I spent an hour discussing leadership in Professor Kamil Ramamzanov's Public Administration class today. Wonderful students.Wonderful professor. Thanks to Maxim for assistance as well.

 

Sunday 2/6 Activities

I arrived at 9:30 am, Saratov Oblast time which is another hour later than Moscow. The train was a nice one and as mentioned I had a compartment in first class to myself. As the skies began to lighten, I am able to see that snow appears to be prevalent. As the train makes it's way, a great deal is blowing around, but I notice it is coming down pretty well too. The villages we pass in the morning look like they've had at least a foot. The train pulls into the station uneventfully. About 10 minutes before, my Providnik, knocks on the door to make sure I know we are arriving. When I mention this is my third time here now, he seems impressed. We come to a gentle stop and there are a few people huddled on the outside, waiting for passengers. I don't yet have a working phone, but I know Natalia and Maxim(our NOVA Fulbrighter) are planning to pick me up. As I am evacuating my compartment, I see Maxim through the window, and then suddenly he is on the train. A big hug and we are off. My room is in the refurbished dorm of the Moskovskaya campus----new for me as I have only attended conferences here before and it is a good 40 minute walk west of the Sobornaya campus where I've done my teaching before---and where Natalia has her office----my home away from home in 2014. The Moskovskaya campus is a 3 minute walk from the train station. When it snows in Russia, people attack it vigorously. Nothing stops. There are huge front end loaders operating in the midst of the hustle of the station. Commuters sidestepping huge pieces of equipment operating in their midst. Apparently Saratov is lucky this happened on a Sunday. As we near the dorm, Natalia materializes. She has graciously woken early in her suburban apartment for the long commute to town on public transport. She has a new ID card for me. It, they say, is now more important than my passport. This is apparent soon. Entrance to the dorm(11pm curfew!) is through a security checkpoint. He scrutinizes my badge carefully and allows me through. He knows my companions but I am a stranger and he is thorough. Then, into the dorm. More security. More scrutinizing. I get a key from the lady at the desk. Room 412. Into the elevator. I try to pay attention. there are corridors, elevators, stairs, etc that all look the same....like a hospital. You DO NOT want to get lost here.You have to be a bit careful. Room is nice. A huge suite. Natalia has brought some groceries for me---so gracious---bananas, yogurt, water, cheese, bread, apples, oranges, salami, tea, sugar. Maxim has brought a microwaveable chicken/mushroom casserole. I have a small fridge and the dorm has a kitchen on the third floor with a microwave. A big hug for Natalia too. This woman is amazing professionally, but now she is someone I count as one of my best friends. It is so good to see her. They soon leave me to settle in and will be back around noon to take me to lunch. I unpack, try to nap. The knock on the door comes soon enough and we are off in Maxim's SUV(nice!) to have Pelmeni  in the city centre on newly extended Prospekt Kirova. I am getting the full VIP treatment.

I had an hour long meeting today with the Direktor of SVRIA, Dr. Victor Cheplaeyev. He is a most thoughtful and kind man. Since I met him on the train in 2014, he has without fail, embodied that of a transformative leader. We discussed in detail many ways that NOVA and SVRIA could continue our mutually beneficial relationship. I left that meeting energized and optimistic. Thank you my friend.

I brought snow to Saratov on Sunday morning. My friends tell me it was lucky this was a Sunday. As it was, the snow snarled traffic for almost everyone.

 

Dear readers,

I apologize for the sparse posting thus far. I am literally moving from meeting to meeting, class to class with very few moments in between for reflection. Most nights I am back in my room by 9pm, often too exhausted for posting. I promise I shall be posting photos and reactions when I can. Thank you for your patience.