Russian Lessons: A Burned-out Businesswoman Finds Herself in Postmodernist Moscow"Excellent & true perceptions of a foreigner about the difficulty of making the transition from a totalitarian to a democratic society," says Mikhail Rostarchuk, Editor-in-Chief of Russia Business World Weekly, about this first work of nonfiction by Carole Dorsch Schweitzer, former Moscow correspondent for the Calumet Press. In early summer of 1992, Schweitzer, burned out from a demanding career in retailing, opted to accompany her husband Glenn on an exciting professional mission in postmodernist Russia. An American scientist selected by the U.S. Department of State to establish the International Science & Technology Center, Glenn promised a "once-in-a-lifetime adventure," a prediction that represented merely the tip of the cultural iceberg. Without a job, friends, family, or knowledge of the native language to buffer the blows, Carole discovered the true meaning of culture shock. RUSSIAN LESSONS is the story of how she--& the Russians themselves--"got a life" in an environment spinning out of control. Softcover, ISBN 0-9654782-0-3, 274p., $18.00 postpaid, available from Cameron Publications, 1028 South 20th Street, Arlington, VA 22202. FAX# (703) 892-6935. |
Common terms and phrases
Academy American Embassy apartment arrived babushka bathroom batik began Blue building Carole Celia Center color course dacha Despite dinner diplomatic door driver electrical Elizabeth Arden favorite Fax Message finally Finnish floor foreign friends front Garden Ring Glenn guests hair headed huge ISTC Ivan kiosk knew language later Leninskiy Prospekt Lida living located Loni look mafia McDonald's Metro Metro Station months Moscow Moscow Conservatory Moscow State University nearby neighborhood never night nuclear parked problems purchased quickly realized Red Square renovation rubles Russian Russian language salon samovar sauna scene scientists Sergius Sergiyev Posad Sigmund soon Soviet staff station stop street Tanya theater tickets toilet took tour town trip vodka waiting Washington week weekend White House window Yeltsin Yuri