[FAN-ACCOUNT] 130718 EXO in Kazan Airport

The thing was - we didn't know the exact flight, but we wanted to send boys off in a warm and peaceful atmosphere. We just planned to go at noon and hang out at the airport. When we were on our way, we saw the info that EXO left their hotel, but it was just 12am and we figured out that maybe they were going to eat somewhere and whatnot (in the end, they went to the Kazan Kremlin, had fun there, took pics with fans, tried on the national Kazan hats etc.)

We hoped that we will quietly send them off, and no one will behave like animals - at each airport meeting in Russia all fans were calm and reserved, so we didn't expect anything less today. And even if someone would try to do something unappropriate, we would stop them. We wanted to make sure that EXO will leave with great memories and simply wanted to thank them for coming to Russia and being so open and friendly.

There wasn't much people in the airport, I was actually surprised, there was just around 15 fans there. Not a crowd, everyone was pretty much all the people I knew, so the "chances" for a peaceful goodbye were good

There was contradicting info about their flights and we honestly didn't know until they arrived. To be honest, we weren't completely sure until they started to check-in the luggage xD

Their bus arrived to the front entrance, they started to unload the luggage. Boys were sitting in the bus for a very long time. Airport staff immediately said "no pictures". But I will be honest: we put down the cameras but prepared to film if it would be possible, because airport staff often say contradicting things.

And then the bus took off, half of SM staff stayed inside the airport. The bus went to another entrance with less people, and that was actually a good decision. The Universiade volunteers were helping EXO and actually one of them saw us and actually asked the managers about the fans, and he told that managers wanted us to stand in the line, don't even think about touching any of EXO and absolutely no photo and video, that was the request of managers. We put away the cameras because, let's face it, we just wanted to say thank you and goodbye. Pictures and fancams are always nice to share with other fans, but only when it's okay to film. That's my opinion.

We stood in line calmly. Then some fans came from other part of the airport and said that Kris, Tao and Lay went inside and signed some albums. We were like "WTF, HOW O_O" After some minutes we saw them when they were going outside back to the bus. We waited for 20 minutes or something... and the bus went off again o__o

We were frustrated because... as everyone knows, Russian fans acted very calm with them and EXO were very relaxed and friendly, and we actually expected that managers would trust us again.

After that there was this endless frustrating walks from one end of the airport to another, at some point we thought managers made EXO went in through some VIP zone or something, and actually it wasn't a pleasant feeling: we didn't do anything but proving that we are reserved and not rabid insane fangirls, but managers treated us like some universal evil xD Now it seems a bit funny, but at that moment it was very frustrating, but we wanted to prove that we won't do anything bad. There was almost ten people left, we sat next to the check-in stands. The check-in for St.Petersburg started, managers were checking-in the luggage. Boys were still in the bus at the parking.

To be honest, we almost lost hope to see our boys. Managers were passing by us, saw that we were calm and sad xD I don't know for sure, and everything is just my assumptions, and there is two possible reasons: our calm behaviour convinced the managers or they simply didn't have any choice left but to let boys inside to the airport (or they would miss their flight) xD

We saw the bus coming to the entrance and went there. We organized themselves and stood in the line, didn't even dare to take out the cameras because it was a request from SM staff (no photo/video) and we wanted to respect it and not bother EXO if they didn't want to be filmed. We only wanted to say thank you.

And boys finally went inside and went to the check-up. Everyone passed by our line just within an arm reach distance, but we weren't shouting anything, just waving, bowing and saying "thank you" and "bye". All boys were in good mood and friendly, they returned our smiles and bowed to us too. It was very touching and rewarding, it was nice to feel the trust.

Chanyeol even said "poka!" ("bye" in Russian) >< He really said it accurately! He is very curious to learn foreign words, it seems Other EXO boys tried to repeat it too.

EXO went to the passport control stand and while they waited in the queue, we moved closer but stayed away and didn't want to make them feel uncomfortable, but they absolutely weren't! They waved to us and smiled. There were a lot of cute moments. Like when Park Chanyeol was yawning like a hippo! >< Or D.O. suddenly waved at us like he was spazzing (he teased us because we were so afraid to do anything except waving and staring xDDD) Chanyeol waved a lot, he was very-very tall and cute!

In the end, most of the fans didn't take any pictures because of managers' request. And we also ask everyone not to share photos from Kazan airport (on 130718). Fans in St.Petersburg said that there managers were okay with pictures - I wasn't there and I can't say if it's absolutely true or not - but I know what we've been asked for in Kazan and we want to respect their requests. The most important thing I've learned from this - if you treat boys well, they will pay you back with same attitude. They were genuinely surprised at their arrival to Moscow, then at the arrival to Kazan, and spent the whole day of July 16th on sightseeing Kazan and interacting with fans. The managers didn't mind any of it, they permitted taking selcas, and actually yesterday at the airport, manager Seunghwan looked very content with us and even proud? :D Seemed so!

I'm writing all of this not because I want to say that Russian fans are superior or better than fans from other countries. I want to say that these 4 days were an example of how things _can_ be done. That everyone can treat boys not like zoo animals, but as humans, with respect. And both sides will have lots of precious memories to cherish later. I sincerely hope that each EXO fan would have such precious moments, like taking selca, talking to their bias or just seeing their smiles. ^^

Yours,
very tired and happy Alisa

(Credit: ForChanyeol / Taken from ten_03@CODE:EXO)

Shared by Luhan @ EXOdicted.net

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