The Russians have arrived!
For the next two weeks, I have three of nine wonderful guests from Tula, Russia sharing my home with me. One of them is part of the Open World Delegation, hosted by the Albany-Tula Alliance, while the two younger guests are students who won an essay contest to come visit Albany.
The Open World Delegation is a government funded program that enables emerging leaders from Russia to experience American democracy and civil society in action. It is the first and only exchange program in the U.S. legislative branch.
Congress established the program in 1999 to increase understanding between both countries while introducing Russian leaders to American democratic and economic institutions. It’s a public diplomacy initiative that the Albany-Tula Alliance has participated in several times before. The success of the program is proven in our strengthening tie’s with Tula.
Each visit focuses on a set theme and, this year, the Albany-Tula Alliance has chosen higher educators from Pedagogical University and Tula State University to exchange ideas with American educators from Schenectady Community College, Hudson Valley Community College, Empire State College and SUNY Albany.
Hopefully, one of the local television stations or newspapers (hint, hint, Times Union) can afford to send a reporter our way for an cultural feature on our ambitious new Capital Region guests.
Also, fingers crossed that there is time for me to take them on a quick sightseeing adventure in Boston or a hike in the Adirondacks while the weather is warm.
