Travel to Russia Feb 2015

My plan after leaving Russia last May was to return on a regular basis in order to continue moving towards academic cooperation and cultural understanding.


I bought tickets to Moscow(very inexpensive) and planned to travel Monday Feb. 16 in the evening to Moscow---then traveling Tuesday evening to Saratov(15 hours by train), arriving Wednesday morning.


Monday, weather got I the way. it began snowing round 2pm as Janet prepared to deliver me to Dulles airport----the weather reports had begun to change, predicting 6-8 inches of snow. My wife said good-bye to me at security and I prepared to embark on a 2 week trip to Saratov. I was worried about her drive home....the airport is an hour drive from our home in Hyattsville, Maryland, but Janet was driving our Subaru which is great in snow. The same cannot be said for other drivers in the Washington area. The worst culprits are those who drive the BMW( an oxymoron--the ultimate driving machine). Something about driving german cars makes DC residents complete idiots.


Anyway, I boarded my plane, a United/Brussels Airlines flight at around 5pm. The ordeal then commenced. The plane was supposed to take off at 5:45pm. First we waited an extra hour for a bunch of high school kids on some kind of school trip to Europe----then invaded by hordes of noisy, stinky Vermont teenagers. Snow falling outside was at around 4 inches. If this had been Moscow, nobody would have batted an eye, but in DC, 4 inches is a national emergency. Pilot began to come on the intercom every 15-20 minutes explaining that we were in a line for de-icing. Minutes began to turn into hours. I tried to breathe deeply. I needed to catch a flight to Moscow Domodevo Airport in Brussels where I had a two hour layover. I watched that two hours go by. They opened the door to the terminal so people could bail out. I did not bail, but I remained calm knowing that at worst I would go home. Snow continued to fall. The. cue for de-icing began to grow. It was 10 F outside and snow falling heavily. Finally around 11pm, 5 hours later, we taxied to de-icing, the plane was deluged with the solution and about 11:30pm, took off. I knew I was now not making my connection to Moscow nor was I making my train to Saratov on Tuesday evening.Those train tickets were going to be a loss.


We arrived in Brussels at around 1pm, several hours late. I'd missed my connection by 4 hours. United was waiting at the gate----they'd re-booked me on Lufthanza to Frankfurt, then an Aeroflot flight to Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport, arriving at wrong airport at 11pm. I now needed to take a taxi, get a hotel, and try to escape to Saratov the next day.


I got some cash from Sverbank ATM in airport---found a taxi driver--negotiated an approximately $50 fare to an Ibis hotel near the paveletsky station where I could get a new train ticket to Saratov. My driver was all fired up about a football/soccer game involving Chelsea---they have a good Russian player---I was able to carry on a reasonable conversation about football with him though he spoke no English. He kindly drove me around the city center, pointing out the Kremlin and the Bolshoi theatre before depositing me at the hotel. I slept like a dog, waking at around 9am. I then got up, walked to the Voksal, bought a ticket to Saratov---all in Russian!!!(I am improving at glacial speed but improving nonetheless). I must check out this afternoon, train leaves at 6pm. Then 15 hours, arriving in Saratov at 9am.
Moscow is a bit balmy-- not much snow or ice---temps around 20F. This city is like London---everyone busy and hurrying, but my second time here is low stress.


All for now. I miss my wife and pups but will see some dear friends soon.

"Faces of Russia" exhibition

Janet and I installed my photographs of Russian people in the NVCC-LoudounWaddell Art Gallery yesterday with the help of Art Professor Dwayne Treadway. The show opens on Friday with a reception from 6-7pm. We printed about 60 photos size 11X14 and attached them to foam-core backing, then attached them to about 100 feet of white wall. This is a first for me and I am not sure what to expect.
While we were working several students came in and looked around, seemingly very interested. One young fellow asked if I might tell him what was the "theme". I mentioned to him something about Russian stereotypes and how I hope to dispel them through my quick photo portrayals of people I'd met in Russia. The open, pleasant, smiling faces---all virtually un-staged---make me feel good about the world in which we live---and I hope to convey those feelings to others.


He said---"Hey, I'm a Russian....from Ekaterinberg....." and we talked for several minutes. I think my theme surprised him but we had a great talk about several of my "faces". He went around and pointed out the "real Russians" based on appearance. This never fails to confuse me---that even if your family has been in Russia for several generations---only people with a certain look are "real Russians".
I should not admit that I watch Downton Abbey, but last week's episode included a Tsarist refugee exclaiming that a Jewish family from Odessa was not "real Russian". Someday I shall understand.


