Finally in Russia

I just wanted to post so that those of you who read this will know that I actually did make it into Russia and my host family's house without too much of a problem. Along with that, please feel free to let people (like my parents or other relatives) that I am still alive, although I will be contacting people as soon as possible.
We almost didn't make our plane to Moscow. It came down to running the entire length of the Atlanta air port in order to make it, although, since it was an international flight, there was still a long line of Americans getting their passports checked, even though it was the scheduled take off time. Ten hours later and an eight hour time difference that made it seem like we'd been flying for 18 hours, we landed in the cold and snowy Russian capital city. Only one person lost a bag, and nobody had a problem with customs. The train from Moscow to Voronezh was pretty much the same, only it was a twelve and a half hour ride. I packed three toothbrushes so that I wouldn't have to worry about running out the whole semester, but all three of them were in the bottom of my least accessible bag. Tip number one: don't do that.
Now that I've had a shower, brushed my teeth, and used a toilet that was more than a hole in the ground, I feel worlds better. I registered with the university and walked around near "Ploshad Lenina," or Lenin Square so that I'm familiar with stores and other things in the area, and tomorrow, my six compatriots and I will return to the university to start "orientation," which is mostly just a formality and a way to help us out while we're here before classes begin on the 12th. Yes, the 12th. Of February.
I will update again with pictures sometime later, as I have to figure out first if the computers at this cafe even have USB ports so I can upload pictures from my camera and then whether or not I'm allowed to.
I don't understand much because I usually miss one or two out of every four or five words someone says, especially if the person is speaking quickly, but hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be better at this.

Last Minute Thoughts

This will be the last time I edit this in the United States until after I return in May. It has taken me entirely too many hours and too many dollars to get ready for this trip, but if my DLPT (defense language proficiency test) score is better in May, then it will all have been worth it.

Since I still don't even know the names and address of the family with whom I will be staying, I'm a little nervous, mostly because I still have to call my dad and tell him that I don't know the information. I think he's just afraid that I'll find myself in a situation I can't handle.

Anyway, I'm very excited but also nervous because I don't know enough vocabulary and will sound dumb, I'm sure. I also don't know enough about the culture, and I'm afraid of doing something wrong without realizing it. However, whenever that happens (and I'm sure it will...), I'll write about it so everyone back in the US who reads this can laugh about it.

This time tomorrow, I will be just leaving Atlanta on the plane that should reach Moscow at somewhere around 2am local time on Tuesday (10am in Russia) where the group of us eight cadets will head to the US Embassy.

At this point, I will end my dictation for the week and continue sometime late next week. Wish me luck.

T-6 days and counting

It's my last full week in the United States, and I am so much busier than I ever would have imagined. I was fully expecting to be able to work out twice a day and study Russian for hours on end before I have to leave, but I've been running around trying to finish everything instead.
I can't wait to get going, but I still have too much to do before then.
My goal is to become as fluent in Russian as I can in four months, to the point of actually thinking in Russian and perhaps dreaming in the language a little. We'll see, but I'm going to push myself to get better every single day I'm in that colder than hell motherland of vodka and bribery. And I'm going to love it.