European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 14, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                To St. Petersburg Sharon Bertschi will follow her dreams to Peter the great s City with affection by Randy Pruitt staff writer the German moving company assumed too much when Sharon Bertschi telephoned to ask about shipping her household goods to St. Petersburg. They informed her Quot our next shipment to Florida will be Quot Bertschi interrupted to explain that it was the other St. Petersburg she was talking about. Quot Russia Russia Quot they exclaimed. That squared away her bags Are packed along with some tall cardboard boxes. She s sold All her household appliances the antique China Cabinet she loved her faithful car. The sentimental family things Are being stored in her grandmother s barn in Alabama. On nov. 25 the 36-year-old american will leave Germany for the place that a captivated her and her creative imagination for the past year. She plans to live at least one year in the namesake City of Peter the great to fulfil a lifelong dream. As a free Lance artist she will work on illustrations for children s books. One project includes coloured Pencil drawings of International fairy tales. Quot i always thought it was something id do when i got older or retired Quot said the graphic designer for the marketing division of the 103rd area support group in Frankfurt. Quot but when i went to Russia and found out How cheap it is i realized i could do it  she also fell in love with St. Petersburg. Quot have you Ever had the feeling when you go on vacation and come Back that you Haven t gotten the real Story that there a something missing that s really How i Felt with this . In the past 12 months Bertschi has made four trips to St Petersburg. One Day it dawned on her that her dream and this mysterious City could be tied together. Quot All i had to do is sell my stuff quit my Job go to Russia and do these  simple she thought but did it make sense Quot right now is certainly not the time to be quitting a perfectly Good Job and during what s supposed to be my readers action liberation card needed for All Coffee and Tea Sharon Bart Aehl q the last time i was in Germany i Only needed my ration card when i purchased american Coffee. German Coffee was never charged to my ration card this tour i m confused. Every time i Purchase German Coffee either in the commissary or shop Pette the Story is different some people Mark my ration card and some Don t there is no consistency. Help solve this and please cite the treaty regulation or whatever to put this to rest sgt. 1st. Class Douglas c. Sleeth Augsburg Germany be Charles m. Wlker director defense Kandy fam Sharon Bart Aehl la gang up Harar my civilian Job for celts employment in St Patara Burg. Peak earning years Quot she said. Despite the reservations too Many things Felt right. Quot the minute i came Back from St. Petersburg the first time every Book i opened every time i turned on the radio there was something about St. Petersburg Quot she said Quot it seemed like  than there was the dream that had been hovering Over her since childhood. Suddenly it was within grasp. Quot you dreamed when you were younger what you want to be when you grew up Quot she said. Quot i always wanted to do illustrations for children a books. I remember my Mother read to me from the moment she thought i would be Able to understand and i remember the greatest part of the Day was sitting there with her. She was All mine. Quot i like the idea of parents Reading to their kids. It develops a love of books it increases their vocabulary and Early readership kids do better in school. I m so thankful for my Mother Reading to me All those years and that s what i would like to  she realizes that leaving Germany Tor Russia is something Many will not understand. Some might wonder Why Bertschi does t just keep her regular Job and draw in her spare time. Quot you get caught up in your world Quot she said. Quot you be got your friends your workplace and you come Back Home to your environment where you be got everything set up. It zapped my creativity. When i was younger just starting in Art school i remember that Good feeling of being so creative and having so Many new ideas. When i go there St. Petersburg everything comes Back. It s a different culture there s so Many things to _ _ _ it see. She expects to live in Russia for about $2,000 a year. Her apartment overlooking the Gulf of Finland is expensive by russian standards a $40 a month. Bertschi knows what Shell be missing. Besides hard commissary Agency european Region replies the rationing of Coffee Tea and cigarettes purchased in military resale activities in Europe is required by the nato status of forces agreement sofa. To Purchase these items in commissary and Exchange facilities in Europe All authorized customers must produce a ration card and have the Quantity marked off on it. When the supplementary agreement to the sofa was established in 1959, it included provisions for the control of certain items because at the time they were in Short Supply and prone to Black Market activity. Although there appears to be Little reason to continue to ration Coffee and Tea making such a change must be initiated through diplomatic channels. The rationing applies to these products regardless of their origin. Commissary and Exchange employees who Arentt marking your ration card when you Purchase these items Are either unaware or uninformed about this requirement we in deca will take Steps to ensure that All Cashiers understand the regulation and i will pass a to get Art supplies Shell be carting Over a years Supply of toiletries. Quot i still have no idea where to buy toilet paper that a a big concern in my mind Quot she said laughing so is the language. She a been studying russian since March and plans to pursue it daily in four hour classes. She s psyched herself up to do without Western style consumerism. She a prepared to stand in Long lines and stare into the hungry faces Shell be confronting every Day. Quot you have to set limits on where you can help Quot she said. Quot you have to focus on who you can  on her trips Bertschi has always taken used clothes to give to needy russians. She s also become acquainted with a doctor who runs children s Hospital number one in St. Petersburg. Recently she made arrangements to enable the German Kontak club to sponsor the Hospital. The group has contributed toys books and Medicine and is presently attempting to find a Way to get it shipped there she said. Bertschi knows that just a few years ago most people would have thought her crazy to consider such a move now everyone is offering words of encouragement Quot my Mother is not going to understand Quot she said. Quot i told her i was going to Russia and she just laughed. She does no to believe  she d have a Chance to explain everything when she returns to Panama City Florida to attend her younger brother s wedding just before the big move. Bertschi Hopes her venture will inspire others. Quot there Are All these things you want to do these great ideas that Are on the Back Burner Quot she said. Quot there la always be a dream until you actually try and do  she likes to quote a colleague who a been especially supportive. A Quot you Only get one  Quot it s so True Quot Bertschi said. Copy of this correspondence to the commmander of cafes  write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action Une co the stars and stripes unit 29480, Apo a 09211 All letters must be signed. Please include address and Telephone number. Preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. Saturday november 14,1992