August 16th, 2016
Today is the day that I leave the states for a period longer than a month. This is only the first leg of my journey. Since I need to fly from Houston to Charlotte, and Charlotte to New York. I also do have to spend a night in a hotel, so that's quite nice at least.
Houston - My flight was delayed by about 30 minutes. Usually I wouldn't get so nervous about this, but.... I only have 50 minutes normally to get from one gate to another. After looking at the map of Charlotte's airport, I can safely say that they are on completely opposite sides of the airport. What amazing luck do I have! I just love how these airplane companies just don't care.
Charlotte - Well, I'm on the plane now. If I'm late to JFK, it does not matter because luckily, the hotel runs 24 hour shuttles. At least one on the hour every hour. This should be a calm flight, minus the crying children in the background. The voice of Frank Sinatra will drown them out and hopefully let me sleep.
New York - Arrived to New York. I'm currently waiting for my bag, for what seems to have been the last 20 minutes. Not a good sign. Also, I played New York, New York by Sinatra when we landed, so that is quite nice.
I managed to get my bag and I'm waiting outside the airport in a really sketchy area for the shuttle. Mind you, it's past midnight (But this is still August 16th to me until I wake up, so bleh, bleh bleh.) There are several people getting on different shuttles. I'm the only one who got on mine, and then I forgot to tip the driver. Oh well, more money for super expensive hotel food.
The hotel does not sell food other than vending machines. Super Troopers is playing in the background, but I'm dying of starvation. I ordered a Gyro.
The gyro was not good at all. I've had better ones at home.
August 17th, 2016
Today is the actual official day I leave for Russia. I'm sitting at the gate writing this as I'm conversing with the people I will see for the rest of this first semester. I have my friend Adrienne from Juniata here, so that's really cool, but everyone else is new except for the one person from my study abroad program last summer. This should be exciting, and I really hope that the seating is not uncomfortable.
August 18th, 2016
We just arrived to Saint-Petersburg and are at the hotel. I was stuck in a super long line at the passport control because the guy decided to take his time, and the woman in front of me decided to present him with a torn up passport. Just my luck. My roommate in this hotel room is pretty cool. We're going out for a drink (non-alcoholic for me) and getting to know each other. This will seem like a great day to be honest.
August 19th, 2016
It's the end of the day, and boy, am I tired. It's nice to be back in the city, but what sucks is not having your documentation yet. I really want to go out, but I can't be careless without documentation. We saw the Бобринский Дворец (Bobrinsky Palace), which is where I'll be studying. Bet many people can't say that they have class at a palace, right? There's so much gold! I love it. I feel like royalty. We went through the process of trying to learn (or in my case, relearn) how to use public transportation. It was nice, and we all decided to go out to a bar. I broke my rule and had a Long Island, since they were using Havana Club as the rum. Any self respecting Cuban American would drink this. It was still nice though. Time for bed!
August 20th, 2016
More orientation, and more learning about things I already know. I checked out of the hotel and moved into my host family's apartment, which is very convenientally located in the center of the city, so guess who is forced to walk everywhere from now on? This guy! Well, not really forced. I just hate taking public transportation. Too many people. At least walking I get excercise and can see really awesome things. My host family and I decided to go see the bridges open, so I'm writing this at 4:30 AM (it's still the 20th until I wake up!) It was really fun, and it was the first day I clocked in way too many miles just walking on my phone.
August 21st, 2016
So, bus tour of the city. Nothing really new. I just understood more of the information. Not to be rude or anything, but I used this time to play Pokemon Go and I caught some very rare pokemon and decided to take over a gym, in which I did. Long live Team Instinct!!
August 22nd, 2016
Language testing, and also met up with my friend Yana, whom I met online via language exchange programs. We walked around the Petrograd Island, mainly the Peter and Paul Fortress, and she gifted me Master and Margarita in Russian. I was so happy. It's literally one of my favorite books! I felt bad because I brought her Reese's Pieces from the USA (they don't have it in Russia.) I was afraid it would melt, and I didn't have a backpack. Oops. Hopefully I get placed in a good group of people after the language testing. Oh the pain of walking everywhere is affecting me. Maybe if I join a gym I'll be too sore to care about anything else....
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