Picking up Russian Passport

Hi all! Привет!

I wanted to write to you about my experience renewing my Russian passport last week at the Russian Consulate General in New York city.  

My first experience going to the consulate last year wasn't as easy as this past week's visit.  I sat inside the consulate last summer watching this woman play with her hair for about forty-five minutes until she told me the paperwork was complete.  Now I understand their was a lot of work that needed to be done.  The Russian government had to confirm with Moscow that I was still a citizen, however I was never registered at any consulate and my old USSR passport was never renewed.  This made the process much more challenging.  However, after that long appointment I was out there with a slip of paper telling me to come back in three months to get my new passport.

Anyways, last week I was down to NY with my mother Cheryl to pickup my passport.  We approached the consulate and I spoke in Russian to the consular officer outside behind the gates to tell him my business.  He looked at me and simply replied, "линия (line)."  

I was confused first, because the line was only for Americans getting Visas.  But, I did not want to ask more questions so we waited in line for about fifteen minutes.  The consular officer came out every ten minutes or so to let more Russians into the building.  Next time he came out he told me to move and come in.  As I started to walk in he stopped my mother and turned to me and asked, "Это твоя мама (is this your mother)?".  I turned around and almost laughed but held it together and simply said Да, моя мама (yes, my mom).  We walked in and sat down on pretty comfy seats.  A new consular officer came out and collected the Russians passports that needed to be renewed.  I was a bit uneasy, because I had a USSR passport and I had no intention of giving it up.  After all, it is a piece of history.  Before you know it, I heard from one of the speakers yell out "Schunk, Maksim David." 

I walked over to one of the consular tables and they slid me my new passport.  I signed a log book stating I was there to pick it up and off I went.  It was that easy.

On a side note, my passport is valid for only 5 years.  The Russian government offers a 10 year new "bio-metric" passport however, when I applied for my passport last summer I was told over and over by the embassy in DC the New York Consulate does not issue 5 year passports.  With my luck, when I arrived at the consulate I discovered they were issuing 10 year passports.  If only I waited a few months last summer.  Oh well.

That is all.  Thanks for reading.  Bye! До свидания!

Visas delivered!

Dear all,

Today my parents received their Visas issued by the Russian Consulate in New York.  It was a very quick turn around.  In addition, I got a reminder that my Russian passport is still inside and I have two months until they destroy it!  Gotta love the Russians.

Take care,

David The Maksim

Flights are booked!

Dear friends,

I am happy to announce that our flights are booked for Russia.  We are flying Aeroflot into Sheremetyevo, Moscow.  Our flight itinerary is as follows:

• Boston, MA - New York, JFK
• New York, JFK - Moscow Shermetyevo, Russia.

We leave America at 2:20 PM and arrive in Russia at 7:40 AM.  It is only a 9 hour flight, which really isn't that bad.  I had the pleasure of traveling to Ireland last summer and the flight was 7hr and 30min.  So just think, only an hour or so more.  I will bring movies and of course try to sleep the entire way over!

It is almost the end of the April, meaning my college lets out very soon.  Finals week is next week and then it is SUMMER!  I am beyond thrilled and look forward to this great trip I will embark on.  As always, do contact me with any questions, comments, or just to chat at d-schunk@comcast.net.

Enjoy your week and take care,

David Maksim

My birth parents

A picture tells a thousands words...

Trip Itinerary

Dear all,

Thanks for your interest in my upcoming trip to Russia this summer.  My itinerary is still under construction, however I have some ideas on what I will be seeing.  This trip will not be your typical tourist trip.  There will be several emotions involved; not only from my point of view, but my adoptive parents and birth parents perspective.  It is one of those trips you aren't really certain what will happen, but you need to "go with the flow" and just get through it.

Our plans begin by flying out of Boston Logan International Airport and arriving in Moscow Vnukovo International Airport.  Of course we have a stop in Frankfort Germany, but that doesn't really count :)

Moscow:

• Red Square
• Kremlin
• Museums
• Restaurants
• Night clubs? - don't judge me

Smolensk:

• Visit baby home (Krasny Bor)
• Visit with Tony Carrthers
• Spending time with birth family
• See major attractions in my hometown

The distance between Moscow and Smolensk isn't that bad.  Train is around 5hr and 30min or so. 

Thanks for reading and take care.

David Maksim