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Sunday, January 12, 2014
Ok friends, here's the beginning of the story. About a year ago, I got an email from a colleague, the esteemed Robyn Russo, English prof at NVCC-Loudoun, encouraging her colleagues to apply for a special teaching Fulbright grant for community college teachers.I discussed with my beautiful wife, Janet, and with her blessing(She is 3rd generation Byelorussian), wrote a proposal. NVCC-Loudoun's Science Division Dean Joyce Samuels, NVCC Business Professor Michael Brazie, and Jadavpur University's Sanjay Gopal Sarkar all wrote recommendation letters. I thought it would be an adventure and we hoped Janet could also manage to make the trip.
In April, I received an email informing me that I had been awarded the Fulbright. I applied for a sabbatical from NVCC, received it and began to learn the Russian alphabet.
In August I registered for a 5 credit Russian 101 class at NVCC taught by Jackie Holland. I made it through that very challenging class with her keen insight and engaging teaching.
I wanted to teach somewhere outside of Moscow or St. Petersburg and the Volga region sounded nice. Soon the kind people at the Stolypin Volga Region Institute were in touch with an invitation.....
So here I am 3 days before I leave for Russia. Some anxiety, much anticipation. I am going to miss my wife (who will only be able to visit briefly) and my dogs Pepper and Thurman dreadfully.
Trying at the moment to pack warmly yet lightly which is driving me crazy. My plane leaves Wednesday evening for Vienna, then Moscow. I will spend the night in Moscow and take the NO.9 train to Saratov the following morning. Saturday morning I will arrive in Saratov, hopefully well rested, having spent the night in "soft class".
In April, I received an email informing me that I had been awarded the Fulbright. I applied for a sabbatical from NVCC, received it and began to learn the Russian alphabet.
In August I registered for a 5 credit Russian 101 class at NVCC taught by Jackie Holland. I made it through that very challenging class with her keen insight and engaging teaching.
I wanted to teach somewhere outside of Moscow or St. Petersburg and the Volga region sounded nice. Soon the kind people at the Stolypin Volga Region Institute were in touch with an invitation.....
So here I am 3 days before I leave for Russia. Some anxiety, much anticipation. I am going to miss my wife (who will only be able to visit briefly) and my dogs Pepper and Thurman dreadfully.
Trying at the moment to pack warmly yet lightly which is driving me crazy. My plane leaves Wednesday evening for Vienna, then Moscow. I will spend the night in Moscow and take the NO.9 train to Saratov the following morning. Saturday morning I will arrive in Saratov, hopefully well rested, having spent the night in "soft class".
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