Moroccan Reflections on Russia: My first day in Moscow

Moscow – It is not always true to assume that our future goes according to our plans. There are certain times that we make decisions against our expectations. However, a passion for new discoveries, experiences, and extraordinary tendencies often has people making decisions out of their planning. That is exactly my case when I chose to come to Russia for a study program.

Traveling abroad has always haunted me, but I never thought that someday I could get away from my ordinary life at home. The decision to travel to Russia has always been an aspiration for me, because I have wanted to try a destination where Moroccans and probably most North Africans do not go often.

Indeed, my impulse for discovering Eastern Europe made me choose Russia, home of remarkable leaders and scientists such as Alexander Pushkin, Ivan Pavlov, Vladimir Lenin, and many others. So, here I would like to describe my first experience traveling abroad, in which I have made to the Russian Federation!

The moment when the airplane took off from Marrakech Menara Airport was dramatic, because I realized my ordinary life in Morocco will completely change, and that I will no longer be in live contact with the people I grow up with, especially relatives, friends and close acquaintances. After a stopover in Barcelona Airport, I flew again on a five-hour night trip to my final destination, Moscow.

I slept almost the whole flight, but a sudden notice woke me up: “Dear passengers, we are now approaching Moscow…” The notice came from the cabin crew, informing us that we were just few miles away from our destination. Eventually, around dawn, we landed in Domodedovo Moscow airport. I got off the plane and followed the direction-signs, which are in both English and Russian, until I halted at the “passport control” zone, where I waited my turn, and then handed over my passport. Later, I stopped to retrieve my luggage, which contained heavy warm clothes, for I had assumed that Russia is known for “minus zero degrees.” Still in the airport, I exchanged some amount of money into Russian Rubles, and then browsed for an available Wi-Fi network to text my family that I had arrived safely.

I was courageous enough to handle my travel by myself. I had the contacts of my Host University, metro map, city maps, and contacts from the embassy of Morocco, and even phone numbers for taxi service, so as to make sure I wouldn’t get lost. I took the Aeroexpress train to Paveletsky station. It took me 40 minutes on the railway. The whole trip, I watched the view through the windowpane, until I arrived at my destination. The atmosphere in front of the station was extraordinary, with people full of energy and dynamism. Some walked on the pavement, while others took the stairs to the underground.

I wondered why so many people were taking the stairs. Later, I discovered it was an entrance to the subway station. I felt like a complete stranger, hearing a different language and observing an exotic environment. But I decided not to take a taxi, and instead try the metro for the first time. Along with my luggage, I moved to the entrance, and then ordered a ticket at the window, before I got on the escalator to go deep underground. That moment, I was simply astonished by the small cozy space and the huge crowd of people.

Signs to metro stations are hung for passengers, but are only in the Cyrillic alphabet. This presented a challenge for me to find my direction. The metro map didn’t help for finding the right train, because there were two of them operating on a rotational basis. I tried asking passersby for direction, using gestures mixed with some English words and assisted with the metro map. At last, a young man was able to speak English, and showed me the way to “Studencheskaya” metro station, the nearest one to my dormitory.

When I arrived at the station, I took up the escalator and stairs up to the exit, and then figured out the way to my university dormitory. By the entrance, I explained to security staff that I am a new student, and though none of them could speak English, a lady showed me a list of names in the Latin alphabet, and I was able to recognize my name. I handed them my passport and migration card, which I got at the airport, then one of the dormitory staff accompanied me to my room.

My first day in Moscow was a unique adventure, with many first impressions of the way of life in Russia, including the people, language and transportation!

Edited by Timothy Filla

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy