A huge land of huge opportunity--Russia.

In the end it was a professionally stimulating, socially exciting, adventurous time. As we all went our separate ways I received many "bear" hugs and invitations to return and bring more North Americans with me. My last day in Russia I reported to the extension agency and delivered my report, and we all wished each other heart-felt best wishes that are associated with volunteers and sponsors. That being done I spent the rest of the day with Alexander Khrenov visiting tourist sites and snatching up more and more unique souvenirs. We ended the week with a tour of yet another vodka museum and a traditional Russian meal again interspersed with toasts with vodka.

It was at this time I asked Alexander, how does the typical Russian cope with all this alcohol? He looked at me incredulously and said, "It is not just alcohol, it is aqua vitae, the water of life and the cementing of relationships be it family, friendship or business. Russians don't generally drink alone, the vodka is an integral part of the culture that brings and keeps people together." He noted that the toasts are never without food. "There is always something of complementary taste that goes with the vodka, and the drinks are usually small. A toast is a welcome, a means of renewing a relationship or building a new one, and then a way of parting before the next time we meet. It's not to deaden the senses, vodka is used to awaken them." With that we had our last toast together, and I left the next morning.

Many emotions are felt as I ride in this plane some 35,000 feet above the Baltic Sea. The business, the conversations, the work, the fun, the laughing, the talent, and the vodka were all parts of what developed the camaraderie it seemed everyone felt. From the perspective of a citizen of America it makes one consider what we have been led to believe. It is reiterated that most people are good; it is politics, economics, and power agendas that keep them apart and suspicious of the other. We have been conditioned that the Soviet Union was the evil empire, and maybe it was, but the people that suffered under that yoke are generally good and potential friends and allies. It just takes a common interest to break down that curtain and find common ground. In our case it was mushrooms.

I thank the members of ACDI/VOCA for sponsoring and coordinating the extension part of the visit, and I thank Alexander Khrenov for my involvement with the 15th Annual Mushroom School Conference. May they have many more successful conferences, perhaps with me or some other western hemisphere contributing attendee with whom to partake in toasts with vodka.

Ray Samp

Agari-Culture Consulting Services 113 Colleen Court San Marcos, TX rays.mushrooms@grandecom.net

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"Spore Prints" is a regular column featuring conferences around the world, market situations in various countries, alternative raw materials, introduction of mushroom personalities, historical perspectives of industry trends, farm management and personal opinions