell you guys that no matter what, you are the best group mates ever… the
perfect combination of different personalities.
A STORY WRITTEN BY HIRUNI, MY DAUGHTER.
