Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Fulbright–Hays Group Project Abroad Short-Term Seminar in Russia

Week Four
4–10 July

Understanding Russia through Everyday Life
Spending the 4th of July in Russia.

Sunday      Monday      Tuesday      Wednesday      Thursday      Friday      Saturday

Sunday, 4 July
Today we visited an orphanage, stopped by a Street Ball tournament sponsored by the American Home, had some free time, and then
ended the day with a 4th of July celebration at the American Home.

Patrice working her video camera magic with the orphanage kids.

Jeff is a kid magnet.

Terry reads a "Shrek" story book to two little girls.

Each child was given a set of color markers, a coloring book and some ice cream.

Pat helps a toddler with his ice cream.

Chris gives out American flag stickers.

Is there a family resemblance between this little girl and Jill?

American Home Street Ball Tournament.
When this tournament was started 10 years ago, it was one of the few Street Ball competitions in the region—and it was the last tournament of the summer season. (Many Russians take their vacations in July and August.) There are now many more teams than ten years ago and several tournaments that follow the American Home-sponsored contest, but it is the most prestigious—in part because it is by invitation only. There is a rating system, and the ten strongest teams in the region are invited. The games are played with intensity!

Alexei explains the tournament.

The slam dunk contest.

Celebrating the Fourth of July.
Rain was forecast and the sky was threatening as the festivities started at 5pm. The initial entertainment was completed and we had started eating when the rain began. It let up and then began again. So we moved everything to the basement. This was something of a blessing in disguise. Things were much more intimate in the meeting room where the group's classes are held. The result was some "self entertainment" as the band that had been hired moved its equipment. One group of the teachers—with some "external assistance" and some "cheat sheets"—sang "Back in the USSR." Another group learned the chorus for a Ukranian folk song—that the Russians all seemed to know. Jason even sat in with the band on bass guitar. And the teachers—with a lot of help from the Russians (and their cheat sheets)—sang both of the folk songs they had learned. Everyone who stayed seemed to enjoy themselves.

Children from the vocal club "Chance." They rehearse at the Youth Palace we visited on Friday.

And then the rain began; so the party moved to the basement and all had a good time.

This trip has been an opportunity of a lifetime. We have been able to go "behind the scenes," whether it be into a Russian prison, a "Palace of Youth," or the home of a peasant. We have gone far beyond the role of tourist and have been truly welcomed into the lives and homes of Russian people.
—Patrice Bain, Columbia Middle School, Columbia, Illinois

Monday, 5 July
Today we received a useful briefing on the economic situation in the Vladimir region from the head of the Oblast Foreign Economic Relations Department and toured an exhibit of goods produced in the region. After lunch in one of the "buffets" in the Oblast Administration building, we visited one of the largest local factories, Avtopribor, that produces parts primarily for cars. They are particularly proud of the fact that they provide the windshield wiper mechanism for the Ford Focus that is now being produced in a Ford-owned factory near St. Petersburg. The day ended with a presentation on public opinion in Russia.

The presentation on the region's economy.

Joe tries out a motorcycle built in Vladimir Oblast.

Terry with a banner awarded to Avtopribor during the Soviet Period. The factory, which employs 7,400 people, was founded in 1933.

An assembly area at Avtopribor. Most of the employees are women. They earn at least 3,000 rubles a month — which is double what an experienced preschool teacher makes.

Avtopribor's museum — with some of the items the factory produces.

Much of the assembly is done by hand, so there is no way to maintain consistent quality. However, if the factory did manage to switch to "robots" most of the workers would lose their jobs.

Tuesday, 6 July
Today we visited one of the crystal factories in Gus Khrustalny. They have been producing crystal and glass in this area for nearly 250 years. The beauty and quality of the work they do is quite impressive.

Cutting the design into a vase. Note that this employee is not wearing protective goggles.

Tom checks out some of the items in the
showroom at the Gusevskoy Khrustalnyi Zavod.

A view of the display at the crystal and glass museum,
which is housed in a former church.

Outside of the crystal museum a goat "cuts the lawn."

Wednesday, 7 July
Today started with the last formal Russian lesson of the trip, followed by a "press conference" that included questions from both sides. The group was then given free time—with the request that everyone be at the American Home by 4pm, ready to depart for Murom.

The press conference, held at the American Home.

Jessica being interviewed.

This is a collection of photos taken by Alexei Altonen, which were displayed at the American Home on the day of our departure.

A close-up view of the photo board.

We are wrapping up our stay in Vladimir today and this afternoon we head to Murom for a four-day stay. The experience thus far has exceeded my expectations in every way. The program has been full and wide in breadth and our field trips have been varied and interesting. Our Russian hosts are full of hospitality, warmth, humor, and patience. —Jessica Barranco, Phoenix Country Day School, Paradise Valley, Arizona.

The group arrives in Murom, 7 July

The group has its picture taken in front of a monument to Ilya Muromets, the legendary hero (in some ways a kind of Paul Bunyon) associated with the city's history.

The group received a wonderful welcome at the Murom Institute, a branch of Vladimir State University. The sign reads: "Ancient Murom Welcomes American Teachers."

Our warm welcome in Murom.

Thursday , 8 July

Today we saw a good quality student-produced video on the Murom Institute — in English! — and we were given a presentation on the city's history.

Mark Moran looks at a family-produced history of a pilot who was killed during World War II. (He was the uncle of the head of the English department at the Murom Institute.) This history is entitled, "About Grandfather for his Grandchildren."

A monument to those killed in "hot spots" — presumably primarily Afghanistan and Chechnya.

Students from the Murom Institute History Club staged a battle for our group. They had made their own armor — the chain mail "shirts" contain between 50,000 and 80,000 individual links.

A statue of Ilya Muromets overlooking the Oka River. (Historically, Murom was protected on its eastern border by this wide river.) This photograph was taken from a ferris wheel in a park overlooking the river.

This evening we attended a classical music concert. After the break-up of the Soviet Union, professional musicians who used to tour the provinces quit coming to Murom. Local music teachers thus formed their own classical music society, with obvious success. There is a great deal of talent in Russia's "provinces"!

Friday, 9 July
Today the group learned about the area's economy from graduate students at the Murom Institute. They did a great job. We then learned about the (partially mythic) Ilya Muromets from Natalya Zhilenko, the head of the English department. (She is anxious to get more teaching materials, which we are going to do our best to provide.) In the afternoon we visited an art gallery and history museum, and we were entertained by some very talented children. In the evening we enjoyed a relaxing boat trip on the Oka River.

One of the economics presentations by two of the students who made the video about the Murom Institute. (They were also working on a video about our trip. We hope to be able to get a digital copy of it.)

Outside the art gallery / history museum. This boat was constructed by the same students who staged the mock battle for the group on Thursday.

Tom enjoying some folk dancing at the city-sponsored cultural center. (Quite a few activities are available to the kids here, but a lot more are needed.)

Meeting with the Murom Institute Rector. She was clearly pleased that our group was being hosted by her school. This was apparently the first group of American teachers to come to Murom.

Entertainment on the riverboat trip.

Videotaping our visit.

Saturday, 10 July

Today we met with students who discussed the various projects they are involved with. The degree of commitment to "doing worthwhile things" was impressive. One of the presentations was on the "Street Law" program that, unfortunately, has run out of funding. This is the sort of activity for which it would be most worthwhile to find assistance.

Here, a presentation by a graduate student who would very much like to earn a Masters degree in the U.S. in Risk Management.

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