Russian students get a taste of India

INDORE: As a part of AFS cultural exchange programme, nine students accompanied by three teachers from Surgut, Russia are on a 14 days visit to The Emerald Heights International School (EHIS).
A confluence of cultural diversity is witnessed when Russian students interact with students of EHIS. With help of a translation application they try to explain what they mean.
"India is a very beautiful country and the people here are very caring and hospitable. I also wore a kurta pyjama that gave me a traditional feel," said Mikhail Kirdanova, a grade 10 student.
The Russian students are here to learn and experience the culture of India.
"The cultural diversity one witnesses in India is remarkable. The language does become a barrier, but learning Hindi is an adventure in itself. In fact, Hindi is easier than learning English," said Ekaterina Kirdanova, another grade 10 student.
Kirdanova also shared her experience of watching Bollywood films, while humming a Bollywood song.
"My host family taught me how to do puja and took me to a few temples as well."
Their day begins with a sport. Thereafter, they attend basic Hindi classes, try an Indian cuisine and learn more about the country through a presentation.
They also learned Indian dance forms and how to cook Indian delicacies like butter chicken, aloo parantha as well as halwa.
"We tasted the local Indian food like jalebi, halwa, chapati and dal. They were among the top favourites for all of us. The students here are disciplined and respect their elders a lot. They care a lot about one another and are very polite too," said Nataliia Ulianova, a teacher from Russia.
Along with the school, the host families on their end also ensure that the children do not miss on the traditions practises in Indian families and other local things.
"My host family took me to a wedding, where they introduced me with their relatives. I saw all the wedding rituals. The decorations were extremely beautiful. I also draped myself in a saree. We bought souvenirs from Rajwada as well," said Anna Kiptik, a grade 10 student.
Principal of the school Siddharth Singh said, "With these co-curricular activities in any country, the students instill the knowledge about cultures and traditions around the world and get a new perspective."