Anyone done Russia?

julie71 · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 390 Location: Brisbane

During my time here in the UK, I've seemed to stumble accross an invitation and opportunity to do some 'voluntary' work, (in exchange for food and board and travel once i'm there) in Russia. Teaching art in some orphanages and possibly getting the opportunity to have my own exhibition.
Has anyone been to Russia? I'm excited and will be well looked after, but have no idea what to expect or even what to pack. I'll be going mid september till an unkown time, could be right through the winter...eeekkk. Been told -30 celcius!
Any hints or tips?
Cheers
julie

charlie_bruno · Joined: 10 May 2007 Posts: 44

Never been but always wanted to go ever since I was little. (Those wooden dolls being the main reason) How great, sounds wonderful, do it & can't wait to here your experiences. F.F.F.F.r.r.r.r.eezing, hope you've got your longjohns Very Happy

KGB · Joined: 21 Jul 2006 Posts: 391 Location: Melbourne

i'm from russia... mmm. if i could only give you one piece of advice (which is all i'm going to do)... take plenty of spare cash for tipping. Russian tipping, to be exact. The only difference with other types of tipping being, with normal tipping you pay after the service is done. With Russian Tipping you pay in order to have the service done. Oh wait, there's a word for that... bribes.

ArtPrint-ce · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 2

If you will have such an opportunity, see White Nights in St.Petersburg. It's awesome. So many great museums and churches there, all are great. Have a nice trip

julie71 · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Posts: 390 Location: Brisbane

Well it's all set and I'm of to Russia on the 6th September, flying out from London as I'm hear for the TRAIL sculpture exhibition and it's much cheaper than flying from OZ.
I'll only have two weeks and will spend most of my time in Vologda, where the orphanage is that i'll be doing the classes. I'll be working with salvaged and recycled materials with the kids and a clay portrait class with the staff and other adult members of the community.
I'm hopeing there will be enough time and opportunity to do some networking for a return visit sometime.
Hopefully this trip will become the first stepping stone to future travels with my art.
Will post some pics sometime after I return.
cheers
julie

KimO · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Posts: 1470

Sounds very exciting. Hope you have a wonderful experience Julie Very Happy

IanFairweatherFriend · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 4

Yes, I've been to Russia... Pskov, Pushkinsky Gory, Gatchina, St Petersburg and Moscow.

Went to see Pushkin's mansion and his father's or was it grandfather's??

Went to the Hermitage.. you MUST spend a whole day in there at least. St Petersburg is beautiful and is called Venice of The North.

Moscow is crazy! It's like it;s on a knife's edge. Overwhelming and overpriced... it is more expensive that London. I bought a pizza for $60 Australian dollars there. And a kid tried to mug me on the last night of my visit. He said he was a police officer. Don't look like tourist if that's possible.
GUM department store was cool, Red Square and the Kremlin and a museum of famous sculptures..all plaster casts! Pushkin Museum is good too.
The clubs were cool one called The Bunker and another one I've forgotten. Oh yeah, also went to the artist's necropolis in St Petersburg... gotta love a country that has a cemetery devoted to artists!

You will have fun.. but be alert. It is full-on.