"I'm leavin' on a jet plane...
Don't know when I'll be back again..."
Yup, that pretty much sums it up. All I have to do is put everything I'm taking back in my bags. Everything else is set.
It's really weird to think that in 48 hours I'll be living in another country. I was driving to Target yesterday thinking that it's so relaxing because I don't have to think about it. Well, if I do get to drive in Russia (which I most likely won't) even that would be different. Simple things I take for granted, like being able to understand everything, being at ease around other people, walking down the street without a care in the world. All of that is going to be different, not just the actually different things like taking the metro, dressing up to go to class, not having internet at home, etc. Even something as simple as getting some water to drink is different: you either have to buy bottled water or boil tap water before you drink it.
I'm warning you now: I will complain about Russia. I will get frustrated with everything there. I will ask myself why I decided to go. I will get homesick.
My advice to you: Ignore it; ignore it all. Remind me that I'm experiencing something amazing, and that things will get better as my command of the language improves and I grow accustomed to the culture. This is the easiest way for us both get through it.
I can't guarantee that I'll have access to the internet the first couple of days I'm there, but I will try and let you know I made it safe as soon as I can. Once school starts, I'll have access to the internet regularly, so you can expect lots of posts then. :-)
Wow. It's really, seriously happening. Here goes nothing...
