Two rather disconnected pictures here. The first is of a new orthodox church being built in Syktyvkar, very ornate and costly. Religion is a touchy subject. Most Russians are not very religious, though they are very superstitious and many profess a belief in the orthodox church. Yet the culture of Russia is very connected to the Russian orthodox church. Under the Czar church and state were integrated, and under Communism with religion officially banned, the church became a symbol of resistance. One way of making money was to illegally print bibles and sell them, either in whole or in part. With a new democracy in place, freedom of religion has lead to especially Mormons and Baptists coming in and trying to win converts, something which angers even non-religious Russians. To them religion is connected with culture, and the RUSSIAN religion is the Orthodox Christian church, outsiders coming in are not simply other faiths, but a western assault on their culture. A huge baptist church in Syktyvkar raises the ire of many, who speak of "baptists" the same way they talk about gypsies and corrupt politicians. I see both sides – a modern society has to embrace tolerance of other ideas, and sooner or later Russians will have to learn to accept that faith is not something that a national culture should dictate. Still, I think western religious organizations at this time might be better advised to focus on humanitarian help than trying to win converts. The second picture is the yard outside the apartment building Natasha’s folks live in. Russia’s apartment buildings often look a bit run down, the halls are often messy and not kept up, and the yard outside looks like a slum. Yet inside, apartments are usually very nice, clean and modern. I asked about this, and was told that they pay money for upkeep of the grounds and hallways, but nothing gets done. So they focus on what they own and make that nice. Crime is a problem. Natasha’s folks have three dead bolt locks (one with five bolts), and two doors. Throughout the city first floor apartments usually bolt up their windows. Many note that crime was virtually non-existent in Soviet times, and at least one person said that the Soviet system "worked" and the "democrats" are ruining Russia. The truth, of course, is that the Soviet system collapsed and bred the problems that bedevil Russia today. Crime is always high when the economy is weak. Still, wild free market capitalism isn’t the answer either – perhaps through the trials Russia will find a way to deal with this that is modeled after neither of the two ‘cold war’ ideologies.