Saturday, March 1, 2014
English Language classes with Professor Victoria Ufaeva
Professor Victoria Ufaeva invited me to her English language classes on Friday. She is an extraordinarily enthusiastic, curious, and hospitable English teacher at the Institute who thought it would be nice for her students to interact with a native English speaker. First class was a group of freshmen at the Institute. Very bright, very curious students. We had a presentation on Maslenitsa from a young fellow named Vlad and spent more that an hour talking about politics and some of their goals and dreams.
I promised all of them I could get them American pen-pals for email and/or Skype communication. They would LOVE this! Colleagues at NOVA---if you'd like to incorporate this in your teaching or just help me with the recruiting I would be eternally grateful!
The next class was a more advanced class with some really interesting an well-read students who gave presentations on the American system of government---Executive, Legislative, Judicial, and Local Government. They already know more than I do about my own government! I apologize for getting a little sleepy during the local government talk at the end---too many blini and it was the old man's afternnon! I had a great time Victoria---you and your students are awesome!
I promised all of them I could get them American pen-pals for email and/or Skype communication. They would LOVE this! Colleagues at NOVA---if you'd like to incorporate this in your teaching or just help me with the recruiting I would be eternally grateful!
The next class was a more advanced class with some really interesting an well-read students who gave presentations on the American system of government---Executive, Legislative, Judicial, and Local Government. They already know more than I do about my own government! I apologize for getting a little sleepy during the local government talk at the end---too many blini and it was the old man's afternnon! I had a great time Victoria---you and your students are awesome!
International Program Graduation
The Institute's International Business Administration program ended on Thursday with a graduation ceremony. I'd given my final on Tuesday, finished grades that evening and submitted them on Wednesday. This office, headed by Dr. Bobarykina, along with Maria(Masha), Valentina(Valia), and Yulia, work incredibly hard on this program. They pick everybody up at the train station, drop everybody back off, coordinate most transportation, handle ALL documentation, schedule all events, manage classrooms, coordinate schedules(with lots of changes--faculty in this program seem to switch things up a bit very often), produce the ending party, verify, recommend, and handle student excursions to Moscow, and finally graduation. They deserve a lot of credit for the tireless effort and constant strain.
But---it is really about the students. Very courageous young adults from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, China, and one very late arriving German fellow----they are the future of this planet, and programs like this are vital to all of us. They overcame countless cultural obstacles, dealt with a different culture, handled a variety of crazy professors(especially me!), made wonderful new friends(many of them communicated with students from Professor Josh Pachter's class at NOVA-Loudoun----Thank you Josh, Ana, and the rest!), it is with utmost confidence that these brave people will make our world a more understanding and peaceful place. I will miss all of them terribly but they have brought light to my life. Every moment I spent with them made me a better teacher, giving my life incredible meaning. Thank you and congratulations. Pictures to follow.
But---it is really about the students. Very courageous young adults from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Russia, China, and one very late arriving German fellow----they are the future of this planet, and programs like this are vital to all of us. They overcame countless cultural obstacles, dealt with a different culture, handled a variety of crazy professors(especially me!), made wonderful new friends(many of them communicated with students from Professor Josh Pachter's class at NOVA-Loudoun----Thank you Josh, Ana, and the rest!), it is with utmost confidence that these brave people will make our world a more understanding and peaceful place. I will miss all of them terribly but they have brought light to my life. Every moment I spent with them made me a better teacher, giving my life incredible meaning. Thank you and congratulations. Pictures to follow.
I meet some Russian Police(don't worry!)
Thursday evening I go out to get a little dry red wine at a store that has been recommended to me. I am returning home mid-evening. There are few people on the streets as it is still pretty darn cold---perhaps 5 deg. F. As I am walking down Moscovskaya, a one way street towards the Volga, a beat up old Lada is winding up the wrong way and has a meeting with the local police force. The guys(not the police) are outside the car and appear a little buzzed. I don't linger at all and continue on my way.
I don't see anyone else on the street now, it is a little late, and I turn left toward my kvartira. As I am crossing the last street, there is suddenly a police car, right in front of me. The window comes down and the fellow says(in Russian)," your documents please". I state that I will cross the street and I do.
