An Eastern Wind

"Are you sure you want to go?"

 - Papa 

Today I woke up with barely any sleep. I spent most of my time lying on my in my old room and thinking about what will happen in the next six hours. I drove in from Nürnberg to stay at my parents house as it was a shorter distance to Munich. 

And there was my flight to St. Petersburg. 

After putting myself through much hardship and doubts about making it to this point, it was a strange wave of emotions that constantly surrounded me. The past three years have been something of a turbulent chapter in my life. I sometimes wish I could take it all back and not stubbornly pursue my ambitions. But now I have less regrets than before.

One month prior I received my invitation to the country and immediately wrecking my previous routine. I quickly threw down all my jobs and planned all of my doctors visits and going through the harsh immigration process.  All of it was nicely laid out on my desk this morning.

My father and me threw my bags into his car and we drove off south. And after some slight traffic we reached Munich international airport and got my tickets. 

After some talking and joking around, we finally reached the security gate. Which then we said our goodbyes. I knew at that moment that I was at the most happiest point in my life in a long time.

I gleefully went through security and boarded a mighty Aeroflot planes towards St. Petersburg.

The flight was only three hours but it felt like a month.

As soon as we landed, I could feel that this was not home anymore as everyone spoke a language that was not in my arsenal. Trying to get a cab to my cheap hotel room, I was greeted with strange gentlemen trying to take my luggage from me and stating they have the best cab fare to the city. I pretended to not see them and went to the nearest cab stand and asked for the different prices. Luckily one lady at the money exchange spoke polish and told me what a good price should be to get into the city. 

Airport security didn't approve much of my existence and made me unpack my luggage so they could rival through my things. I hurried out as fast as I could. 

I managed to get a cheap ride and got the real experience of the driving madness towards the city centre. Drivers cutting each other off, plenty of angry honking, and road construction at every crucial intersection. It was just like old times at my Uncle's. It was amazing.

I finally to reach my hotel room and get out, but not until the driver asked me for another additional 100 Rubles ($1) for taking my suitcase. I stumbled into my room where I just locked myself in and went to bed. 

It was the best nights sleep I had in a long time.