The
Russians are Coming!!
Muncie's
Ivy Tech is preparing for a visit -- will you be ready to
welcome them?
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As
described in the Ashland, Ohio article below, a group of Russian
optometrists and ophthalmologists are touring America and will
be stopping for a few days in Muncie, visiting us here at Ivy Tech.
There will be opportunities for you to get to know them and ask
questions. The links after the article are provided for your exploration
of Russian life and culture, so that you can prepare to make the
most of this visit. (Took place January 30, 2004) |
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Russian
docs get eyeful in America
Optometrists, ophthalmologists tour Ohio to learn about business practices
By KAREN HANNA T-G Staff Writer
Originally appeared in the Ashland Times-Gazette, 11.10.03, pg.3 |
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Tom
Roepke accepts a gift from Elvira Busheeva and Lyudmila Rybina,
two of the 11 visiting Russian optometrists and ophthalmologists,
before their departure from Ashland Friday evening. “Most
wonderful impressions,” Malyutina said through interpreter
Natliya Yakimienko Friday in the room at PumpHouse Ministries.
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With luggage
stacked around the conference room in the former Landoll's building,
Inna Malyutina had just a few last minutes to take in the room
where she and her fellow Russian travelers had gathered each
morning during a weeklong stay in Ashland.
Malyutina
and 10 other Russian optometrists and ophthalmologists have been
in America since last week, touring central Ohio and observing
Western business practices.
“ We’re just loving it here so much, so much. This is wonderful,” Malyutina
said. Malyutina and the other doctors stayed in the homes of Ashland Rotary Club
members and toured eye specialists’ offices and lens facilities throughout
the Mansfield, Wooster and Columbus areas.
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As
members of the group prepared to leave Friday, they talked excitedly
about what they had seen and learned. “It’s interesting
to know that here both private practices as well as chains are
represented, and somehow, they both find ways to prosper,” said
Yakimienko one morning at breakfast before a drive to Columbus.
The Russian
doctors, who will finish their American adventure with a weeklong
stay in Amherst, visited Ashland through the Productivity Enhancement
Program. Paid for by a grant from the U.S. Department of State and
administered by the Center for Citizen Initiatives, the program was
created to foster free trade in Russia.
“ Because there’s still problems they’re still trying to make
the transition from an enslavement of the soul, which is what Communism is to
a market-based economy," Rotary International Service chair Tom Roepke explained.
The director of a private practice, ophthalmologist Malyutina said she
was impressed by the success of small business owners here. “And
we hope when we go back, we’ll start some of the smaller practices
because they really seem the way to go,” Malyutina said.
Olesya Koulikova of the Ural Mountain city of Ekaterivburg said through
an interpreter she’d enjoyed seeing how businesses operated in America
even far from the big cities, like New York, most foreigners are accustomed
to seeing.
“ [It’s] impressive to see in a rather small place, rather large
manufacturers,” Koulikova said. According to Roepke, the group will spend
this week in Amherst before flying home to Russia.
Malyutina, who comes from the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, said
she's enjoyed seeing small-town America. “First of all, there is
very pretty countryside in Ashland,” said Malyutina, whose home city
in southern Russia contains about 1.4 million residents.
“ It was very nice to see smaller, one-story America, instead of the skyscrapers
you see on TV," Malyutina said. Ashland, she acknowledged, wasn't quite
what she expected, but as she and her comrades prepared to leave, she promised
she’d return. "Yes,” she laughed, ” If I’m invited,
I will come back."
Karen Hanna can be reached at 419-281-0581 ext. 239 or at khanna@times-gazette.com. |
Russian
Information Links
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Russia
- A Cultural Profile
Most of our current
bulletin board display material comes from this site -- even
the Russian embassy doesn't provide such a colorful, engaging
collection of Russian topics. Health and education information
are particularly difficult to find elsewhere. Thank you Canada!
(The Communication
section includes some basic phrases.)
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Russian
Speaking Vocabulary for Everyday Situations
Nice site for learning
Russian -- or just a few phrases to greet our guests.
Other language sites:
Russian
Phrases
Russian
language online tutorial and Russian phrasebook -- WayToRussia.Net
guide to Russia
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CIA
- The World Factbook -- Russia
Get it straight from
the CIA! This site gives concise info on Geography, People,
Government, Economy, Communications, Transportation, Military,
and Transnational Issues.
For indepth US government
coverage of Russia see this country study: Library
of Congress - Federal Research Division - Country Studies -
Area Handbook Series - Russia (all is indepth, but especially
history section). This
link takes you directly to the discussion of higher education:
- allRefer
Reference - Russia - Higher Education - Education and Society
Russian Information Resource
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Embassy
of the Russian Federation, main page
You may prefer to
get your information from the source -- so check out the Russian
Embassy's site. Their Country Profile topics are listed on
the left, but there are some important omissions -- such as
education, and health.
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| Infoplease
Country Profile and Atlas |
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107909.html |
Face
of Russia (PBS) -- Interactive Timeline
"This
Interactive Timeline is a companion to The Face of Russia series,
tracing the general chronology of Russian culture. This remarkable
journey through ten centuries of art, architecture, music,
dance and cinema reveals the major events that shaped Russian
culture.
Click on highlighted text or images to explore expanded descriptions
and media-rich content. Scroll through the timeline chronologically,
or jump directly to a specific period using the “timeline key” at
the top."
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The
Official Guide to Russia
Compiled by Geographia
Travel Services (somehow linked to National Geographic), this
site includes sections on History, The Gazeteer, Transportation,
Tourist Offices, Art & Architecture, Activities, Travel
Tips, and Best Bets.
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Russia
today "Interactive
Russia" from another travel company, features daily Russian
news with separate pages for travel, Moscow shows, gifts, art,
and music.
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Russian
Crafts - nesting dolls, boxes, enamel, shawls, eggs, brooches
Not as commercial
as it might sound -- this site has wonderful sections on the
history of these crafts, such as this History
of Russian nesting dolls, and they sponsor these as well:
Russian
cuisine and Russian cooking recipes
Russian
folk tales
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Russian
Life Online
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Introduction
to a series of interactive quizes about Russia's history, events
and people. You can also get access to some articles from the
publication Russian Life.
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Sensitive
MAP of Russia sponsored by the Foreign Investment Promotion
Center (FIPC) under the Ministry of Economy of the Russian
Federation
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Allows
exploration of economic issues by region
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World
InfoZone - Russia Gallery --
World InfoZone (.com and .org) is a free educational resource
designed for lifelong learning. WIZ highlights topical world
issues adding an international perspective to education.
Wiz
Quiz - Russia --
is an interactive quiz on Russia offered by this site.
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Higher
Education and Health articles
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A
Bright Future: Russian Higher Education (from
the Carnegie Reporter)
Comparative
Indicators of Education in the United States and other G-8
Countries: 2002 (National Center for Education Statistics)
ERDLine
Specifics of Russian Educational System
Higher
Educational System of the Russian Federation (by Yuri
Akimov, Ministry of General and Professional Education of
the Russian Federation, published on the International Research
and Exchanges Board site)
Moscow
State Aviation Technological University (and other specific
higher education sites)
Russian
Vocational and Technical Education in The Transition - ISRE
Newsletter Volume 6 # 1
Russian
Life Online health article
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