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Siberia Russia Part 3 Communist Planes And Defining Fluent
n the first two parts of Communism solved this problem
this series, we covered my nicely.
decision to move from San
Diego to Chita, Siberia to be a I wouldn't say our plane was old,
professor at Chita State but the younger planes around our
Technical University. We pick up gate were crowding in to hear our
the story aboard the flight from plane tell stories about the
Anchorage to Khabarovsk, Russia. first flight of the Wright
brothers. Despite some
Day 3 interesting details [My God, does
that look like a crack in the
Technically, it's day two and wing? That better not be duct
half. I think. Time began to blur tape!], the "maturity" of our
as we flew over the international flying bull had some distinct
date line. Wait, do we add a day advantages.
or lose a day? I was so confused
that I didn't know whether to A central concept of communism is
whine about losing or gaining a that there is only one class of
day in my life. Whatever day it people, to wit, the workers.
was, we were flying along happily Theoretically, everyone gets the
on Aeroflot. same treatment. The benefits of
this theory are debatable, but I
I must say that communism had can tell you it stomps capitalism
some things going for it. The into the ground when it comes to
average airline ticket in the flying.
U.S. should come with a shoehorn
to help wedge you into the seat. The seating compartment on our
God forbid if the person in front plane was uniformly first class.
of you should put their seat There was plenty of space for
back. Damn people in first class! one's rump and legs. Each
two-seat section was the clear consensus that we were out
equivalent of three seats on a of our mind for agreeing to go to
U.S. airline. It was at least two Chita. "You are going WHERE?!"
feet to the seat in front of me. was followed by a lot of
Those that fly a lot will whispering between Russians and
understand as I quietly shed a bulging eyes. Since I doubted the
tear in memory of that flight. pilot would be willing to turn
Dozing comfortably, I didn't give the plane around, this wasn't
a damn if the wings fell off. At particularly comforting.
least we were going in style!
Our conversations raised an
Our flight consisted of about 100 additional problem regarding the
people. Of these, 90 percent were definition of "fluent". In my
Russians. Grae and I counted as mind, being fluent in a language
two and the remaining five or so meant that one could get
people were religious volunteers directions, tell boring stories,
going to convert the godless etc., in the language in
masses. They appeared to be question. It quickly became clear
having no luck on the plane, but that Grae's definition of
Grae and I were able to strike up "fluent" was something less. This
a few conversations. was verified when he turned to me
and said, "Man, I've forgotten a
I must say that the Russians on lot."
the plane were extremely nice and
very honest. While honesty is Great. Khabarovsk was only a few
generally a good thing, their hours a way. But that's a story
frankness made me a bit to be told in Part 4 of this
uncomfortable. First, there was a series...
About the Author:
Rick Chapo is with http://www.nomadjournals.com - Preserve the experience with writing journals for traveling, hiking, rock climbing, fly fishing, bird watching and more. Check out http://www.nomadjournaltrips.com to read more travelogues and articles.
Source: www.isnare.com
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