Student Experience

When I opened my information packet from ACTR I was so excited. I was flipping through the sheets of information with such joy. Then, I reached the form for staying with a host family. At that time I had decided that I was going to stay in the dorm. I wanted to not have to answer to anyone while here, plus, you never know what family you will get. You don’t know if the family is going to be good to live with or not. I put the sheet to the side without another thought. A week later I was looking through my packet of information again, and I decided to just look over the host family application sheet. As I was looking through the form the thought of living with a Russian family became kind of exciting. I took a few days to think about, and I decided that I wanted to be with a host family.

As I answered the questions on the form I began to think about what my family would be like. I began to think about all the good times we could spend together. When I finally found out who I was going to live with I was ecstatic.

We made it to Russia, and the day came when it was time for me to meet my host family. I and a few other students had gone out and bought flowers for our meetings. I stood there with my flowers looking at all of the women who could have potentially been my host mother. I was so nervous and excited. My name was called and I got to meet my host mother. I gave her my flowers and she told me they were beautiful. Then, we left for her home. When we arrived I met her mother and her five-year-old daughter.

Since that first meeting I have loved staying with my host family. One of my favorite parts of the day is sitting in the kitchen with my host mother, sipping tea and having great conversation. I enjoy waking up in the morning and going into the kitchen to see my host grandmother. She always asks how I slept and about my plans for the day while I eat the delicious kasha she has made me. I feel at home here. Even though we speak Russian I sometimes forget where I am. I walk outside and expect to be in America just because my host family makes me feel that I am at home. No matter how rough my day has been I always feel relaxed and comfortable in my host home with my host family.

One afternoon I was on the metro with my tutor, fumbling through a Russian sentence and the man beside us begged my tutor to speak to me in English. I was apparently getting on his nerves. I was so angry, but once I arrived at my host home and talked with my host family I began to relax. I feel a comfort here that I would not feel in a dormitory with an American roommate.

Deciding to stay with a host family was one of the best decisions I have ever made. My Russian has improved because of my interaction with my family, and I have found a home here in Russia. I am so glad I took a second look at the host family application form.

Samantha Tawfik

University of North Carolina, St. Petersburg, 2010