Lehrman, as assistant professor of foreign languages and literatures at the University, was an eyewitness to this brave, new world of Russia as he and his wife, Susan Amert, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, led a Winter Session trip to St. Petersburg. For Lehrman and Amert, this trip to Russia brought a special perspective-he was born and raised in Moscow but had not returned to his homeland in 16 years, and she had last been there when she studied in St. Petersburg in 1981. Some sights, such as the bread lines, were familiar from American media. Lehrman explained that when the old system collapsed, the bureaucrats sabotaged the distribution systems. The new government is trying to reorganize the system, but the process is just beginning, he said.
Northern cities depend on the provinces for their produce.
When the changes began, the provinces began keeping their food for themselves. Although food is not readily available, he explained that Russians are still particular about their bread. The changes there amazed them both, especially the lack of political propaganda, where once, communist slogans had been abundant. However, Amert added that vestiges of the Soviet state remain. She described driving past the empty pedestal which used to support a statue of Felix Dzerzhinsky, the first head of the KGB, the Soviet secret police.