Soviet Union, 1962

   During the early spring of 1962, while my friends and I were taking part in the advanced operational training with a new type of fighter plane (i.e. the MiG-21) in the former Soviet Union, I found out that the Russian people were somewhat different from the Czechs, in that they were not so kind to foreigners. They also knew very little about all the countries other than their own country, esp. the developing countries, or the so-called "underdeveloped countries", as it was referred to during that period.

   We knew that they considered their country as the biggest and most powerful country — one of the Super Powers of the world — unrivaled by any other countries except the United States. Therefore, a country like Indonesia was probably regarded as being still primitive as compared to their country.

   Those certain Russians that I happened to get in touch with seemed to have less respect to people from other countries and they used to look down upon us as well. So we were bound from time to time to face their conceit and obstinacy when communicating with them. When they met foreigners they used to ask questions that were quite bewildering, such as:

   "Are there cars in your country? Are there houses? Are there schools? buildings? trains? airplanes?" etc. etc.

And the most humiliating one was when being asked such questions as "Are there clothes in your country? Do you wear clothes back home?"

   Well, it happened that one of my friends seemed to feel very disturbed by that, and being quite annoyed he responded amusingly :

   "No, we didn't have any clothes in our country and we only got our clothes upon arriving here in the Soviet Union... We used to be naked back home (while in the bathroom!) and we were still nude while traveling by plane into this country...."

   How could you believe it!