Amazing experience

I traveled to Voronezh, Russia with Crossroads Eurasia in the summer of 2011. This was one of the best traveling experiences I have had, and will color my traveling choices for the rest of my life. This program organized living and working arrangements, as well as coordinating traveling details that would have been incredibly difficult for me to work out on my own -- we were supported with everything from getting a visa to securing plane tickets, navigating the Russian airports, and finding transportation to our town.

I lived with a Russian family who were kind, supportive, thoughtful, and immersed me completely in the culture and language. I got to experience cooking, driving, public transportation, markets, malls, birthday parties, beaches, dachas, rivers, caves, and endless other events and experiences that one doesn't normally find when spending time in a foreign country. I truly felt welcomed and supported by the community that Crossroads connected me with. Due to this unique immersion experience, my Russian language skills improved exponentially. I worked tutoring English students in small classes through a language school in the city, as well as spending time at a children's camp for Russian kids learning English. These experiences were challenging and rewarding, and I made several new friends through the process.

While I got a brief but fantastic tour of Moscow during my traveling/transition period, one aspect of this program that I truly appreciated was the opportunity to travel to, around, and really live life in a city that I would never have otherwise experienced. Living and working in Voronezh for a month taught me amazing things about life and independence. The difference between visiting a place as a tourist and really experiencing another culture was sharply highlighted, and in my future traveling experiences I will strive for a deeper understanding of the places I go, because I know how rewarding that is. Professionally, I now have a much greater understanding of the international community, as well as having a sincere connection with other Crossroads alumni.