Hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something from my students. They have become my guides to Russian language and culture. Whenever I see or hear something strange in Ekaterinburg, I ask my students about it. It will always be strange and unusual for me, but it is comforting to know more about it.

Although I have lived in Russia for only a few months, I have already collected many such pieces of knowledge. For example, I learned that Russia has two Christmases and two New Years. There is no racism in Russia. Ladybugs are called "God's Little Cows." Nobody reads newspapers.

In a way, my students have also taught me a lot about my own country. They have asked me deep and insightful questions about American values and traditions that have forced me to consider my culture in a new light.

For example, my students have asked me why Americans smile so much. At first, I wanted to give the obvious answer, "We are always extremely happy", - but then I realized that, perhaps, we aren't. To Russians, our constant smiling and good cheer appears insincere and forced. After thinking about it, I had to admit that sometimes, it is. But not always.

For example, whenever I ask a question in Ekaterinburg, I smile at the person because I hope they will see that I am happy to be speaking to them, and that I am apologetic for being a foreigner. I think it is the polite thing to do. They look at me without a smile. They do not hide their emotions behind a smile. They think that is the polite thing to do. Neither way is better.

My students have also taught me the meaning of "friendship." Before I arrived in Russia, I had heard that here, "a friend is a real friend." I did not understand why Russians believed that that was not true in America. I thought to myself, why, I have many friends! How could such a basic thing as friendship be different?

Russians have at least two words for "friend," but in America we have only one. Although Russian dictionaries translate the less-strong friends as "acquaintances," most Americans do not use that word to describe personal relationships.

Our language is coarser. Everyone we have some connection to is a "friend." When Russians see us referring to people we barely know as "friends," they believe we simply have no strong connections as they do.

My students have taught me many other fascinating things about Russian and American culture, and I look forward to trying to explain them

Robert Burns, Teacher of English, Ekaterinburg