Our Russian Journey Comes to An End

Tuesday, July 25th

After a thankfully long rest the night before and a somewhat slow start in the morning, we began our last full day in St. Petersburg (and in Russia) by departing for the Hermitage art museum.
Although we arrived at the Hermitage approximately five or ten minutes before it opened, the queue for entrance already stretched far down the sidewalk with different groups. Fortunately, once the doors opened, we made steady progress.

Our guides told us on the bus ride to the museum that “hermitage” was a French word meaning “place for a hermit” – nuns dwell in a convent; birds, in an aviary; hermits, in a hermitage. A hermitage would be a place where someone would go to be alone. This name may have been very apt in Catherine the Great’s time, when the collection was exclusively for herself and her close friends, but now it’s practically a misnomer. We fought swarms of Asian and European tourist groups with gibberish English on their clothing, and an assumed right of passage that apparently included dividing every surrounding group into confused fragments.
Unlike most of the American museums I’ve visited in my lifetime, which are freezing in order to better preserve their collection somehow, the inside of the Hermitage was rather uncomfortably warm. It may have been an understandable issue of getting air conditioning in a centuries-old building, but I can’t be certain.

The rooms were enormous, full of intricate plasterwork – much of which gilded with delicate gold leaf (sheets of gold thinner than a human hair) in the Rococo style seen in Versailles. In the first few halls, the ceilings were so high that the larger plasterworks on the ceilings and the tops of the walls were simply a painted façade, and it was difficult to tell the difference.

Even after hearing so many times how many millions of pieces the Hermitage has in its collection (nearly three, by the way), it was difficult for me to grasp its scale until we walked up one floor to view a collection (that of Western impressionists) in person. Renoir, Delacroix, Van Gogh, Picasso – some works that I’d never dreamed I’d see outside of replication, and some I’d never even heard of before (although after basking in them, I couldn’t imagine why not). According to our guide, it was fashionable among Russian nobles during that period to invite impressionist artists to their palaces to paint for them privately, which explains the extraordinary impressionist exhibit.
When one-on-one with these paintings, I began to see how the name “Hermitage” could still be accurate – I could get lost in each one and let the world pass me by, like falling in love for an instant over and over. Maybe it was just my taste, or perhaps my generation, but I seemed to connect more with the contemporary and/or expressive artwork than with any portrait of saints or nobility, no matter how masterfully executed.
The rooms flowed together dizzyingly. If I had to navigate the building myself, I knew I would be lost forever. I suddenly felt surges of gratitude towards our guide.
History flowed, too, in these halls – in overlapping layers spanning from the most ancient times to the present. By entering this museum and examining its contents we were, in essence, communicating with the dead. I was reminded of the movie “Russian Ark” – that Russian art-house film shot in one continuous take through the Hermitage, in which ghosts of the past interact with anyone who would listen.
We entered the 1812 room, a hall in which hung portraits commemorating all officers who participated in the war against Napoleon. In some places hung empty frames, with only a name and green backing – these portraits were among those damaged in the museum fire. Their names remain as a gesture of respect. I almost started to look for the name of Nikolay Rostov before remembering he was fictional.

The Hermitage consists of several buildings: the Winder Palace; the New, Old, and Small Hermitages; and the Hermitage Theater. The Winter Palace is the largest of the buildings, and is where we spent the most time; we also visited the Small Hermitage which, despite being small compared to the other museum buildings, is still expansive by nearly any other standard. We saw the ballroom. It was covered in gilt, plasterwork, marble, columns, crystal – it was as if we were inside an enormous Faberge egg. The ballroom’s star attractions were its mosaics and its peacock clock. The latter was a shining entourage of life-sized animatronic creatures – birds, squirrels, mushrooms, all of which were to move in a synchronized routine on every hour. The clock is amazingly still in working condition – however, it is now set to chime only once a week, to slow its wear.
Opposite the peacock clock was the mosaic floor-tile, copied from one in Greco-Roman ruins. A smaller version of the same mosaic is found on a nearby table, which was worked on simultaneously. The detail and fluid shading stunned me. I could relate possibly too well to their creators – as strong as my obsessive-compulsive tendencies are, I could easily imagine myself piecing together miniature pictures with bits of glass if locked in a room with a bunch of tile for several years.

