I cried in St. Petersburg today.
Before I go into detail, the title of this blog requires a shout-out to a little boy named Henry. Henry is the cutest 6 year-old Korean boy EVER. One afternoon Matt and I were sitting in the flower shop of our building talking to our friend Young Joo when her friend came in with her son, Henry, who just happens to speak English better than my 6th graders (He attends an English Kindergarten). We chatted about animals, animal sounds, shapes, colors...the typical 6 year old conversation, then ordered pizza. Everyone sat quietly eating their pizza when Henry looks up and said (in Korean), "I cried at kindergarten today." The table erupted in unison, "Awwwwww, why?" as he explained that his friends sitting on either side of him where gone that day. So cute.
"I cried at kindergarten today" has since been a conversation transition between Matt and I.
So, I cried in St. Petersburg today. Twice actually.
After nearly a month of being on the road, I hate to admit this, but traveling has had it's toll on me. Each morning it takes me longer and longer to get ready for the day, put on my layers of warm clothes and go outside for a cold day of sightseeing which becomes less and less interesting. Each day I am becoming more and more sensitive to the glares from the cashiers when I don't have exact change (cashiers HATE to make change in Russia) or to Russian being shouted at me or when miscommunication occurs or when the subway is overcrowded.
When Markus rubbed my head and said, on the overcrowded subway, "You look really tired," I simply couldn't hide my exhaustion any longer and out the tears came. Feeling silly being that girl on the subway, I tried to cheer up and assure Markus I was ok.
We spent the afternoon walking around the Hermitage museum and the Church of our Savior on Spilled Blood (built on the very site where Alexander II was assassinated). Feeling a little better, I decided that all I wanted for dinner was a juicy hamburger from McDonald's. Some of you are thinking, "Terrible!" but if you've ever lived or traveled for a long time overseas you can relate. Sometimes when you are feeling worn out and a tad homesick, McDonald's is the only cure.
We started down the main road in downtown St. Petersburg to find a McDonald's when I caught out of the very corner of my eye someone walking closely behind me. I jumped and turned around to see three or four short, equally startled girls behind me. I pushed Markus to the side and let out a little yelp but immediately felt bad for reacting like that, explaining that I was just surprised to see those girls so close behind me. We keep walking a few meters then Markus said, "Oh, but Kelly, your bag is open!" I realized, to my horror, that the little pouch on the front of my bag which had been on my hip, was indeed open and my Ipod, that I had stupidly slipped in that pouch earlier that morning was also missing, and the 3 or 4 short, startled girls that had been behind me were no longer there.
"My Ipod is gone," I muttered with the tears brimming in my eyes for the 2nd time that day. Markus immediately spun around to find the girls while I dragged my feet after him, feeling not even angry, I was too tired for that, but feeling just...defeated. Strangely enough we see the short girls standing in a crowd at the nearest crosswalk. Without having to approach them (I wasn't even sure it was them, since I had just a glimpse of them before), one walked up to me with her head down and arm outstretched...holding my Ipod. Shaky from crying I took my Ipod back with a "Thank you."
I said "Thank you" to a girl who pick-pocketed my Ipod. Thank you for not running away with my Ipod? Thank you for feeling guilty? I don't know.
But never before has McD's tasted so good.
Iowa, I anxiously await you.
