One Last Lithuanian Entry...

So this morning I was greeted with thunder, lightning flashes and rain rain rain. I was worried about my flight, but thankfully it has cleared up since then! I am now writing this quickly before I head up to the front desk and order a taksi :)

I just read all the US safety standards and had to change things, took out Navalis matches I had put in my bag on a fluke, took out a lighter (with no fuel) from my carryon and transfered it to my checked baggage and took out my gel footie inserts from my shoes! Those aren't allowed on US flights, so I figured I should play it safe and just do what it said. I've got my baggie with my liquids, gels and areosols (contact solution and lip gloss), so I'm prepared!

Love you, Lithuania, you've given me a great circle of lovely friends (+ a Latvian or two) and I will miss you! Home, here I come after long last!

Vilnius & Viso Gero Lietuva

I have enjoyed a stress-free day of traveling to Vilnius and have just had dinner and dessert with Ruta. I'm now sitting at my hotel room desk, connected to the internet via 56k dialup modem (I have not heard the 'krrssshhh bing bong bing bing doooooooo' noise in some time) and thinking about tomorrow. I have 20 hours+ of traveling ahead of me and that is actually one of the worst parts of leaving - I'm really looking forward to hanging out in airports in Vilnius, Frankfurt, San Francisco and then finally Los Angeles...

I have said goodbye to officially everyone, turned the apartment keys over, and struggled with my bags over cobblestones...I'm dreading paying over-weight charges because I'm fairly certain they do not weigh 23 kilograms each...but, I am so excited to be home and wish teleportation was invented...

could someone get all over that please? Lietuva, see you sometime in the future for surely and Amerika, see you soon! :)

The Day Approacheth

I heard Hungarian Rhapsody #2 by Liszt being played by the bells in the post office today for the first and last time. The bells play a tune promptly at noon every day and I had only heard them a couple times before - the Household lived right on that street and so heard them nearly everytime. Regis had told me that he had heard this particular song before, and so I'm glad I got to hear it too...it's one of my favorite piano pieces and how fun to wrap up Klaipeda with that. We had also seen a pianist play in the Klaipeda Concert Hall and he played this song. For those not familiar with the title, it is the song in Who Framed Roger Rabbit played by Donald and Daffy on their dueling pianos...

Tomorrow...

US and A, see you soon!

But in my heart you'll always stay...

I leave for home in five days...and it is so weird. I have already said goodbye to Rasa, Chad and Dori a few weeks ago, and only just now said goodbye to Regis. Ruta came in to Klaipeda last night for one last Kurpiai, and it was a lot of fun. Regis, Ruta and I just had a last brunch at Jola and then said our goodbyes - though I may see Ruta in Vilnius on Monday. I will say goodbye to Arunas, Cathal, Dovydas, Regina, Evaldas, Ieva and Renalda before I leave this week...and with Stasys in England, I will just have to talk to him on skype or something.

I have given boxes of stuff away that I can not take with me, like my vacuum and speakers and stuff...and so my house is getting emptier and emptier, and yet things remain that make it feel like it's as if we're all going on Spring Break and everything will go back to 'normal' soon. Then my brain kicks in and says "Sorry Chelsea, that's not the case!" I will be going back to the States to face an uncertain future that may include a 'real' job or grad school...but where, when, how? Some people have it lined up already - Dovydas has a secure job he loves in Klaipeda, Dori is working in Albania, Regis is headed to England for grad school, and my heart is unsure of where it wants to be. I have had such a good year here, and thank everyone for everything - work was worthwhile and a learning experience, I made new friends that I hope to keep in coming years and I have deepened previous friendships so that it is very, very difficult for me to tear myself away from these people. I truly love them and Lithuania itself, and obviously this will not be the last time I come to this wonderful country or (hopefully) see my friends, but the timing is not so sure as it was last year - they won't be conveniently located at LCC for me to pop over and visit - they'll be scattered around the world...though most of them seem to be flocking to England, so if grad school in the UK happens for me, I'll most likely meet them. I have been a pack rat this year, keeping little mementos of events and people so that I can make the ultimate scrapbook when I get home to help me remember my wonderful time here. I have experienced new things and learned a lot about myself and others, and again, truly love those that I have encountered here and will miss them something awful. I intend to be a better letter writer...even if I don't receive tons of mail back, everyone appreciates receiving mail and I tend to pour my heart out more on paper. I can cry without them seeing then, you understand :)

