Long Farewells Mean Extra Tears. We’re Heading Out to Sea

Long farewells mean extra tears I usually say this phrase after hugging a friend goodbye for the tenth time. Over our year in Perth, we have become entwined in such a dense web of connections, part of an ordinary-yet-extraordinary land-based life for us, that the farewells have stretched from last Wednesday until this Thursday, when a small circle of friends will come to see us off at the Fremantle Sailing Club jetty. All this week, Russian Perth and our family have been saying goodbye to each other in earnest. On Wednesday and Thursday of the week before our departure, Juan Rando Dance Academy saw us off. There were tears, loads of laughter and, of course, dancing. The Russian school and our inner circle On Friday, 19 March, a year and one day after Lady Mary arrived in Perth (Fremantle), we gathered with a small circle of friends at the home of Ksyusha, the chief Muse of Russian Perth. By midnight, the evening had ended with bonfires made of candles and songs accompanied by guitar. The next day, I taught a Media lesson at the Russian school Mosaic , which our young sailor had happily attended all year. This was the school she was talking about when she said, “Holidays? A whole month? But whyyy? I don’t want holidays!” We had a heartfelt farewell tea with cupcakes and hugs with the team who make children not want holidays. There will only be photos from Sunday evening here, because Yulia Galushina takes the best photos in the world 🙂 An open gathering in the central park And on Sunday, almost the whole of Russian Perth gathered in Kings Park, in the capital of Western Australia, to see us off. Given the March heat, I had even thought that only our nearest and dearest would come to the farewell picnic. But there were lots of people—around 50, not counting the colourful, merry gang of children and teenagers racing around the lawn and playground and climbing trees. Of all the places along our route, the Russian community in Western Australia is the largest and most diverse. And perhaps our “sailrrival” here brought together people who had not really socialised before and gave them a little warmth and inspiration. Russian Perth There were teachers and heads of two Russian schools, the organisers of two Russian Perth Facebook groups, representatives of the Prichal music and song club, our close friends, good acquaintances and people we were meeting for the first time. With all of them, we felt warm and at home throughout this whole year and throughout that Sunday evening. and even this isn’t the whole group ) Despite the bushfire season and the ban on lighting fires anywhere at all, we managed to sing songs accompanied by guitar around a campfire. It was an improvised campfire made of candles, a brilliant idea that can draw romance out of any ordinary evening. Some people could not come; some were too shy to come over and say hello and goodbye, but everyone we spent time with lit a little flame in our hearts. And to remember it by, we will have professional photographs from no fewer than three photographers—Inna, who is from Novosibirsk, our hometown; her New Zealander husband; and our beloved and closest friend, Yulia Galushina , whose photographs are gracing this report right now :). Latest news Yesterday, Monday, we weathered the usual storm of activity. In the morning, we had breakfast while studying charts with our yacht neighbours. In the afternoon, our young sailor settled down to her online lessons at her beloved Geography School , Nastya went off to the dance studio , and in the evening the captain, our young sailor and I hosted close friends. Meeting up and saying goodbye every day. Under these circumstances, when exactly are we supposed to stow provisions in the lockers, stock up and prepare the yacht for departure, we ask you? :)) The brief official and inspiring part of the evening—about the Travely-Family expedition Part of the Kovalishen family Three comrades ) Three different families )