Video Description: Kristina, originally from Benton Illinois, was on exchange in Belo Horizonte, Brazil in 2001-2002 and is now a Host Mom for Ekaterina Pozdniakova, a Rotary Youth Exchange student from St. Petersburg, Russia.  Kristina talks about her experiences as an exchange student many years ago in Brazil, how it has impacted her life, and why she is still involved as a host mom for Ekaterina (Kate).  Kate talks about why she wanted to be an exchange student, what’s happened in her year in America, and what it’s like to live in her hometown of St. Petersburg.

• Allow learners to travel via this and other videos in the collection that feature people who have lived in other countries. After viewing this program, learners should design a trip to Russia by doing independent research on how to reach the country, what documents are required to enter it, where to visit, sights to see and where to stay. Depending on time and learner ability, add a component of pricing each element of the planned trip, using current exchange rates.
• If the learner’s family were to host someone from another country, what would they want the guest to see, visit and experience? Have learners choose one or more aspects of American culture that they feel would be important to share with the guest and explain why.