Dollars and Rubles

This week I was formally accepted into my study abroad program with the University of Arizona. As an AppState student, I don't have the chance to go abroad with my actual school. So since App and UA have a partnership program, I'm going with the lovely people from the land of no day light savings.


Now I have to get the check to them for the rest of the program, which of course results in a series of mini conniptions when I realized (for the billionth time) just how much money I'm spending to live in Russia for 10 weeks. Which will be totally worth it. Duh. But seeing as how UA is on spring break right now (jealous), I have a week to freak out then calmly write a check, signing my life away.


And I'm still waiting on my visa. I go for a few days without thinking about it. Then I have an internal freak out session that goes a bit like "ohmygodwhatifIdon'tgetmyvisadidIdoanythingtopissofftherussiangovernmentlatelyohmygodaughhhh!" Then everything's cool. It's in my nature to flip a shit over the smallest things. At least I know I'll survive the apocalypse. Ha.


While I was home over spring break, I did a decent amount of shopping and came out of the stores with a good bit of cute summer clothes in darker colors. Veryyyy hard to do here in the US where color is the name of the game in the summer. I'm counting on the fact that my Eastern European heritage shows in my physical appearance to help me out a bit. But I'm still terrified of standing out.


Oh well, I'll just keep my mouth shut in public for the first week or so. And pray that someone doesn't ask me for directions. Oh god.

And so it begins...

This past weekend I had the glorious moment of joy every study abroad student experiences when they get that "we have received your paperwork and your work here is done" email from the office of abroad affairs. I don't care what anyone says about what I will do for the rest of my life, it is the BIGGEST weight off my shoulders ever.


So now as I have shipped off my passport and evidence that I'm not a murderous axe wielder to the Russian consulate so they can mull over (and scare the living shit out me as I wait) giving me a visa to oh-so-sublimely invite my into their country, the hardest part is over.


Despite the hilarity of the many underpinnings a student has to endure to get ready for study abroad, I'd have to say my favorite was being put through the wringer by my friends (who just think they're so hysterical) when they found out I had to prove (on paper, by blood, by doctor) to the Russians that I'm HIV negative. Apparently, blood testing is mandatory for Russia and Africa. Hmm...


Although after being stuck in several different places by all types of glorious needles, I'd have to say nothing makes you freeze faster than when you find out somehow the travel agency has charged you for two separate tickets to St. Petersburg for a flight that doesn't even really seem to exist. So you spend the next few hours on the phone, where no one knows what's going on, and eventually you're all straightened out with a flight to St. Pete's via New York and Helsinki. Then you realize you need to learn how to say "thank you" and "where's the restroom?" in Finnish. (Anyone?)


And now that I am $1200 poorer and a ticket from the US-to St.Petersburg-Moscow-and-back richer, I'd say I'm ready to go on the adventure of a life time. Now just to find clothing that doesn't scream "I'm American, rob me!"