I finally got my passport back a few days ago and so today I went to buy train tickets. I wanted to buy three tickets: Moscow-Kazan, Kazan-Izhevsk, and Izhevsk-Moscow. I researched online and wrote down exactly which dates, train numbers, and times I wanted. I thought I was prepared.

I wasn’t.

It was a horrible experience, almost as bad as some post office visits when I was here before. I spent a long time trying to find the place to buy tickets at Kazansky station then gave up and went to Leninradsky station because I’d read online about a window for foreigners, but it seems they misinterpreted the word international; when I finally found it, I learned it was a window for international tickets. After that I went to a normal window and had to stand in a long, slow line. When I finally got to the front, I tried to push my list under the window, but the woman shoved it back at me and said, “Скажи!” or “speak.” So I had to read her dates and numbers. I almost ended up with a return ticket one month too late because I misspoke.

I should have felt proud and accomplished when I finally had my tickets in hand, but instead I felt trampled and discouraged. It took at least an hour longer than I’d expected and I had to cancel some of my afternoon plans.