Hello from Russia!

[peacetraveler22]

It's so nice to finally be in the same time zone as most of my readers! Now I'm sitting in a very warm and sunny Moscow, much warmer than the temperatures I left behind in my beloved home State of Virginia. I don't know what happened to my favorite snowy, freezing Russian winters, but the last two times I've visited in February the winter wonderland has been absent. Early tomorrow morning, I'll stumble out of bed and head out on the route depicted in the map. The cities have changed since I first announced the road journey, and the trip was carefully planned by my dedicated and trusted travel companion Alexander macos. I'm especially pleased that we will have a stop in Yaroslavl, to meet my favorite LJ blogger lovigin! :)

I'm happy to be back in Russia. The flight on Aeroflot was okay, not as good as the first time I flew from Moscow to JFK. This time, the flight attendants had poor service and unfriendly attitudes. The plane was older and almost half empty, so it was easy to stretch out and have plenty of comfort during the long journey from Washington, DC. The food on Aeroflot is 1,000 times better than any U.S. carrier on which I've traveled. No problems clearing passport control or Customs, I don't think many of the agents speak English, and I've never been asked any questions on arrival or departure. Not a single word comes out of their mouths. No hello, no "welcome to Russia," nothing. I don't know how foreigners are treated when entering the U.S., but as a native, I'm always asked several questions - "where are you coming from?, "purpose of your visit," etc. and lastly, the agent usually says "welcome home." I like it, and am happy to hear the words.

The true adventure begins tomorrow! Stay tuned...

P.S.: Why do Russians always clap when the plane lands? I've never seen passengers do this on any other foreign airline. Something unique to Russian travel culture. Always makes me laugh. :)) 

Comments

[lovigin.livejournal.com]

опасайся разбойников! спасай принцесс! не заглядывайся на принцев!

вэлкам ту зе сказка.

[egorov.livejournal.com]

Petr - is the best of the best of the best!

[vitsky.livejournal.com]

Welcome home (c) :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine ever calling Russia "home," but it's nice to visit!

[zydog.livejournal.com]

WELCOME TO THE MOTHERLAND, TOVARISCH!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It feels like spring time in the Motherland. Btw, I once referred to Russia as the "Motherland" and readers yelled at me!?! They said it's not proper to call the country by this name, but many Americans use the term to refer to Russia.

[llueve.livejournal.com]

Heeeeeyyy!!! Welcome to Russia. Will you meet with your readers? I would be glad to meet wit you

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I do not know yet, still finalizing plans for when I return from the road trip. I will only two days in the country after that. If I have a big meeting, I will announce here on the blog but I don't think there's enough time.

[creaze.livejournal.com]

Yo, Shannon! Cool to have you back.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yo! Thanks. :) Happy to be here!

[noizz-orb.livejournal.com]

I've been to the US several times. And each time a Customs officer said hello and asked about the purpose of my visit and at the end they always wished a good trip. Nothing of the kind in Russia. They are drones here, I guess.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

And you like the behavior of the U.S. Customs Officers, or no? Because many Russians would say this is "fake" American behavior - to smile and be polite to everyone. But I prefer that over being greeted with cold, expressionless faces as soon as you enter the country.

[wise-gorilla.livejournal.com]

I blame America. They stole our climate.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Damn pindos! :)) We have had a very brutal winter on the East Coast, esp. in Massachusetts. Insane amounts of snow.

[qi-tronic.livejournal.com]

"
This time, the flight attendants had poor service and unfriendly attitudes
"
I always wonder what service some people demand from them apart from bringing food on time ...

"
I don't know how foreigners are treated when entering the U.S.
"
Not very friendly.
Those fat negroes with big guns look at you as if you are an illegal immigrant and they are ready to shot you.
In London and Germany immigration officers are much more neutral and correct.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I do not like expressionless service, where people just stare at you like your supposed to read their mind. Or, food being shoved on my already cramped airline table. First flight on Aeroflot, the service was much friendlier and better. I don't think many of the attendants on this one spoke English, and even the ones that did, it was very broken. It's a bit strange, given that the flight left from the USA. When I worked for United, you always had to have at least one flight attendant fluent in the language of the departing country. "Fat negroes" - hello 1950! :)) I haven't heard that word used in a very long time. I don't remember fat black guys greeting me with guns at any U.S. airport. Probably they put them on the foreign passport control line for intimidation. :))

[vitokro.livejournal.com]

Сами не думали поехать, зачем эта вся компания с блоггеров?

