Well, I clearly wasn't very dilligent in keeping this blop updated while overseas ... I'll make that a goal of the next trip. In the meantime, I'll recap :) I stayed in St. Petersburg for the duration of my time in Russia; I'd originally wanted to split time between Piter and Moscow, but with all of the visa concerns opted to stay put. In the end, there was more than enough to keep me busy in the one city, and plenty that I didn't get to see and will have to go back for. Images St. Isaac's and the Church on Spilled Blood are still running through my mind, the splendor and detail that went into the creation of each is astounding. Of course, I'm thrilled to have finally been able to wash the cigarette smoke ... read more

Well, all of the visa confusion worked out (after four different visits regarding the application), and I arrived in Russia (Moscow and then St. Petersburg) today. The part I was most anxious over - security, customs, and navigating the plan transfer in a foreign airport - went remarkably smoothly. In reality, the only airport moment that was any problem at all was in the United States - apparently I look much younger in person than I do in my passport photo (the lady claimed it was due to my haircuts) and needed to provide additional identification in order to verify my passport. The planes .... I was initially thrilled to learn we'd be on an Airbus 330 - bigger and newer. Until we boarded. I have a newfound respect for all those poor sardines crammed into ... read more

I'm putting the final touches on (read - trying to stop frantically checking) my Russian Visa Application in anticipation of appearing, application in hand, at the Russian Embassy on Thursday - the last obstacle to my September trip to St. Petersburg. Contrary to initial fears, the new (very clearly Russian-designed) online form wasn't at all difficult to navigate, though it does make one start to wonder how exactly all of the past information will impact their decision of whether to let me into the country - does my employment at Starbucks really matter? Or my college major? I can't see the relevance, but am suddenly worried about the combination of Russian Area Studies and Psychology ....... read more