Glasnost

Soviet students attended classes, too. Irena Gurulyova, 15, drew on her five years of English study to express her observations.

"Sometimes the same," she said of Soviet and American schools.
Take algebra. They have that back in Moscow.
"I see some differences," Gurulyova continued.
American students don't wear school uniforms. And they didn't seem to take many notes during classes.
Often students just listened. In the music room, the junior high select chorus sang under the direction of teacher Suzanne Morse.
"Here is the drag/see how it goes/Down on the heels/up on the toes/That's the way to do the Varsity Drag!"
After the song, Morse asked chorus members a question: Should they sing "Chester" at an upcoming concert?
YES! NO! YES! NO!
Democracy can be noisy, the delegation sicovered.
The Soviet teenagers said they had read press reports about their visit, and made several suggestions about more specific coverage.
"More about Soviet people, about Soviet teenagers," Gurulyova said.
"About culture, about museums, about music, about art," said Volodia Popov, 15.
"And sports," said Kolia "Nick" Shlepov, 14.
"And about friendship between Soviet people and American people," Popov added.
"We can give you information about these," Gurulyova said.
It was clear these students were proud of their country.
To complete the exchange, 17 Mill River students will travel to the Soviet Union in August. There they will see such Moscow sites as Red Square, the circus, theaters, churches, museums and galleries.
"I can't wait to go over there," eighth grader Grant Whitmer said.
The Soviets already have started to show off their homeland through souvenir postcards and pins.
"They have been showering us with gifts," Whitmer said.
"It's like you've never seen these people and they hand you everything," Berryhill said.
"They're very generous," eighth grader Jaenette Murphy concluded.
The Soviet teenagers are escorted by there chaperones - Svetlana Gradova, Alla Shinkarevskaya and Lena Lanina.
Gradova is the most fluent in English, having tought the landguage to businessmen at athe Research Institute of Molecular Electronics in Moscow.
Many Americans noted the Soviets' fascination with wellstocked supermarkets and home kitchens filled with appliances.
"Things that we just take for granted," said Liz Sheeran, a host parent.
But the lack of such material goods have caused strife in the Soviets' changing homeland.
"People are not statisfied because of the economics," Gradova said. "They are waiting for better times to come."
She did not dwell on the problems.
"The difficulties are the difficulties. But the country is the country. We are proud of our country. We love our country."
Instead, she stressed the friendship and understanding sparked by the exchange.
Said Gradova, "We are alike,"
Back in the office, everyone danced and talked and ate as teachers Sally Snarski replenished a plate of chocolate chip cookies.
"They just sort of inhale food," she said.
Snarski was speaking of both Soviet and American students.
Mellony Jarvis watched from the front desk. Said Jarvis, "I think we should have this more often,"

май 1990

P.S. Lena Lanina - это я, руководитель делегации.
Svetlana Gradova - переводчица.
Alla Shinkarevskaya - жена спонсора (банкира) поездки.


Начало: Soviet Students visit Clarendon Elementary School
http://proza.ru/2026/07/12/414