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November 30, 2009
Russia: Finding Common Ground after the Cold War
For me, the best part of traveling is connecting with local residents and spending time with them in the places where they live, work, play, and pray. In so doing, I’ve found that I have far more in common with people from other countries and cultures than I ever dreamed possible.
Grand Circle Product Marketer Cynthia Barnes made a similar, surprising discovery during her first visit to Russia a few years ago. In her own words: “I met a Program Director named Irina who was the exact same age as me. As we talked and got to know each other, we found that we grew up listening to the same music (Madonna) and had similar childhoods. For example, although Irina’s father worked for the KGB, he did so because he wanted a good job that would allow him to provide for his family; just like my dad, his goal was to give his children a comfortable life.”
For Cynthia, it was an eye-opening experience. “Meeting Irina completely broke down my pre-conceived notions of Russia,” she says. “Because of the Cold War, I’d grown up thinking of her country as an ‘Evil Empire’—but Irina helped me see past the political propaganda and realize just how alike we are.”
Has an inspiring personal connection ever challenged your preconceptions about a country? Email me at
harriet@gct.com
In my next update, I’ll be featuring our Holiday River Cruise vacations, but—as always—I look forward to reading all of your travel stories.
Harriet Lewis