I'm here.

I've finally arrived. Months of waiting, and I'm here. It's still hard to believe.

I got off the plane, struggled for about 20 minutes through passport control, then for about another 20 through baggage claim. Finally, I meet Alexei. He is standing there with a sign that says "Language Link", and he smiles sheepishly at me. He asks me if I speak Russian, and I stupidly respond with, "No. I'm an American". He manhandles my baggage all the way to the car, and doesn't let me touch it. When we get to the car, I go to roll down my window because it's hot, but alas, the handle is missing. He rolls down his own window, and then hands me the handle as though the situation was totally normal. Only in Russia. Our drive was about 40 minutes in traffic, and it wasn't until "Dancing Queen" came on the radio that I realized he had put it on an English station for me. "Dancing Queen"...seriously??? We talked about traffic and how old we were, and then he had me listen to some random stuff on his phone to make me laugh. That's as far as my Russian could take me in that situation, and the silence was awkward. OH! And he took me to an ostrich farm. That's right. Ostriches.

My flat.

So I get to my flat, and no one is home. Alexei drops me off and I start to unpack. My roommates are missing, but I've since learned that one is French and the other is Italian. This is going to be hilariously fun. My room is about 7 ft. by 20 ft., and has ivory wallpaper with fake, raised bricks and ivy on it.

Thus far, I have been totally humored. I wish I could write more, but my time on the internet is running out, and I'm starting to get "the eye" from the directors (who've got tempers like lions..eek!). Love you all! I must go!