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Alina Kurpel

by Alina Kurpel

Story

On the way from the university, Ulyana and I try to come up with an idea to avoid this disgrace: the program should not only be scripted, but also recorded and edited at the university TV studio. Ulyana resents:

— What a fucked-up assignment!

— Bobr is all about that. But we have to write it somehow.

— Sure. Let’s add more cultural references, background information, and, towards the end, something about the Americans, right?

— Sounds good. When will we start writing the script?

— Can you do it tomorrow morning?

— No, I’ll be working on my radio program. On other days, I’m more or less flexible. The most important thing for me is to complete it before the next weekend, as Kim and I are meeting up in Finland.

— Wait, wait! Is that Kim you met in Italy? Are you still in touch?

— Yes, it’s surprising even to me. We’re constantly texting. Basically, every day.


WhatsApp. Asya—Kim. 14.04.2016
Kim:
Guten Morgen 👋 🌄
Asya:
Dobroe utro ☀️
Kim:
oh my gosh – every night someone is snoring around me. I hope, it’ll get better later in my journey at the other hostels ^^
Asya:
Horrible 😱 Wish you good luck!
I will prepare a bit more for the IELTS and then will be off to the uni 😊


It was a typical Erasmus romance, but the location added a special charm: Venice made everything feel somewhat otherworldly. When Kim and I said our goodbyes, it felt like a farewell for me, and I gave an appropriate speech. Kim did not come to see me off at the airport, and I did not ask for it. We were close in a way, but certainly, no one owed anything to anyone. This was all supposed to end with the completion of our exchange programs. However, a few days later, Kim texted to ask if I had arrived home safely.


© Alina Kurpel 2023-08-29

Genres
Novels & Stories