The "Walk"

So I get up in the morning (7 am on Tues/Thurs, 830 am on MWF) and do whatever I have to do in preparation to the exciting or dreaded 25 minute walk to school. Usually it's pure excitement for me, but the days of darkness and rain and cold are not quite upon us. I put the necessary garb on and head for class dodging the several street pups on my way out the door. (at night, the streets are roamed by cats and dogs and drunks...but I'm safe Grandma, don't worry!) I walk out the door and head for the back alley across the street. I cut some corners through the worn dirt paths. I walk by 6 men smoking outside of a building that still I cannot figure out what is going on inside (KGB still up and running?). I then approach the toughest part of my venture. I walk by "the bakery" and they have this little fan blowing the sensational smell of fresh pastries and rolls out to the public. I rarely have time to stop but I never knew my mouth could water so. Then it's by the Kebaba joint (Lithuania fast food pita type thing...amazing) and across the crazy busy street where I just "hope" that the oncoming busses will stop for me like they are supposed to. Then there's Mr. Great Dane whom I thought, the first time I saw him, that he would simply step over the shoulder high fence to eat me in 2 bites. I think we are slowly becoming friends now. Well, I'm half way there and it's time to pick up the pace. I pass a few very nice houses on a back street and a real nice hotel before reaching the train tracks and crossing the bridge. This is an event and I tremble I bet each time because legend says that a little girl fell through this weather worn bridge and dropped the 25 or so feet only to be mangled from the waste down. Scary but I've safely made the voyage for 3 weeks now. Then it's a straightaway in which I pass many many Lithuanians who stare at the ground, as do I (if you smile and say Labas! you are very "weird"). You see, in Lithuania you stay out of each other's personal business. We Americans are shallow because we smile and say hello even though we don't "really" care. A cultural thing! So, I see my beautiful school, which sits on the north side of town, off in the distance, and my pace quickens. I have one more street to cross and I dodge a car that I "thought" was slowing down. And there you have it, I safely made the voyage to LCC and I sit down in class daydreaming about my next adventure back to the dorm.