This is the day I thought I met the twin of a girl in my MSL program back at home [Left]! On the right you can see me with "the red head." She used to live in the states and she said she really misses American Coffee :-D Very cool people. Both of the above students are graduating soon. Best of luck ladies!
Here is Justin eating his beloved shwarma (or, Russian burrito) with Grisha, his host. Tea you can see is a part of Russian culture and we drink it before food, after food, to get warm...etc. The ladies on the right (you recognize the girl on the left from the above picture) were our escorts to the Alexander Nevsky ceremonies. Both girls have been to America and enjoy the English language. Ladies, it was awesome getting to talk with you! You were great hosts and very entertaining. I'll never forget that *bathroom* story.
No, this isn't a cage for bad students...it is a coat room. Every school has coat rooms or closets! These guys are ready for anything. Bad weather in North Carolina doesn't know anything. Bad weather in NC, like a chihuahua next to a bull mastiff! Get to school, take off the heavy coats, leave them in a safe place, change boots too...After class, retrieve them. Ta-da! This is the kind of thing we don't even think about in our schools. But we sure do get frustrated with all the winter coats hanging over chairs...maybe we could learn a lesson or two, eh?
The Last Bell Ceremony!
Everyone celebrates the end! The last bell ceremony is a celebration for all of the 5th year students who are graduating from the university. It takes place before final exams and everyone gets a break from class to study for exams. The purpose is to remember the class mates in a happy way. Each group performs a skit or sings a song, creates a video or photo presentation and even the teachers sing to their students. Below you will see the evidence of an awesome celebration. Flowers are everywhere! Justin and I were even able to share a few words. He gave a speech and I wrote the following letter: Dear Graduates of 2012, I want to start with a quote from Herbert Spencer: "The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action." I want you to know that I know where you are. I feel your pain and your happiness. The course work, exams, you're just tired and ready for it to be over. When it is we will all probably celebrate until our hair hurts. But, after the party is over there is still forever in front of us. Don't take what you did and learned in or out of these four walls for granted. Our experiences make us who we are and I know everyone says these things, but I really mean it more than words can express. I almost didn't get a chance to have this opportunity. The opportunity to be here in Russia or the opportunity to stand up in front of my loved ones as a proud graduate. I had my son during my third year of being at the university. Like Herbert said, I needed to get into action...and quickly, no excuses. You should be proud of yourselves for being here...we should be proud of ourselves. Life happens to us all and we struggle through, laughing like maniacs, crying our eyes out and being who we are all the way through. And, after the ups and downs...and the parties, life happens some more. Whatever you do after this...Love it. Own. Be it. Keep growing. We've only got one shot at this. Congratulations, friends. My own graduation will be sweeter because it will be accompanied by thoughts of my time here and of you. Rock on!
This girl was playing the mess out of the keyboard. Hang in there...the beginning is a little rough because the acoustics in the room aren't the best and it took a little while to get the sound right but after you can start to hear it it is awesome. The whole thing was actually improvised from my understanding so kudos guys! :-D After Party with Friends!
This is the day I thought I met the twin of a girl in my MSL program back at home [Left]! On the right you can see me with "the red head." She used to live in the states and she said she really misses American Coffee :-D Very cool people. Both of the above students are graduating soon. Best of luck ladies!
Here is Justin eating his beloved shwarma (or, Russian burrito) with Grisha, his host. Tea you can see is a part of Russian culture and we drink it before food, after food, to get warm...etc. The ladies on the right (you recognize the girl on the left from the above picture) were our escorts to the Alexander Nevsky ceremonies. Both girls have been to America and enjoy the English language. Ladies, it was awesome getting to talk with you! You were great hosts and very entertaining. I'll never forget that *bathroom* story.
No, this isn't a cage for bad students...it is a coat room. Every school has coat rooms or closets! These guys are ready for anything. Bad weather in North Carolina doesn't know anything. Bad weather in NC, like a chihuahua next to a bull mastiff! Get to school, take off the heavy coats, leave them in a safe place, change boots too...After class, retrieve them. Ta-da! This is the kind of thing we don't even think about in our schools. But we sure do get frustrated with all the winter coats hanging over chairs...maybe we could learn a lesson or two, eh?
The Last Bell Ceremony!
Everyone celebrates the end! The last bell ceremony is a celebration for all of the 5th year students who are graduating from the university. It takes place before final exams and everyone gets a break from class to study for exams. The purpose is to remember the class mates in a happy way. Each group performs a skit or sings a song, creates a video or photo presentation and even the teachers sing to their students. Below you will see the evidence of an awesome celebration. Flowers are everywhere! Justin and I were even able to share a few words. He gave a speech and I wrote the following letter:
Dear Graduates of 2012,
I want to start with a quote from Herbert Spencer: "The great aim of education is not knowledge, but action." I want you to know that I know where you are. I feel your pain and your happiness. The course work, exams, you're just tired and ready for it to be over. When it is we will all probably celebrate until our hair hurts. But, after the party is over there is still forever in front of us. Don't take what you did and learned in or out of these four walls for granted. Our experiences make us who we are and I know everyone says these things, but I really mean it more than words can express. I almost didn't get a chance to have this opportunity. The opportunity to be here in Russia or the opportunity to stand up in front of my loved ones as a proud graduate. I had my son during my third year of being at the university. Like Herbert said, I needed to get into action...and quickly, no excuses. You should be proud of yourselves for being here...we should be proud of ourselves. Life happens to us all and we struggle through, laughing like maniacs, crying our eyes out and being who we are all the way through. And, after the ups and downs...and the parties, life happens some more. Whatever you do after this...Love it. Own. Be it. Keep growing. We've only got one shot at this. Congratulations, friends. My own graduation will be sweeter because it will be accompanied by thoughts of my time here and of you.
Rock on!
This girl was playing the mess out of the keyboard. Hang in there...the beginning is a little rough because the acoustics in the room aren't the best and it took a little while to get the sound right but after you can start to hear it it is awesome. The whole thing was actually improvised from my understanding so kudos guys! :-D
After Party with Friends!