On the road again...or should I say "In the air again"

Greetings from Dulles International Airport!

I can't believe I was in India last year at this time. Time has gone by very quickly (but I still think I have things that I need to unpack from that trip!) Although it was a long trip last year, I must admit that I was having India withdrawals as the new Fulbright participants emailed my group to ask for advice.

This summer I am off on a new adventure - The UK and Russia! I will be spending some time in Scotland (perhaps even try to see if I can find the Loch Ness monster) and then join a tour group in Moscow before visiting Lake Baikal and trying to see the total solar eclipse in Novosibirsk. Yep! I'm headed to Siberia! (I realize that most people consider going to the beach a vacation so I guess I shouldn't be surprised when people thought I was kidding about where I was headed. I often had to add, "really...I really am going to Siberia" in response to their puzzled look.)

I tried to see a total solar eclipse twice before - once in 1999 in England and the other time in 2002 in South Africa. Both times I was clouded out. According to the totalies, if I am clouded out again they might ban me from trying to see the total solar eclipse again...I don't know if Russia is known for clear skies so let's just pretend that this is my first time to see the eclipse just in case they are serious. (By the way, I can't remember if it is to-TAL-ies or TO-ta-lies but that is how many of the people at the 2002 eclipse referred to themselves. They are the people that plan every vacation on where the total solar eclipse will occur. Think of them like the trekkies or trekkers of solar events. In case you are wondering, the US will have a total solar eclipse in 2014 and 2017 that will be visible from Kentucky. Reserve your rooms now!)

My flight to London leaves in less than an hour and I am very excited about my upcoming adventure. However, I am not a fan of overnight flights. I feel that I need to stay awake to somehow "help" the pilot fly the plane. My personal goal is to get a few hours of sleep before landing in London. I will let you know if I am successful or if the pilot needed me. ;)

Well, time for me to do a few last minute things before waiting for my flight!