Welcome/Background info

Welcome to my blog, everyone. In case you haven't figured out from the title, I am creating this blog as an account of my adventures in Russia during my 2007-08 gap year. After that, it's back to the structured world of school for me, though this time it will be in CA.

For those of you that don't have much of an idea of what I'm doing this year, I'll give you a little background. I am traveling to Russia through the Rotary Youth Exchange program. This is a fantastic privilege. Basically, Rotary International, a huge international service organization makes this program available to students for a very low price. Last fall I had to locate a local Rotary club who was willing to sponsor my application. The Falls Church Rotary Club decided to sponsor me. I am the first student they have sponsored in a very long time. By sponsoring, they agree that they will be willing to host an international student, though I'm not sure if they actually have to. I will be discussing this with them at a future meeting. After being sponsored, I had to apply to the program through my district, 7610 in NOVA. For our district, the exchange program was small, so it wasn't too competitive, but for some districts, it is insanely hard. Once I was accepted into the program, I had to wait when they figured out what country I would go to and then when I was given a host city. Rotary clubs in the country students go to agree to host, meaning they set us up with schools, host families, and monthly allowances. Basically all I had to pay was airfare, insurance, and some fees for various supplies like business cards, an orientation, etc. So Rotarians are really generous and kind people to make such a great program available to so many kids!

My host club wrote to me in early April. I am being hosted by the Avachinsky Rotary Club in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Russia. This is a very unique city. First of all, it is closer to Alaska than Moscow and is located on the Kamchatka peninsula, a remote city in the Russian Far East. The city is the second largest city in the world that is not accessible by road. Planning a road trip to P-K from Moscow? Well you should forget it now because the only roads on the Peninsula end only about 100 mi from the city. P-K has about 200,000 people and is the only major city on the peninsula. What else is unique about my city? well, Kamchatka is a volcanic hot spot, so the city is surrounded by volcanoes and untouched wilderness. Fun fact: Kamchatka has the highest density of bears in the world! There are also wolves, salmon, wolverines, foxes, and many other creatures. Kamchatka has geysers, hot springs, etc. So for me, a nature nut, this opportunity will be a rare treat!

My host rotary club has been really nice so far. I have heard from at least 4 separate women in the club who wished to welcome me and answer questions. They have placed me in Kamchatka State University so I can be with kids my own age instead of the 16 year olds in Russian high schools. Apparently, I will be a teaching assistant in the English department to pay for my tuition, so I will meet other language students. Hopefully this won't interfere much with my immersion experience. I am excited to teach kids about American literature/holidays/culture, though.

I have also received some really nice e-mails from my host mother, Oksana Kirichek. Her husband Igor owns a company that leads wilderness tours (specifically fishing and white water rafting) of Kamchatka and she has informed me that they love nature, and often go to the countryside to picnic, so it sounds as if I will get outside a lot! Yay! Their daughter Katya is going on a Rotary Exchange to Lake Tahoe, so I won't get to meet her. I will have a cat, though, so at least I'll have a pet.

So far I'm very excited and have way too much to do. The club wants me to come on the 15th of August, but I will be recovering from wisdom teeth surgery then, so I'll probably come on the 23rd or so. When I get my itinerary I'll post it. There's so much to think about: gifts, packing, saying goodbye, doing work on language before I go. I can't go an hour without thinking about my new life there! Anyway, I'll keep you posted as the year goes by. Please keep in touch.

If you want to write letters, my address will be:

Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
4 Zavranitskogo st. apt. 116
Russia

In Rotary, they switch host families every few months, so I'll let you know when that changes.

<3 Maria