As we exited the main part of the museum through an Egyptian exhibit, we were given about half an hour of free time in which we could visit the museum’s internet café and gift shops – of course, rounding everyone up after the half-hour proved to be a muddled task, as some (including myself) were still stuck in the line to pay. We headed outside in the Palace Square to the barely-organized chaos of group photo-taking (some of which partially included a man dressed as a buccaneer), and then boarded the busses once more to go to lunch.

After having our meals, we all split up into our groups and ventured out into St. Petersburg. Near the restaurant, was a church that our guide said was a “must” to visit. This church was Church of the Resurrection of Christ (or Church of the Spilled Blood). The entire interior of this Russian orthodox church was covered in mosaics. It took 12 years to apply it all to the massive space inside. The result was pure magnificence! We wound up our day in the market square adjacent to the church. Many of us spent our final rubles on last minute gifts and souvenirs from the stalls along the square.

The evening was a special one as it was our GYFHC dinner closing ceremony. We enjoyed our last Russian meal which was topped by the commemorative cake celebrating 50 years of People to People. We saved the best for last by having all students participate in the “web of friendship,” where we created a string “web” to symbolize the friendships we made and the ties that bound us all on this trip. We each gave a part of the string to someone special within the delegation. Once the heartfelt thoughts were expressed, we cut pieces of the string so we could give them to others to remember us and the last week and a half by. (Mary Eisenhower was by far the most popular recipient!) This journey has left us with so many memories, so many friends. And it will leave us changed forever.

-Written by Laura Webb & Veronica Agard

En route to New York City!

Aeroflot #315 departed Moscow a little late, but as of 9:30 a.m. (Eastern time) the flight is estimated to land in NYC at 4:56 p.m. -- only 16 minutes late!

If you are meeting your son and/or daughter at JFK, we advise you to check with the airlines directly for further updates as we get closer to their arrival time. Information can also be found at http://www.aeroflot.aero/eng/

