Newspapers / The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.) / Feb. 21, 1992, edition 1 / Page 10
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10 IHE GUILFORDIAN Exchange program sends Guilford student to former Soviet Union Rina Luther Staff Writer With an excited voice, Laura Deßlois recounted her experience in the former So viet Union. Deßlois was part of a university exchange program which was initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev during his visit to the United States. Deßlois' exchange program took her to Moscow, St. Petersburg (for merly Leningrad), and Vilnius, the capi tal of Lithuania. "It was in St. Pe tersburg," Deßlois said, "that we got more culture shock than we needed." One student was witness to a brawl in the market place. She said, "it made me feel terrible to be an American and have so much." Deßlois sensed a somewhat somber mood in Moscow. At Red Square, she wit- nessed the changing of the guard ai Lenin's tomb. Deßlois said, "this was strange be cause of the uncertain feelings about Lenin." She and the rest of the students also went to view the tomb of the unknown soldier, where people were still bringing flowers. "Incredible and beautiful" are the words Deßlois used tn describing the Kremlin with its golden, onion-shaped domes. While inside this architectural marvel, Deßlois sadly commented, "we were herdedaround." 'On my first night in Lithuania, I knew I wanted to go back.' Russia proved to be a different experience than V ilnius. "In Russia," Deßlois said, "we were another bunch of foreigners who are thought to be millionaires and are attracted to the black market." There was also a lack of food, especially vegetables, as compared to Vilnius. This was a depiction of Russia's reliance on the Baltic States as sources of food. The ex change rate was 90 rubles to one dollar. In the summer of 1990, however, the exchange rate was seven rubles to one dollar. Such figures indicate an alarming decline in the Russian economy. The main foods available were meat, cabbage and potatoes. my first night in Lithuania, I knew I wanted to go back." In Vilnius, the group participated in numer ous seminars with the Lithuanian ministries such as the Ministry of Culture and Edu cation and the Minis try of Eastern Euro pean Affairs. These talks were geared to ward an exchange of ideas. The American students, for example, introduced the idea of fundraising, which, according to Deßlois, was a concept unheard of in Lithuania. Deßlois said, "I am such an idealist. My Quaker education has taught me how to keep my ideals and still have the strength and courage to work toward motivating people about their own capabilities." In Vilnius, she also encountered a willingness to listen to ideas about reform. Compared to Russia, Deßlois found sin cerity and warmth in Vilnius. Through this exchange program to Lithuania especially, Laura said, "I have affirmed that this is where I belong." Moreover, she learned the necessity of getting beyond Russia and study ing the other republics as well. Deßlois also expressed her gratitude for being part of a small liberal arts college. She believes that Guilford's high level of stu dent-teacher interaction gave her the chance to make this trip. Martha Cooley, for one, was instrumental in drawing Deßlois' at tention to the program. This summer Deßlois plans on either working for the Lithuanian Parliament or the Ministry of Culture and Education. She is highly motivated to use her knowledge of western states in aiding the Lithuanians as they to re-evaluate political and economic policies without Russian domination. She seems to be optimistic about Lithuania's emergence as a stable sovereign nauon how ever, she is skeptical about its recognition as compared to Russia. She sadly asked. "Ev eryone is still going to study Russia but who's going to study the other .states, and watch out if they hold on to their heritage?" photo by Joan Malloch Laura Deßlois Laughing, Deßlois talked about the day the group of students went to McDonald's in Moscow. She said, "all I wanted was lettuce, and the only way I could get it was by buying a Big Mac." Since that was the case, she ordered two Big Macs to satisfy her longing for vegetables other than cabbage or pota toes! When asked about Lithuania, Deßlois' eyes lit up, and she excitedly answered, "on FEATURES (From The Dictionary of Cultural Literacy) 1) A Latin term literally meaning, "you shall have the body," but which in law means an acused person must be presented before the court with sufficent cause for arrest. rv ,y, 2) Famous Spanish artist who painted Guernica , the portrayal of a town being bombed during the Spanish Civil War. 3) The Swedish biologist of the 18th-century who originated the present way living things are classified. 4) The speed of an object measured in multiples of the speed of sound. 5) A 19th-century French painter remembered for his use of color and paintings of Polynesian women. 6) The author of the poem with the following, often-quoted, line: "A poem should not mean But be." >■ Answers on page 12 fr f WQFS Top 35 - Compiled by WQFS LW TW ARTIST TITLE LABEL 1 The Cramps Look Mom No Head Restless 5 2 Clockhammer Klinefelter First Warning 6 3 Lush Spooky 4 AD/Reprise 4 The Cranes Wings of Joy RCA 1 5 The Ancients The Ancients Mission 3 6 Teenage Fanclub Bandwagonesque DGC 12 7 Died Pretty Doughboy Hollow Beggars Banquet 13 8 Big Wheel Holiday Manor Mammoth 9 Shonen Knife 712 Rockville 4 10 Mortal Lusis Intense 15 11 Live Mental Jewelry Radioactive 12 Fungo Mungo Humungous Island 7 13 Think Tree Like The Idea Caroline 8 14 Del Tha Funkee Homosapien I Wish my brother Elektra 14 15 Various Manifestation Vol. II Aweful 19 16 Nomeansno o+2=l Alt Tentacles 16 17 The Look People Boogazm A&M 23 18 Public Enemy Apocalypse 91 DefJam] 19 My Bloody Valentine Loveless Sire/Warner 20 Dream Kitchen Dream Kitchen Dream Kitchen i - 21 SUn-60 Sun-60 Epic I - 23 Eden Gateway To the Mysteries Third Mind 10 24 Luka Bloom The Acoustic Motorbike Reprise 16 25 Lou Reed Magic and Loss Sire/Warner 17 26 Saint Etienne Fox Base Alpha Warner Bros 22 27 Psychefunkapus Skin Atlantic 27 28 The Cavedogs Rock Takes A Holiday Capitol 29 Corrosion of Conformity Blind Relativity 30 Various Just Play BBT 5 31 Pleasure Thieves Simple Escape Hollywood 32 Quadraphoni Cozmic Jam RCA 33 In The Nursery Sense Third Mind 34 Lightning Seeds Sense MCA 35 Rollins Band The End of Silence Imago ADVENTURE PICKS: 10 Slowdive 2) Cowboy Junkies 3) Sugarcubes TOP AUDIENCE RESPONSE: 1) The Cramps 2) The Cranes 3) Big Wheel 4) Shonen Knife 5) Fungo Mungo TOP 5 ADDS: 1) The Cramps 2) The Crnaes 3) Fungo Mungo 4) Think Tree 5) Del Tha Funkee Homosapien lV A February 21, 1992
The Guilfordian (Greensboro, N.C.)
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Feb. 21, 1992, edition 1
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