Meet the Team

Here's a video of an introduction to the team I'm serving with over here in St. Petersburg - I'm going to put it in my upcoming email update, but I figured you blog readers would like a special preview - so enjoy!

Oh. Boy.

I got stopped by a post man today. No not a mail man. A Russian military officer. Without giving many details - it's not a good situation to be in. What made it worse - is that I had none of my information on me.

No registration.

No passport.

No copies of anything.

I usually carried it all in my bookbag - but I was running late and we were all going bowling with some Russians and so I just left without it.

The conversation went something like this:

PMan: "Excuse me. Your information."
Me: (most likely turning pale/deathly white as I search my pockets and realize I don't have my paper work) "umm."
PMan: "Passport, please"
Me: "i. do. not. have. i. am. sorry. i. am. late. to. meeting. [speaking slowly, hoping he knew some english]
PMan: "Are you student?"
Me: (still in shock mode - but looking back I'm extremely thankful he could speak english!) "Yes. Here is my license." [i had my wallet on me]
PMan: "Your name is William Rush?"
Me: "Yes"
PMan: (After a long, seemingly eternal stare down...) "Ok, you may go."
Me: "Pazhaulsta, Spoceba! Pazhaulsta, Spoceba" (Excuse Me. Thank You! Excuse Me. Thank You!)

And just like that. I left.



Everyone i've talked to since - Russian and American - have considered it a miracle I got out of there unscathed.


Miracle or not. I am thankful - thankful indeed.

A Stop at the Metro

Here's a short video of my journey to pick up my friend Niko at the metro, with views of my apartment building and the area I live in...



Enjoy!