The Friendly Persuasion of a Russian Skeptic

Back in Moscow, where she teaches English to engineering students, Nina Pashkova had a notion about Americans that was not altogether flattering--a little cool, unfriendly, lacking warmth. But, after a week or so in the United States, she has revised her opinion.

“I would say I would have never thought I could find so many friendly people here,” Pashkova, 37, said as she sampled Mexican food in Old Town on Sunday afternoon. “We have stereotypes of Americans. I thought they would be more indifferent.”

Pashkova is in San Diego as part of a program to improve relations between citizens of the two superpower countries. She and three other Russians are spending the week in the San Diego area, living with host families who volunteered through the Center for U.S.-U.S.S.R. Initiatives, a San Francisco-based organization. Alan and Tanis Brown of San Marcos offered their spare bedroom and plan to spend the week showing Pashkova around.

Pashkova arrived Saturday and was greeted at a reception organized by the sponsors, but Sunday was her first opportunity to don blue jeans and a T-shirt for a day of sightseeing with the Browns and their two youngest children. Pashkova pronounced San Diego a “beautiful” place, possibly made more so by contrast with the brutal Moscow winter she had left behind.

And the Mexican food--chile relleno, refried beans and nachos--was a tremendous success with Pashkova, who quickly finished off a plateful. Nothing so exotic is available in Moscow. Pashkova was also quite taken with Duncan, Okla., a small town that played host to her for several days just prior to her arrival in San Diego and treated her and the others to a square-dancing party. “It’s a lovely place,” she said. “I got so many invitations and people wrote me wonderful letters, saying, ‘God bless you’ and ‘Let us hope for friendly relations.’ ”

The children of Duncan were charming, bubbling with questions about the lives of children in the Soviet Union, she said. “They were so curious. They asked, ‘What do children wear in your country? What subjects do they take?’ ”

The Browns say they have been swamped with calls from people in the San Diego area who extended invitations and greetings for Pashkova and the three other Russians. In all, 20 Russian citizens are spending about three weeks in the United States, staying with families in various cities, to learn about American life.