All in all, I'm shedding tears as I write this, but I do miss my family and friends at home, so it will be good to finally set foot on familiar California ground. I look forward to seeing them all again and enjoy my own things that I have been without here, see my friends whom I have not seen for so long and enjoy my family's company again. Yes, that means my talking habits will be back in the house - so be prepared! I would like to maybe spend a weekend in Wisconsin when I get home too, as the forest and lakes of my mini-road trip reminded me so much of Mequon and that area, that I long to go and visit my family there.

Highlights of the year include:

• My family's visit in November - it was a blast to be able to have Sara & Robert come to Lithuania and see everything and meet everyone. It was also cool to have my parents be a little familiar with everyone and the area, so it was a very comfortable visit.
• My apartment - it was perfectly located in the middle of town, not far from my friends and a perfect size to host get-togethers. I was very comfortable and content with my first taste of living on my own.
• Christmas & Easter at Regis' - I felt genuinely welcome in their home and had a wonderful time trying new things and experiencing Lithuanian customs during the holidays. I do hope to one day see his family again, as I had a lot of fun there and they are such wonderful, kind people.
• New Year 2007 in Helsinki - thank you Regis, I had forgotten to include it. Naturally, a highlight as I got to be in 4 countries in one day and got loads of stamps on my passport, while exploring a new city in a new country with my dear friends. It was also really cool to see Senate Square where we welcomed the New Year on television during Eurovision and go "oo! I've been there!!" :)
  
• My birthday - having a cake brought to me with a tea light plopped in the middle of it while being sung to in Lithuanian was such a fun time.
• Other parties - I hosted many different types of parties here, from poker night to fiesta dinner to birthdays to "sophistication" wine and cheese parties :) Getting the city police called on you because a guest taps on the radiator back to the neighbor below was also funny, because the music was not very loud to begin with - so the cops were very nice.
• Weekend excursions - to Liepaja, Palanga many times, Veisiejai, Joniškis, the Spit, Kretinga or just walking around Klaipeda. I have many photos and pleasant memories from these trips that added variety to the typical 'whatcha wanna do, watch a movie?'
• My friends - the new and the old, both will be loved and cherished and missed greatly. I hope they had as good a time as I had, as this has been one of the best times in my life. In my heart you'll always stay! Now they just better reply to emails... ;)
  

One Last Time in Palanga

A fun day trip to Palanga with Regis and Evaldas started out with a great drive through the now green countryside. We parked and walked to the pier and walked along the beach for some time. Very few people were on the beach, but as I understand, the summer time brings thousands of people to Palanga and the town is packed. We found the spot where the river enters the sea, and walked inland from there. We came upon a green spot with many dandelions blooming, and I was taking a photo of them and found myself bombarded with dandelion bombs - the boys were picking them and flicking the blooms from the stems like a flower gun. You learn something new everyday! Apparently you can also make a little trumpet out of the stem, as Regis was able to do so and lo and behold, a duck came out of the woods to investigate the sound. He had called a duck with the dandelion trumpet! I tried to make the sound and was only mildly able to make a peep.

We then walked to Cili Pica and sat outside to enjoy the sunshine. After our food, we had planned to walk in the botanical garden, but we were all pretty tired and content, so we ended up just going home to Klaipeda. It was a beautiful day and I'm glad my last memories of Palanga will be this day spent with my friends enjoying our free time and wonderful weather.

