Three university teachers from Rubtsovsk arrived in Portland on Sunday May 6, and were greeted at the airport by Ruth Pepple and Nancy Hitchcock. Liudmila Starchenko, Irina Yazykova, Svetlana Sevastyanova, and her son Nikita Sevastyanov then stayed overnight in Salem on their way back to Grants Pass. On Monday, the group met our state representative, Ron Maurer, and his Chief of Staff Allison MacMullin in his office at the state capitol. They watched a house session from the gallery after explanations by Allison. They took a guided tour of the capitol, and watched a senate session. After picnic snacks at a rest stop, the group arrived at Brune’s around 4 to meet their host families and others.
 

On Tuesday, Mary Slayter and Barbara Paulsen took the delegates to Rogue Community College on their first full day in Grants Pass. When they arrived on campus, Larissa, a Russian student from the RCC Diversity Office met them and asked the guests to take part in a t-shirt painting project that was being held to promote awareness of domestic violence. After each had painted a t-shirt to take home, they went to the Office of Instruction where Dean Nancy Maxwell met them and gave each delegate a gift bag and material about RCC. She then led them on a short tour of the campus—Early Childhood Development Center; the Wiseman Center art gallery, tutoring center, and library; the Student Services Center; Coates Hall computer classes, and the cafeteria. Several faculty members joined them for lunch, and then the delegates split into two groups—one to attend an Abnormal Psychology class taught by Fran Gentile, and one to sit in on a literature class taught by Chip Phillips. After those classes, they all visited the Automotive Department where Department Head Chris Simper explained the program, showed them some classic cars students had worked on, and gave them a tour of the instructional area.
 

On Tuesday evening, a Sister City welcoming barbecue and potluck was held at Dave and Judy Gosnell’s home.
 

On May 9th, the group went to exciting Ashland to the Shakespeare Theater and experienced a Backstage Tour, watched The Cherry Orchard, had lunch, and explored the town.

May 10 the group experienced one of Grants Pass’ lovely parks, with Clay and Huong Johnson. Baseball and games were the order of the day. Later, the Russian group met with the Sister City Board at the Firehouse for a lively meeting. Sister City T-shirts and Rubtsovsk souvenirs were shared. 
 

Friday: Day at University of Oregon, arranged by Sveta’s old friend Tatiana,  guided walking tour, led by a student “ambassador.”  Went to the Art Museum, which features Asian arts, and also has a small exhibit of Russian icons.  Met with Pat Bryan of the American English Institute of the UofO.  She told about their ESL program and shared curriculum ideas and materials with the delegates. After meeting several of Tatiana’s colleagues and a tour of some science labs, enjoyed a short outdoor vocal concert, and then went to the home of Tatiana and her husband Alexei for supper.Photo Sveta and Nikita with Tatiana and Alexei, along with their son Oleg and several friends from the university.– “We've speculated as to whether this was a psychology class experiment, a club or church event, or whatever.  We walked by this group several times and were invited to get a hug each time.” -Nancy
 

Monday: Schools and City, Gwen Jacobsen and Nancy Hitchcock took the group to Redwood Elementary,  to a City Council Luncheon and then to Grants Pass High School.
 

Tuesday May 15: Mary and Nancy did Southern Oregon University with Irina and Luda, since Sveta and Nikita were still in Eugene.  At SOU they sat in on both a German and a Spanish class, visited with the international studies program staff, met with profs in education department and toured the building, met with the intensive English program staff.  It was a full day; we've been learning more and more about the Rubtsovsk English language programs as we compare and contrast during these college visits. Sveta and Nikita rode the Greyhound back from Eugene yesterday. All went to the fairgrounds to the Charlie Brown Square Dancers Club that Clay Johnson had arranged.  He'd taught everyone to greet them with "strasvuitye," they taught everyone  a few basic square dance moves, and then we watched the advanced group.
 

On May 16th, the group met with Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce Greeters group early in the morning and then left for an all day excursion to the beautiful Oregon Coast, Azalea Gardens and the Redwoods. Those accompanying the group were: Gwen, DeVerne, Kitty and families.
 

May 17, Ruth Pepple and Rita Turek accompanied the group on an Art Tour of downtown Grants Pass. They visited the Glass Forge, McDaniels Watercolors, Grants Pass Museum of Art, had lunch and toured at the Bear Hotel, then visited Fire Mountain Gems. In the evening, there was a farewell potluck at the beautiful Tom Pearce Park.

Saturday May 19: Hike to Rainie Falls on Rogue River with Brian Pike and friends.
 

Sunday May 20: DeNise and Russ Garceau host a “farewell” dessert party at their home in the evening. The delegates will come packed and ready to leave for Portland. Brian Robinson is driving them to PDX