No way! I grew up there!
– Columns –
The world is a really small place. I’ve noticed the farther from home I go, the smaller the world feels. I’m undecided if that is a good thing or not.
During my time in college, I learned about the Six Degrees of Separation, basically the idea we all have connections, who have more connections that increase exponentially with each step out.
In roughly six connections, we would (theoretically) be able to be introduced to anyone in the world by a friend-ofa- friend. While the number of connections varies by attempt, the main point of the idea, and the study that spurred it, is we are all connected more closely than it seems at first glance.
I have a huge family, which also seems to increase in size exponentially with each step out, so I wasn’t terribly surprised when we discussed the initial study in class. I often joke I’m related to the entire state of Wisconsin.
When I studied abroad in Russia, I got a firsthand experience with how crazy small the world is.
An important piece of information to note, is that I was 80 percent lost, 80 percent of the time I was in Russia.
However, there was only one time I didn’t get to go somewhere I wanted to go and that was because I happened to pick a park outside the Moscow public transportation system. I gave up on that park, but not after a rather painful experience ordering Burger King outside the tourist district. They couldn’t understand my American accent when combined with poor Russian language skills.
Then there was the time I went on a “scavenger hunt” in Moscow, looking for a statue of Laika the space dog and I got super excited, because I thought I found it. What I actually was looking at, was a dumpster. I found the statue the next day, when it was lighter out.
Or the time I was going to a wrestling show and I found the building complex right away, but couldn’t find building seven (I found buildings one through six no problem), before finding the building, but being unable to find the door.
The time that takes the cake, though, is when my study abroad group went to see a ballet. One of the group leaders, Jon, put directions how to get to the theater, up. I tried listening to Jon, despite my better judgment.
I walked out of the metro system. The map showed the theater would be within a block of the metro exit. I couldn’t find it. I knew I went too far when I got to the Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, so I backtracked. I still couldn’t find it.
Then, I asked a random person walking, for directions, using my poor language skills. He pointed the opposite direction I had been walking, At first, I thought Jon had hung the map upside down. Then, when I was halfway across the street, the person must have realized he told me the wrong way and grabbed my shoulders to turn me around. I was literally standing back in front of the metro station where I started.
After some more wandering, I asked another guy for directions. His confusion at what I was asking was expressed in English. Turns out, his name is Edgar and he grew up in Wisconsin (Appleton, I think), but also is a native Russian speaker and was in St. Petersburg visiting family.
Edgar was as amused to come across a fellow Midwesterner halfway around the world as I was.
He didn’t know where the theater was, but he did know how to ask. After getting directions from multiple people, the theater was located.
I had walked past it five times. Figures. I had gone wrong because I didn’t walk through the sketchy looking gate into what appeared to be the alley. It actually led to a courtyard and the front entrance of the theater there. Jon also neglected to crop the map with the second metro exit on it and I happened to walk out the opposite door.
Thankfully, I made it to the theater in time to see Swan Lake. The performance was beautiful, but meeting Edgar was even more fun, albeit a little strange. What’s the chance of that in a city of almost 5 million people?
Apparently, the chance was higher than I thought.
“
Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up. ~ Jesse Jackson ”
