It must have been the warm summer of 99 when I met Alexei, a Russian student who spent one year in Antwerp. Alexei was everything most metropolitan Europeans no longer are: extremely hospitable, blessed with a rare warmth and generosity that only small town Russians still possess. He made me laugh trying to teach me some basic Russian expressions written in Cyrillic.
Way back then Antwerp still had its original “Falcon” square, a place where sailors from all over the world shopped for everything they couldn’t get in regular stores. The nearby red light district completed the picture. Until recently the “Falcon” square used to be one of the rare places in Antwerp when an original red star decorated one of the buildings.
When Alexei moved back to small-town Russia, we kept in touch. Until my mail started bouncing: I assumed his ISP went down - tracking him by phone or mail also failed as he moved frequently.
Anyway, I wish I could find a way to get back in touch: Alexei has been a close friend for years, I just hate not knowing what happened to him or being able to get in touch during the holiday season.
For all of you who speak Russian, and for Alexei:
Широкий простор для мечты и для жизни
Грядущие нам открывают года.
Нам силу даёт наша верность Отчизне.
Так было, так есть и так будет всегда!
(translated:)
Wide spaces for dreams and for living
The coming years are promising us.
Our faith in our Fatherland gives us strength.
So it was, so it is, and so it will always be!
—
Take care Alexei, wherever you are.
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