October 1978 Sketch of Russian way of life terminal (salt water) lakes of the USSR at the Water Problems Institute in Moscow. He and his family were seven and one half months in Moscow, one month in the Caucasus and two weeks in Siberia. His wife, Janice, took ballet and orhan, | rizond * are» ntry,’| ition ig)? ally if) rsonay [ haves» 0e OU njoy od own Off Russian and traveled daily on crowded inexpensive buses across the city for her classes and shopping. Seven-year-old Gina Margaret attended a Russian kindergarten with her studies supplemented at home by her parents to keep her abreast of first grade work in the U. S. She learned Russian quickly. ‘“‘We had interesting encounters with Gina Margaret’s teachers,’ said Dr. Greer. ‘‘They badger both parents and children, dictating what students will wear and telling them exactly ‘how it is.’ If a child makes a mistake the teachers says ‘‘that’s wrong, sit down.”’ Girls wear dresses and bows. Pants are not allowed. Gina also wore a “‘prescribed’”’ hat, fur boots coat (valenkies) and and long stockings. We think of Russia as revolutionary but the people and their life-style is very conservative and _ hide-bound to tradition. Historically they have been conservative. Other Europeans would have revolted long ago. There is a definite ‘‘privileged class.’”” They have special stores, hospitals and transportation which is exactly opposite from what they preach. received. The Russian people live very austere lives with few comforts. Dr. Greer pointed out that most families have only one child. ‘They would like to have more but cannot afford them. The labor structure demands that everyone work. The children are very pampered. Baby sitters are virtually unheard of. Parents wouldn’t think of leaving a child with anyone but another family member.““ The Greer’s had to rely on other Americans and friends in exchanging care of children. The Russian people survive by learinexpensive. Public transportation is cheap but terribly crowded. It takes the) most is about save for automobiles and other luxuries. Everything must be Gs Through HT which paid for with cash. Women carry a lot of GE UGEATEL BLE - income, is very poor. Most Russians BE Ak a |A ee ? ‘It’s really not any colder in Moscow than in Chicago but the Russians dress the children very protectively,’ said Dr. Greer. He pulled Gina to school each day on a sled. She participated in three programs. In the celebration of the October revolution Gina carried a Russian flag and extolled Stalin. At Christmas (called New Years) she danced with a little boy and in the spring they had a birthday party for Lenin. a of their $225. per month per adult for food and clothing, he said. The quality available ‘ade al} | le has} ry, lly High) er and). as her}: Gina’s enrollment in the money with them in case they run into a sale of quality items, for example, dresses from Finland. They will buy all they have enough money for and then sell them again later at a profit. Although it is illegal to purchase from foreigners, the Russians were very eager to buy whatever they could from the Greer’s. They expecially wanted jeans, coats, and sweaters. Meat has not been for sale in stores in Siberia for many years. People obtain it by illegal means and as a result constantly live on the border of fear. They never know when they might be cracked down on. Russian School the Greer’s met many more Russian people than would otherwise have been the case. Diplomats, correspondents and businessmen have to live in compounds together. They are guarded and drive to their offices where the only Russians they come in contact with are assigned to work with them and are usually members of the KGB-state security agency. ‘‘Academicians are _ the _ everyone. Events sponsored by Office of Cultural Affairs in the Val A. Browning Center for the Performing Arts: Thursday Wednesday Oct. 26 Nov. 1 Friday Tuesday Wednesday Monday Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday Monday Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Tuesday Tuesday Wednesday Harry Truman Show Harp Quartet from 3 7 8 13 15 21 22 27 Nov. 28 Nov. 28 Nov. 29 America. Film Series (4) Dr. Clifford Wilson ‘‘UFO’s”’ America Film Series (4) Thursday Nov. 30 Mark Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday Wednesday Tuesday Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. 5 6 12 13 19 America America America America America In the open markets Wednesday Dec. 20 (Homecoming) Americans) Scrolls” Film Film Film Film Film Series Series Series Series Series farmers 8 p.r 8 p.r 8 p.ir 8 p.1r 8 p.r 8 p. 8 p.r 8 p.m 8 p.n (5) (5) (6) (6) (7) 8 p.n 8 p.n 8 p.n 8 p.n 8 p.n America Film Series (7) where 8 p.r 8 p.m 8 p.m 12 p.n 8 p.n Russell-Satirist Performers 8 p.n in opera, ballet and | sell produce official prices are posted but they charge what the traffic will bear. Ambitious salesmen will ride a theater are full-time employees make a regular Russian salary. train 2,000 miles in the winter to sell a amounts and are probably the rich people in the country,”’ Dr. Greer sa In addition to these cultural eve few cases of tomatos and ‘‘make a killing” at $1 to $1.50 for a tomato. Buying food is a_ time-consuming proposition in Russia, with hours spent in long lines. ‘“You stand in three lines-one to find for it and another to get the item. Milk was often sour except in stores with the longest lines. Everything is sold in different stores.‘‘ Cultural events, however, florish in Russia. ‘‘On any night in Moscow there are 10 or 15 ballets, 5 or 6 operas and many plays to choose from. An especially popular Avante Garde play written by the modern author, Drawings by Janice Greer Russia Abrasenic-Yugoslavian Dancers Audubon Film Series America Film Series (2) Frank Wiens-Pianist Richard Rodgers Show (Young America Film Series (3). America Film Series (3) Dr. Clifford Wilson ‘“‘Dead Sea out how much an item costs, one to pay only foreigners who can mix freely with the Russian people,’’ explained Dr. Greer. Eighty per cent of their acquaintances aise Val A. Browning, Ogden industrialist, and Dan Martino, director of the WSC Office of Cultural Affairs, study program offerings. Mr. Browning’s gift of a $1 million trust fund to build. and enrich the cultural.arts is bringing ‘‘some prestigious programs without charge and others at admission prices all can afford to the college. A broader and richer selection of cultural programs is made possible through income from the gift,’’ said Mr. Martino. The current season has 35 offerings representing bookings in ten categories — something for This new class has all the privileges the Czar’s once ning ‘‘how to get around the system.” Housing, including utilities, is very fruit) ie Bulgakov, even knocks the system and is sold out months in advance. ‘“‘The stars, however, make | fantas there are 100 theaters with live « tertainment, two circuses, race trac and 20 sports clubs with teams in kinds of sports. They are inexpens' and open to everyone. In his studies on terminal lakes | Greer and his family traveled to visit | lakes. They were guests of powerful mr and were often treated like royalty w entourages of 2 or 3 cars and expens: suites. He could usually speak bet Russian than the translators. Dr. Greer is currently writing a b¢ on the worlds terminal lakes, along w different authors from around the wor He hopes to return to Russia for a ‘sh time to wrap up loose ends on the bo erin memes the Russian way of life for the three of them. Dr. Greer, professor of geography and former chairman of the Department of Geology and Geography was a USSR Academy of Science exchangee to study were Russian. Even though their Russian associates thought for many months they were really spies. Janice, outgoing and friendly, met parents at the school, play ground and park, Friends introduced them to friends. At a farewell in their honor they had 40 Russian friends attend which is unusual. ‘‘The USSR is extremely conservative. aa i Dr. Deon Greer’s nine month stay in Russia with his wife and daughter turned out to be a total involvement in aculty) » rginia, . ke Page Comment