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Exchange students get taste of U.S.

Four Russian students and two educators got the opportunity of a lifetime over the past few weeks, participating in an exchange program with Pittsburg USD 250, which included participating in classes at Pittsburg High School and getting to see numerous sites around Kansas and Missouri.

The students and teachers were from School No. 23 in Vladimir, Russia. Students visiting were Sergey Chubich, Mark Rachkowskiy, Irina Aksenova and Alexandra "Sasha" Mityushina. Also visiting were Elena Kuritsina, the school principal; and Olga Milenkaya, the assistant principal and English teacher.

Aksenova was hosted by Francesca Murnan, Mityushina was hosted by Jenny Martin, Chubich and Rachkowskiy were hosted by Kevin Huebner, Kuritsina was hosted by USD 250 educator Sherry Turnbull, and Milenkaya was hosted by Dr. Susan Knell of Pittsburg State University.

They arrived on Dec. 29 and will be leaving Friday to return to their home country.

Kuritsina said the students were among the best in their school, which was why they were selected for the trip.

"We usually select the best students," she said. "These particular students participated in many competitions and some of them are the winners in all-Russian competitions."

The students got to participate in school activities and visit tourist destinations throughout the area, including visiting the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Okla., the Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo., the Kansas Cosmosphere in Hutchinson, the Kansas State Capitol Building in Topeka, and Science City in Kansas City, Mo.

And while the Russian students were very familiar with the American culture and current events, it was still a great experience, according to Kuritsina.

"These children participated for the first time," she said. "We know a lot about your country and that is why they know that American people are hard-working people, very generous people, very hospitable people, open-hearted people, ready-to-help people. They simply found the same and they understood that it was really so. Of course they were very impressed by the level of life."

Kuritsina, unlike her students, is participating in the program for the third year, and has stayed with Turnbull every year. That gave the two educators the chance to catch up on all the changes that had happened in their lives since Kuritsina's last visit.

"This is the fifth time that I have hosted a Russian teacher in my home and this is the third time that Elena Kuritsina has stayed in our home," Turnbull said. "We are just like family and it's very comfortable for both of us; we enjoy learning about each other's culture, talking about politics, talking about our children, the economy, jobs of teaching and sharing our philosophy in education with each other.

Turnbull also said that having the visit during the Holiday season made it special.

"This time was especially interesting because it was the Holiday season and we have a big Christmas village under our tree," she said. "She (Kuritsina) was very taken with all of our Christmas decor and our traditions and our ornaments on our tree and just the way we have all of our lights outside. It was something special for all of the students to see how we decorate and celebrate at our holidays.

"New Years is the biggest holiday in Russia, so they were here for New Years' Eve and we had parties and they could see how we celebrate and there were some presents exchanged and some fun on that day."

Now both the students and educators are looking forward to a chance for their new friends to return the favor when the Pittsburg students visit Russia in May.

"Our town is very old and there are a lot of historical places of interest. Vladimir was the former capital of ancient Russia. There are a lot of children's museums and of course we think they will be part of an interesting and useful and educational program for your kids."

And Turnbull said she would be remiss if she didn't thank the school district for helping arrange the program once again this year.

"USD 250 makes this exchange possible ... and that is really a great thing," she said. "We really appreciate the effort that Gary Price and everybody puts into making this exchange happen."

The Morning Sun, (www.morningsun.net) January 12, 2006