The guy in the passenger seat now says "documents, please". I motion to him to please exit the car---just as general rule, I don't like to lean into cars and give anyone anything, especially my passport.
The passenger policeman gets out, not threatening at all, in fact very good natured, smiling even.
I hand him my passport, tell him what I do and where I work, point out my Institute ID. He needs to see my registration, a document showing where I live and how long I'll be here. We are all speaking Russian---me haltingly and imperfectly, but no tension. My registration passes muster.
He then looks at me, smiles, and says "Obama?", smiling. I give him the" mojet buit" motion with my hand, the sort of non-committal perhaps yes, perhaps no sign and say "Putin?". he smiles again and gives me the same motion. We say goodnight, I say "be safe" in English and we go our separate ways. There is a bit of negative stuff about Russian police in the guidebooks and in State dept briefing materials and this was the complete opposite experience. I was not nervous, they were not threatening in the least. I've never felt any threat---the police in Moscow were out in force but very professional and serious. Sorry, but police in my own country make me feel more uneasy sometimes. I keep thinking that what I am learning here is that things are going to be fine.
I don't see anyone else on the street now, it is a little late, and I turn left toward my kvartira. As I am crossing the last street, there is suddenly a police car, right in front of me. The window comes down and the fellow says(in Russian)," your documents please". I state that I will cross the street and I do.
The guy in the passenger seat now says "documents, please". I motion to him to please exit the car---just as general rule, I don't like to lean into cars and give anyone anything, especially my passport.
The passenger policeman gets out, not threatening at all, in fact very good natured, smiling even.
I hand him my passport, tell him what I do and where I work, point out my Institute ID. He needs to see my registration, a document showing where I live and how long I'll be here. We are all speaking Russian---me haltingly and imperfectly, but no tension. My registration passes muster.
He then looks at me, smiles, and says "Obama?", smiling. I give him the" mojet buit" motion with my hand, the sort of non-committal perhaps yes, perhaps no sign and say "Putin?". he smiles again and gives me the same motion. We say goodnight, I say "be safe" in English and we go our separate ways. There is a bit of negative stuff about Russian police in the guidebooks and in State dept briefing materials and this was the complete opposite experience. I was not nervous, they were not threatening in the least. I've never felt any threat---the police in Moscow were out in force but very professional and serious. Sorry, but police in my own country make me feel more uneasy sometimes. I keep thinking that what I am learning here is that things are going to be fine.
My Breakfast Masleniza Morning
I prepare my own meals quite a bit here in Russia. One of my resolutions to avoid becoming a “bachelor farmer”—as Garrison Keillor would say…
This is my breakfast this morning:
Russian Kolbasa and potatoes drenched in New Mexico Red Chile.
Earl Grey Tea from a Saratov Chainka(tea store)
Delicious Blini from my colleague Kamiel’s mother, along with sweet milk.
Homemade Jam from Stepan’s mother---absolutely delicious
Russian honey from my kind women in the office.
WRNR Annapolis radio on the tablet
I wish Janet was here but this multicultural feast makes me feel a little better. Happy Masleniza!
Bank Visit
Monday morning I arrive at the Institute around 10am and as I am coming up the stairs to the 3rd floor International office, I run into Valentina on the stairs--she says that the Institute is, right then, taking some of the international students to visit a bank, and that I am welcome to come along. The group passes me on the stairs on the way to the street. I rush up the stairs, drop off my backpack, grab my camera, rush back down the stairs and join the group. It is made up of Dr. Bobarykina, Masha, all of the Chinese students, and some of the Slovakian and Russian students. We walk about 8 blocks, and as it is on almost every excursion, very cold. The name of the bank is roughly RosselhozBank, I will attach their logo in a photo shortly.It is one of the first 5 banks in the Russian Federation organized to focus on agricultural projects and financing---but is also now expanding to business in other sectors.
They are expecting us and there is a local television station covering the "event". Our Institute's Vice Director has made a personal call and they pretty much roll out the red carpet. We all roll in the front door, tracking mud and snow in every direction. All of us don't fit in the main elevator so we tie up another staff elevator moving us from floor to floor. Pictures of all this to follow. We are ushered to a cloakroom as is the custom almost everywhere, and then to a large conference room.
