Thursday, 12 May (Visits)

Once again we woke up to a beautiful Moscow morning. I cannot recall if I have noted we are right beside an area that does look like disneyland and where you can buy artifacts and souvenirs. We once again had the luxury of a bus to take us to our site visits.

First up was a visit to the US Embassy. We were graced by the presence of the former President of SPIFFY (our outstanding student run stock portfolio) Sasha Misan (first picture). We were not allowed to bring our cell phones or cameras into the facility. One of the embassy folks took one of our cameras and accepted responsibility for it--there is a photo of us in the Embassy but I do not have it. This is, you might recall, the Embassy that sat empty for years because listening devices were supposedly installed in the bricks--but that has all been cleared up now. The embassy is truly a city within Moscow, they have their own gym, their own foodstore, pool and other facilities and approximately 140 members of the staff live in apartments within the complex--it does not look that big from the outside.

The second photo is part of our group waiting to clear security and enter the embassy and the third photo is of all of us outside the embassy. We received a very interesting address dealing with the importance of oil and gas to the overall Russian economy and how falling (or rising) oil prices have an impact on their national budget. It was stressed to us over and over again that it is important to build personal bridges in doing business in Russia--European nations have figured this out, but most American firms find entry and doing business in Russia daunting.

We then went to lunch in an absolutely beautiful garden like restaurant. The photos attached (4 and 5) do not really do it justice, although we were inside it was like being in an outside garden and the food choices were varied and excellent. Sadly many of our party do not like borscht (a Russian cabbage based soup). We then headed to the Coca Cola bottling plant in Moscow which is the largest in Europe. The plant was on the outskirts of the city --about 20 miles-- and this proved to be a challenge at the end of the day.

The 6th photo is of Ms. Wicks presenting a small token of our appreciation to the President of the plant for a terrific, passionate and engaging speech. We later found out that he rarely greets visitors and if he does, he only spends a few moments with them. He spent over an hour with us and it was truly enjoyable and very very informative. After his interactions with us, we got a tour of the plant--and the final two photos are of some of our party--we all looked like medical doctors!

It took us 3+ hours to get back to our hotel, 20 miles away. The traffic in Moscow is quite a challenge--I do not think I have ever seen 16 lane (8 in each direction) streets that were absolutely packed anywhere else in the world. Our driver was quite skilled and aggressive--Andrei Strukov and I decided to wear our seatbelts as we were in the front two seats and felt the need to be strapped in tightly. We arrived home safely, and tired from a long day. We began at 9 and did not get back to the hotel until nearly 9.

I think the participants (your loved ones) are enjoying themselves and learning more and more about doing business in Russia. Stereotypes are being broken virtually every day.

Enjoy.

John F. Mahon
John M. Murphy Chair of International
Business Policy and Strategy and
Professor of Management
www.umaine.edu/business/
www.umaine.edu/business/faculty-staff/mahon/

Wednesday, 11 May (Touring)

On our second full day in Moscow we got up and had a very varied buffet breakfast in a bright and cheery room.  Svetlana, our guide and bus arrived precisely at 9:00 and we were off.

First stop was the Armoury where we could not take pictures of the gowns, jewelry, coaches, clothing, thrones, and gifts from other nations to the Czar and Czarina.  We heard a great deal—for example, Czarina Catherine the Great used more than 800 (yes that is 800 horses) to pull her carriage from Moscow to St. Petersburg.  The carriage was drawn by 23 horses and they were changed every hour.  Whew, what a workout.

After the Armoury we walked the grounds of the Kremlin—think of the Vatican, it is a city within a city.  The first picture is of a enormous bell (with our folks in front) that weighs over 200 tons.  It was never hung because a fire broke out, and in an attempt to keep the bell from melting, they poured cold water on in and the bell cracked.  The “small” slab that broke off weighs approximately 12 tons.  The second photo is of a rather large cannon, that actually did work, but was never actually used. It sat on the wall of the Kremlin and intimidated enemies.  The third photo is of a small garden/park outside of the Kremlin.  The fourth photo is of  restored Church on the end of Red Square opposite the Church of the Intercession (St. Basil).

We then went to lunch in GUM a former state department store and now a beautiful indoor mall.  The fifth photo is of us working our way to the food court.  The sixth photo is of Mr. Baker enjoying his lunch (although he does look less than enthusiastic)—note rather large beer next to him.  Life would not be good without coffee (7th photo).

We then made our way to a cemetery.  Now cemeteries are not usually on a tour—but this is a unique one, where the tombstones are just extraordinarily conceived.
The 8th photo is Checkov’s tomb (for the literati he was a physician who started writing in his spare time).  The 9th photo is Svetlana talking to the group.  The 10th photo is the tombstone of a physician (guess what area he practiced in?).  The 11th photo is of Nikita Khrushev’s tomb and the final photo in this series is of a set of hands holding a jewel (heart).

We then went on a tour of the metro system.  The final four photos are from different Metro stations (note the stained glass, the metal work, the painting, the mosaic work).  The photos do not capture the variety and beauty of the system.

A long day of hiking and busing and walking and sightseeing for all.  Tomorrow we commence some of our intellectual work here—we visit the U. S. Embassy and the Coca-Cola plant tomorrow—and although that might not sound like much, the distances involved demand the entire day.

Thus ends the second full day in Moscow.  Groups are going to various places for dinner.

John F. Mahon
John M. Murphy Chair of International

MBS MBA Russia Trip 2011

Travel Day--9 May (Monday) - 10 May (Tuesday)

Travel days are both hectic and tiring.  All arrived at Portland Jetport on time, followed by some repacking to ensure we did not exceed weight limits.  We are down one person (who we will meet in Moscow as he is in Germany at our partner school Aalen).  I am constantly amused at Delta people who insist we use the Kiosk's to check in--despite the fact that it never works for us going to Russia--we have to show our visa.  So I use the Kiosk, it rejects me, the agent comes over and says do it again in front of them, and lo and behold it rejects me again!!!  So they reluctantly allow us to check in with the agents (not joyously mind you).

When we arrive in LaGuardia, we are met by our bus to take us to JFK for our onward flight to Moscow.  The traffic is quite light and we make it there in plenty of time.  Then we have the wait (16 of us) until boarding time.  Some folks cannot sleep on an airplane (sad, as this is a ten hour flight).  We arrive groggy and safe at approximately 11 AM in the morning where we clear customs and passport control and are met by our guide Svetlana, meet our last comrade (we are now 17 in number)  and are bussed to our hotel--which was built for the 1980 Olympics.  We are about 3 minutes away from a Metro station and a 20 minute ride to central (Red Square) Moscow.

We take rest, exchange money (what an experience that was) and head off to Red Square and to dinner.  The end of the day is a welcome relief for all.

1st photo--Svetlana our guide











2nd photo--resting on airplane

3rd photo--Moscow airport

4th photo--at Red Square

5th photo--St. Basils.

John F. Mahon
John M. Murphy Chair of International
Business Policy and Strategy and
Professor of Management
www.umaine.edu/business/
www.umaine.edu/business/faculty-staff/mahon/