One fine day, I was just working, and deep down, I knew something unique was supposed to happen today. I had been waiting for this moment for almost a year. But I didn't know how it would happen or when to expect it. And then, finally, Evgeny walked into the kitchen. The very same Evgeny Petrov—my closest friend, colleague, and comrade from last year, with whom we still keep in touch. He had arrived in Montana a long time ago but was staying in the town of Whitefish, not far from us, and we had been urging him to come to us every day. His arrival marked the beginning of my season. The beginning of my summer. Even though it was already June 19th, only now did I feel that I was really here. Last year, this person and I met in Missoula, MT, on a bus on the way to our village. We met, but at first, we didn't like each other. He was supposed to be a barista, but they put him in the kitchen because of his good English so he could call out orders. And so, we went through the hell of the season together. Side by side. Slowly but surely, we grew closer to the point of being best friends. Now I want to make a reference to the previous blog, but if you haven't read it, you won't understand. It's a shame. I sincerely hope you read it and understand what I'm talking about. So, that story with the tire (which went flat in the middle of a road unknown to us) finally brought us together. And then a few days pass, and nothing suggests any events at all. I was sitting silently in the common room watching TV when a young 24-year-old Romanian woman walked into the room, and we both rushed at each other with wild screams. It was Mihaela. The 3rd part of our friendly international triangle. I knew she was supposed to arrive around these days, but I didn't expect to see her at that moment, and this meeting turned out just like in a movie. Especially considering that Evgeny's birthday had happened about an hour before. Oh, and yes, Mihaela was moved into my old room. Why am I telling you this, right? You see, I just realized that there are people who are not bothered by distance. People with whom you can be thousands of miles apart but still be close friends. Not just friends, but waiting insanely for a meeting. Out of hundreds, no, thousands of job options in different places, choosing that same place again just to see them again, to enjoy their presence, jokes, laughter, and time together again. It's priceless. There are only a few such people. And it is a joy to meet them during the program. This is one of the giant pluses you can win by going overseas. Who knows, maybe I will be friends with them for the rest of my life, or maybe we will drift apart in a couple of years. It's not for me to decide, but for the happiness they gave me, I am already infinitely grateful to them. And last year, when they were leaving on the same flight, I was so lost that I was ready to drop everything and go with them. But I just stood there and shed tears.
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