I have just returned from the Last Bell ceremony for school graduates. There was a lot of smiling, a lot of crying, a lot of singing, a lot of dancing and a lot of saying good-bye. It was all in Kazakh and being the only Russian teacher in a Kazakh lyceum I had a hard time understanding it all except for some occasional commonly known words. But it did not lessen the solemnity of the moment for me because I knew with my very heart what everyone was saying. I got roses, shared some hugs and ‘iloveyous’ and can’t help writing about it now.

These kids are truly awesome. Probably pretty much the best kids in the world. And I am saying this not because they were my students and I know that never again will I walk into the class and say ‘what’s up everyone, how are the Present Perfect exercises doing?’ and it’s a mere nostalgia for what can not be back but because it is really so.

I should admit I am not very good at judging other people’s mental abilities. If you have ever succeeded in making me laugh you are smart enough for me. I think I have never in my life called anybody stupid or thought one to be such. I am well aware that we all have our own backgrounds and life histories so it’s okay to be different and act according to one’s previous experiences. But I can definitely see if someone is especially gifted. Like it is impossible to deny the brightness of the sun so it is impossible to deny a talent if it is there. It shines through. It illumines everything and everyone around. So you probably can imagine what it was like to be a teacher for these kids for two years.

I was standing there looking at them and thought of how beautiful everyone of them is. Every. One. Beautiful. When I say the word ‘beautiful’ I usually do not mean the physical beauty ( unless I specifically indicate it)but the internal kind of beauty that attracts me even more. These kids, all graduating with multiple honors and Red Diplomas( diplomas where you have only A-s and no B-s), besides all the knowledge have kind and just hearts and I believe with these it’s possible to accomplish the old ‘anything you wish for’.

I am no quitter but I am quitting the school. I have several jobs to manage anyway and I do not want to be at a place where everything is the same but everyone is different ( if you even understand what I mean). Got to move on.

Bon voyage for those traveling too.