A Sewickley Academy student traveled far and wide to further her Russian language education this summer.
Global Studies student Maren Webb was selected for the U.S. Department of State's National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NLSI-Y) program.
The fully-funded scholarship provided Webb with a seven-week study abroad opportunity in Kazakhstan, where she resided with a local host family and studied Russian intensively. Kazakhstan was a part of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics until its collapse in 1991.
NLSI-Y is a federal initiative program open to American high school students to ensure Americans learn and master critical languages to build mutual understanding, bolster the economy, strengthen national security and foster international cooperation.
"Participants like Maren gain valuable insights into international affairs, develop foreign language proficiency and cultivate the ability to appreciate diverse perspectives," said Nataliya Di Domenico, Sewickley Academy global studies department chair. "Maren joined our Global Studies program last year and has demonstrated exceptional progress and enthusiasm for global affairs."
Languages available to study are Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Indonesian, Korean, Turkish, Russian and Persian.
Webb, 16, is a junior and lives in Sewickley.
An avid ballet student since the age of 4, she studies ballet at West Point Ballet in Coraopolis.
"There's deep Russian ties between ballet and the culture and I've always been intrigued by Russian ballet and I wanted to study the language," Webb said. "It's definitely a different culture. It's a big and safe city. There are a lot of things the government does to ensure our safety."
Di Domenico stressed both Russia and Kazakhstan are no longer classified as communist countries.
"The safety concerns to Kazakhstan, especially in the big cities where the program is located, are more related to typical urban issues, rather than a political system," Di Domenico said.
During her visit, Webb shared cultural exchanges with her host family, which included residing in an urban apartment with a father and adult daughter.
And bonding over food was a common cultural thread.
"There's a big emphasis on food there and I enjoyed that," Webb said. "Everyone will offer you food and meals are an important part of the day."
Webb noted daily dining excursions at local eateries included a three-course meal.
"The cuisine is flavorful and one of my favorite meals was a rice dish with carrots. Hot tea is a popular drink," Webb said.
Webb arrived in Kazakhstan on July 1 and met her host family, who spoke Russian exclusively with her.
For Webb, exchanging her suburban Sewickley world for urban city life was fun.
"I enjoyed being in the city because there was always something to do and I could explore Kazakhstan with my language partners. I saw some movies in Russian, and visited parks and restaurants. Kazakhstan is like a city that never sleeps," Webb said.
Russia is the eighth most spoken language in the world by native speakers and one of the official languages of the United Nations.
Webb previously attended a hybrid DSI summer program in Connecticut when she was 15.
No previous language experience is required and Webb was selected for the scholarship after a rigorous application process that included two written essays and interviews.
The monetary value of Webb's scholarship is about $10,000.
In America, Russian language studies have declined significantly following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The most recent data provided by the federal government revealed about 22,000 students enrolled in Russian language programs in 2013, compared to 800,000 students studying Spanish and 198,000 studying French.
Kazakhstan life
Webb's typical day studying at Kazakh National University included four hours of language instruction with other American students from the same program.
"It can get pretty difficult but it motivates you to learn so you can communicate. In class we only spoke Russian," Webb said.
Russian is considered a challenging language to master.
"It was difficult. Russia is a difficult language and it was fast-paced but I think I got a lot out of it. My proficiency improved a lot," Webb said.
She doesn't have any Russian heritage and it was her first trip abroad.
"I did experience some homesickness and it's a nine-hour time difference," Webb said. "The first few days I struggled but I bonded with peers and that took my mind off of it and I focused on this new and exciting experience."
Webb shared a popular American pastime with her Kazakhstan peers.
"Being there and experiencing this cross-cultural exchange despite language barriers, I learned we are more united than we think we are. I went bowling and it's pretty much the same as here in the States," Webb said.
Other reminders of home were Kentucky Fried Chicken fast food and pizza.
Webb plans to pursue her Russian studies after high school and aims to study international relations and business in college.
She received credits towards her Global Studies Certificate program at Sewickley Academy.
On her last day of instruction, Webb was gifted with a Kazakh Tubeteika hat, as a special token of appreciation by her resident director.
Webb made a beeline for Chipotle and enjoyed her first American meal upon returning to Pittsburgh in August.
She's hopeful more of her peers choose to go on a language-cultural adventure.
"I would encourage anyone who's interested in national security and learning. It was life-changing and great and I'm grateful for the program, " she said.