Arrived in St. Petersburg on May 9. On 14 May trained to Saransk arriving on May 15.  Wonderful train ride too.  Here are some pictures of various people, places and things I experienced.  It was a FANTASTIC journey.  Every minute of it!

I am greatly indebted to my host family, Alexander, Valentina, Elena and Sanya  Sharanov.  Without knowing me, they took me in, made me a member of their family, fed and housed  me.  Their patience with me was infinite.  The time we spent together was precious for me.  It was a “WOW” experience. Their kindness, patience and love has no boundaries.  They were a daily reprieve for me and it really is not possible to thank them enough for everything they meant to me and all they did on my behalf. 

Valentina generally assumed overall control of everything.  Particularly in the kitchen area. She fed me till I burst!  How could I stop, it was that good.  Elena took on the role of my Russian teacher.  Goodness, how she survived I do not know.  Alexander dealt with the instructional aspects of Russian history.  More important tho, he was the gardner and watering chief for the potatoes, chives, and other vegetables that were his passion at their ‘Dacha”.  And little Sanya educated me in the ways of a 5 year old boy born into the “new” Russia.

I lived across the street from the Sharanovs. I was given my own 1 bedroom apartment which belonged to their son Mark who was away at the time.  Almost the size of my home in Charleston!. I reported to Valentina daily. To do otherwise was taking a big risk as I found out one day when I failed to report as usual! In my obligatory registration with the local police, they were noted as being responsible for my whereabouts and behaviour in Russia.  My failing to report when I said I would had Valentina extremely worried that something untowards might have happened to me.  Hers was indeed a righteous concern. I never missed a reporting in again.

Saransk city is quiet and of  manageable size. Reliable, affordable and adequate public transportation. Plenty of Grocery stores. Any variety of foodstuff available in USA is available in Saransk. Even more actually. Clean streets and sidewalks.  Friendly folks. Lots of parks. Lots of kids. Lots of people walking, everywhere.  Sidewalks are pulled in by 9 P.M.

Every day was a new journey of discovery. People, places and things. New stores to be explored. New areas of the city to be visited and studied. New buildings to see.  Different busses to take to foreign parts of the city.  People to meet and watch and start conversations with.  It never failed me to start a conversation with anyone and be overwhelmed by the courteousness and thoughtfulness of folks who, upon hearing I was American, went absolutely wild with happy enthusiasm and chattering about how much Americans are liked. 

Every store had to be entered into and products viewed with and eye to cost and quality and availability.  Food lists had to be  prepare and on certain days I had to go out and buy those items.   Fresh food every day.  No canned foods. Valentina ensured I had three squares (she made it ‘rounds’) a day! And only foods locally available whenever possible. Or made in Russia. 

Working out various bus routes to go where I wanted to go was difficult in the beginning but gradually I became a Saranski at it.  Most of the time I took a bus to the end of the line.  Explored.  Took hundreds of fotos. Had a kvas  or a coka-cola and bot myself some lunch.  When finished, took another bus back home.  Another mysterious and fun filled day in the wilds of the unknown Russian town. 

Never lacked for anything. Life was peaceful, pleasant and easygoing.  Educational and ‘awakening’. At times I thought I was back in West Ashley, South Carolina, or Waltham, Massachusetts, or O’Brien, Florida.  Travelling in Saransk and throughout Russia I saw unimaginable thousands of miles of fertile, jet black newly plowed soil and  Unlimited landscapes as far as my eyes could see of grain and corn and potatoes.  It was mezmerizing.  I had never seen the world so open, so big, so vast.  It was impossible to take it all in without turning my head from one side to the other...and seeing the same field.  Unbelievable. 

The the heat of Russia in the summer  of 2010 was an anomaly. The Russians called it a ‘variant’. Usually 95 to 100 degrees F daily.  The heat was to have a significant negative effect on Alexander’s garden which he lovingly nursed every weekend at the family Dacha.  .  But the ICE CREAM vendors in town made a bundle!!!

My Personal Experiences Living  With A Russian Family in a town called Saransk, Russia

The Family Sharanov.   Dr. Elena, Dr. Alexander, Nurse Valentina and Playboy Sanya.

1. The non-Russkie.  2. My teacher in U.S. Oksana, who organized the trip and found the family and with whom I travelled. She stayed in Saransk for two weeks, then returned to her family home in St. Petersburg for two months. Left me in the lurch, guess she thought that being Irish I could fake my Russian.  3 & 3a Valentina with Sanya,  and  4. Dr. Alexander slipping onto the floor!

Oksana after slipping a couple of oranges into her purse and looking innocent at the big downtown central market. The ladies in back are going after that other gal....

