AMERICAN STUDENTS LOVED RUBTSOVSK

Here's what students wrote when they returned from Rubtsovsk:

Charissa Bogdanov:

Going to Russia was an incredible experience for me. It was so stretching to see the way that
another country worked and see the differences between the country that we call home and their
country. This trip really helped me to get out of my comfort zone and see that there is really so
much more to this world than just what I see in front and around me. I realized that people are
still people. I mean just because someone looks different and speaks a different language doesn't
mean that they don't have dreams, desires, hopes, and plans for their life just like me. We are no
different. I loved the trip and quickly fell in love with the people. This trip has made me want to
help out others in any way that I can.

Crystal Garcia:

I wish that I could share with you the happiness of the memories I acquired while I was in Rubtsovsk.
To me they are worth far more than the money it cost me, my family and those who contributed to
the grant. I hope that more people will contribute to the cause in the years to come. After all, what
is better than the satisfaction of knowing that you caused the smiles on others' faces and the
warmness in their hearts? Or you are the one that created the life-long friendships of dozens of people
all over the world? Not only that, but I can speak Russian four times better than I could before I left.

Michael Brune:

This summer I had the great pleasure of traveling to our sister city Rubtsovsk for a few weeks I did
not realize what a completely extraordinary experience this was until I had returned home. While
trying to tell my family and friends about my experience, I noticed there were things I could not
explain correctly, things I had to have seen to understand. It was then that I noticed that I had seen
a different culture that most people will never have a chance to see.

Jared Hooper

Overall, I found the student exchange with Rubtsovsk this year to be a success. However, nothing is
perfect, and there were some things I felt could have been improved on. The time in Rubtsovsk was
well planned and executed. I felt that the presentations and the activities in the Sister City were much
better organized this year. It is my belief that the work done by the students will be of great value to
those studying the English language. There were also many opportunities to meet the public and
new people that I was happy to take advantage of.... The shortcomings that I saw were small and few
and I felt that the trip was a great success. I can only hope that future delegations will have as good
a trip as I did.

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