work with 3 of Irina’s Russian classes at Kamiak High School

Today, thanks to my Ph.D. adviser Dr. Richard Kirby, I had the chance to work with 3 of Irina’s Russian classes at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo. The students are organizing a Russo-American cultural festival which will include producing a play. The third period class is in charge of producing the play. I mentioned that I have some small experience in play production, since my 19-year old daughter, Rosetta, is in Ashland, where, thanks in part to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the High School has a fantastic theater program. I pointed to the spot of paint on the left knee of my jeans, I said, “and this is the color we painted the stage for “Little Mary Sunshine”. After small group discussions, they nominated candidates for which play to produce. Then after some debate, they voted to write an original play for the festival. Irina agreed that I could, with the principal’s permission, observe her classes on Mondays, as a way to begin to immerse myself in Russian language and culture; and I offered to help her grade quizzes, etc. She offered to loan me some Russian movies, textbooks, etc.