Every town and city has its T-34. Here is one of them in Saransk. Actually, its not a T-34, its a troop carrier. Anyhow, you get my point. Sanya   is wearing the latest fashion for 5 year olds when they go to the War Museum to see the tanks.

We are waiting for the bus to take us home from the datcha. The kid sees it on the horizon, but refuses to inform us. So we stand around waiting for someone to take our picture..

Yup. Your eyes are not deceiving you. This is 12 ladies, standing up, playing Shostakovitch, or Jingle Bells in Russian. Its the way they do it over there.  If you play you stand.  I guess if they sat, we would have to stand...something like that. 

These are my favorite two Russians in the whole country. Marina and Katya.  They do not speak English when I did not speak Russian!  These gals used their common sense and initiative and took it upon themselves to kidnap me when I was lost by throwing me on a bus, then into a cab, then calling Elena to ensure her that I was safe, then fed me lunch, then threw me into another cab, then called the cabbie on the way home to give him hell because I was not home yet, and finally called Elena to check to see if I made it home o.k. It was a charming experience for me. For them, who knows. But they will be blessed in their next lives.  They were seniors at the University of the Republic of Mordovia enjoying a peaceful day at the Cultural Center, until I showed up. I love Russian fortitude. Hoorah.

it just gets better.  Went to the library of the Republic of Mordovia. Yup. Here is what I found. Two lovely librarians who both spoke English!. This journey is now looking better.  I was looking for English language books and voila..i found them! These ladies could not have been more helpful.  They searched out english language books they never knew they had!  Every couple of days I would pop in for a chat and return the books I borrowed and they would have new ones for me.  I was reading about 4 books a week.  English translations of Russian literature. Books not available in U.S. It was incredible. WOW, there it is again! A week without Natalia and Venus  was like a week without Russian culture!

This is Svetlana and her 15 year old daughter Elena.  (Do they look Russian to you?) They were my neighbors who lived downstairs. Svetlana would make me Russian blinys (Pronounced:bleeneeys. just a fancy Russian word for pancakes)   WOW.  and provide me with her homemade raspberry jam.  And also fresh strawberries during the local strawberry season.  Something to DIE for!!!  Svetlana was a wise woman.  She knew how well I understood Russian so she never stopped talking.  If we went someplace she would just give me a shove and we would continue on in that direction.  Worked out well for me...I got JAM and Blinys.   And I never got lost, and always got on the correct numbered BUS!   WOW.  Couldn’t beat that life style.

This is Olga. I think i now have run out of Russian girls names. Oksana , Svetlana, Elena, Valentina.  Olga is married to Sergei. They became friends shortly after I arrived. I was invited to their apartment for “tea” and subsequently met some of the other folks you too will meet on this web site. Sergei was in the Russian Air Force.  But I think from the T shirt on Olga, she must have been in the Russian Navy. 

This is another Olga. She is the Assistant to the Dean of the Language Department at the University of the Republic of Mordovia. Doesn’t just saying that make you feel proud!  She’s a big shot in academia there in Saransk.  Fluent English. But she’s really Russian. Can you believe that? Oksana and she are collaborating together in a Summer Abroad program. 

This is Sergei.  Now, he looks Russian! Quiet, silent type. Loves to tell Russian jokes in front of non russian speaking people.  And then laff his head off.  Really makes one wanna study russian .

He smokes Russian cigaretts too.  He’s not afraid of them like so many other people.  Coughs a lot though.  Hmmm. wonder why?

Valentina. This is the NEW RUSSIA. Female entrepreneur (ess). You buy your shoes from her and don’t ask any questions. You got a bargain. You gotta have courage to approach her, as you can see, you don’t fool with Valentina.  But then, when she smiles, you turn to butter!  WOW. Best prices for shoes in all of Saransk.  If Russian Made, she guarantees them for as long as you have your visa...after that...you bot em you wear em!!!

This is  Elena. She’s married to Sergei (oh yeah, mens names are either Sergei or Alexander, sometimes Peter, but not in Saransk) But this is another Sergei. Elena and Sergei live outta town. 30 minutes by car. They have a nice place with a BANYA. She is a singer, well, not exactly, but he plays guitar and they both sing, but SHE is a singer and dancer and actress...WOW...

After my Russian teacher Oksana, these are the first Russians I have ever met.  Don’t look Russian to me. Hmmm. This was the only time I could get Elena into a picture with Mom and Pop, she is so elusive.    But, I managed to embarrass her into this one the day I was departing! See the kid? He’s telling me where to go.  A genetic thing in Russian kids I reckon...How could he know where Charleston was from there?

I owe a deep amount of gratitude to this patient, kind and generous family for the wonderful time I had in Saransk.