On November 9th, 2011, the Kotlas Connection, the Colby College Admissions Office, and the Colby College Russian Program welcomed a group of 12 Archangel high school students, their principal, and one of their teachers to Waterville for a day of learning about American colleges. Hosted by the Archangel-Portland Sister City Committee, these teens had a busy visit to Maine cities, the State House, and several school visits. Working on arrangements with the Portland group, the Kotlas Connection hosted the visitors for a day in Waterville.

 

Colby invited the students to a typical student lunch in the Dana Dining Room. The visiting students grabbed their trays, looked over all the stations, and selected burgers, wraps, and pizza (the overwhelming favorite!) for their lunches. After lunch, Colby Admissions Counselor Barbara Sweney surveyed the college application process for American students and their families and answered many questions about the liberal arts, course selection, and financial aid for international students. After the Admissions session, Colby Russian students took small groups of visitors on campus tours, which included the Field House, the Bookstore, Johnson Pond, classrooms, science labs, and student dorm rooms. When the tours were finished, everyone gathered at the Russian Department for a traditional Russian Tea, hosted by Professors Elena Monastyreva-Ansdell and Amanda Murphy.

 

The visiting students looked at Russian textbooks for American students, enjoyed the bulletin board displays, and had lively discussions with the American students. Their principal said that they had had a very personal and informative introduction to an American college.