Recent week was full of events! Our annual international project “Mix of Cultures 2010” started on Wednesday. The festive procession (The "Caravan of Cultures") along Lenin avenue has opened the project with great success.
Our students live with Russian host families. This is the best way to improve your Russian, to practice the language, to learn the Russian way of life, and just to live like a real Russian.
We carefully select all our families. Before the program they take part in the training program. We cooperate with more than 50 families. Here you can read the information about some of our families:
Surname:Cherneckie
Parents: Elena 47 years old, teacher; Valeriy 49 years old; grandmother Nelly Andreevna 70 years old, retired. Their children: Masha 25 years old; Tolya 23 years old. Their interests: This family prefers to spend time together. They are fond of walking, picnics, travelling, going to the cinema,and the theatre. Pets:Persik, a nice cat, is living in the family, he is 11 years old! The area of living: In an area named Drevlyanka, 20 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Hello everybody! We are happy to receive guests in our family, to learn more about their countries, and to help them discover Russia!
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Ruloff (the Netherlands), Maike (Germany), Marek (Poland), Sean (Ireland), David (Ireland), Lenka (Czech Republic), Alzbeta (Czech Republic), Katarina (Croatia), Joke (Belgium), Martin and Anna (Poland), Anke (Germany), Anouk (Belgium), Sophie (UK), Nichola (UK), Elizabeth (UK), Michael (Germany), Therese (Ireland) and Christian (Austria).
What the students say about this family:
“Excellent living conditions”
“They were very hospitable and I enjoyed spending time with them.”
“They are the main reason I would like stay in Petrozavodsk longer.”
“The family we are staying with is absolutely lovely. They can’t possibly be more lovely, friendly, welcoming, and helpful.”
“My family is fantastic! Really kind and welcoming. I can’t compliment them enough.”
“The family is great! I am lucky to live in such a nice family!”
“I can’t complain – I felt very welcome, had my freedom and the opportunity to ask questions and learn about Russia.”
“My family was very pleasant.”
“Lena is a very good teacher. I don’t understand Russian very well, but Lena I understood very well!”
Surname:Komissarovy
Parents:Natalia, 35 years old, music teacher by training; Sergei 38 years old, driver Their children:They have 2 sons: Vladislav 13 years old and Evgenij 3 years old. Their interests:This family likes to travel, to learn new countries and cities. Pets:They have a cat named Sherly. The area of living: The area named Octyabrskij prospect, 25 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Welcome to Russia, to Karelia, to Petrozavodsk, to our family!
During this time they received the following students:Olina (Czech Republic), Radka (Czech Republic), Elise (France), Jetje (the Netherlands), Marloes (the Netherlands), Shannon and Billie Rae (USA) and Michelle (Ireland) What the students say about this family:
“I liked the food in the family very much”;
“Great food and good accommodation”;
“The family was really nice. The food was excellent and plentiful”.
Surname:Ivanovy
Parents: Valentina Nikolaevna, 43 years old, works in a hospital Her children: Son Nikita - 16 years old, a schoolboy. Their interests: Mother and son like to spend time outside every weekend.
Pets: None
The area of living: The city centre
A short message from the family: Hello to our future guests! We are glad to welcome you to our family. The doors of our house are always open to everybody and not only to foreign guests! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students: Pavlina (Czech Republic), Roger (the USA), Evan (the USA), Alix (France), Bas (the Netherlands), Nele (Belgium), Suvi (Finland), Kristian (Denmark), Heluis (Ireland) and Martina (Austria). What the students say about this family:
“Excellent living conditions. I like my family”;
“The family was very kind, they were able to communicate with us even though I did not know much Russian and they did not know any English”;
“My host family was very friendly and does everything to make me enjoy my stay, very attentive to all my needs. The flat is very nice -clear and quiet”;
“I have no complaints about my host family, staying here was ok’”.
Surname:Moskiny
Parents:Nadezhda 56 years old, a teacher; Ivan 57 years old. Their children:They have a daughter and a son who live apart from their parents Their interests:The family is interested in music and theatre, likes to go to the cinema and spent time in the countryside. Ivan likes history very much, he collects ancient coins and icons.
Pets:They have a cat that spends the whole summer at dacha.
The area of living:The city center near Onega lake A short message from the family:You are always welcome! We will do our best to make you feel at home! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students:Anicia (Switzerland), John (Ireland), Alan (Scotland), Holly (USA), Timo (Finland), Anneli (Estonia), Claudia (Switzerland), Daniele and Giulia (Italy). What the students say about this family:
“Living conditions are just excellent”;
“The location was perfect; my room was perfect and beautiful. I ate delicious soup every day”;
“I am very happy with my family. They hosted me very well”;
“Thank you for such a lovely family!”;
“Excellent family. Everything was all right”.
