Altai days 7, 8, and 9

So I have fallen behind in keeping this blog. It’s hard to keep motivated to post regularly when my posts aren’t actually reaching anyone. Today is Saturday, and my last update was on Sunday. This past week, Chloe, Christian, and I were in camp for three days while Cheryl, Cristina, and Cameron went camping and then we switched. On Monday, we went horseback riding around the area. The ride itself was fairly slow, but the nature was incredible and our guide was quite a character. He liked me for some strange reason, and kept trying to tell me jokes in Russian. He also wanted me and Chloe to have a popularity contest where we walk around the camp asking for money. Whoever gets the most wins, then we pool the money and go out drinking.

Beach day posing with Jim's company towel

Returning from our ride

Heading out on the rafting trip

            On Tuesday, the whole camp had a beach day. We held morning lessons, then went to a man-made lake and sat around there for five hours. It wasn’t particularly thrilling, but it was fun playing in the water with the kids. Then, on Wednesday we went rafting. I think there was maybe one Class III rapid, the rest was pretty tame. It was pleasant but nothing compared to rafting on the New.  It was weird being in camp with only half the kids and half the leaders. Cheryl is the teacher I’m closest to, and Chloe’s constant complaining can get old. Also, all the young leaders went camping and we were left with Nadia, Natalia, and Vladimir. They are perfectly pleasant, but not as fun. I really missed Igor’s jokes and having someone to hang around with after the kids went to bed. Also, we have the younger group. They’re all very sweet, but need a lot more managing. This session has some kids who are very obviously spoiled at home and most of the team leaders aren’t much for discipline. It’s hard keeping them in order for classes, but it’s awesome when we’re just goofing around during free time. 

How I spend my free time in the Altai

Team Leader Igor walked into my room, threw a syringe (unopened, thankfully) on the bed, and told me not to do drugs. I bought a watermelon and a bunch of oranges, injected them with vodka, and we all had a very fun evening. Also, a problem with my translating ability left one team leader thinking that it is an American tradition for all college students to celebrate their graduation by sharing a vodka watermelon with their closest friends. I still haven't bothered to correct her.

Altai Day 3-6

It was rainy yesterday and the day before, so we weren’t able to do a lot. However, yesterday afternoon we went to a ropes course, which was actually pretty impressive. Obviously, the safety standards aren’t comparable to the ones we have to follow in the US, but it looked reasonably safe. One thing I really like was that in America, the goal is for everyone to be challenged but ultimately complete the course, which means that some obstacles are not as hard as they could be. However, here they don’t care if people can’t make it through the obstacles, so there were some challenging ones. I had a blast, of course. The following day, we went on a hike to a grotto in the morning. The grotto itself wasn’t particularly impressive, but the hike was very nice. Later, we went on another hike to a mountain top that offers spectacular views of the surrounding areas. Although both hikes were probably only two or three miles each, they were super steep. Also, probably because trail-building in Russia occurs from locals using the paths, instead of a planned effort, none of the trails have switchbacks and instead just go straight up the mountain. It was exciting because I didn’t expect to be physically challenged here, but the leaders are serious about making sure the kids go on intense day hikes to prepare for our camping trip later.

Valeria at the Adventure Park

Dima and the other kids building a boat

At the top of the first hike

At the top of the second hike (same day!) with team leader Sasha

Same hike posing with fellow teacher Chloe

Apart from the excursions, daily life at camp is going well. Lessons are a struggle because the kids do not want to be in classes. There cabins are right across from the schoolroom, so sometimes they will ask to go to the bathroom and then just disappear. I’m not strict about attendance; I just try to tailor my lessons to the few kids who want to learn and only discipline the others if they are being disruptive. Outside of lessons, however, the camp is a lot of fun. I get to socialize with the kids a lot more, and I think they enjoy getting to know someone from another country. I haven’t gotten to know the older ones as well, but I’m tight with everyone under fourteen. The kids have also gotten slightly more enthusiastic about evening performances. A couple of the older kids got really into it, which means that the rest of their group pays attention when they perform. In general, this season is very different from last one. Although lessons are more frustrating, I enjoy every other aspect of this camp. Even the food is better here. It’s the same basic stuff, but the cook is great, so she is able to make things more edible. I’ve been here almost a week, and I haven’t had to open my cornflakes yet!

Altai Day 2

I made a new friend today, but it remains to be seen if this is a positive event. Dima, the son of the camp director, is eight years old and very mischievous. I accidentally agreed to one game of table tennis, and now we’re friends for life. Whenever he gets bored, he looks for me all over the camp, comes running up, and asks, “Maybe let’s play?” So far today we’ve played table tennis, volleyball, and badminton. He ambushed me right after my lesson asking to play and, when I tried to get out of it by saying that I had homework, he offered to do my Russian homework for me. Later, after I had left our volleyball game to go do laundry, Dima showed up while I was hanging up my clothes and instantly started wringing stuff out and hanging it up. It was all I could do to get my underwear up before he got started on that too. When we went on a field trip, he called dibs on being my partner in the line and held my hand on the way to the monastery. Incidentally, the trip was incredible- we saw a tiny monastery on an island that could only be accessed by a tiny bridge fifty feet above the water. Later we went to see a hydroelectric plant that had incredible views of the surrounding area and a spring we could drink from. I managed to shake Dima for the later part of the trip, but he claimed a spot on the bus next to me and spent the entire time chattering away. It’s good for my Russian to try and keep up with him, but he is absolutely exhausting. 

Beginning in Altai

We spent our last night in Novosibirsk in the barracks of a military academy, waking up at 4 in the morning to pile into a bus and head to the Altai. After eight hours on the bus, plus lunch and rest stops, we finally arrived. The area is absolutely incredible. Sitting on the porch of my cabin, I can see the river flowing about 50 feet away, with a mountain right behind it. The premises are rather primitive- the privy is just a hole in the ground, our cabin has no insulation and is freezing and night, and no one seems completely sure whether or not the water is safe to drink. Fortunately, I have iodine tablets, so I’m not taking any chances.

The schedule here is also different than it was in the previous session. The students and teachers are split into three groups. In the morning, two groups go on expeditions and one has lessons. In the afternoon, they switch. Today, for example, I had Russian lessons in the morning, went on an excursion to a hydroelectric station and an old monastery after lunch, and then taught English after dinner. We no longer have creativity workshops, which makes this schedule manageable. I’m really excited for all of the upcoming excursions. There will be hikes to cultural sites and scenic views, horseback riding, rafting, and, at the end of the program, a three day camping trip.

The kids this session are very different from the previous one. They were more outgoing from the very beginning and are mostly older. In a sense, this is good, because it means that the group is more energetic and dynamic, and as a whole they have a higher level of English. However, there are a lot of teenage boys who are here more for the excursions and the socialization than for lessons, which makes it hard to keep order in class. Also, a lot of them are more concerned with looking cool than with participating fully, so different camp traditions like cheers, dances, and evening performances will be hard to instill in this group. However, I am cautiously optimistic. If we can just get a couple of the older guys to realize that it’s more fun to actually participate and be a little goofy, then the rest will follow.