Russia was minus 4 degrees when I landed in Moscow and it was snowing. Pretty extreme change from UAE anyway which I left at around 40 degrees. With around 18 days ahead of me, it was expected to be challenging. Russia did not disappoint on the UTP challenge-o-meter. I would rate it close to right up there with the complex ones.
Lots of interesting specifics about the country with its local regulations, statutory requirements and holding onto the identity as a superpower it once was and is on route to becoming again pretty soon. It is already part of the fastest growing BRIC economies as coined by Goldman Sachs and it was reflective of that with Moscow. Extreme weather and traffic was probably the only thing against them otherwise, great transport system involving, metro, underground trains and trams within the city. The economy booming, people educated and doing well.
Russia may seem like alien land for a lot of countries around the world but the smart investors have already reached there setting up their oil & gas explorations, textiles, food service, retails businesses etc. Not to be underestimated at all.
They have some political issues but in these times which country doesn't. at the end of the day, its the people who take the economy forward and the mission showed in almost every person I met or saw regardless of which level they were working at. There was a sense of purpose in the public eye.
Language was an issue as most people speak Russian and only Russian. Luckily our colleagues were not so bad and they understood English. They took us around on the few free days we had during the stay there.
We went to Kremlin, Red Square and it was a great place to see. Historical in its own presence and beautiful buildings as well. See this one as an example.
Walked around the city on the day and quite tiring every day. The hotel was close to the office at a 10 minute walk and it was a good activity to do considering the extra fat I have put on somehow recently.
On another day, our host, the finance manager took us around the old city of Moscow on foot and was quite interesting to see some old buildings still be preserved by the government.
On route, I noticed an odd sculpture of someone who gave the first impression of some old muslim scholar or something. Going close, I found out he was Ali-Shir Nava'i. A mystic who might have travelled in the region of Uzbekistan and left such an impression that they had a sculpture of his. Found this quite interesting.
She also took us down into the underground and the stations were a work of a art. The 2 or 3 stations we stopped to look around were a story in themselves. One station was decorated and designed as an emblem of Ukraine reflecting various elements of their history. Another one was fully dedicated to the struggle of the past and the value of each profession in the society. A pianist, a field worker, an artist all painted on the pillars.
One of the stations had a strange sculpture of a guard representing the soldiers on the Russian border along with a dog. Strangely the whole sculpture was in black other than the Dog's nose which was shining in Gold. I was told to observe for a while and soon enough I realize that Russians share the element of superstition. I noticed almost 1 of 10 people coming out from the train, rubbing their hand on the Dog's nose apparently for good luck. One of the by-passers even spoke to the dog and another sent out a prayer as well for him. That dog protects them from the evil it seems. Quite interesting.
Went searching for some souvenirs and bought a matryoshka doll for my kids. A nice shawl for my wife, lovely material and some nice Russian chocolates. They make some good ones. I also couldn't help but buy myself a small soldier from the times of the revolution. It was one thing I wanted to take back for myself. It stands on my office desk as a symbol of my personal struggle and the soldier guarding the walls of my home. I'll probably take a picture and add to this post some day.
The implementation went smooth which was an icing on the cake. Despite the language barrier, there was a breakthrough and we actually had a nice casual chitchat feedback session on the last day with the whole team. It was an amazing personal achievement considering I had come pretty nervous to Russia.
The way back was quite interesting as well some intellectual religious/ political discussion with a passenger travelling together with me.
Learnt a bit of Russian as well and used wisely where required. Spacibo means Thank You. That's where Russia was Russia... Spacibo!!!
