Russia 2009
"Understanding Russian Culture and Environment"
On July 5, 2009, 13 Arkansas educators departed Little Rock, Arkansas, and traveled to Moscow, Russia. This was the beginning of a 4-week stay in Russia. This Short-term Seminar, funded under the Fulbright-Hays Groups Projects Abroad Program, enabled the group to travel to Novosibirsk, Barnaul, and Gorno-Altaisk where the focus was on the Russian Steppe and Altai Mountain cutlures and environments.
The group began the Short-term Seminar with a 4-day stay in Moscow where tours were conducted and lectures were presented. The group then flew to Novosibirsk where it visited museums, schools, and attended courses on Russian history, geography, and participated in Russian language lessons. After the stay in Novosibirsk, the group traveled south to the city of Barnaul. Similar activites took place there during a 5-day stay. Following the Barnaul experience, the group traveled to a resort near the city of Gorno-Altaisk. The Altai Mountains and the culture of the Altai people were the focus there. Additional tours, museum visits, lectures, and language lessons were experienced.
After the Novosibirsk, Barnaul, and Gorno-Altaisk experiences, the group traveled by train to Ekaterinburg. In that city the group visited museums, had lectures, took tours to the Asia-Europe border, went to sites associated with Nicholas II, and traveled to Deer Springs Natural Park southwest of the city. The group left Ekaterinburg by train and traveled back to Moscow then by bus to Ryazan' where concluding tours, lectures, and museum visits occured.
The photos and brief descriptions found below are representative of the groups' 4-week adventure in Russia.
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This is the group of teachers who participated in the Short-term Seminar. This photo was taken the morning of the first full day in Moscow on the steps of the dormitory where we stayed. The dormitory is on the campus of Moscow State Pedagogical University. The persons in the back row are: Cindy, Tim, Connie, Dayan, and Chris. The persons in the middle row are: Cindy, Norma, and Darla. The persons in the front row are: Sharon, Karla, Sheila, and Amy. |
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Just south of Novosibirsk is the city of Akademgorodok or Academic City. It was in the Golden Valley hotel in Academic City where we stayed. One of the adventures while we were in Academic City was taking a boat on the Ob Sea (actually a reservoir) to a place along the shore where we could have a lecture on the local environment and have a wonderful picnic. This photo is of the boat that took us to our lecture/picnic site. |
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One of the main purposes of the Short-term Seminar was to travel south of Akademgorodok to the city of Barnaul where we would be close to the famous Russian Steppe. While in Barnaul, we were fortunate to be able to be taken to an area southwest of Barnaul where a small area of natural Steppe still remains. Most of the Steppe has been converted into thousands of acres of farmland - primarily rye, buckwheat, and hay. This photo is representative of the treeless Russian Steppe. |
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As noted above, buckwheat is a major crop in the Altai Kray, the political unit in which Barnaul is located. This is a field of buckwheat. Russians eat a lot of buckwheat. It is not a favorite of many American visitors because it is much like boiled wheat, but with a different flavor. However, properly cooked and flavored, buckwheat can be tasty. |
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South of Barnaul is the city of Gorno-Altaisk and the Altai Mountains. In addition to the Russian Steppe, our focus in this part of Russia was the Altai Mountains. We stayed in a resort hotel adjacent to this lake, Lake Aya. This is a sunset photo of the lake. While here our breakfasts and dinners were provided because the resort was several miles away from any restaurant and not easy to travel to. It was a wonderfully secluded and beautiful place to stay. |
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This is Lake Aya in the daylight. It was a beautiful setting with places to swim, boat, and hike. Most of the group simply enjoyed sitting on a bench along the shore and taking in the view and the cool, clear air. |
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One of our wishes was to hike in the Altai Mountains. That wish came true when our hosts took us south into the higher mountains where we came to a trail that led to some ancient, native Altai petroglyphs. This beautiful view overlooks the Katun River as it flows through the Altai Mountains. The trail leading to the petroglyphs begins here. |
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This photo shows some of the group at the end of the two-mile long trail examining the petroglyphs on the cliff face to the left. The water in the stream was cool, clear, and refreshing. |
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After the group left the Steppe and Altai regions of southcenter Siberia, it traveled by train to Ekaterinburg. Our stay here enabled us to be taken to what is the symbolic border between Europe and Asia. In the photograph, those on the left are in Asia and those on the right are in Europe. This site is in the Ural Mountains. The Russians have plans to develop the area adjacent to this marker with hotels, shops, and restaurants. |
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One of our goals while in Ekaterinburg was to visit sites connected to Nicholas II and his family whom were taken here and kept in captivity for over a year before being murdered. This cathedral - Church on the Blood - is build on the location of the house in which the family was murdered. |
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The Tsar, his family, and his servants were first dumped in this old mine shaft after they were killed. Many years later their bones were removed and are now buried in St. Petersburg. |
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During our stay in Ekaterinburg, we were taken southwest into the Ural Mountains where we visited Deer Springs Natural Park. While there we hiked, with a guide, along a 6 kilometer trail and were fed a wonderful dinner before we left. The trail went through forest and meadow and along this river. Portions were quite muddy, but it was a fun hike. |
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When we left Ekaterinburg, we traveled by train back to Moscow. We were met by a bus from Ryazan' State University and taken to Ryazan' where spent the next five days. The most prominant landmark in Ryazan' is the Uspenskii Cathedral. |
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Over the years I have had the pleasant opportunity getting to know administrators and faculty at Ryazan' State Univesity. This year I was able to have a meeting with Irina Sheina, Rector of the University (like our university presidents). We had a great visit, talked about possible exchange programs, and parted with my gift of the Arkansas state flag. While in this meeting I was also able to visit briefly with Oleg Sulitsa, the new International Programs Director. |
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One of the highlights of our stay in Ryazan was a visit to the Ryazan School for the Deaf. While at the school we had discussions about education; we gave the school two basketballs, a pump, needles, and 10 jerseys; we were given a tour of the school facilities; and we were presented with a wonderful meal. We greatly appeciated the hospitality we were shown while at the school. It was a marvelous experience! We wish our friends in Russia the very best!! |
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Click on the following topics for the PowerPoint presentations: Brooks Green -
Introduction
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Sheila Williams - Altai
People |