We Made It!

One word comes to mind when I think about traveling to Moscow and what it took to get there - ADVENTURE. It all began with visa problems that resulted from me having Russian citizenship, but the challenges did not end there. We arrived at the airport on Tues, Jan. 5th ready to fly out to Frankfurt and then continue on to Moscow. Before I even had time to check-in my checked luggage, my professor told us that our flight was delayed for 3 hrs. (I later learned this was due to a medical emergency that had required doctors to come on board the plane). 5 hrs at an airport terminal: what could be more exciting? Upon checking my luggage, our group was told that we would have to take a different flight from Frankfurt to Moscow. I was the only one in the group that was told that I would have to wait until I arrive in Frankfurt to get my second boarding pass because here was a problem with the computer. I managed to set off the security alarms with the metal embroidery on my jeans, creating additional "excitement." After we arrived in Frankfurt I learned that there was a booking problem, and I was on "stand-by". Eventually I was given an assigned seat and we were on our way to Moscow - Praise the Lord! We arrived in Moscow, had our visas checked and went to customs. We were picked up at the airport and traveled to our dorm at RSUH (РГГУ in Russian). After we got our rooms and student IDs, we went out with the group to McDonalds (thank you, globalization!) where some of the girls enjoyed a Russian twist on their favorites meals, and we were able to access the internet. On our way back those of us who had not wanted fast food decided to get piroshki with chai. All-in-all it was an interesting day that wore all of us out. With all this behind me, I'm stoked to be in Moscow. :)