Orphanage Visit

This morning was slightly earlier than usual. After the rushed, slightly crowded breakfast, we crammed into the elevators, and as we reached street level we discovered that only two buses were functioning (instead of three). As the buses departed for the orphanage, piled high with gifts and people, we couldn’t help but realize that this was going to be a challenging day. During the ride out to Pavlovsk, we witnessed some of the most charming countryside views of our journey. We passed one palace of Catherine the Great, with a beautiful landscape garden that resembled a picturesque forest, among other palaces of previous czars.
As the buses pulled in to the cluster of stucco building surrounded by unkempt greenery, the previous feeling of anticipation only grew. Very soon we were split up into groups and went our separate ways. We could clearly see from the children waving from windows and standing by the sides of paths that our presence was not only anticipated, but welcomed. Soon we learned that the children in the orphanage all suffered from a mental and/or physical disability. A façade of suns, moons, and clouds greeted us as we entered the dimly lit foyer. We were then brought up to the second story and shown several rooms. We witnessed a bedroom for fifteen toddlers, a small classroom, and a physical therapy room, clearly fitted for no more than one adult. It was after all this that we finally saw a room with children.
The instant the first unfamiliar face entered the room, the toddlers’ eyes blazed with excitement and joy. After a sea of waving, the first gift was given. It is impossible to describe the gratitude and life gleaming in the eyes of this child and all whom we saw. We moved through the narrow hallway into a large room we all assumed was a nursery. However, we quickly discovered that this room ranged from toddlers to a sixteen-year-old named Sophia. These children were the most severely disabled in the facility, and out of the fourteen children in the room, one had minimal language skills. Many of the delegates stood paralyzed at the door, while others, in their element, went up and immediately made a connection. The German volunteers who were nursing these children were clearly grateful for our help and kindness.
As we walked through the facility, visiting several other buildings and many different rooms and faces, we understood that, while the facility was lacking many necessities, the administration and workers clearly cared about the well-being and life of the children in their care. As the tour wound to a close, the entire delegation was brought into a sun-drenched auditorium. Peeking out of two doors, we saw children in interesting costumes. As we quieted down, the director of Orphanage #4, gave a touching speech and Mary Eisenhower presented her with a donation from the delegation. After this, we were informed that there would be a performance for us. As music emanated from the gleaming stereo, twelve orphans took to the floor, performing a gypsy dance, a traditional Russian dance, and a gymnastics performance. The swirling costumes were wonderful, and the dances were more than could have been imagined. Finally, our visit was winding down. Half of the group played soccer with the orphans, while the other half purchased beadwork made by the children. After over-staying the allotted time by an hour and a half, it was time to say our heavy-hearted goodbyes. As we boarded the buses, no one was left unaffected.
After lunch, we began truly experiencing St. Petersburg. The first stop of the tour was the immense St. Isaac’s Cathedral. Even at the price of 50 rubles, most people chose to keep their cameras snapping as they gazed up at the sky-high domes and intricate mosaics that made up the walls and ceilings of our surroundings. After gazing in window boxes for souvenirs, we went on to our second stop at the Neva River. This more than picturesque scene overlooking the Hermitage Museum, the Chamber of Curiosity, and Peter and Paul Fortress, was truly wonderful, even when only experienced for our five to seven minute photo opportunity. Our final stop was the Peter and Paul Fortress, where we saw the tomb of Anastasia, Peter the Great, and many other ruling families. After viewing the impossibly high gold spire of the Peter and Paul Fortress, we proceeded back to the hotel. After a leisurely dinner, we were allowed free time to explore the surrounding shops. After some unique shopping experiences, we proceeded back to the hotel for group meetings. During this meeting, we were more fully informed about the variety of programs PTPI offers and how to get involved in them. Then we broke up into small groups and listed ideas for how to carry the message of the GYFHC to our friends and families. After a touching group hug, we were sent off to bed.

Written by Kevin Harrington and Danielle Dennison

First Day in St. Petersburg

With three days left, we gathered our luggage to depart the hotel in Novgorod. With only 32 days of sunshine a year in St. Petersburg, the clear blue sky that greeted us was considered lucky beyond belief. Our three hour drive to the city known as the Window to the West opened our eyes to the beautiful wonders Russia has to offer. Although enchanted by the birch trees and wildflowers along the way, our eyes were opened to the vast economic gap in Russian society when we passed the homes of the less fortunate. Alumni delegates shared their memories of previous low income communities they have seen in South Africa and China with the new ambassadors. As we entered the city, which Russians call the brain of the country, we were filled with eagerness and anticipation.
Before we arrived in St. Petersburg, we had no concrete perception of the city’s true splendor. When we finally entered the colorful city, full of new construction and transportation, we realized the lively metropolitan atmosphere. Lunch at the Stolichnyi Restaurant stayed true to our typical meals containing bread, tomatoes, cabbage, meat, and sour cream. After lunch, we headed to the summer palace built by Peter the Great in Peterhof, where we received a VIP tour of the grounds. The tour consisted not only of gardens, but also the underground water systems which supply the 150 fountains and 5 cascades that characterize this paradise. The Greek and Roman influence found throughout the art and architecture, combined with the bright yellow façade of the palace, typical of Russian buildings, left us in awe. At this picturesque haven, we learned of Peter the Great’s infamous sense of humor when we became drenched by different surprise fountains. At the conclusion of our tour, we were taken to enjoy tea and coffee, as well as other refreshments such as ice cream and delicious blueberry crumb cake. Instead of taking a bus back to the hotel in St. Petersburg, located across the street from the Gulf of Finland, we had the opportunity to take a hydrofoil (high-speed ferry).
As we got off the boat and loaded the bus for a short ride to the hotel through the heart of the city, we were all happy to enjoy a leisurely dinner and relax with each other. As our day concluded with a group (programming) meeting, we reflected upon our new perspective of this fairytale city, experiencing the aspects of Russian society, such as how their traffic lights have visual timers and their White Nights have helped to keep the excitement alive, while we learn about the unique Russian culture. As we continue our journey, leaving the cities we have cherished and the wonderful people we have met, we can only hope that our futures will be filled with such unimaginable and beautiful friendships once more.

