Random Observations

Today was a “work” day, so there is less interesting news to share. Instead I thought I would focus on some random things that interest me about my trip so far. These things might seem like I am mocking the Russian system, but I am not. I just thought I would comment on the differences between the US and the Russian way of doing things.

1) Steam - If you check on a map, you might be, like I was, surprised to see how far north St. Petersburg actually is. It sits at ~60 degrees North as opposed to Cedar Falls Iowa that sits at ~44-45. According to something I read, this puts it as far North as Alaska (which makes sense given what is across the Bering Strait from Alaska). This means that they need to heat things. The fact is, they heat things year round - whether it needs it or not.

Let me put some perspective on this. The weather here has been beautiful. Couldn’t be nicer. I am writing this at 9:30 at night and it is about 65 F outside. By morning it will be something closer to upper 40s. Beautiful. Yet, when I walk into my room each night it is closer to 80 degrees. This is because the steam in my room is on 24 hours and I have no control over it. The radiators on each wall are warm, the tile on the bathroom floor is warm, and the towel rack is an accordion of 1.5 inch pipe which is steam heated. That would be great in winter (and it helps my sink washed undies dry a little quicker) but it sucks in summer. The problem is compounded by the typical Eurpean windows. The windows in my bedroom and TV room consist of two windows - an inner and an outer separated by probably 12 inches - no screens, are probably four foot by four foot square, and are hinged on one side. To open them requires opening a HUGE hole into the room. The problem is that the ledge outside of the outer window seems to be a nice congregating place for pigeons during the afternoon. Thus, I would rather not leave a window like that open while I am out doing things. By the time I get home at night, it is hot in here. Fortunately, the pigeons are gone at 9:30 so I can open them up. AND the windows that large are certain to let in the nice cool air quickly.

2) Russians like ceremonies - ok, this is one of those stereotypical statements that probably isn’t that fair, but it is certainly my observation today. I attended three “opening ceremonies” today. The first opened the conference. The second opened an art exhibit of work done by children from Iowa, California, and St. Petersburg (including some people we know from the lab school in Cedar Falls). The third kicked off the opening night reception. Each consisted of a large panel of “dignitaries” who had to greet us. I would estimate these openings lasted 40, 40, and 20 minutes each (there was Vodka at the final ceremony which we had to toast with once the opening remarks were done. This kept things shorter!) Now to be fair, the art opening took longer because you have a language issue and someone has to translate remarks into two languages. But at the conference (still a 40 minute opening) they had the American’s wearing headphones and were doing live translation over the system (I felt like I was sitting at the United Nations. And with two members of the US Consulate making opening statements, it was sort of political in nature). There was plenty of “My dear friends and colleagues” and flowers and certificates and MEDALS even to keep us occupied for a while.

3) Pedestrian right of way - Forget it. It doesn’t exist. When I say that drivers have no speed limits and they would run over their own mother if she got in their way, I MEAN it. I have witnessed several VERY close calls in the last day or two. One of the couples in our group moves a little bit slower than the rest (bad knees on the part of the wife). A group of us started across the street last night on the way to the ballet. The truck coming toward them had to be two and a half blocks away when we started. It was coming faster than anyone thought AND they moved slower than we might have expected.

He didn’t slow down.

He didn’t swerve out of his lane even one little bit.

NOTHING.

I don’t know how the husband wasn’t knocked flat by the side view mirror. We are very fortunate to have them with us today. I mean that.

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