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Back in my city...
It has been less than one year since I left Moscow after studying in the city for 6 months. And it is ironic now that upon my departure all of my new friends were saying goodbye as if it would be forever. I aaured then that it was not a permanent goodbye; that I would be back. Yeah, yeah they probably though, everyone says that...
Well here I am, back in Russia for the second time in my life. But I almost didn't make it...twice!
The embassy messed up my passport so I had to send it back at the last minute to get corrections. TIP: Always check your visa as soon as it arrives...and then DOUBLE CHECK! It was to come Overnight Post at noon in my town. So naturally, my mom and I went to the post office to get it at a little after 12. Nothing... We waited and waited...the postmaster told us the express truck sometimes comes as late as 1:30!!! I couldn't wait that long as my flight was out of Dulles at 4:30 with a strict 3:30 check-in time. I nearly cried in fear of missing my flight, so I said a prayer and clenched my teeth. Mom and I waited in the car for the postmaster to call my cell as soon as it arrived. I set a deadline that if it was not in at 1:00 we woulf forfeit the trip. 1:00...nothing. We begin to leave and at 1:02 the postmaster calls, "It's here!" We head to the post office grab it and set off for the airport.
Now what should have been a three hour (pushing it) took us just over 2 1/2 and I missed my flight by five minutes. I prayed again for a good and not so pricey rebooking and it was answered with a long, long trip from home to Washington, D.C. and then to Moscow via Frankfurt, Germany. It was exhausting and I was dreading having to deal with the frustration of arriving in Moscow. But to my surprise, customs took FIVE minutes, literally. In and out, it was a breeze (maybe they lightened up a bit)! I bought a phonecard to call my friend Artyom who I whose family I would be staying with for the trip. The darn thing ran out before we could confirm details and all I had to go on was Kievskaya Metro Station. So I said a quick prayer and started my trip into the city.
Forty-five minutes on the bus and another 30 on the metro and I was at the station, but now, how to get in touch with Artyom? I had no cell phone and there was not a payphone in sight! So I headed over to a wall so take a quick break and all of the sudden, here comes Artyom running towards me, "David, oh David...", he is shouting. It was a divine intervention indeed how we found each other amongst all those people and the lack of communication!
But, here I am after settling in, eating some good Russian borsch, and sleeping for 12 hours. I am blessed to be with such good friends, the Plotnikov's who are taking care of me the whole two weeks I am here. Last year I met Dasha at the church I attended here and we stayed in touch through my roommate Javier. So I am so gracious to Dasha, her brother Artyom, little sister Sonja (who is teaching me Russian...she is 4), and their parents Tanya and Igor who are so kind to me. I have enjoyed myself so much talking, laughing and singing with all of them. We eat together, talk in broken Engligh (and Russian) and went to church together this morning. It was wonderful to visit ICA once again and experience worship with them. I really feel like a member of their family!
But during my time here I will teach at the gymnasium where I taught last year, hang out with friends, and relax as my studies are finished for this year. Moscow is still the same, except dirtier than I rememeber, and it was warm today, so I was out in a t-shirt. I will begin teaching after the Victory Day holoday which is on Tuesday. Tomorrow we will all go the the park for a picnic of SHASHLIK!!!! It is also an all Russian speaking day as Dasha's parents have taken English lessons and now speak a bit on English. I however have not spoken much Russian since I arrived, so Tanya said tomorrow she will speak no English to me! I better go to bed now and say another prayer...hopefully this one will be answered too!
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| Category: Travel story | Added by: EnergyVortex (04.10.2009)
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Views: 1460 | Comments: 1
| Rating: 0.0/0
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