Saturday
I have packed a couple of cloth, a traditional outfit and my laptop. I have packed so light I only had a backpack. At 2:00 pm in the afternoon I went to the Airport with my friend and I checked in, get my boarding pass I was told I was upgraded to Business. Oh wow, who would ever dream such a thing in that kind of Situation? So my first ever flight was Business class and I enjoyed it as much as possible. It was very entertaining.
Dubai International Airport: – It really is a “Next Century thing”. It’s one of the most amazing Architectures I have ever seen. I was astonished by how big; wide and technologically advanced it is the moment I set my foot in the Airport. I had 12 hours transit and the Airlines couldn’t book me a hotel because I was late when I book my flight. So what do I do? Spend 12 hours in the Airport. I couldn’t sleep even for a moment. I was browsing wi-fi and when I got bored I keep exploring the “town.” What I didn’t know was that there is a meal voucher and A lounge for Business class people. So I spent $20 for food. Well things were expensive. And I went to the exchange office and trade $60 for 1610 Russian Rubles.

Sunday- We fly the Boeing 777 to Moscow- still I couldn’t sleep because I was trying to enjoy the show on the cameras. Even though, it’s really hard and blurry when you are up 38,000 feet. I watch a movie or two. Then we reach Domedovedo International Airport- Moscow. I was expecting some people who have my named signed and waiting for me in the counter but no one was there. I tried to ask some people if and where I could find some phone but nobody in there speaks English. So I went to the Information desk and ask for help, phoned the people and they told me to take a train to Moscow city since the Airport is located so far away from the city, I ask at least 10 people to get to know how that works and where I needed to go and I found a foreigner who speaks English and who showed me the Direction. I took the “Aeroxpress” train for 320 Rubles and I felt asleep most of the way and there we were after 45 minutes of ride in the Metro station I was told to wait for the bus to come and pick me up. Nobody showed up so I called again after asking some other guy and I was informed the Bus had already left and I had to wait until the next day. I didn’t know what to do I was really pissed. I ask the guy to call them and talk to them for me in some Russian and see if they can understand better, to tell them I had no money and I can’t wait for 14 hours in a city I have no Idea about and a language I heard spoken for the first time- so he did but they don’t seem to care. After exhaustion of all possible talks with the organizers I ask the guy to take me to the Ethiopian Embassy. The only guy in the embassy was the guard who was Russian and speaks no English or Amharic. He “Tried’ to call them but phone wouldn’t go through. My final hope was to go to the Church. Russians are big Orthodox people and so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem for them to host me overnight. In a rough translation they said” What if he is a criminal? It’s not good for our soul!” I tried to convince them am a Christian as well and they can have my passport if they fear I’m about to do anything. Big NO! The guy who was helping me out since the Metro was really mad and say a lot of mean things to them (when he translate it to me- he told them church is no more the house of God but the house of Aristocrats such as themselves) I keep begging him It’s ok but he was really pissed off and keep insulting them, finally a guard had to escort us out. Hostels cost around 700-2000 rubles, me I don’t have that kind of money. So I had to go back to the Metro station where I’m supposed to be waiting for the people to show up and take me to Seliger! I was Hungry I needed to eat something the only place that was open nearby at the time was Burger King so I ordered a Pepsi and a burger to which I had to pay 280 Rubles. That sucked and I tried to sleep in the table for so long until two married people come and tried to talk me out from boredom. We chatted for some time until it was dark and they had to leave home. I went back to the metro station and waited there hoping I could sleep in the waiting bench for so long. When it was around 12:30 the Guards come and tried to talk to me and tell me they closed. I asked them where I couldn’t spent the night we couldn’t understand each other so I asked them If they have phone- they did and It was a flashy one so I powered up Google Translate and tried to communicate with them they told me I could go to a rail way station which was located 5 stations ahead of where I was. I took the metro once again when the Metro closes I had to go out and it was raining. It was hard to locate the Rail way station which is open 24 hours, after I soaked all the rain I reached my destination. I had to pee I also had to pay 25 rubles to pee. Finally I was super exhausted I slept like 3 hours in the waiting bench.
Monday July 22
Since 6 Am in the morning I was waiting for the bus which was scheduled to pick me up at 7:00 Am. In the middle of waiting I saw two other young foreign people accompanied by one Russian guy who I thought were part of Seliger and waiting for the bus just like me. So I went and talked to them they happen to be waiting for the “Dream bus” too. So we went to a cafeteria which is in front of the where we should be waiting the Hypothetical bus where we received an additional third person going to the forum. We waited and waited and when we were tired- we called them- they told us the bus left! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I couldn’t be more infuriated and they told us to wait for the bus till the next morning. I was exhausted, I couldn’t even think and I feel very suffocated! I called the people and told them how Rude and Unfriendly they are, how they don’t care about other people or the Image of their country we are having! In a word of my own I said “I’m from the poorest nation in the world, yet we manage things better than you guys!” We decided to go there ourselves.

We looked for the Bus station for a long time and the one we found was the wrong one. So we went back look again and after an exhaustive 2-3 hours search we find the bus station- still the chances of getting a ticket is low given the bus had to leave in an hour or so!

We went there and gladly there were still spots, So we pay 660 Rubles and went to the nearest city to Seliger- OSTASHKOV which is located 300 Km away from Moscow.
I slept all the way there. Once we get there we had to pay additional 500 Rubles for the four of us for a taxi to get us to Seliger. We reach there and we were relieved to have all our misery’s solved. We were taken to our Camp and given rain coats, sleeping bags and other necessary equipment’s which are necessary for our stay in the conference. But they were all out of Food.
Tuesday 23 July and after…
I slept like a rock! I was super exhausted I don’t remember the last time I felt that way. We woke up had some nice breakfast and went to lectures. Each day we had to take 4 courses, two in the morning and two in the afternoon.

Selier is very big as you can see the map

I loved all the lectures I went to and I think they were pretty much organized. I went to Model United Nations Interseliger, Public speaking session by Sam Potolicchio a Georetown University Professor and president of Preparing Global Leaders, International Debate club, Hey success, Finding Inner peace and many more

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It’s perfect because the long days help us to spend each day with surplus Joy and fun. After Dinner we will all gather up and take a look at the daily accomplishments, music bands and more.

There were lots and lots of Different games at the beach and It was a place to be in the summer.

. One of the most memorable program of the event was “Global Village” Where each participant get the chance to represent his/her country and present the culture and more. I didn’t bring much but I had a cultural cloth that saved me from total embarrassment!The pictures will tell you more

A lot happened in between thats worthy of telling…as the week is full of stories! the final big thing that happen was meeting the Head of International Division of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia Federal Agency of youth Affairs Alexander A. Salivinov and the Minister whom I can’t recall his name. I was selected to talk about the Seliger forum in general its good and bad and I had pointed out my situation and the transportation problem. and I also mentioned the importance of preparation from the organizing committee to give the most smooth experience for International students, They apologized and promised the same problem won’t happen any more.. funny thing is..we had to leave to Moscow the next morning and we had to wait 10 hours for the bus to leave! What can you do?!
Seliger has totally shaped me to be a more active and vibrant person! I love the experience, the place, the food and pretty much everything.. well there is the transportation thing… Most of all It has given me Friends that would take me forever to find. It’s the ultimate place to find like minded youths who are ready to bring a change to the society. I loved it so much!and I recommend it to everyone hoping of course Transportation will get better!
Soon…