You're Gonna Go Places

So I left America again.  Before I did, I travelled down to Minneapolis with my parents and my little brother.  We had time to go to the MOA.  I love going to the Mall of America.  It's a little overwhelming too.  First we decided to eat dinner.  I chose Panda Express which provided me with a fortune that I believe is quite accurate. :)

I rather like it.  :)  Then we split up, boys and girls.  The boys went to the amusement park to ride "one" ride (which ended up being three.  The girls headed to Forever 21.  :)  I love that store.  I could spend hours and hundreds in there.  My mom and I decided to look over the amusement park and saw my dad and Alex float by on the log flume.  haha.  A bald head and a black head.  hehe.  Then we lost them again and decided to go to Starbucks and people watch.  "Look at her shoes.  Why would anyone wear those?"  "Do I look like that?"  "I'm going to look like her when I'm old."  "That was a weird couple."  "That kid's going to get spanked when they get to the car."  You know, things like that.  

This was the view from the hotel window that night.  Beautiful, I think.

The next day my flight left at 1pm so we had time for one last run to Target and Wal-mart.  We also eat a big breakfast at Perkins.  It was so nice to not have to be at the airport at 5am. 

Once I got there, I tried not to think about the fact that I was leaving for a long time.  I already told my mom that she was not allowed to cry this time.  :)  I also told my them that once I check-in, we will say our goodbyes and they have to leave.  No more watching me in the security line and waving.  It just makes it worse.  It really does.  It's not embarrassing or anything it's just more like torture.  So after I checked in, we walked over to the escalators, they said goodbye and no one cried!! :)  I think I saw my mom starting to tear up but they were already on their way down the escalator so it was not to bad.  I was proud of us.  

I didn't bring my guitar this time so it was a lot easier to walk around.  I get tired so easily carrying that around.  I had some time before boarding so I went to Caribou one last time.  Iced cold press coffee with white chocolate.  Very good.  There wasn't any seating so I walked over to Starbucks.  :)  I sat and read "The City of Ember."  I really liked that book.  I recently watched the trailer for the movie that came out in 2009, I think.  I was NOTHING like the book so I'm not going to watch it.  I think it will just make me mad.

Once I got to Washington D.C. my other flight was already boarding so there was no layover time there. That was nice.  United is not as nice as Singapore and you don't have 50+ films to choose from.  They automatically play 5 and you can tune into the one that you want.  I saw an independent film and decided to try it.  OH MY GOSH.  I can't really describe this movie other than it was crazy.  And great.  And I think everyone should watch it.  Here is the trailer and I think it will convince you, too.

Right???  I don't know where you can rent it, but find it online or something and watch it.  It was so good.

Once in Moscow I knew that I would have problems.  When I got into the line for passport control, I do my typical thing and doubt my choice of lines.  I look at the other one and think, "That one looks faster.  Yeah...I think it's faster.  Should I switch?...no just stay here...no...I think I'll switch."  And then I DO switch.  Right when I switched, the passport control officer of that line went on break.  I'm not kidding.  He left!  So of course, my original line was faster.  Then I switch again.  Anyway...it took over an hour.  I could see my luggage going by over and over.  I just knew that someone was going to steal it.  Once I get up to the window the officer tells me to follow him.  Apparently there's a problem.  I get taken to the back.  I try to explain that my valid visa is in my old passport but I also have a new passport.  I guess when your passport is no longer valid, the visa inside it is also no longer valid.  But this is only in Russian.  I called the Passport office here in America twice, making sure that this would not be a problem.  They said, "No, no, just give them both passports.  It's fine."  I wanted to say, "M'am, have you ever been to Russia??"  Once in the office, the man told me to pay him $50 and sign this paper.  I told, "I am not paying you any money or signing ANYTHING until you call the embassy and THEY tell me that I have to do this."  Turns out he was telling the truths and wasn't just trying to get a bribe out of me.  

I made it to my apartment and now I'm sitting here, relaxing.  Tomorrow we are going to the airport to meet the new teachers.  I'm excited and looking forward to starting a new year here.  Then on Wednesday we're going to IKEA.  This involves a 30 minute metro ride and then a 30 minute bus ride to the outside of Moscow.  Then the insanity of walking around IKEA and finding everything that you need.  And then making the journey back while carrying everything that you bought.  It does discourage you from buying too much, though.  I'll leave you with this fun picture I took while driving through Minneapolis.  I really like it.