Southern Lithuania

What a trip! Short and sweet and absolutely wonderful! Regis and I went on a mini-road trip to the southern part of Lithuania to visit his cousins that began with an early start Saturday morning. We drove out of Klaipeda and along the Nemunas river for some time, stopped at two castles and a mansion and had lunch at his Auntie's in Marijampole. She had made a curd pie, which I got the recipe for because it was delish! I'll try to make it at home...Anyway, the weather was gorgeous and made for wonderful photographs and driving mood. The chestnut, birch and other trees were fully green and beautiful and there were fields and fields of dandelions in bloom. I have never seen so many of the 'weeds' my dad hates in his front yard, and I think of him every time I see one.

After lunch, we were back on the road and headed to Regis' Uncle's house in a town called Veisiejai. The area was gorgeous, surrounded by lakes and forest. The town was small, and their house was right on the lake - with a little cabin built literally 10 meters from the water. The cabin held an upstairs bedroom with a balcony and downstairs held a sauna and eating area. Regis' cousins heated up the sauna for us and started barbecuing šašlykai (Lithuanian shishkebabs) while Regis and I rowed around the lake in a canoe. There was a swan heading our way and I kind of freaked out cause he was so big and seemed like he was on a mission to 'get us' and Regis wasn't making it any better by saying 'I've heard they can flip boats over, we better get outta here!' After that little adventure, the sauna was ready and it was h.o.t. The ladels of water added to the hot stones only made it hotter and moving the air with your hand or blowing on your skin was almost painful because it was so hot. After a few minutes in the hot box, we all went outside to cool off and the boys jumped in the lake. My understanding from their reactions was that it was pretty cold, so I did not join them or intend to do so. After a few more sessions in and out of the sauna, the last time we went outside Regis convinced me to jump in with him, though he had to half pull me to the water. It certainly was cold, but not as bad as I thought - though with the prospect of leeches in the water, I was out of there quickly. Regis actually found a leech just for me, and was poking it in the water and it just kind of wiggled and then bit his finger! He flung it off and I was thoroughly done with being near the water. After eating, our friend the swan was coming over to the pier and Regis was feeding it bread like a trick dolphin - making it reach for it from the water. It was pretty funny, as it was as if it were a dog begging for a treat. Later he chased it around the lake in the canoe until the swan got tired of being followed without any bread as a reward and flew off a bit.

That night, we went on a walk around the town and saw the sights - a huge white church, the local school, lilac bushes everywhere, a wooden sculpture park, etc. Having woken up early that morning, I was fairly tired and so we headed back to the house and sat on the cabin's balcony for a while enjoying the night and then eventually went to bed. The next morning, Regis, Mantas (his cousin) and I went to Druskininkai, a resort town nearby known for mineral baths and sanatoriums. We headed to "Gruto Parkas," a park founded by a local millionaire who gathered all the Soviet statues from the towns as they took them down following independence and put them all in one spot. There were many many statues of Lenin, Marx and other heroes of the Soviet times, with Soviet songs blaring over the loudspeakers, a Soviet canteen, a library, old flags and art...pretty much all things Soviet could be found here. The park also had a mini-zoo, so we saw ostriches, boars and many kinds of birds. It was interesting to see and it was great to just walk in the woods. We saw two snakes and a deer! Earlier in the week, Regis and I had gone to a cafe out of town and were walking in the woods nearby and saw a snake - which I picked up after he poked it first. It was just a little grass snake, but as I had never done that before and he is scared of snakes, it was an achievement for both of us. Anyway, so after the park we walked around Druskininkai and had lunch. The town was very well kept, with flower beds everywhere and a beautiful church in the center. I have posted photos as always at Yahoo - so feel free to browse!

