For the last month I have been so emotional but I still looked forward to the adventures I would have when I made it to Russia. As August 9th finally approached, I was so exhausted, anxious, and emotional drained to actually be heading out of Jacksonville. My wonderful friends, Terry, Stan, Ray, Patty, and Lauren all came to the airport to give me hugs and wish me a farewell! Good memories from that day will always remain close to my heart, especially "Nemo."
I made it from Jacksonville to NC to DC. Now was the time to start getting fidgety because the real step was about to happen. When I made it to DC, we were at gate Z and I had to make my way to gate A so I could pick up my ticket and then proceed to find food and a bathroom before I needed to board my last plane. The line grew extremely long and I made my way to the end of the line to only stand there for about an hour before we could board. Our plane was supposed to leave at 7:45pm, we did not take off until about 8:15. Some where in the air we lost some more time, so instead of the plane ride taking 9 hours it took us 10. On the long plane ride, there was screaming babies, snoring men, squishy seats, loud music, and other unfortunate events going on around me. I decided my earplugs were a great fix and I laid my head on my pillow. The ladies in Orange (flight attendants) served us dinner around 10:45pm, it consisted of: salad, beans, chicken, Potato, mixed vegetables, wheat roll, and cheesecake! It was delicious. The next morning, around 3:30 am they served us breakfast, I was not hungry so I passed and went back to bed. Needless to say the plane ride took forever and my legs and rear were screaming at me.
We FINALLY made it to Moscow and from here I was lost. The airport was huge, I don't speak Russian, I have no friends, and I don't know where to go. I followed the crowds of people and made it to the passport control station, where I needed to be, and the lady at the desk laughed at me because I didn't speak Russian. Ha, ok! Then after I finally managed to find my luggage, which took about 45 mins, I was able to leave the place. I found the girl, Caitlin, holding the HCA sign and we made our way through the garage to our driver. When we finally got into the car and drove away, I felt so at peace about making it all the here with no problems! That was a God thing!! Then we got stuck in traffic for almost 3 hours. I was scared for my life on this trip to where I was staying. The people I seen on the roads made me so nervous. They swerved and weaved terribly, they didn't use blinkers or horns, they made their own lanes, and just about every couple miles someone was broke down and it didn't matter which lane you broke down in you just stayed there and got out of your car, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! WHAT??? No big deal! LOL...
I then made it to the apartment of the director of the school and his family. I will be staying with them until the end of August unless I decide not to move into my own apt, then I will stay here for the next 10 months. That will be determined soon! The family is very sweet and welcoming. The apt is super cute and nothing like I was expecting at all. There is a bathroom and a toilet room. They both are very small but they make me giggle every time I use one of them. The toilet paper is super thin and definitely NOT Charmin. ;)
On my first whole day in Moscow, I did not do too much. I slept in until 7:30. (haha) Eventually I finally decided to venture out around where I am living. But before I could do such things, I had to go out 4 different doors and needless to say, I couldn't figure out how to open one of them. Took me about 10 minutes to figure out I needed to push! :) I didn't want to go too far because I didn't want to get lost so I stayed on the four roads surrounding the apt complex. There was a lot to see and explore just on those four roads! I walked into a convienant shop, (super cute), walked past a gas station, seen a couple churches, stared at a couple huge buildings (that I couldn't read what they were), came across a pair of shoes on the sidewalk, and even talked to a Russian. Then it started to rain and I needed to make my way back to the apt. I was successful at getting back into all 4 of the doors with the 3 different keys I had to use.
One small giggle, I got on google on my computer and everything was in Russian and at the top of the screen it said, "would you like to translate into english?" I chuckled and talked to my computer and said, "yes please!" Our high today was 67 and by dinner time it was down to 62, it feels GREAT!!!
Well, svidaniya Do!!
I made it from Jacksonville to NC to DC. Now was the time to start getting fidgety because the real step was about to happen. When I made it to DC, we were at gate Z and I had to make my way to gate A so I could pick up my ticket and then proceed to find food and a bathroom before I needed to board my last plane. The line grew extremely long and I made my way to the end of the line to only stand there for about an hour before we could board. Our plane was supposed to leave at 7:45pm, we did not take off until about 8:15. Some where in the air we lost some more time, so instead of the plane ride taking 9 hours it took us 10. On the long plane ride, there was screaming babies, snoring men, squishy seats, loud music, and other unfortunate events going on around me. I decided my earplugs were a great fix and I laid my head on my pillow. The ladies in Orange (flight attendants) served us dinner around 10:45pm, it consisted of: salad, beans, chicken, Potato, mixed vegetables, wheat roll, and cheesecake! It was delicious. The next morning, around 3:30 am they served us breakfast, I was not hungry so I passed and went back to bed. Needless to say the plane ride took forever and my legs and rear were screaming at me.
We FINALLY made it to Moscow and from here I was lost. The airport was huge, I don't speak Russian, I have no friends, and I don't know where to go. I followed the crowds of people and made it to the passport control station, where I needed to be, and the lady at the desk laughed at me because I didn't speak Russian. Ha, ok! Then after I finally managed to find my luggage, which took about 45 mins, I was able to leave the place. I found the girl, Caitlin, holding the HCA sign and we made our way through the garage to our driver. When we finally got into the car and drove away, I felt so at peace about making it all the here with no problems! That was a God thing!! Then we got stuck in traffic for almost 3 hours. I was scared for my life on this trip to where I was staying. The people I seen on the roads made me so nervous. They swerved and weaved terribly, they didn't use blinkers or horns, they made their own lanes, and just about every couple miles someone was broke down and it didn't matter which lane you broke down in you just stayed there and got out of your car, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY! WHAT??? No big deal! LOL...
I then made it to the apartment of the director of the school and his family. I will be staying with them until the end of August unless I decide not to move into my own apt, then I will stay here for the next 10 months. That will be determined soon! The family is very sweet and welcoming. The apt is super cute and nothing like I was expecting at all. There is a bathroom and a toilet room. They both are very small but they make me giggle every time I use one of them. The toilet paper is super thin and definitely NOT Charmin. ;)
On my first whole day in Moscow, I did not do too much. I slept in until 7:30. (haha) Eventually I finally decided to venture out around where I am living. But before I could do such things, I had to go out 4 different doors and needless to say, I couldn't figure out how to open one of them. Took me about 10 minutes to figure out I needed to push! :) I didn't want to go too far because I didn't want to get lost so I stayed on the four roads surrounding the apt complex. There was a lot to see and explore just on those four roads! I walked into a convienant shop, (super cute), walked past a gas station, seen a couple churches, stared at a couple huge buildings (that I couldn't read what they were), came across a pair of shoes on the sidewalk, and even talked to a Russian. Then it started to rain and I needed to make my way back to the apt. I was successful at getting back into all 4 of the doors with the 3 different keys I had to use.
One small giggle, I got on google on my computer and everything was in Russian and at the top of the screen it said, "would you like to translate into english?" I chuckled and talked to my computer and said, "yes please!" Our high today was 67 and by dinner time it was down to 62, it feels GREAT!!!
Well, svidaniya Do!!
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