Written by: Raine Dalton and Caitlin Rudin

Novgorod the Great!

Every new day on this trip blows me away, and today was no exception. First thing this morning we drove to a Russian Day Camp where we participated in a survival rally with the students. It was very challenging and a real bonding experience. The students joined us for lunch, and then we learned how to make traditional Russian crafts. I spent hour learning about traditional clothing and then we made matrozka dolls.

We also had the opportunity to attend a panel discussion with the Russian students to discuss cultural, social, and political issues in both America and Russia. Several important issues came up including education, terrorism, and the impact the media has on society. It was a unique and amazing experience to learn about all the differences between the two countries, yet also to discover that we share many of the same concerns and ideas.

For dinner we ate shish kabobs with our new Russian friends and afterwards we participated in many traditional Russian dances. It was such a cultural experience and really fun too! As we were leaving, we gave each of the students a People to People International shirt and they gave us a Russian craft back. They really are such nice people, and I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to spend time with them while breaking down stereotypes. As we have all truly learned this week, understanding really is the key to peace.

Written by Jenna Ciancia

Train Ride to Novgorod

On Friday morning at 5:50 a.m. our overnight train arrived to Novgorod from Moscow. Many of us had not gotten much sleep the night before because of the excitement of the train ride. The rhythm of the train did manage to lull some of us to sleep. Our minds were preoccupied with thoughts of our new Russian friends, Eugene, Egor and Elly leaving us the night before. Even though in the morning we were tired, it was a experience we won’t forgot. Not many people can say that they traveled six hundred miles across Russia on an iron horse with seventy five new friends. When we got to the Barista Palace in Novgorod we checked in, met our new roommates, and went downstairs for breakfast. After our delicious breakfast we explored the grounds of the Barista. We boarded our buses and headed out to discover what the historic city of Novgorod had in store for us. We quickly realized why this quaint modern day city is referred to as “Novgorod the great.” We toured the Kremlin, visited Saint Sophia Cathedral, several churches and many other beautiful sites. We had the privilege of going to the Museum of Wooden Architecture. It was a row of authentic wooden structures which gave us a glimpse of how people in this region lived long ago. They say a true traveler takes a part of each place they visit with them and leaves a part behind…I know now I will definitely take a part of Novgorod with me…and only hope that tomorrow I’ll be able to leave a part of me behind…

Written by Brianna Lanpert

PTPI's Moscow Chapter Introduces us to New Friends

This morning with the oddly familiar ring of our wake-up calls, we awoke, sleepy and aware that our last day in Moscow was upon us. After breakfast we were off to our first stop of the day…a visit with Moscow’s PTPI Chapter in the small town of Krasnaya Pakhra!

Upon arriving in Krasnaya Pakhra, we were excitedly greeted by shouts of heavily accented “hellos!” from the 65 Russian youth that we would be interacting with throughout the day. The town’s mayor began by presenting the traditional Russian welcoming gift of bread and salt to Mary Eisenhower on behalf of our group. We were then treated to a performance of traditional Russian folk music and dancing by local youth dressed in traditional Russian attire.

Next came the opportunity we had all been awaiting: our first chance to interact with Russian youth, which turned into an experience that none of us will soon forget. Despite the language barrier, connections were made through non-verbal communications. We explored our similarities and our differences, attempted a few Russian phrases and found that a smile and a laugh can go a long way.

