I'm Still Alive!

So we're back from Russia and we have all of our belongings (and limbs for that matter). I promise to fill you in on all the details of our adventure a little later. Right now I just wanted to let everyone know we got home safe.

If nothing else I think I learned 3 very important things on this trip:

1. Russia was not nearly as 'bad' as we expected it to be. We had SUCH a hassle with getting in to the country (and out of Switzerland) that we just assumed that going to Moscow was going to be terrible. The entire trip we were on edge just waiting for the next time we were going to get hassled by something or someone. The way the trip is started definitely plays a big factor in how the trip will continue and end.

2. I am very thankful to have the justice system in America that we have. In the US, if you ever have a question or feel uneasy and see a cop you just ask for help. And, more often then not, they will do everything they can to help you. If for some reason you are confronted by a cop that is not all that 'polite' you probably did something to warrant it. The US has a methodical criminal justice system and there are policies and procedures in place, if needed. In Moscow it seemed very 'us vs. them'. There were police EVERYWHERE and they were always in groups of at least 4-5. Everyone went out of their way to stay away from them and NEVER looked at them. Law enforcement was definitely on the other team there and never, EVER would you even consider asking them a question if you were lost. In fact, I felt safer when the cops weren't around. At least that way I couldn't be arrested and held for something I didn't know I was doing wrong.

3. We GROSSLY under estimated the language barrier. First, NO ONE spoke English except for the lady at the hotel front desk and the wait-staff at the Hard Rock. And, EVERYTHING was in Russian (and no duel signing like most big cities). Between Kyle and I we are pretty darn good at navigating around just about anywhere that runs off of the US, 26 letter alphabet. Between English, German, French, and Spanish we can just about read anything that's really important - and keep us from getting killed. The last 4 days we spent looking for street signs that read 'A, little b with a tail, backwards N, circle with a line through it, omega, elephant, Jesus fish, 4, upside down V, Chinese symbol for peace, backwards Euro sign' and that spelled 'main train station'...our brains just hurt now!