TBT - Back to Sakhalin

After our first visit and the presentation of the proposal, the decision was made to keep a representative on the island to maintain the brand name. Back in 1991 there was no easy way to get into the former Soviet Union. We flew into Frankfurt where we could catch a Lufthansa flight to Moscow. Then we had to take an Aeroflot flight to Sakhalin. While in the business class lounge in Frankfurt, we stocked up on free snacks and small canned drinks as we knew they would be scarce in Russia. The Aeroflot flight was am IL 76, the Russian jumbo jet. All aircraft were designed to be used for troop transport and the seats we had were simple canvas which were about as comfortable as you can imagine. We had to stop for fuel on the way so we put down above the arctic circle. I think it was Dudinka. The temperature in early December was -40 (F or C, it makes no difference) and we had to deplane and walk to the terminal. The ground was covered in ice and my colleague and I decided to run and slide on the ice. We stopped after about two times because the cold air was burning our lungs.

Our objective in Sakhalin was to keep the brand name in front of the public so we carried a large amount of items with the company logo. We found that most people appreciated pens, office supplies and other giveaways. They simply were not available in the FSU. We also scouted the area for logistics and construction capabilities of the locals. We even did a couple of TV interviews. The local station was happy to interview the western oil people but you had to bring your own video tape and "donate" it to them.

One day we scouted out an abandoned ski slope and hotel above the city. Our idea was to use it as an overnight hotel and office for the construction. We were inundated with people wanting to work with the new oil folks. We had offers of free land for our plant location. We even had one offer of the use of a nuclear powered aircraft carrier for use in housing construction crews. It was difficult to tell which offers were legitimate and which were bogus but we listened to them all.

We were joined in the hotel by the folks from competing oil companies and we all gravitated together in camaraderie. We gave mutual support where we could and socialized in the evenings.

After the incident with a broken tooth, our medical department gave us small first aid kits which included hypodermic needles and prescription pain killers. The pain killers came in handy when one of the other oil guys had a toothache and I was able to share my codeine with him.

One night we were gathered in a room having a few beers when the phone rang. The guy answered it and then handed the phone to me. My wife was on the phone. She had heard on the news that Russia was running out of jet fuel and was worried that I would be able to get home. My son figured out to call the marine operator who then placed a radio call to the marine operator on Sakhalin who patched the call to the hotel who knew I was not in my room and connected the call. I think they were spying on us just a little.

When I was due to leave I showed up at the airport and was told I hadn't reconfirmed my reservation and I could not board. We started to complain with the theme that if they wanted western business they had to operate differently. The pilot overheard us and asked what was going on. When he was told he asked how many people wanted to go. We told him one. He looked at the agent and told him to let me board. Another indication of the paramilitary organization of the Russian air industry.