[notabler.livejournal.com]

вы на каком языке пишете? Это не очень русский. Гуглом пользовались?

[notabler.livejournal.com]

I wish you a nice trip and very interesting posts!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I probably will not have time to write posts during the journey, but I'll try to publish short updates along the way.

[tanya-hendel.livejournal.com]

Moscow is not cold enough for you? Oh, as for me, I prefer summer in February. :)
Africa is ok. )

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I don't like hot weather! In Africa, I would die. :)) My body prefers cold temperatures. I'm much happier in brisk, cool air than stuffy, hot temps.

[perycalypsis.livejournal.com]

now Pancake week
do you make pancakes
or are you ready to taste pancakes?

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Sure! I had pancakes during my first trip, and we bought some at the store last night. I will eat them on the road trip.

[sindzidaisya.livejournal.com]

Welcome!!!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Many thanks!

[olgadusoleil.livejournal.com]

Foreigners are treated very nicely at JFK. We were going to an IT conference, the officer was obviously in high spirits as he pretended not to believe I was old enough to go to a professional conference :) Other times I don't remember well, but they always said 'Welcome to the USA' :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Last time I connected through JFK from an international flight, I didn't even deal with a passport control Officer. It was very strange, they have electronic machines there where U.S. passport holders scan their own passport and answer Customs questions. I've never seen it at any other U.S. airport. I don't think foreign passport holders can use them though.

[dontwannaborrow.livejournal.com]

No 'hello' from immigration officers? You are in a real world now. People here are sincere. If they smile at you, they DO like you. If they say "welcome", they DO MEAN that.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

And U.S. Customs officials don't mean it?

[a000796.livejournal.com]

"P.S.: Why do Russians always clap when the plane lands? I've never seen passengers do this on any other foreign airline. Something unique to Russian travel culture. Always makes me laugh. :)) "


You would not believe. On train by every station arrival :)))))



4:00

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I didn't know this! But I've never been to Italy, or flown an Italian airline. :)

[Андрей Горин (from livejournal.com)]

У нас и соотечественники в эти места не заглядывают . Осторожней с пьяными медведями с балалайками .

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

I like bears, and dress like one sometimes! :) http://peacetraveler22.livejournal.com/116458.html

[kremlin-curant.livejournal.com]

You are going to travel across the places where I lived and/or visited many times while being a child and young adult - Ivanovo, Plyos, Sudislavl, Chukhloma, Kostroma, Yaroslavl.
Sudislavl is my favorite in spite it is only a big village. I worked in there for almost two years after graduating medical school in Ivanovo.

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Yes, I remember you told me this. I hope when I write my reports, you will see many recognizable places and have good memories!

[yarowind.livejournal.com]

>>I don't know how foreigners are treated when entering the U.S., but as a native, I'm always asked several questions - "where are you coming from?, "purpose of your visit," etc. and lastly, the agent usually says "welcome home."

not always:)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

For me, they always say this. :) But I'm sure foreigners are asked different questions on arrival when compared to natives. Last time I flew into JFK from Moscow, there was an airport worker there speaking fluent Russian to help incoming passengers who were completely lost and confused. I hate that airport. :(

[anna tairova (from livejournal.com)]

I wish you a fruitful journey! Good luck! Even break a leg ))))

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm happy to see some new cities in Russia. :)

[agathpher.livejournal.com]

When was last time you visited Russia (I thought I saw you mentioning 3 years ago somewhere, but am not sure). I wonder if you are going to see the change in sentiment towards US and Americans. After all we are the source of all their troubles, you know :P

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

The last time I was in Russia was for the Sochi Olympics, but then everything was great. Russia shining on the world stage, and after that all hell broke loose in Ukraine. So, it will be interesting indeed to see if people's reactions have changed in comparison to my last visits. The big road trip starts tomorrow, at 3:30 a.m., and I'll be sure to let you know if I encounter any strange or anti-American sentiments along the way. :))

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy this trip

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Me too! :)

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

Have a great trip Shannon! And have fun :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Olga! Weather here is sunny, like in California. :)

[sergechel.livejournal.com]

have a great trip :)

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to it!

[premudraya-e.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Russia! Have a nice trip!

[peacetraveler22.livejournal.com]

Many thanks!