Youth International Forum - Teaching tolerance unity and variety

Education
By Samuel Carpenter

Who can resist the happy face of a student when the “light bulb lights up” exhibiting to the world “I understand you!”?  Since our first visit to the local grade school, we have been developing a relationship with the students and teachers.  We have been meeting regularly and mutually enjoying the cultural experience as a part of our education.  This last week, our visit was different than usual.  We were invited to a youth international forum hosted by the gymnasia (grade school).  We were unsure how many other countries would be represented but were excited to share a day with foreigners with similar experiences.  Twenty students of varying ages were from Italy attended and to our surprise; besides the local Russian students and our group no other country was present.

We were all gathered together to share parts of our culture without having a common language.  After signing in, everyone gathered in the school’s auditorium.  Our first task was for each group to sing a well-known song of their country and the other groups would have to repeat this song.  The Russians sang a short nursery rhyme that we were previously unfamiliar with.  They found both our attempted echo and that of the Italians very comical.  The Italians then tested all of us with two lines from a Frank Sinatra song.  Nobody in the auditorium besides the Italians recognized this song.  Luckily for our group, Steve is a fan of the late Rat Pack member.  To say the least, the Italians and Russians were both impressed. 

Our next task was to break off in mixed groups of Italians, Russians and Americans and develop a simple musical piece representing an idea or emotion assigned to each group.  Humanity, love and peace were just a few ideas represented by dance and song.  Several skilled artists and dancers were in the Italian group.  With such little time to prepare the piece it was impressive how organized and expressive they were. 

Sam and some of his group members presenting their poster          

Our last task was to graphically represent what we wish for better conditions on our planet.  Most of the drawings represented peace and happiness for citizens of all nations.  Several people represented the friendship that was displayed on this day between the three countries from three unique backgrounds.  Each group had to explain their small art piece in the three different national languages present.  Such stereotypes as cowboy hats, matrioshkas (nesting dolls), and pizza were common representations of our respective countries. 

Russian Folk Music
Culture
By Rebecca Heilman

Russian Folk Music?  What is that?  What makes it different from American Folk Music?  Well on March 11, we were able to experience the music first hand at the Moscow Conservatory.  Once we found our seats, we were able to enjoy the beauty of the hall.  Finally, the members began to file out onto the stage, and we realized that we didn’t recognize any of the instruments that were going to be played.  Once the music began to swell throughout the recital hall, I realized that many of the instruments are similar to ones that are played in a typical orchestra concert. 

The domra was the most common instrument that we could see during the concert.  There are a variety of instruments in the family, from the piccolo domra, prima domra, alto domra, tenor domra and bass domra.  They all have round or oval bodies with either three or four strings that are plucked.  Sitting opposite on the stage was a variety of balalaika.  Just like the domra, there are a variety of sized balalaikas to produce different pitches.  The highest is the prima balalaika, next the sekunda balalaika, alto balalaika, followed by the bass balalaika and finally the contrabass balalaika.  All have three-sided bodies and have three strings.  All of the balalaikas are plucked, but the lower ones use a pick, rather than their fingers.

A picture of the orchestra playing some traditional Russian folk instruments

In the middle of the stage, sat two instruments that looked like a table, and we all wondered what they were.  The gusli is one of the oldest instruments that are used in Russian Folk Orchestras.  The notes that are played are controlled with the left hand striking the key on a small keyboard, and the right hand plucking the correct notes.

From our third row seats, we were unable to see the other instruments that made up the complete orchestra.  We were able to hear their sounds, and we decided that the instruments were similar to woodwinds that we have heard before.  Instead, we focused our attention on the director, who was obviously very proud of the group and the music that was being produced for the audience.  His actions seemed a bit over-enthusiastic to some, but to others they seemed so natural, especially after a soloist just finished the piece with perfection.  The strangest part to most was the conductor walking off stage during the middle of a song, only to return after the orchestra had finished the piece that they were playing.  Many of the pieces played during the first part of the concert, were pieces that I have had a chance to play or hear in the United States.  However, the second half of the performance was when the traditional music began to be heard throughout the hall.

Oh snow, you have to go!

Weather
By Stephen Williams

Erin and Heather excited by the sight of grass beneath the melting snow.

Well I guess we fooled you about the weather clearing up because in reality we were fooled to.  The weather changes so much in Russia that we don’t know if it will ever feel like spring.

Everything was going wonderfully.  The birds were out singing and instead of walking on ice, we actually saw pavement.  We also noticed that there is a car dealership across the street from our Metro stop.  We originally thought it was a place where the street department would dump snow, but it actually turns out that all those little lumps were automobiles.

Since we had some really beautiful weather we decided to visit Red Square.  The sun was out and some of us actually didn’t wear our winter caps or our 600 fill down jackets.  We even saw green grass and I actually almost forgot what it looked like.  Yet as quick as the nice spring weather came, some winter weather blew back in, along with some uninvited snow.  What was once sidewalks had turned back into “ice walks”.  So we had to bring back the hand warmers and yak tracks.  But honestly what do we have to do to get on Mother Nature’s side here, celebrate Maslensita and “burn the lady” again?  Oh well, I guess it could be worse, because as much as I am not enjoying the snow, at least it isn’t raining.  We are hoping to have some of that nice spring weather that Moscow has to offer before we leave in May!

Four pairs of socks – check.  Hat and Gloves- check.  Large Russian fur hat – not yet.  So where do we get it?  Next stop, Ismalovsky Park.

Early Saturday morning, this is about how things were as we bundle up for our first to trip to one of the biggest tourist spots in Russia- Ismalovsky Park.  Almost every foreigner can be seen at this park at least once before they leave Russia for their respective countries.  Why, you may ask?  Imagine nearly five miles open markets packed with all of the martrioshkas (nesting dolls), fur hats, wooden oil painted boxes, tall stiletto boots, etc. that anyone could ever need or want.  Not only are all of the things found there common Russian items, but everything is also catered to the tourists of the park.  At Ismalovsky Park, you will have no problem finding a matrioshka in the form of your favorite football team.  I know we must have cleaned the park out of Penn State matrioshka bearing the names of all our favorite Orange Bowl Champions.

Not only is the selection broad, but all of these common Russian items can be found here for much less than on pricey Arbot street, or anywhere else for that matter.  For this reason, the park attracts a crowd of foreign “smart shoppers.”  Only those who know more than the average foreigner go to the park.  Needless to say, we had the pleasure of meeting many of these culture trendy people from all over the world.

We found that they are here for a vast number of different reasons - from the British property owners, to Georgian bible instructors - we met all kinds of people and learned a lot.  Not only did we swap stories of Russian life, but we also learned a thing or two about our own country and others in the process.  As we sat down for a taste of what we think is the best shashlik (skewered meat) you’ll have in all of Russia, we got acquainted with a Chinese girl on her own personal “tour of Asia and Europe.”  She spoke great English, and we learned a lot over our shashlik lunch break. 

Erin and Heather at Ismalovsky Park trying out some new Russian hats

Another thing that makes the park and the experience so unique is the open air, flea market style atmosphere.  At Ismalovsky, bargaining is expected and all of the vendors speak enough English to tempt foreign souvenir hunters into spending all of the rubles in their wallets.  I don’t think that any of us left that day with any money left in our wallets; only bags full of Russian treasures and smiles on our faces.

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