After a small lunch of traditional Russian food, with all our new Russian friends of course, we participated in a competition of local activities including crafts, music, doll making, painting, and singing with teams consisting of both our group and Russian students. At the conclusion of the events, the team with the highest score was announced and together we all stood as we sang a Russian song we had all been taught earlier in the day. After a group photo, we said our farewells with many hugs and tears. Hesitantly we boarded our buses and began our ride back to Moscow for dinner and a relaxing evening shopping in the Arbat District. From the beginning, this beautiful city with its famous sites, such as the Kremlin and Red Square, has stolen a special place in our hearts.

As we said our tearful goodbyes to our new friends, Egor & Eugene, at the platform of the train station, we couldn’t help but wonder what the next part of our adventure had in store for us. The one thing we are certain of is through these experiences we have made new friends that will last a lifetime.

Written by: Alexis Krell and Stephen Eckert

Off to Novgorod!

PTPI GYFHC delegates are on their way to Novgorod via an overnight train.

We won't know about internet capabilities in Novgorod until arrival. If there isn't a good connection, there might not be a post for a few days! (We don't want anyone to worry!) Keep checking back though -- St. Petersburg is the next stop after Novgorod.

The PTPI Mission in Action

This morning we began by traveling to the American Cultural Center to hear a presentation by a United States Foreign Service Officer currently working in the Economics Department of the American Embassy in Moscow. The officer spoke to us of her experiences in the Foreign Service and talked to us extensively about the G-8 Summit which recently concluded in St. Petersburg.

After our briefing and lunch, we journeyed to the Russian Children’s Clinical Hospital. It was in better condition than I had expected, though it still was not near as sterile or modern as most hospitals in the USA. When we arrived, we were brought into a large conference room and asked to take a seat amongst approximately 100 of the patients who were at the hospital for treatment. The Chief Physician welcomed our delegation (via a translator) to the hospital and Mary Jean Eisenhower, President and CEO of PTPI, presented a donation on behalf of the delegation to the hospital. Once this was finished, all of the Russian patients in the room came and gave each of us a bag that included a shirt, hat and pen. Many of the delegates, including myself, gave the Russian patients the gifts that we had brought for them in return.

We were then split into 6 groups and taken on walking tours through various wards of the hospital to meet more patients. Each and every delegate was touched on some level by the patients we interacted with and the things we witnessed while on our tour. The patients and their families were so thankful to us for being there, and we each were moved by specific interactions we each had with certain patients.

After dinner at the Hard Rock Café, we had the opportunity to go to the Moscow Circus. It was amazing and the things that the people and animals were doing were incredible. There were monkeys, elephants, dogs, trapeze artists, ice skaters, clowns and acrobats of all kinds! Overall, everyone had a good time and we returned to the hotel exhausted after another great day. This trip is amazing, and though we are sad to leave Moscow tomorrow evening, we know that Novgorod and St. Petersburg hold great things for us!

-Written by Amanda Kincaid and Erin Lee

The Heart of Moscow

After the anticipation of two days, we finally were given the chance to spend a full day in Russia and experience its impressive architecture and unfamiliar culture. The experience up to today has been surreal, though today I think our American delegation began to grasp what this country is all about.

From our first night’s rest in the fantastic Renaissance Marriott Hotel, we went on our three buses with our respective groups and started our day. First, we visited the Moscow Kremlin and Armory with our Russian tour guides. The architecture and craftsmanship here is elaborately detailed and skillful unlike anywhere else in the world. We now understand the magnificence of Russian buildings and various artworks have gained international recognition as we were truly awed by the Kremlin and the treasures held in the Armory today. We went on to eat our lunch at a traditional Russian restaurant inside the Kremlin and our delegation got the chance to taste a foreign cuisine.

