THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407200163
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 13 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY JUDY PARKER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Foreign merchant sailors don't play the role of tourist when they make port. These guys are serious shoppers. Next to the telephone, visits to local malls and grocery stores are akin to achieving nirvana.
`` `We want many hams,' is the first thing I hear from the Croats,'' said Norman J. Reid, coordinator and chaplain of the International Port Ministry. ``I don't know what the big deal is, but the only stores they're interested in are grocery stores that sell Smithfield hams.''
While the Croatian seafarers ought to be commended for their culinary tastes, it's the Russians who are big-ticket buyers, according to Reid.
``If possible, I think they'd buy every chain saw all the Sears stores in Hampton Roads have to sell,'' he said. ``I've never figured out why. My guess is they can sell machinery on the black market. Who knows?''
During a recent port call, Reid deposited five crew members of the container ship DSR Senator at Chesapeake Square Mall. The 98 degree temperature of the Friday afternoon seemed especially oppressive for the sailors whose hometowns are in the Ukraine, Vladivostok and Sakhalin Island.
``I am Igor,'' said ship steward Igor Kravtsov as he introduced himself.
Unfortunately, those three words amounted to the full range of his English language skills.
As the others introduced themselves, it was like hearing a litany of characters from a Pasternak novel. . . Nikolay Zelinskiy, Pavel Skok, Vladimir Kurochkin. Then second officer Michail Khisamiyev stepped forward.
``Hi, I'm Mike,'' he said in a clear Anglicized baritone.
True to Reid's description of Russian shopping habits, each man voiced a desire to purchase dollar-gulping merchandise - a lawn tractor, kitchen furniture, an air rifle and an electric car alarm.
Once inside, Mike quickly inhaled the mall's glitzy atmosphere.
``What is popular with American woman?,'' Mike asked, as he and Igor eyed counters filled with all sorts of exercise equipment.
Obviously designed for customer appeal, both men spied the dozen or so boxes of Thighmasters Plus with their provocative poses of sitcom actress and television pitch woman Suzanne Somers adorning the containers.
Then, like a youngster excitedly unwrapping a present on Christmas morning, Mike pulled a Thighmaster from its box, and began an impromptu exercise routine.
``Irina, my wife, she will like very much,'' Mike said. MEMO: Main story on page 12. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MARK MITCHELL
Nikolay Zelinskiy pauses amid the hustle and bustle of shopping in
Chesapeake Square Mall.
Michail Khisamiyev, Igor Kravtsov and Nikolay Zelinskiy discuss the
merchandise available at Sears.
by CNB