Roxana Contreras is a physics PhD candidate at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
While visiting friends in Voronezh, Russia after attending a conference related to her studies in synchronization in brain activity in traumatically brain injured patients, she found herself wishing she had taken a class or two in international and cultural relations.
The student bought some military
medals, currency and coins for $66 to take home as souverniers.
However, she was stopped at customs and put under city arrest for trying to leave the country with contraband.
She faces up to seven years in prison!
Embassies and ambassadors are involved, reputations are staked and friends aren't laughing anymore at the misunderstanding.
Contreras has bought a guitar and is studying Russian hoping she will not be found in violation of overstaying her visa.
How do you say, "Ask the street vendor why she sold me the stuff in the first place," in Russian?
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