Ufa

Thursday is rather a blur... I got my backpack together before I went to work. Got on the train and was asleep in my sleeping bag liner within 20 minutes. I have got this night train riding down to a science. I was so nervous and excited to get there.

Quick note: For those new friends since my mission- I spent 18 months as a missionary for the LDS church. I volunteered in Ufa for 10 of those 18 months. So I have really close relationships with the people there.

Pasha met me at the train station and from then on it was a non stop stream of conversation and greetings for almost the whole weekend. Church on sunday was the best! Only a few people knew that I was coming and everyone else had basicly the same reaction- 2 seconds of stunned recognition and then hugging and crying and laughing. It was the sweetest sort of reunion. I thought that most people would have forgotten who I was. Everyone remembered me and was so happy to see me and wanted to invite me over for dinner. Without being cliche, I have to say that is what the CK will be like. It was really like going home to my "family". The emotions I felt being there again were so strong. Even the memories of places and associated events came back so vividly that I cried several times.
I felt that real joy of seeing people you love and have tried to help, happy and that they have continued to do well.
I met up with several of my old english students and we went to a cafe and "guliated" together. People gave me presents and flowers. I felt like a returning hero or something.
The only sad part was that I couldn't stay longer. I managed to have several good one on one chats with my friends, but of course I wished that I could have had more time. I will try to get back there for at least one more weekend before I leave Russia.