I haven’t been writing much these last few weeks intentionally to avoid recording my sappy reflections about leaving Moscow and my anxiety about what is ahead. But, now that I only have a day left, anything goes, right? ;-)

Yesterday I went to the grocery store. I’ve been going to this grocery store pretty regularly for 5 months now, so I know most of the cashiers, by face anyway. I wouldn't say that we are on really good terms because they growl at me every time I don’t pay in exact change. They usually ask me, “do you have X number of rubbles?” so they don’t have to give out small bills or coins in change. I still have trouble understanding the numbers and I get nervous, so I always say “no”. The cashier growls some more but eventually gives me my change. Five months later, I have accumulated a lot of change; and Russian rubbles and kopecks aren’t going to do me a lot of good when I am in the States. Yesterday was payback time;-) My total came out to be 538 rubbles and 12 kopeks. I made the whole line wait for me as I clumsily counted out 38 Rubbles, one by one and then the Kopecks.

I went to Red Square last night, just to walk around one last time. Before I came, I knew Red Square only from Cold War pictures when the square was filled with soldiers and weapons lined up for military parades. The Kremlin does sit on one side of the square, so there is still the feeling of austere power. But opposite the Kremlin is an upscale mall with individual shops for all of the world’s top designers. And next to that is St. Basil’s Cathedral with brightly colored onion domes. And across from that, well, I don’t know exactly what the building is, but it’s a pretty building made of red brick. There are tourists and small vendors selling Russian wooden dolls and KGB paraphernalia. Places like Red Square don’t change much over time. It is possible the Lenin’s tomb is removed and they eventually bury his body (which is mostly wax now) but besides that, I am sure I will see a similar version of Red Square in the future.

Yesterday I packed up my office. Since I have been filling in for a higher ranking American officer, I was able to take over his office, complete with couch, chair, personal printer, coat rack, and door. I do loath the fact that I will most likely be returning to a cubical for the next 10 working years. I combined all of the business cards that I’ve collected and put them in the empty box that used to be filled with my business cards. I will probably not have contact with most of the people in this box, but it is a treasure chest of memories for me. Random people I talked to at the 4th of July party when I was working as an official mingler. Importers I took the Potato Board representatives to visit. Restaurants and hotels. The man who propositioned me for a one-night stand (don’t worry mom, I didn’t give him my card). My colleagues at the Embassy.

Tomorrow my office is having a going away party for me. I’m not supposed to know about it, but it’s on the office calendar. After that, my roommates and I will host a party of our own which should leave me completely exhausted by 3 a.m. when the driver picks me up to take me to the airport. I look forward to being home, seeing family and friends, and rolling in some luxuries that the U.S. provides (i.e. non-smoking sections in restaurants). I’m still not sure what is ahead, but have faith that there is something exciting (that will also pay the bills). I also hope that the next country that I report from will NOT have wild reindeer and the Reindeer Rambler can be replaced with something like the Tropical Tattler.

Until then my friends.

Kristy

Minister Counsilor Allan Mustard (my boss) and Russian Minister of Agriculture Aleksey Goreyev toasting to agricultural workers in the United States and Russia.




The U.S. Pavilion


Every booth does what it can to attract attention.


We had visiting delegations for Montanta and Colorado. People routinely asked if they could take pictures with the cowboys:-)

My ego at work was slightly bruised after turning in a one-page report to my boss announcing the opening of the U.S. pavilion at the tradeshow and him editing it into a seven-page report. The first sentence of my report is still intact, but that’s about it.

The tradeshow ran all weekend, the highlight being Saturday when the Minister of Agriculture visited the U.S. Pavilion. The political tension between our agriculture departments is thick, so it was a significant visit. We had glasses of California wine ready for him and our agriculture minister. He came by with a herd of security and media so it was mostly an overexcited formality.

Afterwards, there was a gala reception. Tickets were almost $100/person so only 10 people from our office and the U.S. exhibitors went. Our tables were preset with orderves and drinks. Each person had a bottle of alcohol in front of them. It alternated, wine, vodka, wine, cognac, wine, vodka, and so on.

To prepare myself for coming home, I try to imagine myself driving on U.S. highways, walking down Minneapolis streets, seeing my friends and family, being able to read the menu at a restaurant, etc. It’s only ten days away but it seems very distant.

Did I mention that it has been snowing here the last two days?

Here's a newsletter that I created containing a report on Starbucks.

http://eng.usda.ru/en/docs/118.pdf