It’s always sunny at Carleton

I know, my professor in Creative Writing class said that we shouldn’t write under the influence of emotions and that our impressions need time to settle down. But what can I do? I just can’t keep silent…

This trip to Carleton College where I worked as language assistant two years ago was unbelievably amazing. From the very beginning, from the moment when the bus was approaching Northfield (city where the college is located) there appeared this wonderful feeling of coming home. I don’t know whether it’s because everything about America and a huge world around me was discovered for the first time in my life just here, or whether it’s because Northfield and Carleton are indeed so comfortable and cozy places. These are places where I feel like being at home. These are places where I feel incredibly happy.

The whole campus smells of sun and comfort, of sweet syrup (from nearby Meal-O-Meal factory) and fall gold. And I wanted to run gaily across a many-colored lawn, to muffle myself up into a softness of my favorite couch in the library, and to relish peppermint flavored mocha in my favorite café. I felt welcomed everywhere; all eyes were shining when meeting me. My Russian professors met me at the bus stop and brought me for lunch to the fanciest Indian restaurant in the town. Everything sounded so familiar and well-known – Anna’s unique sense of humor and Laura’s wise and considerate questions. As if there were not these two years being far from them. Then I enjoyed this great Russian 101 class full of fun and different challenges. I was amazed again how Anna managed to speak only Russian even with people who started learning this language literally two months ago!

These days were full of accidental meetings with acquaintances and planned dates with good friends and former students, joyful questions and surprises, hugs and flowers, inspiring conversations about art and future. Meanwhile, these days were as well full of unexpected discoveries, unexplored worlds and new interesting people. Open-hearted and a little naïve, very young new Russian language assistant and her sociable and cheerful roommate, German language assistant, hosted me and spent a good half of the night asking me tons of questions about my life here and at Carleton. The best detail that made my evening was my favorite blanket that I slept with two years ago! They kept this blanket and gave it to me without knowing that it was the same blanket that I used when I worked at the college.

This one day and a half were the happiest days in my life. Exciting plans for future meetings, invitations to spend time in my house, and enthusiastic “we will see each other more often”. A wild desire to live, to create, to communicate, and to build the happiest world together. There is a boiling life full of joy. There is a life everywhere around.