We spent the last weekend in Zaporozhye experiencing our first "Winter Retreat." It went well and we were able to relax a good deal and reflect on our past 3 months as well as listen to other MCCers reflect on their past six months. It was interesting and helpful in getting a better picture of what MCC is doing in the Former Soviet Union as well as think back on what had happened in our own lives.
This morning, we arrived at the bus station early with hopes of getting on a marshrutka (small bus). We talked to the driver, but he kept asking us if we were on something that we did not understand. We figured out that he had a list of passengers that called him last night to reserve seats in the van. He thought the van was full, but a group of around 6 people waited outside the van just in case. We spent the next 45 minutes speaking broken Russian to a very nice lady outside the van. She was very interested in what we are doing here, where we are from, how long we are staying and the other traditional questions. She was very friendly and patient with us.
As the departure time approached, the driver walked past and she spoke very rapidly to him and gestured in our direction. He said "I know, I understand...." and gestured for us to get in the van. A few minutes later we realized that the lady, who had been waiting longer than we had, was not going to get a seat. We have concluded that she was kind enough to tell the driver to give the last two seats in the marshrutka to us. As we drove away, we saw her standing there, waiting for the next marshrutka, which left two hours later.
In the past few months, the election situation has caused us to be very deliberate in not broadcasting the fact that we are Americans. We have tried to talk as quietly and little as possible in public because of anti-American sentiments in our area. Today we were reminded of the kindness of strangers.
-Dave