This room is outfitted with a huge spread of pastries, tea, and stacks of Blini, the ubiquitous Russian pancakes. I have been consuming a lot of these lately---the women bring them to the office and I have eaten them in homes. They are delicious and different from our pancakes. These are more egg/milk based, more spongy. You can put all kinds of things in them---jam, honey, sweet milk sauce---and I've also had them with tasty meat in the middle----sort of like the Russian version of a little taquito or burrito. There are also a variety of souvenirs, some of which are pretty darn cool----specifically, the Bank has given each of us an official 100 Rouble Note that is a special SOCHI commemorative edition and 4 official SOCHI 25 Rouble coins. From what I can tell, this is a big deal. They are hard to get and likely to go up in value as collectors items. Nice. Quite a kind and generous gesture.
We all have seats around a huge conference table, with microphones; tea is served. The Bank Director is present, Mr. Oleg Korgunov, a well dressed guy with a military looking haircut---sort of like what you'd have if you played for the Chicago Bears in 1960. He is quite an authority figure. He is joined by a half dozen junior officers, one of whom REALLY looks like Dwight Shrute from The Office TV show. We get a power point presentation from a very knowledgeable VP woman.
This bank has 78 branches across Russia, 2nd biggest. and has capital of around 30 Billion $. The bank we are in is capitalized at around $ 700 million. They are a Federal Regional Commercial bank underneath the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. They are 100% state owned and as far as I can tell, it is the same for the entire Russian banking system.
Some interesting facts according to the Director. These banks have a 70% reserve requirement! The overnight rate between Central and regional banks is 8.25%! Sounds a bit more conservative than our own system in the US. Their credit portfolio is approximately 30 billion Euros. I ask a bunch of questions, some hypothetical, some not. I am curious as to how easy it is to borrow money in Russia. From what I can tell, they are eager to attract foreign capital. I ask various questions about capital requirements, credit scores, business plans for small business borrowing. They paint a pretty rosy picture in terms of access. I have talked about this with several private Russian citizens who tend to tell a different story in some cases. There a quite a few men here with entrepreneurial ambitions who are frustrated with lack of opportunity. Not picking on Russia at all here, but it is the same story in the US. Banks lend money to people WITH money. Entrepreneurs often have ideas but no money.
I ask about internships for American exchange students and get a somewhat vague answer.
The director and I have a lengthy discussion about state owned versus private banking. He believes that government owned banks are safer---and he grins a little----knowing full well that our private banking system in the US almost destroyed the world economy 6 years ago. I have a more nuanced view of course but it is a good natured discussion. Hedy, one of the Chinese students asks a series of questions about access on-line banking and Zussana, a Slovakian, asks a really cool question about their philanthropic objectives. The answers are clear at times and also not so clear. About 70% of their credit portfolio is targeted at rural communities---at lower rates---and they have initiatives such as a "young farmer program".
There are cameras clicking and whirring around us at all times. Natalia and Masha translate everything into English and then back into Russian. My respect and admiration for the people that do this difficult and sometimes thankless job is immense. I would really love for these two friends of mine to meet my ESL and English colleagues at NVCC---they are amazing in both places and would have a lot to talk about and share.
The stack of Blini around us are for Masleniza which is this Sunday. An Orthodox Holiday representing the beginning of Lent. One of the main tenets of Masleniza is the forgiving of all transgressions and the consumption of Blini! It is a pretty big deal here. There are honey sellers near the Institute hawking their products, lots of traditional dancing, music, and much feasting.
We then are given a tour of the entire bank, including the directors office. I get his business card and I write him a note later by email. I have all these ideas about introducing American business folks to Russia and a bank contact is perfect for such initiatives. Whether I can implement anything remains to be seen, but it has been a productive day. Photos to follow! This was on local TV on Thursday---apparently without much mention for the Institute but a lot of Bank coverage. Apparently you have to pay a little sometimes here for public relations. More soon.
