Local photographer Kashirin lectures on historic buildings on Ryazan'
Another shot of Kashirin, who runs his own photography school for children
Middle Eastern-style dancing at a concert at the Medical University
More Middle Eastern dancing
View of the apartment building across the way from the one in which I lived
Shanghai? No, it's apartment-style living in Ryazan'!
Sunset out the apartment window
My host family's turtle likes my shoes!
A colorful world map adorns their wall.
Me in my room
My host dad, Valery, with the book on ABBA I gave him for his birthday
My host mom, Lyudmilla, an English teacher, and her granddaughter, my buddy, Lira
Lira is a talented gymnast!
Watch out, Olga Korbut!
Lira and the fairy Barbie I gave her both do the splits!
Lira is also a butler!
And a "hooliganka".....
Here she's preparing to rob a bank!
Lira and her turtle
Lira underneath a 60th-anniversary WWII victory poster