Elnura Usupova of Bishkek, Kyghyzstan, and Anton Korenevsky of Rostov-on-Don, Russia, visited Western on January 8 and spoke with students in Mr. Brazhnikov's classes. Elnura and Anton are both studying at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis this year through IREX, the International Research & Exchanges Board, which sponsors programs in higher education, independent media, Internet development, and civil society programs in the United States, Europe, Eurasia, the Near East, and Asia.

Mr. Brazhnikov's Russian II class converses with Elnura and Anton.

Westernites were impressed with Elnura's and Anton's excellent English, and were interested to hear about their countries and cultures. They also wanted to know the visitors' impressions of life in America, including American music and films.

Elnura and Anton were guests of Mr. Tomlinson, Technology Coordinator and former Russian teacher, who met Anton's mother in Zvenigorod, Russia, at the U.S.-Russian Binational Seminar on the Use of Digital Resources and the Advancement of the Teaching of History and Cultures last summer.