I leave for Russia on Monday and will arrive in Saratov on Wednesday. I shall begin teaching International Entrepreneurship  on Thursday. I return on the 1st of March. The Ukraine tensions may be ebbing a bit due to Angela Merkel's tireless negotiation with you know who---but I do not worry. I have a great many wonderful friends who keep a close eye on me. I have a feeling many people I know are suffering a bit due to sanctions and such. I feel it is very important to continue to my work in helping bridge the differences between our two societies---even something so miniscule such as my visits can have great symbolic significance(at least I hope so...)

I apologize for the lack of posting here recently!
A brief update---I am tentatively scheduled to return to Saratov and SVRIA to teach business as part of NVCCs M.O.U. with SVRIA---and will hopefully be the first participant in our fledgling faculty exchange program. This will likely take place in February, and I hope to continue efforts in  developing distance learning classes and future faculty exchanges with our SVRIA partners.


Here in Northern Virginia, Final exams are approaching. Students are all stressed, worried, and trying to mitigate the perils of procrastination. I try to be as kind and understanding as I can.....
I have at least 25 hours of grading to do before it is over!


In a few days my wife Janet and I will be joining old friends on the Caribbean island of Bonaire for a brief respite from the ravages of every day life. Photos to follow.

I recently inquired about possibly exhibiting my "Russian Faces" and other photos in our NVCC-Loudoun Waddell Exhibition space. Success. "Russian Faces" will be on exhibit from Feb. 16 to March 20.

We at NVCC Loudoun, along with our friends at Stolypin Volga Region Institute of Administration are also working on a possible Fulbright Scholar in Residence grant for an SVRIA faculty member to join us in Virginia for a year. Exciting. Much work needs to be done however.

NVCC-Loudoun's Workforce faculty are also continuing to work on an initiative to develop "english conversation" as an ELI course and offer it to Russian college students at SVRIA. We had a conference call with our Russian colleagues in Saratov last week that went well.

Classes have started

So, I have only two students at NOVA-Loudoun this fall who are Russian. Both very precocious, likeable, and inquisitive. One came by my office hours for  little help today and said, without smiling, " your office is messy". Hmmmm. I countered with a comment as to how one shouldn't insult your teacher so quickly in the semester. No reaction, just... "but it IS messy".

Nobody has been this up-front about my cluttered office since I started teaching 14 years ago. I don't know what to say next. When the student left, I sarcastically said I would try to straighten up for the next visit.(maybe a little Subotnik is in order)

Wednesday 9/20 first class

I began my real job again today---a section of BUS 100, introduction to business. First day is usually just me talking AT the students, but they are already full of enthusiasm. As usual, I walked away after almost 3 hours feeling as if I am useful. My mood is good. One of my students is a young man from St. Petersburg, Russia, and we had a great time talking about my time there last semester.


I am going to visit my friend and former student Denis in about 1/2 hour---at his new business, the Golden Glove Lounge. He and Patrick, another former student are well on the way to entrepreneurial success. Nothing could make me prouder.


At NVCC we have instituted a new policy: You cannot register for any courses this semester after last night at midnight---you are also dropped almost immediately after you register if you do not pay tuition. Brilliant. There are issues everywhere.


And we are trying to INCREASE enrollment!!!! fancy that.

Observation

So, the  fall semester has started at NVCC. The last few days there have been meetings with faculty, staff, and administration and two large convocations. These events are usually where faculty and staff are recognized in front of their peers for various accomplishments, awards, sabbaticals etc.
 Monday this went on for 4 hours. Tuesday about the same.


NVCC last year had more Fulbright scholars (2) than ANY community college in the country and certainly held their own against most 4 year institutions.


In India, a Fulbright is considered a pinnacle, a huge honor.
In Russia, the mention of a Fulbright is accompanied by much respect. Your sacrifice and hard work are recognized and often exalted.
America----most people don't know what it is and many consider it a glorified "vacation".


Monday and yesterday my college did not mention either of our two Fulbright scholars. Nice. No diva behavior intended here. Neglecting an opportunity to get good Public Relations for the college is a lost opportunity.


Class in 10 minutes. I will be happy, at home, and I think appreciated.