Ice Cream in Winter
You ain’t close to Russian until you eat ice cream in Winter! My favorite! On the way home this afternoon, while the -8C wind blew past me, I got the urge to participate in a strange Russian custom, eating ice cream on the street, year around. When I first arrived…
Read MoreSuperstitions Are Sneaky
Never set and empty bottle on the table! One rainy morning, I walked into the office and was shocked to see a secretary opening her umbrella inside. I am not that superstitious of a man, but I do not open an umbrella inside, walk under a ladder, or forget to…
Read MoreThe Adventures of Flat Jon
Flat Jon and I took a tour of the cool Russian capital: Moscow Flat Jon on Red Square Flat Jon at the Bolshoi Flat Jon learning new customs On Wednesday, an odd fellow showed up at my office from Brookside, New Jersey. I’ve never been to Brookside, and I couldn’t…
Read MoreIce Fishing in Sibera
Rain, snow, or sleet, they fish 24/7 here! 21 January 1999, The Moscow Times Ice-Anglers Be Warned: Minivans Do Not Float By Russell Working In a northern suburb of Vladivostok, next to a forlorn little amusement park where carnival music blares over the empty skating rink even on the bitterest…
Read MoreDeath is Painful in Any Culture, Anywhere.
Death is painful in any culture, anywhere. Yesterday, in the middle of an overwhelmingly busy day, I received an email that stopped me in my tracks. My friend’s mother had died. Actually, I’m not sure how Laura ranks in my life, or I in hers. After I spent a week…
Read More