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Showing posts from March, 2013

In Peter's Leningrad

Having waited impatiently for the evening to arrive, I am kind of relieved to be on my way to the railway station from where we have to catch our train to Leningrad. After arriving at the station, we find out that we are early and have to wait for the train to come to the platform. While waiting for the train, I strike a conversation with some students from Vietnam. Some of them can speak a little bit of English.... and one of them mentions Mahatma Gandhi when he finds out that I am from India. I am very pleased by the fact that he is aware of Gandhiji and just when we start the discussion about him we are told that the train has come and we have to board it quickly. We all rush to the coach which we have to board when suddenly I realize that I have forgotten one of my bags in the waiting area!!! I tell the Russian gentleman, who had been given the responsibility of ensuring that we board the train to Leningrad and with whom we had come from the hotel to the station, about it. He is s...

To Russia, Without Love

It has been about 20 yrs since I came back from Russia and every time I discuss my experiences there with any of my friends, they tell me to write about it. The same thing happened today too. So here I am using this blog as a medium to share my experiences in Russia and the erstwhile Soviet Union with all of you. I hope you guys find the time to not only read these posts but also enjoy doing so. The year is 1989, the city Visakhapatnam and I have just been informed that I have got a scholarship to go and study engineering in the Soviet Union. I am elated... excited... happy beyond words. Like millions of Indians, I also want to get out of India and go see the world and hopefully settle down in a 'phoren' country. My family seems to be happy too....after all, a family member is going to a foreign land....... The preparation for my departure to the Soviet Union starts. We shop for warm clothes, shoes, food stuff that I can carry there with me and seek ad...