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Well, don’t think I didn’t hear about yesterday’s Milwaukee weather. Talk about expecting the unexpected!

I am now a true international lawyer, thanks to BCO. I don’t think I found the answer he wanted, but I now know that I can access Westlaw from anywhere. While these other guys were on 11 p.m. (4 p.m. home time) conference calls, I researched prenups.

I forgot to report that my sister and I went to a Mozart concert two nights ago. It is Mozart week here, and concerts are everywhere. This concert was in a major hall whose building is both modern and baroque. The large entry hall’s walls are covered with Munch-like murals. The second hall (equally large), where champagne and appetizers are sold, is more traditional. The comfortable seats are aligned in what feel like pews. The acoustics are impeccable. Pictures are unfortunately not allowed.

I though we were going to see a choral concert. Instead, we saw an opera, which was titled something like “the first part of a story of spiritual conflict”. I have no idea what I saw. I can’t stand opera, but this had no intermission and lasted only 2 hours. I did not buy a program because I did not want to be without money for the rest room attendant and coat check person (you are not allowed to take coats into the hall). I also thought the program would not be in English. I was wrong, and tried to read over the shoulder of the woman in front of me (she was not happy). To the front and right of me was a young man of about Noah’s age, who was as disenchanted with having to be there (and in a suit!) as Noah would have been.

The sight of that young man made me miss my Noah, who I am happy to report has emailed me and confirmed that he would NOT like to receive a Mozart t shirt as a gift.

I also miss my dog. A woman who lives at the Schloss has a big black dog who came and sat on my feet, just like Spunky. I know I will pay for having “abandoned” him; I just hope he doesn’t chew up anything too expensive.

The tales of Lithuania and the Ukraine from Scott Richardson continue to make us laugh and somewhat ease our trepidations. Today he talked about his Lithuanian lodging-- 2 rooms and a bath in a university building. To get out of the building, he had to go to the downstairs apartment, knock on the door, and have a woman there use her key to unlock the outside door. To get in, he knocked on the door or window (I don’t recall which) and the process was repeated. Women were in the downstairs apartment 24 hours/day, two at a time, in shifts of 2 days. One day he asked how to do his laundry, and the woman told him she would do it for him. She charged him the equivalent of $1 US for 5 days’ worth.

I am glad that I sent boxes of books and small gifts to Herzen, because Scott spoke of the how kindly received they were. During his first time out, he had not thought bring gifts for the students. He felt bad when the students gave him gifts and he could not reciprocate. He eventually sent trinkets from the US. I sent books donated by Westlaw, 100 key chains donated by American Family, the circus books donated by Mr. Fox, some Milwaukee t shirts and trinkets from The Dollar Store. The historical society also donated a two-year membership for the school, and sent a certificate which I will frame and give to the dean. (Can you tell I really want to return, having not even arrived yet?)

In Scott’s second post (Ukraine), many (even the faculty) had not seen an American before. One student interrupted his lecture to ask if it was true that Americans “eat with their feet on the table”. Birthdays apparently last all day. On a teacher’s birthday, when Scott arrived at 9 a.m., the birthday girl’s (she was 54) office was festooned with food, chocolates, a huge cake and vodka. Eating and drinking went on all day, although attendance dwindled in the afternoon. The faculty taught there classes, although a few called in sick the next day.

Today we had video conferences with people from Poland and Hungary. Each set had a professor (lecturer to large classes), young teacher (like a teaching assistant, who did not lecture but had the students participate in exercises), and a student. The group from Poland was absolutely fluent, and I learned that many students eventually practice in England. Questions were answered, or not. Both sides enjoyed the interaction.

I am still unclear how freely to express myself when asked questions about my beliefs. Because St. Petersburg is relatively sophisticated, I have been advised to expect questions about the elections, the war, abortion, the Middle East, etc., and especially about democracy. Some have advised answering without qualm, and others suggested circumspection. I expect I will find a middle ground.

Over lunch, we discussed the importance of not appearing as though we have the “answer” or are bringing the “correct” legal system to our schools. It must seem demeaning for a Latvian to hear that our way is perfect or should be engrafted on his system. I think I will be ok on this point, but I am not so sure about a few of my compatriots.