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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Glimpses of Russian Life
by SHARON TEMPLEMAN
The past few days have been focused on an international conference here at the university. I presented my paper on multicultural education yesterday. I was lucky to get it in; when academicians talk about their research and interests, it is hard to stop us. I was the last to present on that day; four either were delayed until today or did not present their work. The conference is focused on saving indigenous language and culture here in the Udmurt Republic. There were some very interesting presentations. Two researchers who are involved in the collaborative project (which is now ending after 2 years) presented the findings and recommendations from the overall project. My paper compared the collaboration that Dr. Emmerentie Oliphant and I have with the Native American tribe in East Texas to the work here and gave suggestions for promoting cultural competence in the classroom as a means of social justice. It was well received and has been accepted for publication.
Wednesday before the conference I also repeated my lecture on Interdisciplinary Communication to a second group - this time to English-speaking students and faculty…about 75 people. Again it was well received; I got lots of positive feedback. I have met some very interesting and nice new colleagues in the Institute of Foreign Languages and the American Studies Center who were the sponsors of this lecture and a meeting held earlier in the week, one of whom was previously a Fulbright Scholar in Kansas. We have plans for lunch next week.
Yesterday I visited a preschool for children with speech and hearing disabilities. Again the staff were eager for me to see every aspect of the program and allowed me to observe their direct work with children. What a joy this was. The environment was bright and cheerful, with many windows and art on the walls. The children were precious and eager to engage with a foreigner. This program, like others I have visited, was developed in response to pleas by parents. It is refreshing to see that parents are being empowered to receive services for their children rather than placing them in orphanages. This theme of empowerment is also visible through initiatives the government has initiated to empower families to take children into foster care rather than placing them in orphanages…including providing training and financial incentives to do so. This is extremely exciting!
My small studio flat is right on campus, so I can walk to almost everything I need. This also gives me an opportunity to explore the city on my own. Around the city of Izhevsk I have noticed the following. The architecture here is much the same as other Russian cities: a combination of Soviet and modern genres. Most housing is in high-rise Soviet style with much need for repair. There are also some small, single-family homes which resemble the outbuildings we have on farms. More elaborate housing for dignitaries and, I am told for Mafia, are situated outside the city. I have seen some of these homes; they resemble small castles. Izhevsk seems to be a safer and friendlier city than others I have visited in Russia. It seems more family-oriented than other cities I have visited; I see families with children enjoying the parks, shops, and museums. Multigenerational living is still prominent here.
The dreaded day has arrived! Every spring as the weather begins to warm, the heat and hot water are turned off across the city as there is a central system for both. So, we now have no heat and no hot water in our flats; this typically lasts several days “while maintenance is performed on the pipes.” Yikes! Unfortunately, also, the weather is not consistently warm. Two days ago was very cold, windy, and rainy…with a sudden hail storm. A few minutes later the sun was shining again, but it was still blustery…it changes like Texas weather.
Back to no hot water…I learned from a colleague that my many mothers at the hostel have a secret shower that always has hot water, so this morning they rescued me again…I had a warm shower.
I am learning much more about the endangered Udmurt culture through the conference, my colleagues and the international researchers from Finland and the UK. Two colleagues shared with me the work they are doing with the Urdmurt villagers through music and dance where they (the villagers) demonstrate “Veme,” traditions of mutual support through difficult times, past and present. I still hope to visit the village to see this first hand. Tomorrow I will accompany the conference organizers to one of these villages. I’m looking forward to this adventure.
More later, Sharon
