Moscow Airport

Moscow was actually really easy because customs was way less intense than I thought. I went to the "I have nothing to claim" area (I learned that if you have more than 10,000 dollars you then have to claim it).-Fun fact interjection here! I was behind rapper Ice Cube in the stamp-your-visa line. He flew first class on my Moscow flight! It was so weird seeing him and his two bodyguards LOL.- They did search my checked bags, but they don't do that in front of you. I just gave it to the lady at the "I have nothing to claim"desk and she sent them back. I can only tell my bag was searched because the tops of all my chai boxes were broken off. The Moscow airport was much smaller than I thought it would be- they only had 20 gates in the domestic flight area (I think- maybe it's 20 all together). I had to take a bus to my plane, but there was no way I could get lost because once I gave the lady my ticket I went through the doors and there was a bus, not a plane. And, of course, everyone else got on the bus that was going on the plane. The flight to Krasnoyarsk was actually nice. It was very odd though, because my seatmates spoke NO English and neither did the stewardesses. I could tell the stewardesses I didn't want anything though, so I didn't look completely lost. Only when the girl next to me tried talking to me or asked me questions did I have to say "yeah, I don't understand Russian. . .(in Russian of course)." 

Oleg did meet me at the airport with his son Constantine. They both spoke really good English. I went through customs before I even got to them, so what they were actually going to do was show me around Moscow! But it was the city day ( the anniversary of the day it was founded) so all the major roads were shut down and traffic was way worse than the usual big-city traffic. So pretty much we sat at a cafe and they practiced their English for a while with me. I learned a lot from them, like the Russians won WWII with some help, I look European, school is canceled when it is below -35C because some schools have no central heating system, college is free here (and all you have to do is pass an exam to become a doctor- Constantine was 25 and already an MD.  Russians have no idea where Oregon is (we guessed that though), and most Russians smoke. I say it was a very productive few hours. 

All the appliances here are (I think) are funny because they seem to be just the opposite of what they appear. I almost took a cold shower because I put the water thing all the way over on the "red"/hot side and freezing water was coming out. Then I wondered why I had to turn the nozzle thing all the way from the  blue/cold side and thought "Maybe its backwards?" Yup. It was. :)

Дома

So, I would just like to say that I arrived safely. I will admit, it was a really emotional exit on my part. It wasn't because I was nervous or had second thoughts about leaving. More about all of my pent up anxiety and excitement and ambition all coming out of me at the same time. I am going to miss my family, and already do. It isn't in the sense that I thought it would be though. It is coming home and being able to use expressive language and having people understand me, and being to tell the people that raised me all of the wonderful things that are happening in person that I miss. I am not sure what I thought missing someone would really be like, but I guess not that.
When I arrived, it thankfully was on a Sunday morning (no school). My host parents, Julia and Arthur, met me at the airport. Julia handed me a rose, and it is in my room still in a vase. When we arrived about 20 minutes later at the apartment (here it is a "flat"), we put my suitcases into my room.
Julia then asked me "Well, do you feel like you have just arrived home?" Funny thing is, I did.
My mom from the 'States will post more from e-mails I send her. It will be more "newsy" portions. In the meantime I will be learning Russian, adapting to this wonderful new culture, and developing relationships with great people. In a few weeks or months, maybe I will post again myself.

Actus Dei

This week, tomorrow in fact, I am supposedly leaving for my city in Siberia, Russia. Unfortunately, I still have no idea on how I am getting there. What is this?!? I can see how it is good that I haven't left yet, as kids that have tried to go to their host cities have been stopped by a volcanic eruption. And there is this rule that one must be with their host families within three days of arrival in Russia, so those kids are all scrambling to try to get where they need to go to avoid deportation or some other bad penalty.

For me, I may fly through Beijing, Seoul, Moscow, and LA. And have to go through customs in Moscow (Lord help me). And I think that this means that I will not be meeting up with other Exchange students. And that I will be leaving Wednesday. I will keep you all updated, but, honestly, I don't think I am leaving unless it is an Act of God. Hmmm. . .

Aliquam Lacinia/

Through all of the travel agent follies and wasted time worrying, I think I may actually leave the United States! All I am waiting for is my HIV/AIDS test to come back notarized and then send it (same day shipping) to Washington and the travel agent. Three days after that I am gone!

I am not sure I will be able to make it through traveling by myself, as I will most likely be the only one going to Russia this time of year (my host mom is awesome and got all of the paperwork to the travel agency that I need for my visa; and my Liaison is awesome and has worked her tail off making this process as smooth as it can be). And I can hardly believe I am leaving! It's so surreal! TOO surreal! I'm beginning all of these goodbyes and am getting all verklempt (a Yiddish word for being choked with emotion) and all the while not believing that I am leaving in less than a week! How is this possible?

I still need to shop for a ton of things too. Not shirts (but a couple of long sleeved blouses would be  nice), but items like TSA locks, tights, a Russian-English Bible, a converter, pictures from family vacations and day trips. . . And before this weekend?!? To think that only a couple weeks ago I believed that I would be going to State Fair this weekend to make cranberry poached pears with mascarpone-cinnamon filling. That is some kind of sad joke now (if I am actually leaving. . .)

Aliquam lacinia? Maybe just a little!
P.S. And guess what? My next post will probably be from RUSSIA!