My First Siberian Students

Just back from my first day of teaching at Kemerovo Academy #21. I decided today would just be one long 'question and answer' session. I knew they'd have alot of questions about America and American culture, and wanted to get those out of the way before we dive into Shakespeare tomorrow.


I had three classes. All the students spoke English, with varying degrees of aptitude. What I loved was their enthusiasm for learning, their curiosity and passion and their willingness to engage in conversation with me about the differences and similarities of America and Russia. There were 22-24 students in each class, all aged 15 and 16. They were more well-read than most of my students in America! They wanted me to discuss books  and authors -- did I like Salinger better than Hemingway? What authors are most popular among young Americans right now? What Russian authors do American students like best? I had to break the sad news to them that American students do not usually read Russian authors until they are in college. They were dumbfounded at that. " But we read many American authors, and books from all countries of the world." one boy added. I had to agree with them that sometimes Americans are a bit more insular than the rest of the world. Not ALL Americans, of course, but enough.


We talked about stereotypes and I told them I wanted to hear honest feedback about a typical Russian's stereotypes of Americans. I told them nothing could offend me, so to be as honest as possible. Here are the good and bad qualities they say that most people they know equate with Americans:

Too confident
Always smiling
Not well-read
a bit spoiled
Proud of their country ( Patriotic)
Overweight
Very helpful
Like things big - big houses, big cars, big meals
Do things from the heart, caring
Don't know enough about the outside world.

I had to agree with them on several points! But every single one of them hopes to go to America one day. They were fascinated with everything from our food to our clothes to our taste in tv shows. For 99% of them, I was the first American they had ever met. That's alot of pressure to set a good example for our whole country! I did my best.

If I'm honest, they were far more interested in talking to Nastia -- as I expected. But Nastia was so shy, she didn't really talk much until the third class. They wanted to know what are her favorite subjects, what her friends do for fun, what books she liked, if she missed Russia, etc etc.

Some of the girls want to take me out for coffee and one girl, Katya, in particular, wants to be an actress so she is desperate to work with me. They asked if I had ever met any famous Americans, and asked me to name them. When I mentioned Angelina Jolie there was a corporate sigh of awe...lol. " We love her!" they said. Didn't know Angelina Jolie was so popular over here!

They asked about my hometown -- population, how many buses were available, crime rate, number of cars, and other expected questions. When I explained that we lived near the ocean, they looked at me like I were from another planet. " You are so lucky!" one girl sighed.

Tomorrow I start  casting and rehearsing scenes from Shakespeare that we will present in early December. To say I am excited is the understatement of the year. I am SO grateful for this chance to do what I love! Nastia was not too keen on teaching the younger kids. She got overwhelmed and scared, so she stuck with me all day. I can't convince her to come back tomorrow, but I'm hoping she will come after that. I will be teaching there four days a week for two hours at a time. I am also 'on call' to come and give lectures in the other grades on American History, Culture and Literature. Dr. Borgman and Dr Askew of Gordon College -- I hope you're proud!

I will take photos of them tomorrow and post them here. We met the little ones too, and when one girl heard there were Americans in the building she screeched with delight, only to find out I was right next to her...then she turned bright red. So cute!

Ahhh, I feel like me again.....