Circle of Life

Traveling.  Eventually, it may lose its novelty as I do more and more of it (and I certainly plan to).  However, that won't be for a long time yet, and, knowing me, I may very well always remain The Wide-Eyed Wanderer.  :]
My flight left Belgrade at 7:50, and I thought I had to be at the airport two hours beforehand, just in case.  When Mr. Stojanovic informed me that one hour would be more than sufficient time, I was greatly relieved that I would only have to wake up at 5:30 (only???).  However, I still maintain that the time I spent with Nikola's friends finally enjoying myself in Belgrade was worth getting only 4 hours of sleep :].
Breakfast was, for the final time, xleb, kaimek, and jogurt.  I could definitely get used to Serbian food - I hope the fare in Russia is as agreeable :].  After packing up my few remaining belongings (including the clothes that Mrs. Stojanovic had so generously washed for me the night before) I prepared to depart from the place that had so quickly begun to feel like home to me.  Nikola was awake and ready to accompany me to the airport, which shocked and pleased me very much.  When I expressed my gratitude to him, he was quick to assure me that as soon as he had finished seeing me off, he would return to finish a good night's sleep.  Yep, he's still Nikola.  :D  Aca, who had earlier in the week asserted that he, too, would go with me to the airport, was less dedicated - and I didn't blame him :]  I think he was just glad to be getting his bed back, although I'm sure his temporary place within sight of the television wasn't entirely disagreeable to him ;].  At the apartment, I bid adieu to Mrs. Stojanovic and Aca, and there were hugs and kisses all around (most Serbs are very affectionate people :]).
On the way to the airport, I looked for the last time (for now, at least) at the sights which had already begun to become familiar to me - Belgrajenka (for a long time the tallest structure in Belgrade at 24 stories), St. Markos' cathedral where the wedding had been, the bridge over the Sava... and I was more than glad that I had come.  Owl City's "Fireflies" played on the radio - a song that I had always considered inane (and still do), but that will now hold special meaning for me.  Suddenly Nikola handed me something, saying, "Be careful - it's not quite dry."  It was a CD from the Serbian band Bajaga, entitled "Sa druge strane jastuka" (On the other side of the pillow).  The still-drying ink on the CD cover read "To: Erin, From: Nikola" and on the back it said "born to... sleep", a reference to the most famous song of the first artist Nikola had inspired me to start listening to.  With a smile, Nikola said, "Well, you wanted Serbian music... this will be the beginning."  I can't wait to get somewhere with a computer or CD player so that I can listen to the CD.  :]
Nikola intentionally (I'm pretty sure he does most things intentionally) wore his MAINE sweatshirt, which made me smile.  When we were almost to the airport, an Elton John song came on to the radio, and Nikola said, "Oh yes, he was here in Belgrade yesterday."  I didn't think any more of it until I suddenly caught the lyrics of the song: it was "Circle of Life."  The irony of the entire thing was almost too much.  The Lion King is both my and Nikola's favorite movie; one of the few that we watched together in America.  And things had really come full circle for us; Nikola had spent a year in my world and I had spent a week in his.  Music truly speaks in a language deeper than English, or Serbian, or any other, and I know that I will never again hear that song in the same way.  
We got to the airport around 6:40 and checking in presented no problems (and almost made me feel like an experienced traveler.. almost.  I can't kid myself quite that much ;]).  Then, it was time to part.  Nikola and I looked at each other and smiled, remembering all the adventures of the past week.  Looking him in the eye, I said, "Vidichemo se posle," which means "I will definitely see you later."  And this time, I meant it.  I had had a taste of Serbia, and I was hooked.  I loved the atmosphere of Belgrade, the hospitality of its people, and I still have much more to explore in the White City.  I also knew that, whether here in Belgrade, back in Maine, or in some other corner of the world, Nikola and I would meet again.  We are friends.  And that's what friends do.
After a hug and kiss on the cheek from Nikola and his dad, I was ready to go.  Getting through security presented to problems and after I got my passport checked and stamped, I turned and blew a parting kiss to Serbia before setting off on my next grand adventure.  However, I couldn't resist finding a window on the jetway from which to watch Nikola and his father as they walked from the terminal to their car and drove away, in order to say my own, private goodbye.  I didn't want this to end, in a way, but I knew that what was ahead was even more exciting than what lay behind.