Gidzenko replaced senior Russian cosmonaut Anatoli Solovyev, who refused to fly under American commander William Shepherd. When I was a Mir space station crew member, I was the commander. I can give or take orders. It is not difficult to be with Shep. There are a lot more dangerous professions on the ground like being a truck driver.
American food is maybe more spicy than Russian food.
Everyone has to grow his child, to build house and to plant a tree. And if you ve managed to do all that, then your life has not been in vain. I don't consider my job dangerous.