I'm organizing a study trip to Moscow from 28 Jul-23 Aug which explores Russia's political, economic and social conditions. It is the 14th year these have been offered, but the first time in the summer. Many people have asked for this because it is the only time they can get away, so our host educational institution has agreed to stay open during its normal vacation period. So far, participation is not matching the expressed interest, and there is the risk that if we cry wolf we won't get cooperation again. For details, please write to [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am attaching the daily schedule of a comparable trip last year so you can see what the program will resemble. NB: Participants from outside North America are welcome. ---- May 30 Arrival in Brussels Walking tour of city 31 Video: "US-USSR: World War 2" Visit to Bruges Jun 01 Travel to Moscow 02 City tour Opening of seminar Demonstration of Metro and bus use 03 Lecture: Russian history; causes and consequences of the Revolution (Zasorin) Video: "US-USSR: The Cold War" Discussion of group 04 Lecture: The current political situation in Russia and its historical roots (Matveev) Video: The town of Kirjatch (near Moscow) Visit to Tretyakov Gallery 05 Izmailovsky Park "A Ballet Evening" Palace of Congresses 06 Visit to Novodevichy Monastery Free time 07 Discussion: Economic reforms in Russia: Results and perspectives (Semenkov) Video: "Being 20 in Russia" Free time 08 Visit to publishing house of children's literature, games and commercial packaging. Tour of printing facilities and meeting with director Visit to Kremlin churches 09 Lecture: Economic geography of Russia and of the CIS; regionalization (Pelitsin) Visit to Pushkin Museum Circus 10 Visit to dairy farm started by an independent farmer at the beginning of perestroika; lunch at farm 11 Discussion: Social dimensions of the reforms (Kuchma and Semenkov) Visit to secondary school 12 Visit to Ostankino TV tower Obratsov Puppet Theater: "An Unusual Concert" 13 Visit to Kolomensoje museum and park Free time 14 Discussion: "Future of US-Russia Relations" (Batyuk, Institute of USA Canada Studies) Discussion with American businessman trying to establish commercial relations in Russia 15 Discussion at the Federation of Peace and Conciliation Visit to the Armory 16 Visit to agricultural machinery factory: tour of plant, discussion with production director; tour of plant museum; discussion of conflicts over the factory's management and privatization with editor of factory newspaper and with production director Meeting with book publisher who has used profits to operate the "New Millenium Foundation" (development of science, culture and education) Opera at Bolshoi Theater 17 Lecture: Labor and the trade union movement in Russia today (Milovidov) Visit to agricultural commodities exchange 18 Discussion: "Ethnic conflicts in Russia and the CIS" (Stepanyants, Institute of Philosophy) Video documentary: Soviet troop withdrawal from Meinigen Germany Visit to nursery school 19 Travel to Vladimir Tour of Vladimir, its churches and museums 20 Visit to Gous-Khroustalny and its crystal museum; meeting with crystal designer 21 Discussion with director of Trade Union Training Center Visit to Bogolioubovo Visit to furniture factory and discussion with director 22 Visit to Suzdal Travel to Moscow 23 Meeting at the Gorbachev Foundation with VV Shostakovsky, Co-Chairman of the Republican Party Sample Russian lesson using suggestopedic method 24 Lecture: "Theater in Russian cultural life" (Kalyzin) Meeting with leaders of Russia's "alternative" trade unions (planned) 25 Lecture: "The civilizational history of Russia" (Erasov) Meeting with representatives of a commercial bank (planned) 26 Visit to Kuskovo Estate Open Air Museum Free time 27 Picnic offered by kitchen staff of Academy of Labor Free time 28 Closing discussion and critique Free time 29 Return to USA
