Educators Melanie Sanford, Dr. Jane Eason, Laurie Ann Collins, Linda Smith, Cynthia Knotts, and Dr. Carol Freemam with their two interpreters, Elona and Olga, in Keluga, Russia. Photo contributed by Linda Smith

While most Columb-ians were sweating out the hot April weather, Linda Smith was donning her heavy coat. The AC Flora teacher spent her spring break traversing the globe as she traded the Carolina sunshine for the snows of Russia.

Smith was one of six teachers who participated in a weeklong exchange program to Kaluga, Russia. The exchange was in cooperation with Deliberating in Democracy. The program, which is being incorporated into seven Richland One schools, connects Columbia teens with Russian students via Internet discussion boards and video conferencing.

The trip, however, allowed the six teachers to finally meet the sister schools face-to-face. The teachers spent the majority of their time touring schools in Kaluga, a small city two hours south of Moscow.

Smith noted several differences between American and Russian schools. In the local schools, K-12 classes all met in one building. They also tended to specialize in a particular subject area. One school, for instance, focused on languages, and its students could speak three or four languages fluently. Another was dedicated to the math and science fields.

Smith was quick to point out, however, the similarities in the students.

"The kids in Russia have the same ambitions and same problems as students over here," she said.

The group also received a glimpse of Kaluga's history through museum visits and school presentations. They visited a WWII museum, where they learned about the 1941 Nazi occupation. The city's proudest historical legacy, is its contributions to space science. Dubbed "The Cradle of Space Exploration," it was the home of cosmonaut Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, whose work in rocket design was at the forefront of the Soviet space program. Several museums and monuments were dedicated to the scientist. The group visited a K-12 school devoted almost entirely to aeronautics. There, the six attended a Celebration of Cosmonautics Day at the special Cosmonaut School.

Smith said she also enjoyed the cultural aspects of the trip, such as shopping in a traditional Russian market and visiting the Kremlin in Moscow. The, castle-like complex is the official residence of the president of Russia and overlooks the famous Red Square. The group admired the golden domed cathedral, massive palaces, and intricate designs that mark the Kremlin's structures.

And while Smith said she gained a wealth of experience from her trip to Russia, the learning experience wasn't over yet. Russian teachers visited Flora May 1-6. The teachers followed a similar itinerary as Smith's group and attended cultural and educational events in the Columbia area.