Wednesday, March 28, 1984: Woke up sick as a dog. It was bound to happen. Leningrad’s water is bad — parasitical — and Mark and a number of other people have been sick or hacking throughout the trip. Made it to the train and fell right asleep. Slept the whole way except for the custom check. We had six people in our little room and it just so happened we got the toughest Russian customs checker on board. First he checked Bruce and Scott, but since they had nothing ‘illegal’ they made it. Then it was my turn. First the guy searched my suitcase and found nothing. Next he searched my backpack and when he discovered all my pins he took the Russian Army pin for my hat. He also read and translated most of the words in the little bookie-wookie (Clockwork) but he obviously did not take it. Next came my hockey bag. Previously I had wrapped my hat in my jersey and had hidden it in my helmet. However, right before they checked I unrolled it and just placed it on the bottom. This turned out to be key because when the customs officer searched my hockey bag he looked at my helmet but missed my hat. So all I lost in the whole affair was a pin. Next went Mitch. The found Mitch’s army hat and confiscated it from him but they missed his pin which he had hidden in his elbow pad. Mark went next and he lost out — he lost his army hat and all of his pins and belt. The same went for Pete so I actually lucked out. To show the inconsistency of these Russian guards, listen to this: the other officer in the other cars either did not check the luggage or in one car, saw the military hat, laughed, put it back and left. I slept the rest of the way. We arrived in Helsinki around 6:00pm and had a game at 8:00pm. I was so sick I thought ‘d never make it. Anyway we played and won 5-4. Mr. K___ pulled the old yell-at-us-even-when-we-scored ploy and it must have worked. Anyway, it was a nice ending after two bad games in Russia. We went back, ate, and I, being sick, sacked.
March 29, 1984 (Thursday): This morning I got up and feeling better, took a shower, packed and ate. We then did our last-minute shopping before heading to the airport. At the airport we had a three-hour delay. We played a lot of cards. Oh well. Right now I’m loafing on this flight and wondering what the chances of making my connecting flight to Pittsburgh are…I will die if I am forced to miss that because of this stupid delay. Oh well…at least Finnair gets the tab, Dad. Well…we were late, but made another flight several hours later in New York after running around. Made it to Pittsburgh at 2:00am — Mom and Dad had waited since 8:30. THE END OF THE RUSSIAN EXPERIENCE
