Episode 9: Not Bad for a cup of… Tea?

Not Bad for a cup of… Tea? 

     I was traveling to St Petersburg, Russia a few years back. A church-related organization was building a Christian University and was looking to open a coffeehouse in the city. I had helped train a group of 5 college kids in overseas and cross-cultural studies. Their assignment was to help with the design and build out of the café.  

      My flight was into Moscow direct from New York. I arrived late in the day and was met by Mr. Peter; at least that’s what I called him. Mr. Peter was an esteemed gemologist, teaching in the University of Moscow. His salary was $35 a month. To subsidize his income, he would meet foreigners at the airport with a name sign and help them through customs and out into the streets, the train station or on to their hotel. His English was quite good. My plan was to catch the first train to St Petersburg. 

       As the last of the luggage came down the belt way I started getting a sinking feeling. My bag  was nowhere to be found and I needed that luggage.  Besides all my clothes, cameras and personal gear, I had multiple gifts and food items from parents of this team up in St Petersburg. I told Mr. Peter that I could not go on without my luggage. He made a few calls and said it will be here tomorrow night. He invited me to stay with him and his wife overnight and then after getting my luggage the next day would get me on the St Petersburg train.  

      It sounded like a plan. As I settled into his tiny apartment he asked if he could get me anything, so I asked him if he had a cup of coffee. He assured me he would be right back with a cup and soon, sure enough, he handed me a steaming cup of… tea! I am not one to complain so I drank it. The next morning, same thing; tea.  

      The next afternoon, we arrived at the baggage claim building. As I walked into what felt like a high school gym area, there were pallet racks to the ceiling full of the worlds lost luggage. The lady in charge took my passport info and waved us in. There we stood, alone, with hundreds of thousands of suitcases, thinking how in the world were we going to find mine? Mr. Peter was a smart man. He asked the lady where the bags come in at? She pointed to a far corner with an exit door and we went there. Immediately I spot my suitcase, right by that little exit door. We were out and I was on the train headed for St Petersburg… a 36-hour train ride. Oh, boy! 

      I settled into my train car, a small room with three other travelers, two young men and one older, rather large blonde lady. We greeted each other and none of them knew a word of English. They seemed amused that I was an Americanzki and assured me they would look out for me (at least I think they did). As the train pulled out of the station, a train attendant came by offering drinks. I asked if they have coffee?... Da. So I waited and here it came. A steaming cup of … tea! This exchange went on for the next 36 hours. I drank more tea in two days than I have in my whole life, combined. There were many interesting happenings on that train ride but laying in one large bed between a young guy and a blonde Russian lady, snoring, probably topped it off. I kept thinking… if Grace (my wife) could only see me now!  

    Not bad for a cup of… tea! 

     If you travel to Russia today, coffee has become very common and some of the finest cafes and coffeehouses are in Moscow and St Petersburg. The European café culture dominates, and I am sure on any given cross-country train trip, I would be served Kaffe!