Surname:Gokkoevy
Parents:Inna Nikovaevna 61 years old, she used to work as an engineer and as a teacher. Now she is retired. Her children:Two sons who live in Finland. Their interests:She is interested in learning foreign languages - English and Finnish. Also she is fond of fancywork, literature, especially poetry.
Pets: None The area of living:The city centre near our Russian language school. A short message from the family:Hello to everyone, who is interested in the Russian culture. For me the most interesting things are: communication with you, your culture and outlook. The view from my window will charm you: Onego lake, the city, the picturesque landscape. We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Joan (Finland), Sanna (Finland), Katarina (Slovakia), Andrew (the USA), Stephen (Scotland), Edita, Ivana and Romana (Croatia), Pirjo, Eija, Anu and Tuula (Finland), Ainomarja and Pirjo (Finland). What the students say about this family:
“I was very fortunate and stayed with a warm, generous hostess nearby the school”;
“Our host mother was great. She was very helpful, I felt very free to communicate with her. I hope she will visit Paris!”
“The lady was great. She is very interesting, active, and sociable”;
“The apartment was very convenient. I am very grateful to my host lady’s hospitality”;
“My host is the greatest I could ever have. Food - excellent, room - excellent, company - excellent”
Surname:Procopic
Parents:Iraida 48 years old, a senior manager. Her children:Daughter Nika 14 years old. Their interests:They like travelling around Russia and the world, taking pictures and video. Also mother and daughter prefer to spend free time in the country side. Pets:Fish and tortoise. The area of living:The area named Gollikovka, 10 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus.
We have been cooperating with this family since: 2005
During this time they received the following students:Joanna (Poland), Ankie (the Netherlands), Kevin (UK), Rachel (Ireland), Sarre (Belgium), Holly (UK), Sasha and Emma (the USA), Justyna (Poland), Leena (Finland) and Tilde (Belgium). What the students say about this family:
“Excellent! Fantastic!”
“My host family is probably the best one in the whole program! Everything was excellent!”
“Very hospitable family and excellent food”;
“Iraida is very kind and tolerant! Her food was delicious and it was interesting to see how Russian people live”;
“I was very free, I could do what I wanted to do and I liked that. I had a very comfortable room and bed”;
“My family was just excellent!”
Surname:Dubiny
Parents:Nadezhda 47 years old, a camera operator; Victor 59 years old, retired Their children:They have two children who live apart: a son Sergej 30 years old and a daughter Luda 23 years old. Their interests:Nadezhda likes gardening, knitting and cooking, her husband Viktor is fond of hunting and fishing. Pets:There is a cat, a dog, and two parrots in the family. In the summer all pets live in the country house. The area of living: The area named Drevlyanka, 20 minutes to the city centre by regular bus. A short message from the family:Come to us, study the Russian language, and learn our culture. We will host you with pleasure! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2004
During this time they received the following students: Lui (Ireland), Tom (Sweden), Adam (Czech Republic), Steve (USA), Christopher (Ireland), Marion (France), Lydia (Switzerland), Kirsi and Anne (Finland), Marja and Erkki (Finland);
What the students say about this family:
“I was so happy to have such a nice family”;
“The flat was very comfortable. The host lady is just perfect. The food is very tasty. I would recommend this family to stay with.”
Surname:Pavlovy
Parents: Ludmila 47 years old, a doctor; Andrej 50 years old, an engineer. Their children: Son Stepan 22 years old and daughter Masha 21 years old. Their interests: Parents are fond of gardening, Stepan is interested in computers and Masha likes to travel, to meet new people and communicate with them. Pets: fish The area of living: The area named Kukkovka, 15 minutes to the city centre by a regular bus. A short message from the family: Come to Russia and break up your stereotypes! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2007
During this time they received the following students: Marie-Laure (Belgium), Andjela (Switzerland) and Jasmina (Slovenia)
What the students say about this family:
“My family was absolutely FANTASTIC! I wish I would stay in contact with them!”
“I like my family very much. I think I learn most of Russian from them. They are very nice and friendly”;
“Living conditions were excellent!”
Surname:Serebryakovy
Parents: Tatyana 56, an English teacher, Sergej 56 years old Their children: They have a son Andrej 24 years old, he lives apart from his parents Their interests: Tatyana is fond of reading, knitting, but the most important thing for her is meeting people and communicating with them. Pets: A parrot The area of living: The area named Zareka, 15 minutes to the city centre by regular bus. A short message from the family: Learn Russian in Petrozavodsk. It's the best place! We have been cooperating with this family since: 2008
During this time they received the following students: Katharina (Switzerland), Ulla (Finland), Kim (Belguim), Bernhard (Austria) and Daniela (Switzerland);
What the students say about this family:
“I am glad that I stayed with such a nice family!!! Thanks to them!”
