On 7 February, invited by the head of the House of Friendship in the Semiluki Municipal District of the Voronezh Region, students, academic staff, and representatives of the administration of the International Education Institute of Voronezh State University took part in the cultural event “A Lesson of Friendship “East: Mosaic of Intricate Patterns””. The International Education Institute was represented by 22 students from 10 countries.
The international delegation took part in a master class by Natalia Shedogubova, Head of the “Masteritsa” club at the regional cultural centre “Semiluki”. The participants tried out an ancient technique used to make dolls in Russian villages. Then they visited the ethnographic museum “Izba”. The tour was guided by Evgenia Afanasenko, the founder and head of the museum, the People's Craftsperson of the Voronezh Region, and wood painter. International students could see a Russian stove, kitchen tools, a classic Russian spinning wheel, a cradle for babies, and a weaver loom. The girls, in particular, were amazed by an old-fashioned iron, which is heated by charcoal.
An important part of the event was a lesson of friendship with the participation of schoolchildren from Semiluki. It consisted of a quiz and a concert.
Nurmyrat Gochmyradov, a student from Turkmenistan completing a pre-university training programme performed a popular Turkmen song.
Natalia VELLA,
Mikhail SHTEINBERG
