Early in February I had the opportunity to be a part of a small delegation form Winston Salem, North Carolina, to visit Russia. The purpose of the trip was an international collegiate exchange conference. Yes it was COLD! The Russians were wonderful hosts and welcomed us with open arms. The details (some best left unwritten) are too numerous to communicate.  

Our itinerary was busy and packed full of interesting events. I was able to visit a School of Medicine, a Health Spa, a Poly-clinic and visit with students in various health care professions. 

The Ulyanovsk Region is located in the central part of European Russia. It is a part of the Middle Volga Valley. It occupies a territory of 37,300 sq. km. The population is 1,488,300 people.

We departure on Friday, February 4, flying from GSO to New York and on to Moscow on Delta

 ·        Arrived in Moscow on Saturday, Feb 5; clear customs and direct bus transfer to the train for a 16 hour ride into Ulyanovsk with arrival on Sunday afternoon; transfer to bus for Undory Spa Hotel, Ulyanovsk Region

 ·        Attended a Mini Banquet given by the Ulyanovsk Regional Chamber of Commerce on Sunday Night; short speech (toast) of salute and greeting to be given by each American participant; full Spa privileges available to all participants throughout the week.

 ·        Monday Morning, Americans meet at the Lenin Palace for an hour long convocation and then into Break Out Groups with peers for all of Monday and Tuesday. Demitry Ablaev will make proper introductions.  At these Break Out sessions, the Americans and Russians will exchange information about each’s profession, including job qualifications, professional responsibilities, market and management expectations, trend of the industry, and ways in which each side might enhance and/or link up academically and professionally with the other.   Each American participant will present Executive Summarized Professional Bios, including all contact coordinates, as well as any information about their companies or worksites available for release.   The literature will be pre-translated into Russian, ready for hand-out. Many of the Americans will be taken to the organizations where Russian peers work, such as hospitals, university, etc. for on-site tours.   (The Russian side will provide translators for each of the groups).   Robin Richards, Narrator, Valery Romanov, Filmmaker, and Irina Lukina will interview each of the Break Out Groups, archiving the event, in its unfolding dynamic for showing in both the US and Russia on Public Television..

      Monday Evening, Russian Traditional Folk Group performance; auditorium, Undory Hotel

 ·        Tuesday morning:   9:00am visit to the Ulyanovsk Governor’s Office for hour long presentation and exchange.   10:30am Link-up with Professional Peers again; meetings, site visits and filming continuing.   A special sub group will reconvene at 3:00pm to meet with the Economic Development Minister of Ulaynovsk to discuss the region’s potential for exchange programs and tourism development.   Tuesday evening, dinner and social dancing-Russian style- in the ballroom of the Undory Hotel.

 ·        Wednesday, Americans will tour Ulyanovsk, including the city's Living Historical Museum,   visit a preserved native settlement and artifact museum, shop for souvenirs and enjoy sleigh rides in original Russian Troikas in the snow.   Dinner will be early with packing to follow.

 ·        Wednesday night, Late Return to Moscow via Train

 ·        Thursday, Mini Bus Tour of Moscow with Visit to the Bolshoi Ballet at night

·        Friday, Tour of the Kremlin, Red Square, St. Basil's, Danilov Cathedral  Museum, Lunch at the World’s largest MacDonald’s and shopping

 ·        Saturday, Return Flight to the US

 Hopefully this adventure can become an annual event. We were greeted with such warmest and great enthusiasm for sharing our different professions.