Bitoiy Yegoshin observed that more people smile in America than in Russia.
He was part of a delegation of four Russians who visited legal agencies at Lake Tahoe and the surrounding area as part of an effort to promote understanding between the countries.
Sure, there were the customary hikes and beach visits. After the group had their fill of scenery, they met with District Attorney Gary Lacy, an official with witness protection, a probation officer, South Lake Tahoe officials and judges. The Russians also toured a jail, visited youth rehabilitative centers, and dropped in on media productions in nine days.
The group was part of the Open World Program, which was established in 1999 by the U.S. Congress to build understanding between the countries and promote democracy in Russia.
Nights were spent at the houses of host families. Tahoe Douglas Rotary member Shawn Rowles helped guide the tours.
Yana Korzinina, a former judge, was impressed with the media's access to information. The delegation visited the Tahoe Daily Tribune for information on the coverage of the first-degree murder trial of Lisa Platz, who was found guilty of murdering her daughter.
"What I am envious about (is) the job of journalists in United States because, as far as I have understood, they have as free access as any individual to the court process," Korzinina said with the help of interpreter Damira Kalykova. In Russia, Korzinina explained, access to court documents is only for those involved in the case.
The four said U.S. culture did not take them by surprise. Since the fall of communism, American businesses have entered the country, and media covers U.S. issues well, they said.
Once-empty stores are full with inventory, yet the Russian economy is not entirely rosy. Roughly half of its 143 million people suffer from poverty, they said.
The group said it prefers the American judicial process to theirs because, in Russia, there aren't services intended to help offenders correct their lives.
In addition, the efficiency of the U.S. court process to bring crimes to trials in about a year was much shorter than in Russia, they said.
The delegation visited Washington, D.C., before the trip to the lake. Another group concerned with environmental issues also visited Tahoe, but had a different schedule.
While the tours were mostly business, the four did visit a Nevada casino.
"I got excited (Thursday) because I started winning but then lost," Yegoshin said.
Sidebar
Seeing famed Lake Tahoe for the first time this weekend, 10 high school students from the Siberian village of Baikalsk will be formally greeted today by South Lake Tahoe and El Dorado County officials.
The students traveled from Lake Baikal in Russia last week to take part in the annual Watershed Education Summit, a program for El Dorado County high school students who are interested in science and the environment.
The event is coordinated through the Tahoe Baikal Institute, which offers exchange programs for students. It was funded by Oleg Svanyuta, who grew up on the shores of Lake Baikal. Svanyuta now lives in Davis, Calif., with his family and has a second home in South Lake Tahoe.
The students enjoyed an orientation and a buffet dinner on Saturday and road bikes along Baldwin Beach on Sunday. Aside from the Watershed Summit at Union Valley Reservoir, they will visit Heavenly Ski Resort, take a ride on a paddlewheeler, and visit South Tahoe High School.
The public is invited to an official welcoming ceremony for the students at 5 p.m. at the South Lake Tahoe City Council Chambers, 1900 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Councilmembers, officials from the Tahoe Baikal Institute and District 5 Supervisor Dave Solaro will host the festivities.
