Post Russia Report & Video!

Thanks to the kids that went on the USA Bilateral Sports Exchange, we have some lovely photos, video and writeups of their travel and experience, which took place over the summer.

My Russian Experience

I would like to begin by saying how thankful I am to all of the coaches and the Sports United Team for making the entire trip possible. I left Moscow with great memories, but more importantly, amazing friendships. As a whole, we Americans became very close with the Russians by the end of our journey. In my opinion, the most vital part of the success of our bonding was the bus rides. While taking the 40 minute drive to and from the city, all forty of us would talk, or at least try to decipher what the other was saying. Speaking to your neighbor was the best way to pass the time. I learned that even though we may be so far apart, distance wise, we are really very similar. We shared the same tastes in music, said “aww” to the same cute pets, and had fun on the same boat ride. As we moved later into the trip, touring was more fun because you had a Russian companion who taught you his or her culture along with the guide. I very much enjoyed the details of St. Basil’s Cathedral, as well as looking down on the beautiful city of Moscow. In the pool, we were shown new drills to perfect our strokes, and exposed to different types of sets. Of the entire trip, I found the most difficult aspect was adjusting to the foreign diet. A Russian breakfast does not include chocolate chip pancakes, like it does here in America. Although it was unfamiliar, I didn’t mind immersing myself in the new culture and sampling the various meals that the cafeteria had to offer. I absorbed much information while overseas, and couldn’t wait to share it with my friends back home.  By Kaelah Chaney

My entire life, I have grown up surrounded by the Russian language and culture, as my mother’s side of the family is completely Russian. My grandmother, who migrated to the States from Ukraine during WWII, has always spoken to my siblings and I about one day traveling to Russia to experience our familial roots first hand. My entire family was ecstatic to learn that I would finally be traveling to Russia. As soon as we stepped foot on the final connecting flight to Moscow, I began seeing pieces of my grandma and my upbringing everywhere I turned. Upon meeting the Russians, both groups of kids were a little hesitant, but with every day, every training session that went by, our relationships grew closer and more comfortable. Before we knew it, we were playing soccer together, eating together, swimming together, and touring one of the most global cities in the world, Moscow, together. Although the Americans spoke no Russian and the Russians spoke very little English, it became evident that you truly do not need to speak the same language as someone to communicate, or even to forge friendships. I think we all realized by the end of the 15 days that this trip was the opportunity of a lifetime, and I am incredibly grateful to have been able to participate in something much larger than myself. Without a doubt I will be returning, hopefully with the rest of my family, so that we can share the wonderfully unique Russian culture and backdrop together.   By Anastasia Hediger

Click HERE for the video (created by Casey Francis)