It is one thing to know that Russia is big. Just looking at this map shows that. It is another thing entirely to actually look at train times and airplane travel times. This monstrosity covers 11 timezones. I am going to be fairly close to Moscow, but that means that I will be 250 kilometers away.
I am getting things ready, and it is finally starting to sink in, that I am leaving.

And that I won't be back until June.

IT is startling.
Exciting, but startling just the same.