The last day was a busy one. Natasha had told me yesterday that she wanted to see me to say goodbye today, so I invited her to go with me to the Museum of the Blockade. I had wanted to see it since my first day in St. Petersburg (it’s not too far from the airport), so I got up early and met her at the metro. She said it was poor planning, seeing such a depressing monument and museum on my last day in the city when I’m saying goodbye to all my friends. Maybe she was right, but I have wanted to see it for a long time. It was very well presented, and I wasn’t disappointed.
After the museum, we took the metro to the stop near my university because she was meeting with her “Frenchman” for her next language lesson, and I had to go pick up my corrected certificate. As the secretaries were on their lunch-break and she still had time before her meeting, we stopped in a Теремок for блины and квас, as I was told was mandatory for my last day in Russia. Mine were delicious, but I think Natasha got food poisoning.
When I went into the university, my certificate still hadn’t been signed. I told the secretary that I didn’t have time to come back, and she told me to go to the main building myself for the signature and stamp. I walked over there, and when I went to the secretary for the main dean, she looked annoyed to see me (I suppose because it was the third time my paperwork came across her desk). I told her I absolutely needed it signed today because I was leaving tomorrow, and she said “Ok. Go sit in the hallway.” I didn’t really understand why, but I did. I sat down facing the office, and I saw her get up from her desk, walk to the other side of the room until she was no longer visible from the hallway, and then continued out to me and handed me a signed paper. I glanced inside and saw there was an empty desk just out of view. What an honorable system. As far as I know, the dean magically appeared in the office and signed my certificate, and she just moves really fast. When I went to the next room for the stamp, the woman didn’t even ask me questions, she just took a look at the signature and pulled out a box of stamps.
After the university, I met up with Roma and his girlfriend Alla. I told him I wanted to see him before he left, and he invited me to go to the movies with them. I told him I’m completely out of rubles, and he offered to buy me a ticket. We saw Ice Age 3 in 3D. It wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t great. It was a cross somewhere between Shrek and The Land Before Time.
After the movie, I spoke to Kristina, who I unfortunately didn’t have a chance to meet with before I left. I arranged for her to meet with Natasha after I leave. It was great conversational practice for me so I’m sure it will be helpful for Kristina, and I know Natasha wants to find another American. I then went home for dinner, and then went down to the Park of Victory for one last time to walk around. I had a chance to speak with Sveta, and she told me that her phone has a pedometer, and that yesterday when we met up and walked around the city we walked over seventeen kilometers (about ten and a half miles).
I spoke to Vova, and he told me that while he’s not sure if he’ll be around tomorrow unfortunately (also Roma’s car is going in for service and Max is working), Vanya can take me to the airport. I spoke to Vanya, and he’s picking me up tomorrow and taking me over. Hopefully Vova will come along, but he won’t know in advance. It will be a nice cycle- Vova was the first person I saw when I arrived, and provided he can make it, he will be the last person I see.
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