First let me say thanks to those of you who sent your well wishes while I was in Moscow. I have not had access or time to follow up on the conclusion to my little story regarding the problems in Moscow, nor to the potentially bigger problem back here in Boston. First things first...as those of you who read my earlier post from Moscow are aware (as well as Rick's posting of one of my messages-thanks Rick), Elena and I had gone to the Embassy on Oct. 11th for our interview; everything went fine, fairly simple questions, and we were told to return at 5:00 that afternoon to pick up her visa. And as you all know, for the next 5 days, there was no concrete information from the Embassy as to when, or if they would make the visa available. Finally on Tuesday morning the 16th, I spoke to someone in the US Citizen service section who advised me that I would be able to pick up the visa at different location within the Embassy ot 4:00 that afternoon...they told me to check back at 2:00, which I did...and was then informed that the visas would not be available until the next day...maybe.
Up until this time I was fairly complacent about accepting their information, but this time I said no way. I asked for a supervisor, and though I did not get one, the rep I spoke to came back on the line and told me that they would have Elena's visa that day at 4:00. We went to the Embassy a t 3:30 and lo' and behold, we got her visa and packet at around 4:10...as did many other people who had remained persistent. Apparently those who did not follow up were not going to be contacted until they got their act together at the Embassy, and that is about all I can tell you about the Embassy. If anyone has any specific questions I will be glad to help however I can.
On Wednesday we boarded our Delta flight to New York...I had upgraded to business class using miles and we basically blew through immigrationa and customs...whether this is becasue the airports are less crowded due to the flyin fears, and or whether the Delta flight leaving at about 1:30 P.M. is competing with fewer airlines thus reducing the head count at Sheremetyevo, I am not sure. We waited in the Business Lounge, boarded, took off and we were on our way. All seemed fine...then Elena began to feel sick...big, big headache and nausea. I attributed this to general travel sickness and perhaps the stress of everythig leading up to this time.
When we arrived at JFK at about 4:15 P.M., it seemed unimaginable that we would clear immigration, get our bags and clear customs and then make our connecting fligh to Boston at around 5:30 P.M...but we did...again, we blew through...but Elena waws beginnig to feel worse and her lower back was beginning to hurt. Our Russian taxi driver in Boston got us home in about 20 minutes...and the long wait was over...and then things got scary.
