Reading the travel posts of my core group friends, both old and soon to be, I fondly remember the anticipation and excitement that grew within our group as we (slowly) approached our dramatic landing in Cherskii. Needless to say, I’m a little nostalgic. This year it’s a little different for me as I’ll be travelling alone for the first half of the trip before meeting Galina at the second Moscow airport.

I’m looking forward to the novelty of the situation and I day dream about the potential situations that might arise. I’ve been given instructions to meet a man named Sergei in Moscow (how many of those can there be?) who will take all of my money… and exchange it for rubles before racing me to my Yakutsk connection flight on the other side of the city. (Sue, I hope you payed him well…) I’m also looking forward to reuniting with old friends and exchanging stories of times spent apart.

But as I sit here in the terminal at MSP waiting for my first flight, my mind keeps racing through the detailed instructions I’ve been given.

To those who might be concerned (Kate, Mom, Sue, John(?)), fear not! I won’t let you down.

See y’all soon!