My last Russian sunset for a while. Train: Saratov-Moscow.May 23.

 

photos from train # 9, May 23.

 

Therapy.

This is the Corrigan/Pasiuk “Dacha”/garden in its current state.

 

I am lucky to have the time for the following routine since I got home:

 

10-15 mile bike ride.

Work in garden and yard

Begin answering emails.

Start scheduling meetings

Play guitar.

Maybe learn to drive again

 

I cannot properly describe reverse culture shock. It certainly is an interesting experience.

The biggest thing might be that I do not feel like talking much.

Russian Face.

 

May 24, 2104

Saturday morning I logged onto my tablet in the Domodedovo Airport in Moscow. There were a couple of urgent Facebook messages from a couple of close friends. When I read them I felt like I had been punched in the stomach. A very close friend, a former bartender in my Dingo Bar, a fantastic journalist, a wonderful fellow, had died suddenly on Thursday evening. My friend Michael Henningsen was gone. Russians got one more chance to stare at me---as I could not stop the tears. The next 15-20 hours were a daze and I still don't feel very good about things. Losing people is getting harder and harder for me.

I arrived home Saturday evening from Russia. Plane landed at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia at around 8pm. There were four immigration agents for about 700 people. Stood in line for almost two hours. Non-US citizens were in a line that didn't move----in fact agents kept putting American citizens in front of them from time to time. Nice. American hospitality.I would imagine that if you are a politician, you don't need to do this.
I experienced Russian and German security as I began this journey and as I ended it. Seemed to be more efficient. My exiting agent in the Moscow airport, a young woman, at one point sternly said..."look me in the eyes..." We did this for about a minute. She then smiled and waved me through.

The young agent here in Dulles was kind and friendly as well.Laughed when I showed him a US customs form in German(all they had on my United flight). These people don't do the budgets or scheduling and I would never disparage them.

I saw Janet as I left the immigration area and we jumped into each others arms.

 I don't hear any Russian. Seems like something is missing. American voices sound strange.

My dogs, Thurman and Pepper, almost wriggled out of their skin when they saw me. I've been wondering what they were thinking when I was gone. 

I am feeling like going to sleep every other hour. Waking up every hour or so at night.

May 23, 2014

I shall continue to post on this blog regularly for some time in order to fully convey the experience of teaching in Russia. Thank you as always for reading. There were 11,000 visits (from about 20 countries!) to the blog from mid January until now!

May 21, 2014

I am going home in two days. I will be with my wife and dogs on Saturday evening. I miss them so much it hurts. It has been a surreal experience the last few days here in Russia. I have been overwhelmed by kindness and goodwill from this city(Saratov) and this country. I will have lunch with my dear friends from the International office tomorrow, meet with the Director, finish cleaning and packing. The train for Moscow leaves Friday afternoon. I can hardly believe it will end. I have been changed in so many profound and positive ways. Saratov, Russia is not my real home but it will have a place in my soul for the remainder of my life.