Next, we proceeded to the Red Square which was established in the 15th Century and presently serves as a popular meeting place for festivals and public gatherings. Standing in the center of Red Square we were left in awe by the sights of St. Basil’s Cathedral and Lenin’s Tomb. They also had a mall foreign to any of those seen in the states, with the exception of all the American stores. It was during the excursion of our group through the mall that we truly realized how prevalent our country is in other cultures, though we see relatively nothing of many other cultures in the U.S. We continued on ward through our tightly scheduled day and found ourselves in the roadside shops of Sparrow Hills with the unique opportunity to view gothic skyscrapers of Moscow’s State University beyond the Moscow River. From bargaining with the Russian shop owners to getting ripped off, I think everyone enjoyed the adventure nonetheless.

Soon, we were boarding a boat for our arranged dinner cruise on the very river we had gazed at all day. It was during this boat voyage through the amazing sights and scenery of Russia’s awe-inspiring capital that we met with People to People International members from the Moscow Chapter and enjoyed again the Russian delicacies of mixed vegetables and interestingly shaped meat. It was a great ending to our first day in Moscow.

From our experiences today we have gained a glimpse at a very foreign yet enticing Russian culture, while also building friendships with Russians and fellow Americans alike that are bound to linger far beyond this journey. We can only predict a portion of what will happen next by glancing at our schedule, but the deeper connections we shall have and personal growth we feel will always surprise and inspire us. This, I think is the true purpose of People to People International.

-Written by Ryan MacDowell with assistance by Ali Hruschka

We are Here!

Some of us smiled and some of us yawned, but deep down no matter how any of us felt, there was a tiny bit of excitement, an excitement noticeable to all as we stepped on that outrageous Russian airline, Aeroflot. It greeted us all with blue and orange leather seats, later found to be uncomfortable. Through that small, yet harsh 10 hour plane ride, sleeping occurred, friendships were made and "The Pacifier" in Russian was enjoyed by none. But in the end, it was not that bad because we arrived in Moscow safe and sound. Cranky and tired, all 80 of us stood on line for immigration, and then stood on line for immigration some more.

One after another, our access to an exciting journey in Russia was accepted; and on the other end of customs, Tatiana, one of our Moscow City Guides, awaited us. We followed Tatiana's voice (she told us she is too short to be followed by sight) outside of the airport doors and saw Moscow for the first time. As we boarded the buses for the hotel, Tatiana's voice rang out "Welcome to Moscow, we are in Moscow!"

Today's post provided by Kevin Williams and Ayn Wisler

Stay tuned as we begin our Russian Experience!!!

GYFHC Delegates Arrive in Moscow!

A tired, but excited group of 76 delegates and 6 leaders have arrived in Moscow, checked into the Rennaissance Hotel and now have time to rest and relax before tonight's briefing!

A special representative from KMP Tours will visit the hotel and brief everyone on what to expect during the coming days. Stay tuned and watch for more details as their journey continues!

Getting Ready for the Big Day

Just a quick note to let you all know that all GYFHC delegates have arrived safely in NYC! We had a great day and wonderful evening getting to know one another. Tomorrow we head to the airport after spending the morning going over a few last details. We'll be back in touch when we land in RUSSIA!

Dear GYFHC Delegates,

Well, your Delegation Leaders (minus Barb who will be joining us on Sunday) have arrived in New York City! We spent this evening preparing for your arrival tomorrow, and all cannot wait to meet you!

Safe travels to each of you as you journey to the Big Apple!!

In Anticipation,

Your 2006 GYFHC Delegation Leaders

Kay, Steve, Barb (represented by the gold lion), Brandon, Katherine and Sarah

Message from Mary Eisenhower

Dear GYFHC Participants --

I can't believe we will be in Russia in just over a week! I am confident this will be an amazing program and am looking forward to spending time with each and everyone of you.

2006 marks the 50th Anniversary of PTPI's founding by my grandfather. It is especially important that we are returning to Russia since that was the location of our first citizen exchange program.

Our adventure in diplomacy, understanding, humanitarianism and friendship is just beginning.

Your partner in peace,

Mary Jean

The countdown begins!

10 days and counting till we meet in New York! This will be a fantastic opportunity and experience. We hope you will encourage your friends and familiy to stay tuned to our blog and follow along on our journey throughout Russia. See you soon!