The moment it became known we were going to the Soviet Union we were bombarded with advice, with admonitions and with warnings, it must be said, mostly from people who had never been there. 
An elderly woman told us in accents of dread, "Why, you'll disappear, you'll disappear as soon as you cross the border!"
And we replied, in the interest of accurate reporting, "Do you know anyone who has disappeared?"
"No," she said, "I don't personally know anyone, but plenty of people have disappeared."

Fears fueled by hearsay often paint a distorted picture. Seeking firsthand experiences can dispel misconceptions and reveal the truth.