As I began my return journey from Moscow to Chicago, I glanced at the big blue stamp reading "May 28, 2009" in my already overcrowded passport. I was struck by the symbolism of crossing the Atlantic, in an aerial bridge between Russia and the U.S., on that particular day. It was exactly 11 years ago, on May 28, 1998, that I filed documents in Michigan to officially create Russian Pointe Corporation. Similarly to the flight I was about to board, the last 11 years of my life have been about creating bridges between the United States and Russia, in artistic, commercial and cultural ways.
 
Just like the transatlantic flight, despite inconveniences and difficulties there is priceless anticipation when you journey to a new place in your life. The last 11 years have presented challenges far greater than uncomfortable plane seats and inedible food. I've been forced to think and analyze my way through challenges that seemed insurmountable, to keep the company moving forward and to keep alive the vision of ultimately arriving in new and exciting places. 

 

Earlier in May I had the privilege to spend time with the Ambassador of Russia to the United States, His Excellency Sergey Kislyak. I saw in him a man whose mission is to consistently build bridges between the two largest countries in the world, bridges that may affect every aspect of our lives. Eleven years ago, when I began operating a company that required constant interaction between our two countries, relations between Russia and the U.S. were far less open, and bridges were far less well constructed. I recall phone calls to Russia that cost over a dollar per minute (a few cents now). Receiving an entry visa was far more challenging than it is today. Simple acts like withdrawing money from a cash machine were unheard of; there were no ATMs in Russia (now, every major bank is represented in Moscow).
 
It's hard to believe that in such a short time this international relationship has grown so dynamically. It almost feels as if we all got on a long westward flight and gained many extra hours in each day, to get as much accomplished as possible. Perhaps this rapid growth has been necessary to make up for lost time over decades and centuries of less-than-ideal communication and interaction. Not every part of the journey has been smooth, convenient and comfortable; many times, social and political situations have been tense and demanding. But one thing I know for sure is that we have been moving continuously forward. Even though there have been times when we had to strap ourselves in and use all our energy to think of solutions, there is always the breathtaking moment of landing and realizing you have reached a new place together. And most importantly, although the hours you gain flying west are lost on the journey east, in life it is possible to move consistently forward, despite occasional setbacks and inevitable challenges.
 
Welcome to the 12th year of Russian Pointe in the United States, and another decade of peace-oriented, Cold War-free Russian-American relations. May time and change move us ever forward in our social and political interactions, our professional pursuits and our everyday lives.

 

Aleksandra Efimova, President