Follow The Yellow Brick Road!

Do what you're afraid of

Probably the most commonly associated words with Anna (a.k.a. me) are: Intimidating, crazy, passionate, unpredictable, book worm, nerd and triskaidekaphobia.

The first four stem from my academic zest and my inability to face potential terror without logic and calmness. Bookworm and nerd describe my love of all things geeky. And the last merely touches on my favorite ever word which I have been known to scream in empty movie theaters. The first four however are the ones needed for this blog post, because it is about how Anna, 5’6, 120 lbs, tiny Anna, went to Russia alone to see the Olympics-and survived.

First off I should admit that my entire journey was arguably insane, suicidal, and potentially dangerous. So of course I did it with a smile and logical proposition. It took 40 hours to get from Burgas to Sochi, and during that time I did not sleep, I watched Dr. Who in the creepy Moscow airport while the women who sandwiched me in watched over my shoulder (no there was no subtitles, they just enjoyed the picture apparently) and I waited to finally get to Sochi to what was a horrible hostel with a wonderful room mate. (That isn’t sarcasm, she was wonderful.)

JUST LET ME SLEEP!

My flight from Moscow to Sochi I met this couple, John and Julianna, they were rejected from Moscow because Russia screwed up their visa and they had to return but we had a great time chatting on the flight. After my first 40 hour journey that included staying up all night in airports and just wanting to cave to sleep, I wanted to make sure I got a good nights rest. I checked into my arguably questionable hostel. (Questionable as they had to go into rooms to find me one, the worker asked me out multiple times, annnnd they couldn’t understand

No I don't want "drinks"

anything I said.) I went to the Olympic park to pick up my visitors pass and get ready for the next day when I would witness my first Olympic event.

The issue with that is-Russia. Not very organized when it came to getting your visitors pass, like at all. I ended up in line for 3 hours while they yelled at us to do it online when I tried twice and followed their directions and it kept getting rejected. Now I’m in line and I hear English. Look, try to

No you register online!

understand I love Bulgaria but sometimes it’s just nice to hear English from a native. I pull back in line a bit and meet these Americans who work for the sponsors of the Olympics, interviewing people and such. We stay in line 3 hours together bonding and supporting each other to the point that the Russians won’t let our line in anymore because we didn’t “pre-register” so they start to only take those who did it online and we decide “start a revolution.” 

The Russians in line with us start yelling in Russian

I was doing so well

and I join in, in Bulgarian and finally we are heard. I’m standing there translating things for the other Americans and when it comes time and the guard asks how many they are they ask me for the Bulgarian for 6, so I say “Shesht” and then realize “guys, you aren’t 6, you only have 5.” Their response? “We have 6, you’re with us now.”

BAM adopted again, yeah…just a note to tell you that happens a lot. Not sorry at all about that either! So we went in together they sat with me and it was lovely to just feel not alone in Russia anymore.

School pride!

I can't make this up

Afterwards they wanted me to join them in Olympic park but I didn’t have a ticket so we parted ways and I went back to sleep off my 40+ hour journey thus far. I awoke to meet my really cool, Luge enthusiast, hostel roommate, from Texas. Then we headed to the bus to get to the Olympic park. I bought a day pass to get in early, and wow was it crazy! I literally followed the yellow brick road!!

Bear!

I took in everything, the houses that represented all nationalities, the street performers and food stands. It was amazing, and I couldn’t soak it

in fast enough. I spent all day there, and went to the concert that night before my hockey game. I didn’t understand any of it as it was in Russian but it was wonderful to still just be there, engaged, dancing with every nationality and enjoying the atmosphere. I even met the mascots which was really fun. Then it was time for Sweden vs. Russia women’s hockey.

 

I cheered on Sweden as I am a Viking through and through, but it was almost entirely Russians there so they never had a chance. I made friends with Michael, an Australian from Melbourne and we cheered them on together. Sadly they lost but at least they gave a valiant effort!!

BG house!

The next day I had to get on the new trains that were built for the Olympcis to head out to the slopes…did I mention I HATE HEIGHTS? Well I had to take a train out there then take a Gondola up

Gorgeous

and walk around in sluggy, slippery snow to watch cross country skiing and I loved it!! Still not sure who won as you are walking to follow the athletes and so they are finished long before you get to the end. I cheered on the Irish, the Americans and finally I found th Bulgarian skiers who seemed so confused when I yelled out in English and Bulgarian that they were doing great. Afterwards I followed the crowd down the treacherous hill, and met one of the US skiers who took a picture with me and signed my ticket! Then I went to visit the Bulgarian house and head back down to the village.

Signed ticket!

The mountain region is gorgeous and I just walked around for hours taking in the local outfits and culture. It was beautiful and I knew leaving that part would be hard. But at the end of the day I made it home to pack and prepare to return to Bulgaria the next day. I took my sad faced pictures in Olympic park after my very pleasant train ride, and I packed my stuff up.

It's just hair!

There were tons of problems. For one in Moscow they didn’t think it was me in my visa because my hair was braided (oh gee, sorry that I have to travel 40 HOURS STRAIGHT! I’ll make sure my hair look’s like Kate Middleton’s next time!) and wanted to detain me. And of course staying up so many hours is hard, and staying on time and on track is difficult and cabin fever sets in. My hostel was a nightmare and Russia can be scary. But each night on my buses back to my hostel I met someone who was safe to walk me home, the first night an older Russian woman with a daughter my age who hugged me and called me her “new friend Anna” (side note: keep track, adopted-again.) And the next night some older men from the same area as me in America who were in a hostel close by and made sure I was safe.

BADLY

LOVE HIM!

I always stay safe when I travel, but sometimes staying safe requires trusting your instincts, and taking the plunge. Just think of Loki “If it were easy, everyone would do it.”But in all honesty it was a hard decision to make to go when things were getting crazy. I was afraid at times, and worried. The media made it out to be scarier than it was and I was concerned that maybe something would happen to me over there. But in the end I had to make the decision on my own and I decided not to let fear get to me. Stay safe, get out if you need to, always have an exit strategy-but don't let fear control your life.(Please note that this post was done in the Olympic Rings colors!)

Tonight's song is"A Hard Days Night" because seriously two 40 hour trips in less than 5 days...is seriously a hard days night!

Anna