Now that I’m on break from school I’ve had a lot more time to think and process. One thing that is on my mind all the time is Ukraine. I’m constantly re-remembering memories of people, places, and events I encountered on my last two trips there. Since I can’t return to Ukraine right now and you didn’t ever really get to hear all that much about Ukraine, I thought I’d share some of those memories as they pop back into my consciousness. Occasionally I may even try to sort of draw them for you seeing as how I have a very visual memory. Most of these memories come out of “snap-shots” I have in my brain.
One vivid memory I have is at the Ukrainian airport in Kiev last June during my arrival. I had just spent the last day traveling alone half-way around the globe and I was exhausted (though not sick this time, thankfully!). Because I had flown with a different air company than the first trip, I was allowed two checked bags plus my regular carry on bag (in other words I had 2 huge 50 lbs. bags + a 40 lbs. “carry”-on roll bag). I’m pretty sure carry-ons aren’t supposed to weigh 40 lbs, but mine always end up about that heavy. Two of the bags (1 large + carry on) were new and easy to push. The other one was quite old and only rolled one way and was top-heavy.
I worked out a system of pulling the new suitcase behind me while using my other arm/hand to push the easy carry-on into the old suitcase. I’m sure I looked funny, but hey, it worked (sorta). 🙂 I had been to this airport before (in 2012), so I knew generally how to find my way out once I got through customs and baggage claim. Here’s where I wish I had drawn a picture for you so you can see what I saw. I looked through this two-door width opening into a sea of people standing behind a glass knee-high partition. I began to push my things out that way and as I made it through the doorway I was joyfully greeted by my friend’s parents. I couldn’t remember much Russian at that point (too tired), but it was wonderful seeing them again and seeing their smiling faces when they first saw me! It went right through the language boundaries. 🙂
Lysbeth's Travels 