Like many forward thinking students from Crawford County, Frederic resident Jamie Pinkelman, who graduated from Grayling High School in 2005, decided to take a couple classes this summer.

She didn't go to Kirtland. Nor did she go to her regular campus at Michigan State University. She decided to try something different. She spent six weeks studying at Volgagrad, Russia.

"I wanted to study abroad and Russia and Mexico were the only two options I really had for math, and (Russia) seemed more interesting," said Pinkelman.

Pinkelman left for Europe on May 18 as part of a six week study abroad program hosted by her school, Michigan State University. She was joined by about 80 other students, making it one of the largest study abroad programs in the country.

Although her classes were held in Volgagrad, she also visited the world-famous cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, as well as parts of Germany.

"I've always been interested in going to Russia or Moscow, because of all the cathedrals and everything. I thought it'd be interesting to see," said Pinkelman.

The first city she visited, St. Petersburg, left a strong impression.

"It was really cold and rainy. It was full of tourists," said Pinkelman.

The tourists disappeared as she adjusted to life in the smaller city of Volgagrad. Here, many of the differences between the American and Russian standards of living became immediately apparent.

There was no clean drinking water, except for bottled water. Other facilities, such as rest rooms, were substandard from the American point of view.

"Everything was kind of like, crowded and smelly," said Pinkelman.

Poverty, and many of the social problems that come with it, were evident throughout the city. The most powerful political force in the area was the local mafia.

"It made me appreciate a lot of what I had in Frederic, Michigan," said Pinkelman.

In the particular region that Pinkelman stayed in, there were also noticeable civil equality issues.

"Volgagrad is very geared toward guys, as the ratio of women to men is three to one," said Pinkelman.

She noted that the locals were not particularly outgoing, either.

"It seems hard to get to know people or befriend anyone," said Pinkelman.

Nonetheless, she noted that not everything about the Russian people was all that different from Americans.

"Russians are very nationalistic and really have a lot of pride in their country," said Pinkelman.

Fashion, music and trends were familiar as well.

"Russian culture really wasn't too different from any other Western culture," said Pinkelman.

Russia itself has made some very important contributions to Western culture and history.

Pinkelman was able to see some of these historic landmarks for herself, including the Red Square and Lenin's tomb.

Pinkelman returned to the United States on July 3, just in time to participate in Grayling's Independence Day parade the next day.

"I was very excited to be back for the Fourth of July," said Pinkelman.

Pinkelman has been in Russia during that country's equivalent holiday, called Constitution Day.

"It was interesting to compare the celebrations," said Pinkelman.

She said that although she's not sure she would want to go to Russia again, she is "glad for the experience nonetheless."

"It's quite an eye opening experience and I recommend (for) anybody (to) take the opportunity if they have it," said Pinkelman.

source: http://avalanche.townnews.com