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.

[vitsky.livejournal.com]

Welcome home (c) :)

[zydog.livejournal.com]

WELCOME TO THE MOTHERLAND, TOVARISCH!

[llueve.livejournal.com]

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

[creaze.livejournal.com]

Yo, Shannon! Cool to have you back.

[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.

[wise-gorilla.livejournal.com]

I blame America. They stole our climate.

[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.

[vitokro.livejournal.com]

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

[notabler.livejournal.com]

I wish you a nice trip and very interesting posts!

[tanya-hendel.livejournal.com]

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

[perycalypsis.livejournal.com]

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

[sindzidaisya.livejournal.com]

Welcome!!!

[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' :)

[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.

[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

[Андрей Горин (from livejournal.com)]

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

[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.

[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:)

[anna tairova (from livejournal.com)]

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

[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

[phd-paul-lector.livejournal.com]

Hope you enjoy this trip

[rider3099.livejournal.com]

Have a great trip Shannon! And have fun :)

[sergechel.livejournal.com]

have a great trip :)

[premudraya-e.livejournal.com]

Welcome to Russia! Have a nice trip!