"Managing" the Day, EuroTravel

"Managing" the Day

During a typical day I have many meetings in order to coordinate with program teams and subgroups of engineering and science to ensure their communication with each other. I also try to solve problems raised by management at Johnson Space Center, and answer questions about equipment and procedures during the three to five teleconferences I have per week. I am also studying Russian two hours per week.

I interact with management at NASA Headquarters, as well as local management at NASA-Ames. At the local level, I discuss: budget issues travel requirements, plans for the year and contractor performance evaluations, and give presentations to management on the status of projects.

EuroTravel
Paul Savage (left) and Alexander Sytchev at the Institute for Biomedical Problems in Russia

Having the chance to see Moscow, Russia, France, the Netherlands, and Budapest, Hungary, increased my awareness of the rest of the world, and helped me appreciate the difference in cultures. I try to share these experiences with my son to help expose him to different ideas and people.

Moscow, Russia

I have traveled to Moscow three times and remember being overwhelmed with certain images. One of the images I remember was the size of the city where nine million people live. On the surface, the city does not look attractive. The buildings are gray and rundown. Even the modern buildings look old and are crumbling. But many people continue to live and work in the buildings, and the city will be celebrating its 850th anniversary next year.

The parks and public areas are not kept up very well, and on some levels, Moscow looks like a huge city that could have been deserted. But seeing Red Square, the Kremlin, and St. Basil's Cathedral contrast with the rest of the city, and the city's ability to maintain ornate cathedrals was amazing.

There were also big, bold sculptures celebrating the common man, victories and heroes, which we do not have in the United States. I felt that I had a better feel for the city after visiting. I think it is a great place to go, if you look beyond the size and the environment, and have an opportunity to meet the wonderful Russian people there.

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary, is a beautiful, magnificent city. Before World War II, Budapest was actually two cities, Buda and Pest, and after the war their names were linked. I had heard that Budapest was the center of eastern European government and culture but I always imagined it was a dreary, war-ravaged eastern European city.

The Danube River was clean and well kept, and the scientists we worked with were very welcoming and showed us special places of government and history in the city.

The part of the city once called Buda sits on a hillside overlooking the Danube River. (The river was a natural division between Buda and Pest.) Visiting Budapest developed my interest in eastern Europe. It reminded me of the tragedies of eastern European countries during World War II. It also helped me understand what is happening in the world today in countries like Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The Netherlands

Visiting Amsterdam was very different and fascinating. Seeing historic places like the Anne Frank house, the freewheeling night life, and the Red Light District showed me how a permissive culture is different from that of the United States. Seeing the country helped me add a piece to my travel puzzle.