31 May, 1995: Iam writing for the last time in St. Petersburg. I can't believe how quickly my time here has run out.
There are so many things I still want to do. My roommate, Tuni, and I have been spending some time with our Russian friend, Igor. He is a graduate student at the Russian Academy of Sciences, specializing in biochemistry. A few days ago, he took us to meet his professor, Alexander Yegorivich Khovansky, the General Director of part of the Institute.He was so interesting to listen to and speak with about science in Russia and the problems it faces, mostly financial in nature. The Institute is seeking foreign financial investment, in part to solve the problem of patents. Alexander Yegorivich has taken out quite a few patents on new organic medicines he has formulated, but after five years ownership reverts back to the state and the Institute loses all revenues. We also discussed the problems with glasnost/perestroika. He said that the younger generation has taken this policy to mean that everything is a free-for-all, hence the rising crime rate. Then he treated us to a traditional show of Russian hospitality -- a dinner of sausage, fresh bread, cheese, crackers, apples, champagne and, of course, vodka.
Russia is a place where hosts say, "Make yourself at home" and really mean it! It's almost as if the less people have to begin with, the more generous they are. It was a beautiful afternoon, and Alexander Yegorivich even told us to call him if/when we return to Russia, and his friend (whom he had called while we were there) would take us into her Russian language program.
There is much going on now as our program winds down. We have exams, of course, which we're all trying to study for in spite of the fact that the weather is now perfect! We have also been giving our instructors at the University the gifts that we brought for them, another Russian tradition. The final banquet will be at the Hotel Pribaltiskaya, five minutes from our dorm. Everyone will make toasts, even us, since we have just learned how to do them correctly in our conversation classes! I am excited to talk with our professors outside of the classroom and to get to know them personally.
After the banquet we have Saturday, Sunday and Monday to run about St. Petersburg doing last minute museum-going, sightseeing and shopping. Then early Tuesday morning we leave by bus for Helsinki, and then by plane to the USA! I'm going to the Hermitage again, to the Summer Gardens and to the Russian Museum, among other things. I will try to soak up as much of Russia and take as many photos as possible.
I have noticed that a change has occurred within me. At first I was frustrated and disenchanted with all of the contradictions of Russia, such as the juxtaposition of the magnificently opulent architecture of Peter the Great's palaces with the pathetically low incomes of the people living here, the dirt and grime and the generally harsh daily realities of city life. Now such contrasts are becoming dear to me as I begin to understand they are inherent to this place.It wouldn't be Russia without them. And from this perspective, it makes perfect sense. St. Petersburg has awakened something in me, something that tells me I'll visit here many more times in my life.
