Notes from Nalchik

Editor's note: Suzanne Specht, assistant director of the Small Business Development Center at Florida Gulf Coast University, joined a group of Southwest Florida businesspeople on a trip in October to Russia, where she was asked to teach an entrepreneurship course. We asked Specht, who also serves on the Gulfshore Business editorial board, to keep a journal of her experience to share with our readers.

Last year, I received an e-mail from the founder of Friends from Abroad, a nonprofit organization of businesspeople and professionals that equips and encourages individuals to become more effective leaders. Nolen Rollins was proposing that I travel to Nalchik, Russia, to teach university students about small-business entrepreneurship and ethics.

My curiosity was piqued. I love to travel, I love to meet new people, I love to teach about small business. Russia-the beautiful city of Moscow, Red Square, St. Basil's Cathedral, the Kremlin.

I was definitely interested, but where in the world is Nalchik? I Googled.

Nalchik is in the Caucasus region of southern Russia. It's the capital of the Kabardino-Balkar Republic near Chechnya, bordering the Republic of Georgia. The people here are Kabards, Balkars, Chechens and Ossentians. In October 2005, nearly 150 militants were involved in an attack on police and security facilities in Nalchik. Close to 200 people were killed. Chechen rebels claimed involvement.

My friends say that I am adventurous, but this seemed a bit extreme. I decided to contact Lynn Doty, a realtor with Keller Williams. Lynn had just come back from a similar trip to Russia in April and already she wanted to head off again in October. She marveled at the friendly people. She showed me her spectacular pictures of the Russian landmarks. She described her trip as life-changing.

With a sense of adventure-and a touch of trepidation-I decided to go.