sorry I've been delinquent

Hey everyone,
I know that I haven't written in a little while and I promise I will soon. But things have been so hectic lately, that I really just haven't had the time or energy (still getting used to the time difference). I went to mass this morning at the American Embassy, and boy, is the security tight. Turns out, though, that that particular mass is pretty much just frequented by American business men who are living in Moscow with their families. What luck! Anyway, will write more soon, and also, I'm going to start transitioning to a new email address: MCDOUGDO@GMAIL.COM. My SLU one is going to expire before too terribly long anyway, so any future individual emails should be directed toward the gmail account. It's exactly the same as the SLU one only it's @gmail.com and not @slu.edu. Will write more about what's going on soon. Later!

Okay, so I finally have time to tell about what all has been going on since I’ve got to Russia (and a little before). Firstly, and most excitedly, through the charm and suave nature that is inherent in Dan McDougell (ha! Pure luck!), I got upgraded to business class for my flight from Chicago to London. Let me put it this way: I wish the flight was about twice as long. Wow, that was luxury. We’re talking 4 course meals, all the snacks and alcohol you could handle, your own bed, your own personal flat screen TV on which you could play video games, watch over 200 movies, TV shows, you name it. Those commercials don’t lie; British Airways is the way to go. Once I got to Moscow, I was hoping that someone was going to pick me up, and sure enough, they did…but not until I was waiting for about 15 minutes to find them, so that was a little disconcerting. She was a younger Russian girl that didn’t speak much English, but her only job was to take me to my home stay. Now here is where the story turns south. My host “family” as I was expecting was, in turn, a host “babushka,” which is Russian for old woman or Grandma. She has no computer, and therefore no internet, and speaks absolutely no English. I’m currently in the process of getting Wi-Fi in her apartment, but, as older Russian women are, she is opposed to any sort of advance in technology being introduced into her life. But by God, it’s gonna be! Anyway, I got robbed on the bus yesterday – my wallet with a few hundred dollars, my student id, and my credit card were all taken…so that was definitely a downer. I’ll tell you what, though, those guys are good. I had that thing in my front pocket and was checking it constantly, and all of a sudden, it was gone. But, by the grace of God, I had taken out, just the day prior, all of my cards and materials pertinent to America, so the losses were really just monetary. Hope everyone is doing well…my transition is still in its infancy, as to be expected. But as you all know, Dan McDougell will triumph or die trying, so wish me luck and I’ll keep you updated. Paka (goodbye)

Wow oh wow, have things been crazy. I really only have time right now to tell everyone that things are nuts. I'm doing okay, though, so everyone rest assured. I am at an internet cafe right now, and my host mother doesn't have wi-fi (yet), but once she does, I'll be able to write a lot more. And I have pictures, too, but I have to figure how to upload them. Talk to everyone soon!