"A MEMORY IN TIME" FROM A CANTON ROTARIAN

3/29/04 to 4/7/04

 

submitted by Bob Wade

 

"Jack Barkan and I returned home about 12:00 midnight, the evening of April 7, 2004 after a very long day through 8 time zones.  The trip I found enlightening, productive and most enjoyable.  We attended Rotary meetings on April 2nd, 3rd and 4th.  April 2nd featured Russian speakers on children's health initiatives with simultaneous translation.  The speeches on the 3rd and the 4th mostly concerned the state of Rotary Clubs throughout Russia (46 in the Western Russia and 33 in Eastern Russia) and suggestions for starting more.  St. Petersburg has a number of clubs, the largest of which is the White Nights Club.

 

Part of our trip was about contacting the Russian medics who were in Canton before and encourage Rotary membership and perhaps setting up a twin club.  The former was accomplished - one definite and two probable.  I think that the latter will come about.  Jack knew the contacts and took the initiative with them.  We visited a very successful privatized model private practice clinic outside the State system - unique to St. Petersburg and Russia - fee for service only.  Sound familiar? They emphasized home care for Rx and Dx and have 40 Medics and 50 drivers for them plus ancillary personnel.  They also operate Rehabilitation and Pediatric Clinics.

 

The Clinic Director and a couple of Medics were exceedingly cordial and showed us around and took us to the Symphony and the famous Marinsky (Kirov) Ballet Theater for performance of Aida.  Jack also visited a more traditional style private clinic that caters to the well off. We visited tourist sites including the Russian and Hermitage Art Museums.  The food was good, leaning towards fish and meats, the traffic daunting (2 million cars for 4.7 million population), the people were slim, good looking and well dressed.  They walk in their city a lot bundled up in woolens, leather and furs, even in 5 - 10 degree Fahrenheit weather.  They seem proud of their city and national history.  They are casual about Communism and seem to regard it as an experiment in Government gone badly. They are very interested in Western and U.S. contacts.

 

Incidentally, I have never seen such opulence as there was in Peterhof (Peter The Great's Palace), in the Catherine Palace or in the Winter Palace (Hermitage Museum).  Gold, silver, marble, malachite everywhere.  The Amber Room in the Catherine Palace has been completely restored, one of the Western world's great artworks.  Tiring and tough on the sleep cycle, but a great trip."