Volunteers Section

Patrick Anderson
USA
email: andersonpatrick@sbcglobal.net

Hello, my name is Patrick Anderson and I participated in the volunteer program in Izhevsk, Russia in March 2003. First, I must say if you are thinking about traveling to Russia I strongly encourage you to go. The people and culture are absolutely wonderful, and it will be a experience which you will never forget. Now, let me tell you a little about my experience more...

Arrival in Moscow
Train Ride
Arrival in Izhevsk
Meeting the students
The Sauna
The Banya

Volunteered: March 3 - April 3, 2003

Curtis Guillot
USA
email: blindhawg71@yahoo.com

My desire to travel and see the world began when I was a boy. I loved to read and look at photographs of the National Geographic collection my grandfather had. My grandfather was Russian, though he did not speak much about his life there. But perhaps because of this, a door was waiting to be opened.After reading about Russia and watching as many Russian movies I could find, I decided to visit Russia.

I guess while surfing the Internet I found that there is a need for English teachers. I found the Svezhy Veter agency and applied. So, what about my visit to Izhevsk? Well since we are invited to go there to be volunteer English teachers, I will speak about this aspect before any cultural issues.

I would recommend you bring a dictionary, because spelling a word incorrectly can be embarrassing. At least, this is what some other volunteers told me. I also brought a grammar book. As a native speaker, I do not think why I speak the way I do. But grammar books have defined rules that make it easy to explain, or give a reason why to say such and such.

Most large bookstores carry English grammar books for non native speakers. I spent most of my time at School 27 in Izhevsk. I just assisted the teachers there with whatever they wanted me to do, mainly just listening to the students and providing correction. In the evenings after school there was another class. These students were mostly from the university and other schools. We would discuss different topics, nothing too difficult.

I went to Izhevsk in the summer before the start of school. So before I was at School 27, I went to a small town. I was told I was the first foreigner to visit there. I was impressed by the level of English the students had. Some of them spoke so well and had never even spoken with a native English speaker before. The town newspaper came and interviewed me.

In Izhevsk some of the students were so curious about me, where I was from, and other details. I imagine they have met many volunteers but this did not negate their efforts to make me feel welcomed. Why go to Russia? Why travel? I guess it is different for everyone. For me, my senses come alive. I enjoy trying to learn their language, meeting people, listening to their opinons, and many other countless things.

If you want to go I suggest you be people oriented, because this is the real treasure. If you do not have an interest in Russians or the language, I suggest you not go. The same can be said of any country one wants to visit. But if you do have an interest and just want to meet the local citizenry, this is a wonderful opportunity. Pretty much all of the other volunteers I met enjoyed it as well. If you visit, you will probably want to visit again.

I want to thank the Svezhy Veter Agency for accepting me, my visit allowed me to meet so many people.

Volunteered: July 18 - September 22, 2003
Return visit: March - April, 2006

Sam Levin
Canada
email: sammereye2@hotmail.com

I went to Russia to study the language and to experience a different culture. I would say that I was very successful in doing both of these things.

I looked on the internet extensively for a program that would allow me to do what I wanted to do, and in the end none of them seemed as good as Svezhy Veter. Still, I did a lot of investigation into the program before I went. So, I can understand anyone having reservations about legitimacy of the program, and I can assure you that everything is totally legit.

I did have one sort of unfortunate experience in Russia that had nothing to do with Svezhy Veter, but that they asked me to write about so that hopefully other people can avoid the same thing.

I was taking a picture of a monument in Moscow and was made to pay a fine to the police because they said you weren't aloud to take pictures, which I doubt very much, as there were no signs or anything stating this. Either way, I received no official written ticket, it just went straight into their pockets, and I'm sure never came out again, at least not to give to any higher authority.

Now, I have been told that in this situation, if you ask to speak to your embassy that they will often just leave you alone. The point is though, to avoid these situations entirely. So, if something looks like it could possibly get you in trouble, then it probably could. That is the only time in 3 months though, that I ever encountered such a problem. I think that for the most part, with that kind of thing, Russia is no worse than most other countries, including the US, or Canada(which is where I'm from).

The rest of my stay in Russia, which was mostly in Izhevsk, was totally enjoyable. One story, of many, that stick in my mind, occurred on my first day in Izhevsk. Silly boy that I am, I took a train to Izhevsk that arrived at a ridiculously early hour in the morning, so there was no one there to meet me. I waited around for a while sort of not knowing what to do when someone just approached me and, to make a long story short, drove me into town, fed me, showed me around a little bit, and drove me to Svezhy Veter's office. Now, if that isn't testimony to the kindness and hospitality of a people, then I don't what is.

All of the people at Svezhy Veter are awesome. My host was a very cool, very relaxed guy, who was just generally very easy to get along with, and who threw some kick ass parties. All of the other hosts, and everybody for that matter in the English club, are super friendly people, and are always inviting the volunteers out to do a whole variety of things, whatever tickles your fancy(trips out to the country; going to clubs, if you're into that kind of thing, etc..)

Teaching English there is super cool as well. In the private classes in the evenings you are there primarily as speaking practice for the students. They ask you questions, and you answer them and correct any mistakes you hear; that's it in a nutshell. The cool thing is, because you are essentially just conversing, you wind up getting to meet a lot of interesting people, who are generally very interested to talk to you and find out about your life and where you are from.

I think this program is probably one of the coolest programs of its kind. I think anyone interested in travelling just to experience another culture, or to study Russian, or both, will have an awesome time with this program. Anyone with any further questions that I might be able to answer can email me at sammereye2@hotmail.com

Volunteered: May 14 - July 31, 2004

Andrew Bedford
UK

Volunteered: February -May, 2005

Tom Latter
UK

Volunteered: January, 2008