"From the Shipboard to the Ball"

Over the last two weeks, I was becoming more and more nervous every passing day. I guess that is what the state exam does to every student. Now it is over, and I can breathe again.
I have passed my exam.  So now, I can go to Yekaterinburg and visit my brother whom I haven’t seen for ten months.  He is in the army now.  The funny thing is that he spent six months serving his country in Tajikistan.  I do not understand how someone can serve his country while being in another.  Anyway, he is just seven hours away from home now.  It is the second best to home.  I do not like trains, but I am looking forward to this meeting.