Vodka Shot, Pickle Chaser: A true story of risk, corruption and self-discovery amid the collapse of the Soviet Union

For David, graduating from college was a matter of course, but figuring out what to do next with his life turns into a paralyzing decision. On a whim, he decides to travel to the Soviet Union. His loose plans call for a thirty-day tour of Leningrad, but after finding himself caught up in the middle of a coup d’état that destabilizes the country, he ends up staying abroad for two and a half tumultuous years. From surviving perilous run-ins with the Russian mafia and the Soviet military, to searching for his lost heritage in a remote village, David’s story is a riveting coming-of-age memoir. He finds that the road less traveled can lead to unexpected adventure, and that looking backward sometimes provides the best insight into how to move forward. Visit www.davidakalis.com for pictures, video, and more information.