Arrival – Minus 1 iPod, 1 Lung, and 1 Credit Card

So, after months of intense waiting and preparations, I have ARRIVED. However, before I describe my adventures in Russia thus far, let me detail my plane experience. After all, I figure its best to go with the good news before the bad.

On Friday, August 6th at 5:40 TX time, my plane departed from the George Bush airport in Houston. Singapore airlines was really amazing. Every seat is equipped with a personal TV which allows the individual to listen/watch music, movies and actual TV shows. I watched the first two episodes of Parenthood. In addition, before the plane even took off, all of the passengers were given a hot towel & a pair of socks. I had ended up postponing my seating choice until the night before. This afforded me the opportunity to carefully overview the available seats. Amazingly enough I discovered an entire empty row. By the time we left Houston, the seats still had not been filled, which left me with an entire row all to myself.

However, good times do not last forever, and mine ended as the plane landed in Moscow. Before the wheels even scraped the ground, smog entered my nostrils, burning my noise and scorching my eyes. I left the plane and followed the general crowd through passport control. Then I went to find my luggage. I brought a total of 3 bags with me: 1 large, 1 medium, and 1 small carry-on. Unfortunately, I only have two hands. After analyzing the problem and struggling with the logistics, I hoisted the small bag onto the med. bag and attempted (although poorly) to drag them through customs and into the room with the throngs of people waiting to greet their loved ones. I found the school rep after only a few awkward helpless tourist glances. He grabbed my the two largest bags and away we went.

Up until this point, I was still trying to make myself believe that the white substance clouding my vision was NOT smog and was in fact just fog. A city of fog sounds much more pleasant than a city of smog. All my allusions were blown by the mass of people (including passport control inside the airport) who were wearing hospital masks. Olga later told me that the smog was very rare, but at the time all I could think was “Oh God, I’m going to die of lung cancer due to 10 months in an area where the smog is so thick you can barely see.” Besides, if the smog didn’t kill me, the heat would (and I’m from TX and NM). I know. Russia is famous (or infamous) for her freezing-cold weather, but this summer, they’ve had consistent 90 degree weather around Moscow and the surrounding areas. Smog + scorching heat (even without a sun) = a lethal combination. After 5 minutes in the car I was literally dripping with sweath. In fact, over 10 hours later, I still have not stopped sweating.

Now, the rep who met me was a young male – probably mid to late 20s. He speaks no English. I speak no Russian. This was not too bad except for the fact that I could not ask him all the questions racing through my head. He kept fiddling with the AC, which actually blew out only hot air and thus intensified my sweat problem. After about 1 hour and 15 minutes of driving though, I realized something. We were leaving Moscow!

Now, earlier I had been presented with a welcome bag which contained 1 box of tea, 1 box of sugar cubes, 1 bar of formerly-solid chocolate, 1 pkg of some sort of bread and honey cookies, 1 pkg of sheets (which are currently residing in my freezer until they are a gigantic ice cube), a roll of the all-so-essential toilet paper and a welcome letter with a map of the Moscow metro and a sublease agreement. I had very briefly glanced over the latter until I saw Moscow disappear in my rearview mirror. Then I quickly pulled out the sublease form and realized I would begin my Zelenograd residency today! From everything I had previously read and heard, I was supposed to spend my first month in Moscow where the Central School and training facilities are located. Now, I still get to go to training, but I get to commute 2 hours each way on the bus and metro. It’s a good thing I really like to read!

To make matters worse, I realized I left my iPod on the plane! My poor, beloved iPod. RIP. If only I had known then that this wasn’t the tip of the ice berg, I might not feel so bad.

After finally arriving at my flat, we were greeted by Olga, the DOA here in Zelenograd. Fortunately, she speaks English. (Sidenote: I will admit that my biggest fear and frustration is the language barrier. I slightly amused myself - and still am – that during the car ride to Zgrad, I kept on trying to figure out the message in English, and my brain automatically tried to translate it into Spanish. Where was this talent when I needed it last semester. Now all I could think about was I should be in Spain, not Russia. I should have looked harder to find a paid position in Spain.) But I digress.

Back to Olga. After my driver deposited me in Olga’s care, he left. Olga showed me around the flat and gave me the important numbers no English speaker lost in a foreign Russian city should be without. FYI: Russian flats do NOT have AC, and cold drinks are rare, as is ice in your water or soft drinks. By the time we left to go shopping, all I could think about was water – ice, cold H2O. No luck! After discovering that
A) I owned no rubles
B) the Banks were closed due to the smog issue and
C) I did not know my new pin # yet
we headed back to the flat which was about three “blocks” away. I had stashed the dratted pin number somewhere among my bags.

But, as we started out again, we discovered that the locks on the door no longer wanted to work. After 10 minutes of Olga vs. the door/lock vs. the stuck key, she called the land lady, Irina, who spent her own time in the wrestling ring with inanimate objects. After creating a makeshift solution, and hearing Irina’s promises of getting new locks put on tomorrow, we ventured forth once more.

We stopped at the ATM where the machine tried to prove what greedy bastard (sorry for the language) it was by eating my card. Olga called the company, and they said that I can have my card back after my bank calls the ATM bank and verifies everything. Meaning nothing will happen until next week.

This means I had to take a 2000 ruble advance on my first paycheck. Olga took me to the school in Zgrad where I wrote an IOU and emailed my bank. Olga blames the German ATM/bank. I’ll reserve judgment and stick with frustration.

Finally we arrived at the store with viable currency. I spent 600 rubles (~30-40 USD) on rice, fruit juice, 4 apples, 1 liter of water, 1 liter of Lipton raspberry tea, a loaf of bread, cereal and 1 bag of peanut M&Ms. We carried the bags home, and after wrestling with the door some more Olga left. I was and am now here alone. I stashed my groceries in the fridge and went to my room. I found my converters and attempted to fit them in, but alas. They do not work on the outlets in my bedroom (although they do fit in the kitchen). However, I ended up shorting out my alarm clock in the process and still cannot get something to work right as none of my remaining electronics will charge.

Around 8:30 PM I ended up falling asleep, only to be awakened a couple of hours later. Jet lag has now kicked in. However, the nap did me good as I am no longer wanting to go running (or flying) home. I opened my B&N Nook and picked up reading Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour (a pretty good book). This calmed me down even more, and after I thoroughly drenched my bed with my sweat (a new form of christening), I decided to drench the kitchen with my body fluids.

Despite the fact that I had not eaten anything since the plane (over 8 hours ago) I was too hot to eat much so I tore off a small chunk of my brad and opened the now semi-solid chocolate mess. Tepid water was my beverage of choice. Surprisingly, the bread/chocolate combo tasted good and settled me even more. Now, if only the heat would go away. There aren’t even fans to adorn my ceilings.  I finished my book, took a cold shower (only it was more me standing in the tub, pouring cold water on me as the shower head is broken. But I actually didn’t mind as the cold water felt so good. I then unpacked (partially) and am now detailing my account like a good historian.

I understand that much of these accounts are filled with misstidings, but don’t feel bad for or worry for me dad, as I truly am okay now. I trust that God brought me here, and He will work things out. Until then, I will persevere and/or fight.

Love,
Your Russian Traveller