Exchange to St. Petersburg Russia
In May, 1992 the FF of Minneapolis had an exchange to St. Petersburg Russia.  It
was the beginning of our participation in the international club, the Friendship
Force.  Our hosts were Shasha and his step-daughter Inna.  I was paired up with a
banker from St. Cloud.  The country was officially still the Soviet Union.
Our host in St. Petersburg,
artist Shasha Riabtzev.
The Hermitage.  Probably has
the greatest collection of art in
the world.
On the way home we toured
Moscow.  The Red Square was
closed because of a Communist
demonstration.
The reception at the
banker Pat's house.
Party to meet hosts friends.
The kitchen in Shasha's
apartment which his family
shared with another couple.
Inna also visited Minnesota in
1993. It included a picnic with
Craig's family.  This was the
same time as Mom's estate sale.
Photo of just some of the art
work of Shasha that was sold at
the reception.  Shasha said he
received an equivalent of 10
years pay for his art work at this
reception.
The kitchen had a very small
refrigerator which was insufficient for 2
families.  They placed food in between
the glass window to keep products cold.
The restaurant where we ate
daily.  The salad was always
cucumbers and there was always
beets for a vegetable.
Everywhere people were
selling family heirlooms such
as candlesticks, dishes,
silverware etc.
We visited a hospital.  The rooms
were all wards of 6-10 beds.  We
witnessed 2 surgery's in one
operating room.
We visited a school.  These
kids could already converse in
English.
We visited a friend of our
hosts who was selling
these Russian Dolls.
Shasha had many
paintings on his walls.  
Most were modern art.
There was rampant inflation and
they also wanted American dollars
to protect the value of their money.
There was shortages in
everything including gas.
The only store filled with
products was the dollar store.  It
required payment in US dollars.
This is a Soviet supermarket.  
The store was filled with cans of
tomatoes and little else.
We toured Pushkin Palace.  It
was very luxurious.
They required feet covers to
protect the floor.
One of 3 private parties we had
with our hosts and their friends.
We toured the Yusupov Palace
The restaurant meal was good
but mostly the same food.
The man they shared
their apartment with.  We
never met the man's wife.
Inside the Hermitage
What a sad sight to see people
desperate for currency to buy some
thing to eat that probably was not
available.
When Shasha came to Minnesota
he toured where I worked at the
telephone company.
I made the mistake of offering to
buy a communist flag.  The reaction
from them was like I asked them to
sell their firstborn child.
They gave us a going away party
that was quite impressive.
Our first dinner was with our hosts.
Shasha came to Minnesota
just a month after our
visit.  A reception was held
to sell Shasha's art at Pat's
house in Minnesota.