I was trying to think of a good way to
make sure that I do not forget the people who made my life in this town so
great. Not that I want to forget them, but naturally memories fade. Some people
I have written about in previous posts, and others who were just important on a
day to day basis. There were people who I saw and spent quality time with regularly,
like my friends Stas, Natasha, or Tanya, as well as people who I see every day
but don’t know their name, like my bread guy or the lady who sells me soap
(that’s right, I have a soap lady). Don’t get me wrong, I know the names of
most of my contacts in town, but there are several who just never caught my
name and vice-versa. Last month we had our end of service conference and one of
the programs was to discuss ways to say goodbye to our communities. One of the
suggestions was giving them photos. I liked it and decided to take it one step
further. I went through all of the photos I have taken since moving to town and
found that in most cases I had one or two good photos of me with these people. In
other cases I had to go ask for new photos to be taken. I got double prints
made of the photos. Then I would take the pictures to the people, ask them to
write a note on the back and return the photo to me. I would then give them the
other copy of the photo along with a postcard from New York State that included
my note to them and my contact information. Since everyone else is asked to
write their note before seeing what I had written, I have gotten the full range
of responses (all positive of course). Some write notes such as, “It was nice
meeting you, good luck in life”, while others have really committed some
heartfelt responses to paper when recounting the relationship I have with them
and what my having been here means to them. I got a couple of really nice poems
too. Some are humorous. Others sad. Tomorrow I will pick up what will probably
be the last set of photos at the photography store. The last group will
probably be the guys at the sauna who I will see for the last time on Saturday.
I will be working on getting the notes translated (mainly because I still
cannot read Russian cursive writing!) and, also, because realistically I know
that my Russian will probably never be better than it is today…and I don’t want
to lose these words written by the people closest to me. Memories of my time
here will fade over the years, but I am hoping these photos will do their job
of reminding me that I couldn’t have done it alone. As of now there are 35 done
and I am waiting on just a few more. I hope it serves me well for years to come…
Now I just need to get a photo album.
This is Nadya and I after a morning of riding our bikes to pick trash off of the beach
"Thank you for helping, kindheartedness, and participation!
It is such a pity that you are leaving.:( Wishing you great success, reaching new
heights. Nadya P.S. I will be glad to help you clean beaches in Miami :)"
This is Tanya. She has been so great to me. Even with this project, she knows that I cannot read Russian cursive, so she wrote hers using block capital letters. She helped me decipher some recipes that (host mom) Tanya had written for me. She would read the paper and then we would work together to translate it.
"Sim, I am very glad that I have such a wonderful friend.
I am sorry that you are leaving, but I hope that we will see
each other again.
I wish you in your life much health, success in work, and
great love with your beautiful wife.
Good luck to you. With regards, Tanya 22.5.2013"
This is Sophia. Her mom works at the library so she finds herself in our office regularly. Really a fun kid.
Sim,
I want to tell you that for this year I liked you very much.
I would like to continue to communicate with you, but it is time to say
goodbye. I wish you good luck in America. Don’t forget me. And I will remember
you. Good luck, from Sophia.
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