2004-12-29 - What does you parents think?
What does you parents think Johan?
29 Dec, 04 - 22:43
GPS-pos: N67°28´ | E153°42´ | Alt: 11 M
Written by Johan Ivarsson
We´re in our apartment in Srednekolymsk. It´s been a lovely clear day with a moderate wind from the south, -44°F outside and 55°F in the apartment.
´´I would never have allowed my son to go away and do something like this, aren´t your parents worried about you?´´, the old woman said to me, took my hand and before I could answer she turned to Mikael and continued, ´´I would have asked the person who had persuaded him to come, what kind of man did he think he was to take away my son.´´
I tried to explain to her how my parents look upon my participation in the expedition, but it seemed like she couldn´t understand.
This happened during a lunch we were invited to today when visiting one of the many small villages that can be found in the Srednekolymsk region. I told her that my parents sees this as a big opportunity for me, to do what I´ve always wanted to do, that this is what I´ve always dreamt about doing and that they´re happy if I´m happy. Even though they´re of course worried at times. But she just couldn´t understand it!
This question have arisen quite a few times during this expedition, and it have always been the women asking those type of questions. Other common questions have been if I don´t miss my parents and my home, when I´ve been away for such a long time? They all get mighty surprised when I answer them that I don´t, at least, not too much.
When I left home, six month ago, I though that I would experience some rough times during this expedition. Moments when I would miss everything regarding home a lot. And I was prepared for that hardship to happen. But so far, it hasn´t! Of course, there have been times when I more than anything have wanted to be at home, lying on the sofa with a big bowl of crisps, watching a good movie on the TV, but this have only been for short moments. Then something have happened that have brought my thoughts back to reality, such as a strange current in the river threatening to turn the canoe around or when I´ve spotted some mist coming up from a hole in the ice that have to be avoided. These low moments always occur after several hard days of travelling, when I´ve been very tired and I´ve become a bit dismal. But they´ve always disappeared quickly when I, satisfied after a warm dinner, after a hard days work, made my way into the warm sleeping bag and finally been able to get some rest. And, do note this, most of the time, when we´ve for example been invited into a hunters home along the river, to spend the night in warmth and join him for a gorgeous meal, during those moments I´ve never wanted to be anywhere else in the world!
There is, of course, a lot of things, that I think about during the days of travelling. Especially during the slogging days. I think about my girlfriend, Angelica. What and how she are doing and how will things be when I come home. Then, of course, I think about my dog Ysack, my sister Hanna, my parents and friends. And, naturally, I miss them all, but so far, not that much that I would change this way of living to that of back home.
I think the reason that I haven´t missed home too much, have a lot to do with the people here. They, with their inconceivable generosity, have a tremendous way to make you feel at home. Yesterday, for example, we went to see the mayor of Srednekolymsk, Mr. Grigorjev. He asked us if we needed any help of sorts, but we couldn´t think about anything in particular. Suddenly we remembered that we´d been looking for potatoes but hadn´t found it in any of the many local stores. When he heard this he immediately picked up the phone and called his own home to arrange that a sack of potatoes (100 kg!) to be sent to our little apartment. These people are just astonishing!
There´s so much to see, to learn and to experience here! This fact has given me a lot to think about. I´ve picked up a very valuable perspective about life during this time, and I have definitely started to see life and all things in a different way! |
