I accompany Artiëm to take the dog out. It has been snowing all night, and the temperature has dropped dramatically. Artiëm recommends I should wear a hat or a neck warmer. The day before, he had given me a neck warmer, and today, during the walk, we found a pink hat lying on the ground.

After the walk, Artiëm goes to work, and I stay home with Katia and Dasha. I spend the morning texting Artiëm to determine what parts I need to replace, including a filter and oil, and to discuss transport options for me and the bike. Around 1:30 p.m., I go out for a walk with Katia and Dasha. Since Dasha hadn’t napped after lunch she fell asleep as soon as Katia sat her on the trolley. She should rest before her pool session.

Dasha is the only one swimming at the pool, so I accompany Katia inside. Just before the session, I take the opportunity to call home and update them on my situation. I am still undecided. Should I wait for the part to arrive in 3 to 8 days, pay for transport and a ticket, or return to Spain and deal with this next year? The costs and logistics weigh heavily on me. Returning next year would mean paying for flights, ensuring work availability, obtaining a new visa (potentially more expensive), and restricting my travel period.

After four years, I managed to get my bike out of Mongolia by paying 400,000 tugriks (€110). However, I know of someone in a similar situation who left his bike in Russia and was deported upon return in 2022, also receiving an €800 fine. I don’t want to face the same consequences.

Searching for Ingredients and booking Issues

After the pool, we embark on a long search for courgettes. I had mentioned to Katia that I could make lasagna, but to my surprise, courgettes seemed to be out of stock everywhere. Even eggplants, the alternative, were unavailable in the three supermarkets we visited. Eventually, Katia orders eggplants online from a larger supermarket, which will deliver them later.

When Artiëm returns from work, we list my options. I attempt to book tickets back to Europe, only to realize that, due to the international blockade, I cannot purchase a direct flight from Russia to Europe. The only way is to book two separate flights, which complicates the process. In the end, we order the replacement part, the filter, and the oil. Now, all that remains is to wait.

That evening, I prepare lasagna with Katia, who stays by my side, interested in the process. It’s a dish they have never prepared or eaten at home.

Waiting for deliveries

Artiëm starts work earlier today and asks me to look after the dog. He informed me that our orders would arrive throughout the day and that someone needed to be home to receive them. Katia takes Dasha to the clinic while I wait.

At around 10:30 a.m., Katia meets me outside so we can take Dasha and the dog for a long walk. We return just as one of the packages arrives. Over the day, the other two packages also arrive. In the evening, I help Artiëm change the car tires.

For dinner, I prepare a Spanish classic: a potato omelet. They are surprised to learn that this dish can also be eaten in a sandwich, something they had never considered.

Carcassonne and endless waiting

The next morning, I took the dog for a walk with Katia and Dasha, and he seemed more excited than usual. The sun is shining, though the temperature hasn’t risen enough to melt the snow. I noticed that one side of the street, which gets more sunlight, is clearer than the other. To ease our promenade, we decided to enter the forest near the apartments and change the scenery.

While walking, Artiëm texts me: the part has arrived. Finally, some good news! However, when we return to the apartment, we realize it isn’t my part but another package that Artiëm had been expecting.

That evening, we played Carcassonne. I notice that the drawings aren’t the same, and Artiëm keeps adding new rules as we go. Still, Katia wins, and I take second place.

A financial planning

Today, Dasha has another pool session, so Katia asks me to take the dog alone. Just as I was about to leave, Katia received a notification that the class was canceled due to a power outage. Instead, we all go out for a walk together.

We took advantage of the outing to buy specific prescription products for Dasha. At the supermarket, I nearly lost my new pink hat and had to go back to find it. Meanwhile, Katia has done her grocery shopping online and included lasagna pasta, eager to try making it herself. The first attempt, using pre-cooked pasta and following the manufacturer’s recipe, turned out well. The first layer is slightly hard, likely because we didn’t add as much sauce as in the other layers.

Getting back on track

At around 10:00 a.m. on the fifth day, Artiëm confirmed that my motorcycle part had arrived and that we would pick it up after work. He also informed me that Mihail will help us pick up the bike on Saturday. Initially, we had planned for Thursday (yesterday), but the delay in the part’s arrival forced us to reschedule.

I took the dog for a walk alone, as I would later accompany Katia to the clinic for Dasha’s routine checkup. While I am not particularly interested in visiting the clinic itself, I am curious to see how the city looks after the snowfall. Unlike the quieter neighborhood where Katia and Artiëm live, the city center has much more traffic, and the difference is stark. There is hardly any ice on the roads, though the pedestrian paths remain covered in snow.

At the clinic, I put on foot covers for the first time since arriving. We barely waited before they called us in. I don’t understand most of the conversation, but I can tell they are evaluating Dasha’s motor skills. At one point, I even understood the doctor called me “dad” when asking her to walk toward me.

Considering payment options

After the clinic visit, Dasha fell asleep, and Katia preferred to wait in the car rather than wake her up. Meanwhile, I met Artiëm at the apartment, and we discussed payment options. Over the past few days, he has been making advance payments for the parts and accessories I need.

We considered three options:

  1. A money transfer to Russia or Kazakhstan is too costly and uncertain.
  2. A money transfer to his friend’s account in England is more feasible but still has fees.
  3. Using a payment link with a credit card provided by Dimitri is ideal, as it allows me to split the €800 payment.

We don’t stay up too late, as we have to meet Mihail at 8:15 a.m. the next day.