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.