Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site decwrl.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!daemon From: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Re: Visiting the Soviet Union Message-ID: <4133@decwrl.UUCP> Date: Wed, 16-Nov-83 16:23:35 EST Article-I.D.: decwrl.4133 Posted: Wed Nov 16 16:23:35 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 17-Nov-83 23:27:20 EST Sender: daemon@decwrl.UUCP Organization: DEC Western Research Lab, Los Altos, CA Lines: 92 From: Ed Featherston HL01-1/P06 225-5241 Begin Forwarded Message: ------------------------------------------- Newsgroup : net.misc >From : TURTLE::BENNISON Organization : Digital Equipment Corp. Subj: RE: Visiting the Soviet Union Although I have never submitted an article to the net on the Soviet Union either pro or con, I have been there once and thought I might share some of my experiences with the net. My wife and I went on a tour of Soviet high schools in the winter of 1972. We spent 9 days in Moscow and Leningrad. It was a very interesting experience. Here are some snippets of memories: 1. Our SAS plane descended through thick fog over Leningrad. When we broke through we were very low to the ground. The pilot pulled back up and climbed through the clouds. Then he swung around again, repeated the procedure and landed. We learned later that SAS regulations did not allow landing with visability that low. The control tower, however, had ordered the plane to land. Presumably, we had broken through the clouds and might have taken pictures of the airport. After what happened to KAL 007 I'm glad the pilot decided to see things their way. At the customs gate the only things confiscated were one passenger's Playboy's. As you might guess, he was an idiot anyway. 2. We stood out as westerners because of our clothes. Youths would come up to us and ask to buy dollars. They could then use them in the foreign currency shops where consumer goods are cheap but you can't use ruples. We had been told it was illegal to sell our money, so we didn't. They would have given us well above the going exchange rate. 3. On one occasion we were followed by a man who, when we confronted him, acted like he was German. My guess is KGB, but who knows. He vanished into the night. 4. One of the people on our tour was arrested for taking a picture of a pretty building that turned out to be a railway station. Her film was confiscated and she was released a few hours later. 5. The stock in food stores was pitiful. The food they served us was blah, to say the least, but we knew they were trying their best to put on a good show. There was a fancy, expensive, food shop in downtown Leningrad. We went there at about rush hour. The crush of people was incredible. A man elbowed his way through and knocked my wife down. He was clearly not going to apologize until he realized we weren't Russian. He then became contrite. 6. Children's clothing and toys are subsidized and very cheap. Adult clothing and luxuries are very expensive and the average salary very low compared to ours. Rent is cheap. Basic food stuffs are cheap when you can find them. Transportation is cheap. I believe all these are subsidized. Medical care is, of course, free. 7. The children at one of the schools we visited had never seen Americans. They were very excited and curious and fun to talk to. It was an "English" school where all the classes above a certain grade are taught in English. 8. World War II is known as the "Great Patriotic War" and you would think they had won it all by themselves, whereas we all know that we did that. (I'm only joking, if you can't tell.) The war is very much a part of the fabric of everyday life there, right alongside the Bolshevik Revolution. 9. People on the street were friendly in a guarded sort of way. The language barrier was a problem. My college Russian failed me. 10. The military was everywhere. 11. They gave us a New Years party where I drank too much Vodka and won a samovar in a Russian folk dance contest. 12. On our way back to the airport in a bus, a helicopter appeared over the horizon. The bus driver slowed the bus to a crawl so that he could hear any cameras clicking. When the helicopter disappeared he resumed his speed. So what do I think about the Soviet Union? Heck, nine days as a tourist eleven years ago and you think I'm some kind of expert! Sometimes I'm not even sure what I think about the U.S. - Vick B. Mail address : ...decvax!decwrl!rhea!turtle!bennison ------------------------------------------- End Forwarded Message