After weeks of waiting for my russian invitation it finally came this morning. I ran over to the consulate, paid the $250 via application fee (i.e. "bribe"), and was told that it would be ready for pick-up on wednesday. My travel plans, which have been scheduled for about three months now, necessitated leaving Osaka by Thursday at the latest. I've been concerned about the timing (obviously) and went so far as to secure other work in japan, but am now relieved that the original plan has worked out and that I am russia bound.
This past month has been a fantastic month. I've had the entire month off. I visited hiroshima and shikoku (the city of tokushima for the "awa odori" dance festival), helped the new JETs to adjust to their new lives here, and have befriended many interesting and kind japanese folk. Nostalgia has set in and when I take a look at all the things I've learned here in the past year, the things I've done, and the people I meet, I'm amazed at how fortunate I've been.
Thursday Sept 1 I leave Osaka. I'll spend the night in the city of Kanazawa and board the ferry the next day. After two nights on the ferry, I arrive in Vladivostok, spending a night there and catching the Trans-Siberian the next morning (Monday Sept 5). I arrive in moscow on Sunday September 11th, spend a night there, and then arrive in St. Petersburg Tuesday September 13th. The public school system starts back up October 1st so I have about two weeks to adjust before reporting for duty. I don't know the details about where I'll be living (with a family somewhere central in the city) or where I'll be teaching but am confident that either these things will work themselves out, or that i will be capable of setting things right.
Those are my stories. Here are some pictures...
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