Visiting Russia: another report

[Tom Priestly]

Here's what one of our (undergraduate) students had to say when i e-mailed
him Emily Tall's question. He has been in St. Pete since last summer.

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As for your questions. People here are like your average North
Americans.  When the bombings started everybody was up in arms.
However as time has passed, people are not talking about it as much.
It's no longer on the front page of the news and seems to farther
back every week.  But I should say that it is not forgotten.
Most people seem to want to blame NATO or the USA.  They don't even
know who is participating in the bombings.  Normally when we are
confronted by people we tell them we're Canadian and all is well. Some
even buy us vodka and invite us to be their guests.
The atmosphere here is quite pleasant now and I would say fairly
safe. About six on a ten-point scale, if you say that downtown  Edmonton is
a nine.

People just have to follow some common sense rules and all should
be well. Simply try not to look like a wealthy westerner.  No bright
clothes at all.  No brand name lugagge or back packs.  No flags on
 clothes or bags. (Even Canadian flags).  This way, most people
will go unnoticed. People should also avoid speaking loudly in
English, in public.

One more thing should be mentioned.  Citizens of England and the US
have been issued with official warnings from their embassies.
Canadians have not.
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There you are, for what it is worth. I don't quite know how to comment on
the last two sentences: is the Canadian embassy more laid back, or more
inefficient?
Tom Priestly

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*  Tom Priestly
*  Slavic & East European Studies
*  Modern Languages and Cultural Studies
*  University of Alberta
*  Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E6
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*  telephone:  780 - 492 - 0789
*  fax:               780 - 492 - 9106

*  email:           tom.priestly at ualberta.ca
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