Visitors from Kotlas to be honored tonight at reception at St. Mark's
Copyright © 2003 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
WATERVILLE — Olga Gorshkova was 4 when her father showed her a newspaper that featured a picture and story about a group of Americans visiting her hometown of Kotlas, Russia.
Russian students Sergey Trofimov, left, and Olga Gorshkova talk about their impressions and differences between American and Russia on Tuesday at the Winslow Junior High School. At right is teacher Tatyana Shelygina. The three are from the Kotlas area in Russia. click to enlarge
The connection started that day for Gorshkova, a bond between people from half a world away made possible through a program started by the cities of Waterville and Kotlas in 1990.
The Kotlas-Waterville Area Sister City Connection has established relationships and created friendships between hundreds of adults and children from the two cities in those 13 years.
Gorshkova, now 17, is one of the latest Russians to pay a personal visit to the Waterville area through the program. About 50 local people have journeyed to Kotlas over the years.
She came last week with two other visitors from the Kotlas area — Sergey Trofimov, a 16-year-old student, and Tatyana Shelygina, a professor at a teacher training college in Kotlas.
A public reception for the trio takes place at 7 tonight at St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Eustis Parkway. Desserts and beverages will be served.
Mary Coombs, one of the coordinators of the sister city connection, said the basic goal of the program remains unchanged.
Despite great cultural and geographical differences, people from both cities have always discovered a common humanity.
"We find people are the same no matter where we live," Coombs said.
Still, the differences make for great fun and intrigue.
In Gorshkova's case, her visit represented the realization of a dream started 13 years ago.
Her father, after showing Gorshkova the newspaper article about the American visitors, told her that maybe she would one day visit the United States.
In order to be chosen for the trip, Gorshkova and Trofimov had to write essays about themselves and why they wanted to visit the United States.
Gorshkova, who aspires to be a journalist, was driven by a fundamental curiosity.
"I wanted to know about the American style of life," she said.
Trofimov, who may pursue a career as a engineer, also wanted a firsthand glimpse into American culture.
And that is what they have had for the last week. On Tuesday they each spent the morning and early afternoon attending classes at Winslow High School.
A day earlier they spent much of the day at Colby College, taking part in a program called Russian Sampler, an event in which about 200 middle school students from the area learned about Russia through presentations and hands-on activities.
There also has been a trip to the coast, an excursion to the Bangor Mall and an opportunity to tour various museums. One of their final activities will be a trip to Augusta on Thursday to see the Legislature, and possibly the governor, in action.
Trofimov and Gorshkova have been struck by the freedoms and abundance of choice found in America. At Winslow High School, they were stunned to see students eating and drinking in the classroom — a practice strictly forbidden in their schools.
They also found the great number of single-family homes in the Greater Waterville area to be astonishing.
"Everybody has their own big house," Trofimov said. "In Russia most people live in apartments."
Shelygina, who heads the English department at Kotlas Pedagogical Institute, spoke to the totality of the experience rather than the particulars.
"This is our first visit abroad by everybody," she said. "So everything has impressed us."
Colin Hickey — 861-9205
chickey@centralmaine.com