We decided to go to Moscow by train. Giving in to Pasha's persuasion about the romance, reading a book to the rhythm of the wheels, and long conversations over a cup of tea, I gave in. Train it is!))) Looking ahead, I'll say that the romance didn't happen. The side bunks in the third-class carriage aren't great for big guys, but I slept like a log. I slept all day and all night, so the tea conversations didn't happen either))) But Pasha read his book to his heart's content)))

And so, 6:30 AM, Chaliapin monument, a crowd of people. I'm confused, not even scared. Just very cold. -4!!!! About an hour and a half of waiting for the interview flew by unnoticed... And then the coveted entrance. "Unzip your outerwear." Of course, of course guys, I'm not cold at all, I just stopped feeling the cold about thirty minutes ago, and along with the cold, I can't feel my hands and feet, so no problem, I'll unzip.

I didn't have anything with me except documents, so we got inside without any issues. I was #21, Pasha #23. In a slender line of thirty people, we walk into the waiting room and OH YES!!!!! there's a restroom here!!!! And also chairs, where you have to sit strictly in order, we are separated again. And now it's our group's turn to go. Fingerprints, window 18. And that's when THIS happens (if nothing had happened to me, I would have been extremely surprised), I place my Left hand on the touch panel, the girl at the computer looks at me tensely and says "one minute, please." I start to panic quietly while she clicks on the keys for about 5 minutes with a tense face. No-no, I've never been to the USA and didn't even have time to do anything wrong.... But everything turned out to be much more prosaic, our numbers were mixed up with the girl following behind. I was #22, and she was #21. Well, this incident didn't add any peace of mind to me)))

And here is the window, and here it is, la-la-la-la. #13. Great, my number! 2 people in front of me, Pasha behind me. I frantically try to hear the consul's voice, articulation is perfect, I exhale with relief. His name is Matthew. Very cute))))

I approach, say hello. He smiles and asks:

What is your name?

Yana.....Skutte, - I answer.

Then follows a long dialogue about whether my surname is German or Lithuanian. I answer that it is German. He asks: "So you are German?". I say that I am Russian, he has a confused face. I try to explain that this surname came to me from my stepfather. He nods understandingly and says that I am a Russian girl with a German surname. He starts laughing, says it's funny. I agree (what else can I do?)))) next:

Are you a night student?

Yes, I am.

How many hours do you have? (something like that).

And here I blurt out 20! Why, I didn't understand myself, because he has a certificate there where my hours for the semester are written out, and I give him 20!!!!! He smiled at me and says: "Have a nice summer in the USA"!!!!!!!!

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah!!!! I got it!!!!!! Pasha too, he was asked the question: "Oh, is Yana Skutte your wife?". He says: "Yeah, she's my wife. I'm her husband." The consul replies that It's great!!!! a couple more questions and also wishes us a great summer)))))

Do you think I relaxed after that???? No, I relaxed on 03/31 when our passports arrived, and in them were the visas!!!!!! That's when I let go! I realized that a summer in the USA is almost a reality already))))))