After lunch we went back to Veisiejai and I played with the family cat and her kittens while Regis helped Mantas translate something and then we packed up and drove back towards Klaipeda. It was originally planned to be a two night trip, but Regis was leaving earlier for England than he thought and so wanted to go back and pack up his stuff. It felt like it was a longer trip because of everything that was packed into two days and it was a lot of fun! Naturally, Regis' family was very accommodating and friendly as always and I'm grateful to him to let me tag along. It was also great to see a part of Lithuania outside of Klaipeda, especially when in such perfect weather!

A Triumph & the Mundane

In honor of my 51st post, I think I'll relay a story in which I will say "triumph!" to start off with because I'm rather pleased. Cathal and I went to Akropolis to eat and see Spiderman 3 - and at one of the pizza places in the mall, I ordered my meal and Cathal ordered his and when he asked for a large beer, the waitress turned to me and said "a large Svyturys Ekstra?" in Lithuanian. I smiled and looked at Cathal, who quickly said 'yeah, Svyturys Ekstra...' and she read off what we ordered to me and I told her it was right and she went off to get our drinks. Then I laughed. He constantly makes fun of my 'accent' when I speak Lithuanian - but in reality I think most of the accent is because I roll my R's and he can't do that. The point of the story is clearly she thought I was the one who spoke Lithuanian and he was the foreigner :) Granted though, he only said "a large beer" and didn't specify which one, so naturally the waitress would ask which one he wanted - but to me!!

The movie was only okay - it was pretty predictable and used way too much computer action sequences...but overall it was fine. Spiderific. Then we went to Memelis and met Evaldas, Dovydas & Regina there - and after a few too many drinks, I sang karaoke - American Pie...in front of the whole bar, with a friend of another friend who was also there. I was pushed up there - thank you boys.

In other news, I got my hair cut again yesterday at a different salon on the suggestion of Renalda, who said maybe I should get a more 'classic' cut...so I went and am pleased with the results. It's nothing drastic, just a cleanup.

In other other news, I have been packing and cleaning over the last 2 weeks since graduation and have been making tons of progress. I could not have done this last minute, as the time has allowed me to go through piles of papers and find homes for things I won't be taking with me. I don't leave tomorrow, which means I can't put everything in suitcases, but some of my clothes are in there already, allowing me to save some time later. I will spending the night in Vilnius before my flight the next day to make sure I don't miss a bus or something and then saying 'iki pasimatymo' to Lietuva...

Victory Day

Today is May 9, which means it's the anniversary of the capitulation (I had to look up this word - it's a special kind of treaty) of Nazi Germany to the Soviet Union in World War 2, commonly referred to by the Soviets as the Great Patriotic War. Wikipedia tells me that the Baltic states, which claim that the Soviet Union used its victory over Nazi Germany as an opportunity to occupy them for next 40 years, celebrate the victory day on May 8. I will have to confirm this with a Balticonian.

Anyway, on my walk to the bus station this morning, I noticed scores of people holding red flowers in their hands, mostly carnations and tulips, and walking in the same direction. I passed a group of children speaking Russian on their way back to school walking away from the direction everyone went, and was wondering what was going on. Lucky for me, I met Natalija at LCC and asked her what the occasion for the flowers was and she explained briefly about Victory Day and suggested I go to the memorial monument later in the day to see all the flowers. I did just that - and followed the people with the flowers to the WWII Soviet Memorial that I had seen before in the sculpture park, but never like this. There were hundreds and hundreds of flowers stacked on and near the monument. Most of them were red, and people were standing around with their families. It was beautiful, and I kind of felt bad taking photographs, but I thought I was being respectful and not taking photos of people and staying out of everyone's way.

Natalija also told me that her grandfather was in the war and that he was in a group of soldiers who met the Americans as they closed in on the Nazis. He received a high honor for doing so, and she said that most everyone of Russian descent has someone in their family who fought in the war, so the day is a big deal. It made me think of our memorial days...do we even have a holiday for the world wars? Or do Veterans and Memorial days take care of it?

Countdown

3 weeks................