Initial Thoughts

During the decent into St. Petersburg, a carefully watched out the window of the airplane to get my first glimpse of Russia. When it appeared, I saw a winter wonderland and smiled to myself. I didn't know which way the university was, if all the beautiful palaces and monuments were visible from up there, or even where our hotel was, but I knew that I would figure all that out so soon. This city is my home for the next four months, and I will learn so many things about it. I also know that no matter how much I hate airplanes, the confusion of the first few days, and missing my loved ones back home so intensely, I will always be obsessed with traveling.