The bus ride to our destination was uneventful.
We were really hoping to see some of New York, but I guess there were too many of us for a proper tour. Nevertheless, we were happy to catch a glimpse of the famous New York skyline that we all knew from the movies.
The bus brought us to a local university campus. All the college students were out for the summer break, so the campus was filled with exchange students like me. There were many of us from different cities in Russia, Ukraine, and other former Soviet Union countries.
We were to stay on the campus for the orientation meetings for a couple of days.
We didn’t get to see much of the city, but we got to see all of the campus, and I have to say it was very impressive. There were dozens of old brick buildings spread out in what looked like a beautiful park with tall trees and neatly cut grass. There were large grassy areas where students could hang out, have picnics, or play games. Each building had its own unique architecture, but they all looked like they belonged together. Some of the buildings were student dormitories.
I was placed in a room with three other boys. One of them was on the same flight as me, and two others had arrived a day earlier. They had already explored the campus and were glad to show us around.
There was a cafeteria, a library, a theater, and a little shop.
We roamed around the campus before dinner and then headed to the cafeteria to eat. We had barbecued meat with mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie with ice cream for dessert. I have to say the food was simple but delicious.
After dinner, we had our first orientation meeting. All the exchange students met in the theater. There must have been at least 200 of us.
Volunteers, who were former exchange students, talked about their experiences living with American families and attending American high schools. Some volunteers pointed out cultural and customary differences we had to watch out for. Others gave us great advice on how to navigate difficult situations, deal with misunderstandings, and so forth.
Besides all the talks, we had a lot of activities in small groups. On the final night, each group had to present something. Our group decided to put together a musical number, and I have to say it was not an ordinary performance. I’ll tell you all about it next time.
Text with Russian Translation
| University Campus | Университетский Студгородок |
| The bus ride to our destination was uneventful. | Поездка на автобусе до места назначения прошла без происшествий. |
| We were really hoping to see some of New York, | Мы очень надеялись увидеть немного Нью-Йорка, |
| but I guess there were too many of us for a proper tour. | но, я полагаю, нас было слишком много для полноценной экскурсии. |
| Nevertheless, we were happy to catch a glimpse of the famous New York skyline | Тем не менее мы были рады увидеть одним мельком знаменитый нью-йоркский горизонт, |
| that we all knew from the movies. | который мы все знали по фильмам. |
| The bus brought us to a local university campus. | Автобус привез нас в студгородок местного университета. |
| All the college students were out for the summer break, | Все студенты колледжа разъехались на летние каникулы, |
| so the campus was filled with exchange students like me. | поэтому кампус был заполнен студентами по обмену, такими как я. |
| There were many of us from different cities in Russia, Ukraine, | Нас было много из разных городов России, Украины, |
| and other former Soviet Union countries. | и других стран бывшего Советского Союза. |
| We were to stay on the campus for the orientation meetings for a couple of days. | Нам предстояло пробыть на студгородке на ознакомительных встречах пару дней. |
| We didn’t get to see much of the city, | Нам не удалось увидеть много города, |
| but we got to see all of the campus, | но нам удалось увидеть весь студгородок, |
| and I have to say it was very impressive. | и должен сказать, что он был очень впечатляющим. |
| There were dozens of old brick buildings | Там были десятки старых кирпичных зданий. |
| spread out in what looked like a beautiful park | раскинутых по территории, похожей на красивый парк |
| with tall trees and neatly cut grass. | с высокими деревьями и аккуратно подстриженной травой. |
| There were large grassy areas | Здесь были большие травянистые площадки, |
| where students could hang out, have picnics, or play games. | где студенты могли тусоваться, устраивать пикники или играть в игры. |
| Each building had its own unique architecture, | У каждого здания была своя уникальная архитектура, |
| but they all looked like they belonged together. | но все они выглядели так, будто принадлежат вместе. |
| Some of the buildings were student dormitories. | Некоторые из зданий были студенческими общежитиями. |
| I was placed in a room with three other boys. | Меня поселили в комнату с тремя другими парнями. |
| One of them was on the same flight as me, | Один из них был на том же рейсе, что и я, |
| and two others had arrived a day earlier. | а двое других прибыли на день раньше. |
| They had already explored the campus and were glad to show us around. | Они уже успели исследовать студгородок и с удовольствием показали нам все вокруг. |
| There was a cafeteria, a library, a theater, and a little shop. | Здесь были кафетерий, библиотека, театр и небольшой магазин. |
| We roamed around the campus before dinner | Мы бродили по студгородку до ужина. |
| and then headed to the cafeteria to eat. | а затем отправились в кафетерий, чтобы поесть. |
| We had barbecued meat with mashed potatoes, | Мы ели мясо барбекью с картофельным пюре, |
| and pumpkin pie with ice cream for dessert. | и тыквенный пирог с мороженым на десерт. |
| I have to say the food was simple but delicious. | Должен сказать, что еда была простой, но вкусной. |
| After dinner, we had our first orientation meeting. | После ужина у нас была первая ознакомительная встреча. |
| All the exchange students met in the theater. | Все студенты по обмену встретились в театре. |
| There must have been at least 200 of us. | Наверное, нас было не меньше двухсот человек. |
| Volunteers, who were former exchange students, | Волонтеры, которые были бывшими студентами по обмену, |
| talked about their experiences living with American families | говорили о своем опыте жизни в американских семьях |
| and attending American high schools. | и учебы в американских школах. |
| Some volunteers pointed out cultural and customary differences we had to watch out for. | Некоторые волонтеры указывали на культурные и обычные различия, которых нам нужно остерегаться. |
| Others gave us great advice on how to navigate difficult situations, | Другие давали нам отличные советы о том, как выходить из сложных ситуаций, |
| deal with misunderstandings, and so forth. | справляться с недопониманием и так далее. |
| Besides all the talks, we had a lot of activities in small groups. | Помимо всех этих бесед, у нас было много занятий в малых группах. |
| On the final night, each group had to present something. | В последний вечер каждая группа должна была что-то представить. |
| Our group decided to put together a musical number, | Наша группа решила поставить музыкальный номер, |
| and I have to say it was not an ordinary performance. | и должен сказать, что это было не обычное выступление. |
| I’ll tell you all about it next time. | Я расскажу вам все обо этом в следующий раз. |