They are expecting us and there is a local television station covering the "event". Our Institute's Vice Director has made a personal call and they pretty much roll out the red carpet. We all roll in the front door, tracking mud and snow in every direction. All of us don't fit in the main elevator so we tie up another staff elevator moving us from floor to floor. Pictures of all this to follow. We are ushered to a cloakroom as is the custom almost everywhere, and then to a large conference room.
This room is outfitted with a huge spread of pastries, tea, and stacks of Blini, the ubiquitous Russian pancakes. I have been consuming a lot of these lately---the women bring them to the office and I have eaten them in homes. They are delicious and different from our pancakes. These are more egg/milk based, more spongy. You can put all kinds of things in them---jam, honey, sweet milk sauce---and I've also had them with tasty meat in the middle----sort of like the Russian version of a little taquito or burrito. There are also a variety of souvenirs, some of which are pretty darn cool----specifically, the Bank has given each of us an official 100 Rouble Note that is a special SOCHI commemorative edition and 4 official SOCHI 25 Rouble coins. From what I can tell, this is a big deal. They are hard to get and likely to go up in value as collectors items. Nice. Quite a kind and generous gesture.
We all have seats around a huge conference table, with microphones; tea is served. The Bank Director is present, Mr. Oleg Korgunov, a well dressed guy with a military looking haircut---sort of like what you'd have if you played for the Chicago Bears in 1960. He is quite an authority figure. He is joined by a half dozen junior officers, one of whom REALLY looks like Dwight Shrute from The Office TV show. We get a power point presentation from a very knowledgeable VP woman.
This bank has 78 branches across Russia, 2nd biggest. and has capital of around 30 Billion $. The bank we are in is capitalized at around $ 700 million. They are a Federal Regional Commercial bank underneath the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. They are 100% state owned and as far as I can tell, it is the same for the entire Russian banking system.
Some interesting facts according to the Director. These banks have a 70% reserve requirement! The overnight rate between Central and regional banks is 8.25%! Sounds a bit more conservative than our own system in the US. Their credit portfolio is approximately 30 billion Euros. I ask a bunch of questions, some hypothetical, some not. I am curious as to how easy it is to borrow money in Russia. From what I can tell, they are eager to attract foreign capital. I ask various questions about capital requirements, credit scores, business plans for small business borrowing. They paint a pretty rosy picture in terms of access. I have talked about this with several private Russian citizens who tend to tell a different story in some cases. There a quite a few men here with entrepreneurial ambitions who are frustrated with lack of opportunity. Not picking on Russia at all here, but it is the same story in the US. Banks lend money to people WITH money. Entrepreneurs often have ideas but no money.
I ask about internships for American exchange students and get a somewhat vague answer.
The director and I have a lengthy discussion about state owned versus private banking. He believes that government owned banks are safer---and he grins a little----knowing full well that our private banking system in the US almost destroyed the world economy 6 years ago. I have a more nuanced view of course but it is a good natured discussion. Hedy, one of the Chinese students asks a series of questions about access on-line banking and Zussana, a Slovakian, asks a really cool question about their philanthropic objectives. The answers are clear at times and also not so clear. About 70% of their credit portfolio is targeted at rural communities---at lower rates---and they have initiatives such as a "young farmer program".
There are cameras clicking and whirring around us at all times. Natalia and Masha translate everything into English and then back into Russian. My respect and admiration for the people that do this difficult and sometimes thankless job is immense. I would really love for these two friends of mine to meet my ESL and English colleagues at NVCC---they are amazing in both places and would have a lot to talk about and share.
The stack of Blini around us are for Masleniza which is this Sunday. An Orthodox Holiday representing the beginning of Lent. One of the main tenets of Masleniza is the forgiving of all transgressions and the consumption of Blini! It is a pretty big deal here. There are honey sellers near the Institute hawking their products, lots of traditional dancing, music, and much feasting.
We then are given a tour of the entire bank, including the directors office. I get his business card and I write him a note later by email. I have all these ideas about introducing American business folks to Russia and a bank contact is perfect for such initiatives. Whether I can implement anything remains to be seen, but it has been a productive day. Photos to follow! This was on local TV on Thursday---apparently without much mention for the Institute but a lot of Bank coverage. Apparently you have to pay a little sometimes here for public relations. More soon.
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