Flight Wars: The Airport Stirkes Back (or Return of the Comrade, take your pick)

So, to begin, yes, I'm back in Moscow. Yes, I'm exhausted. No, I didn't sleep on either flight for longer than a half hour combined, but I did sleep until 11:30 this morning, so that sorta makes for it.

And now let me recount briefly the latest in the serious of Jon's anything but smooth airplane adventures. It started out nicely enough. Before going to the airport on Thursday, Mom and I watched Up, yet another Pixar triumph. "I do not the cone of shame." Mom and I both thing Dug is hilarious. After that we left for the airport and were surprised to find practically nobody there. As it's customary to arrive two hours early for an international flight (if not even earlier), we had lots of extra time on our hands, having quickly checked in. Seeing that there was no one in line waiting to go through security (and seriously, when does THAT ever happen???), we had a cup of chowdah (yes CHOWDAH for us New Englanders, whose chowdah is by far superior to that Manhattan crap, LOL) and a cocktail. It turned out to be a very good thing that I had the chowder because, after going through security and walking around in the airport trying to establish an internet connection (props to Logan btw for finally having FREE wifi, major yayage on that), it transpired that one of the incoming planes to Boston was struck by lightning and so our flight was delayed by THREE HOURS to undergo safety checks. Understandable, of course, but it meant that I had to sit around, read some fairy tales and wait. We eventually set off at 11:30 p.m and arrived in London at around 11 am London time. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, because even though I missed my connecting flight (scheduled to leave at 8:40 a.m), I ended up getting rebooked on a 12:30 flight to Moscow. That means that I had another short stay in Heathrow, but it wasn't too crowded and I got through security pretty quickly, after waiting in line to be rebooked for about 15-20 minutes. YAY British Airways, they've always treated me exceptionally well despite the occasional luggage not making the flight. I will always choose them when flying international. Random plug aside, I finally set off for Moscow, arriving at Domodedovo at around 7:30ish in the evening local time. After getting through passport control, again surprising quickly (the line was less than a mile long, LOL, actually it was pretty short), and avoiding all the sketchy cab drivers looking to pick up and rip off unsuspecting foreigners with ridiculous fares, I hopped on the express train and then took the metro to Universitet and walked home. It wasn't too awkward carrying my suitcase around, due in large part to the fact that I only carried one, not too. I suspect that when June comes around, I"m going have to bite the bullet and take a taxi to Domodedovo for my two suitcases and carry-on.

So this morning I slept in and then went out to the Diner for lunch and now here I am, rejuvenating the blog after a brief hiatus to enjoy my much needed vacation at home. I can't believe that in just a few months' time I'll be flying home, possibly for the last time. It's always simulatenously exciting and stressful not to know what the future holds, but for now I'm gonna kick back, relax, and focus on my studies and my singing. Should a good-looking Russian girl come along, I certainly won't object. ;) Let me take this moment to publicly declare how awesome Mom is. She's like, "NO RUSSIAN BRIDES. You can date extensively though, hahahaha." Wow. That's mom in a nutshell there, seconded by Auntie Suzanne and probably everyone in my family. Thanks, fam, for that. :)

But wow. It's amazing to think that I will have spent nearly three years of my life in Russia, navigating the complexities of the Russian language and idiosyncracies of the Russian mentality. I'm still determined to keep smiling and swimming, no matter what life throws at me, and not let cynicism and defeatist attitudes get me down. I'm determined to write a damn good thesis, even if I finish it minutes before graduation this summer, LOL. I'm determined to NOT fall down on the ice with embarrassing regularity. I'm determined to make this semester the best one yet, and last semester was pretty damn good. Because I know this won't last forever. I know that this possibly might be my last time in Russia for a while, maybe forever. Gotta find a delicate balance between studying hard and partying (almost) as hard, hee hee. ;) Gotta keep strengthing my faith through prayer and song. Gotta write some instrumental parts for a new song I just wrote called "Lullaby." Anybody interested in providing lyrics or getting involved in any way, do let me know, I"m always looking to collaborate with my fellow musicians who as passionate about music as I am. :) Gonna continue to love singing in church choir, in MPC choir and in MIC. Whatever solos I do get (being the only tenor in MPC does occasionally lend itself to a solo, haha) I will relish and sing as well as I can for a God who loves me and has supported me through a quarter-century (gasp! I am getting old, lol) of ups and downs, rough times and cherished memories to be forever treasured.

Here's to you, my friends and family who love me and support me. Lastly, here's to you, Russia, you country of mystique whose language inspires love, hate, terror, and confusion in the hearts and minds of generations of inostrantsy. May this semester be truly great.