Hello readers! First off, I would like to offer my deepest apologies for dropping the ball on the cookie pics! They turned out well and they were simply gone before I could photograph them. I have been extremely busy for the past few weeks with a combination of coursework, concerts, and excursions. At the end of November, I took the "Basic" level Test of Russian Language (TORFL). After one semester of Russian in the host country, I found the exam itself to be extremely easy. The Russian testing environment, though, is incredibly different from what you might experience in the states. To give you an idea, while you might be kicked out of an SAT test site if your telephone buzzes under your seat, testers were allowed to use electronic dictionaries on their telephones. While it was, perhaps, a less organized environment, it was also a more relaxed one. I found it to be less stressful and more conducive to concentration.
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Buinsk, another town in Tatarstan. As in Ribnaya Slaboda in October, I stayed with a very kind host family. I had two brothers in Buinsk which was a rather unique experience for me as I have sisters both in America and in Kazan. The town was extremely welcoming and every effort was made to make sure that we were comfortable there. Some of the most memorable events included multiple concerts in our honor at public schools, a "press conference" of sorts at the same school (an opportunity for students to ask us questions), a visit to the sugar factory, and ice skating at the town's skating rink. Visiting the sugar factory was nothing like what I imagined Willy Wonka's factory to be like, but I found it interesting because it has changed very little since it was built in the '60's. As we were guided up and down steep, narrow, metal staircases, beets were transformed into sugar inches away from us. We were allowed to be much closer to the machinery than we ever would have been in the U.S., and I noticed that many safety measures that are enforced in America (like wearing closed-toed shoes in this kind of setting) were forgotten. I think I got the best view of the town from the roof of the sugar factory. I do love Kazan, but every once in a while it is nice to get out of the city for a few days.
Christmas is this Sunday, but it will be a year without a Santa Clause for me! In Russia, the more popular holiday is New Year's which I look forward to celebrating with my host family. Whichever holiday you happen to be celebrating this winter, may I wish you happiness and luck. Best wishes especially to my fellow exchange students around the world.
с новым годом!
аббй
Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a weekend in Buinsk, another town in Tatarstan. As in Ribnaya Slaboda in October, I stayed with a very kind host family. I had two brothers in Buinsk which was a rather unique experience for me as I have sisters both in America and in Kazan. The town was extremely welcoming and every effort was made to make sure that we were comfortable there. Some of the most memorable events included multiple concerts in our honor at public schools, a "press conference" of sorts at the same school (an opportunity for students to ask us questions), a visit to the sugar factory, and ice skating at the town's skating rink. Visiting the sugar factory was nothing like what I imagined Willy Wonka's factory to be like, but I found it interesting because it has changed very little since it was built in the '60's. As we were guided up and down steep, narrow, metal staircases, beets were transformed into sugar inches away from us. We were allowed to be much closer to the machinery than we ever would have been in the U.S., and I noticed that many safety measures that are enforced in America (like wearing closed-toed shoes in this kind of setting) were forgotten. I think I got the best view of the town from the roof of the sugar factory. I do love Kazan, but every once in a while it is nice to get out of the city for a few days.
Christmas is this Sunday, but it will be a year without a Santa Clause for me! In Russia, the more popular holiday is New Year's which I look forward to celebrating with my host family. Whichever holiday you happen to be celebrating this winter, may I wish you happiness and luck. Best wishes especially to my fellow exchange students around the world.
с новым годом!
аббй
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