To Russia With Love – Again

I am really excited about returning to Perm this September. Oxford’s Russian twin city is really welcoming, it’s a bit like being in the north of England.

I enjoyed our visit last year but wanted to return as I felt that last year I had to spend a great deal of time coping with being visually impaired in new surroundings. I’ve written in an earlier piece about what it was like being a V.I.P. in Perm and I was certainly looked after.

This year I have offered to give conversation lessons with students at Perm State University, at whose invitation we are visiting. I’m preparing short texts for reading and discussion on The Street Kids’ School in Kabul, run by our friends the Afghan Peace Volunteers; the crisis in Calais and the wider question of asylum seekers, and something about the Arms Fair in London and the various groups opposing it. I could tell them something about Jeremy Corbyn as the election will take place while we’re there.
This year I’ve been learning Russian. It’s fascinating and also difficult. It will be fun trying it out in Russia! I’ve signed up to continue the course in September.

The most important thing about journeys and visits like this is that we, ordinary citizens, get a chance to talk to ordinary Russians. So much of the world’s ills are caused by physical borders and cultural barriers. We can break through both if we are willing.