I am here in Moscow!

Friday, 1/17, 11:15am


I have arrived in Russia. The Fulbright office in Moscow arranged a taxi to meet me at Domodedovo Airport. It too 1 hour, 45 minutes to reach the Ibis hotel near Paveletsky Station. It was snowing and there are about 3 inches on the ground. Russians are non-plussed. Cars don't seem to be affected by snow on streets. It is about 10 degrees F.
I went to bed about 10pm.Did not nap before to try to alleviate the lag. Had a vodka. slept until about 1:30am, woke up and slept until my wife, Janet called the hotel around 7am Moscow time, just as she was going to bed.
In a few minutes, I will check out and drag my enormous bags(2) + backpack to the train station about 1/2 mile away. doesn't seem worth it to get a cab but it is likely a decision I will regret.
I think I will then wait for my 5 pm train to Saratov....nap, read etc at the station. Too damn cold for me to attempt any tourist sightseeing. I am worried about excess baggage charges---some say just board the train, others say inform at ticket window and pay extra.I already bought a ticket online in the states. I should arrive in Saratov tomorrow at 9am.Not sure when I will next have wi-fi.


All for now. Wish me luck.

Saratov-Wikipedia

Stolypin Volga Region Institute of Administration

Ok friends, here's the beginning of the story. About a year ago, I got an email from a colleague, the esteemed Robyn Russo, English prof at NVCC-Loudoun, encouraging her colleagues to apply for a special teaching Fulbright grant for community college teachers.I discussed with my beautiful wife, Janet, and with her blessing(She is 3rd generation Byelorussian), wrote a proposal. NVCC-Loudoun's Science Division Dean Joyce Samuels, NVCC Business Professor Michael Brazie, and Jadavpur University's Sanjay Gopal Sarkar all wrote recommendation letters. I thought it would be an adventure and we hoped Janet could also manage to make the trip.
In April, I received an email informing me that I had been awarded the Fulbright. I applied for a sabbatical from NVCC, received it and began to learn the Russian alphabet.
In August I registered for a 5 credit Russian 101 class at NVCC taught by Jackie Holland. I made it through that very challenging class with her keen insight and engaging teaching.

I wanted to teach somewhere outside of Moscow or St. Petersburg and the Volga region sounded nice. Soon the kind people at the Stolypin Volga Region Institute were in touch with an invitation.....

So here I am 3 days before I leave for Russia. Some anxiety, much anticipation. I am going to miss my wife (who will only be able to visit briefly) and my dogs Pepper and Thurman dreadfully.

Trying at the moment to pack warmly yet lightly which is driving me crazy. My plane leaves Wednesday evening for Vienna, then Moscow. I will spend the night in Moscow and take the NO.9 train to Saratov the following morning. Saturday morning I will arrive in Saratov, hopefully well rested, having spent the night in "soft class".

Testing one, two. Uno, Dos. Odin, Dva.Sibilance. Thibilanth.