How did you feel when you left home for the exchange?

1) Frightened, as I don't know what to expect at Moscow

2) Very excited. Looked forward to gain experience and to learn about Russian Culture

3) Apprehensive - didn't know what to expect coz never went on an exchange before

4) Excited, at the same time I was curious what would happen next

5) Apprehensive as I did not really know everyone

6) Excited and curious about Russian Culture

7) Nervous/excited at the same time

8) I felt excited but scared as I heard about the Mafia as I thought they were going to shoot me for being deaf from other countries

9) I felt nervous and excited

10) Happy, having a break from UK

11) Exciting, looking forward to being involved in this thing

12) Looking forward to face the challenge

13) Excited but bit nervous

14) Looking forward to see new friends! Excited to visit all over the city of Moscow! Can't wait!

15) Nervous, excited, can't wait!

16) I felt nervous but was also looking forward to the challenge.

Have you noticed anything about yourself from this trip? What?

1) I have learned to be confident with people, as I usually don't get involved with strangers but at Russia, I somehow, was surely confident!

2) Became more confident and learnt about each other more.

3) I gained more confidence and am more accepting of people's habits and bad qualities, I learned how to mix with everyone.

4) I was surprised to see that I really enjoyed learning about the history of Moscow and exploring places

5) My confidence was increased, I find myself approaching and talking to people

6) Nothing new - probably due to previous travel experience, have discovered something of myself - so no real differences this time.

7) Capability to communicate on a visual level (born oral!)

8) Yes I have, I am getting thinner!!!!

9) I feel I've got more experience, like a part of me has changed, also I'm more sure about travelling around the world.

10) Yes, I have noticed that I am a great person for anyone to relate with, more than I expected!!

11) Communication (Capital!)

12) Built up more confidence to mix with more people, learn international sign language which will be useful for the future.

13) My confidence has built up more strongly than before

14) More experienced and more confident!

15) I noticed my communication skills improved and I am more confident

16) I appreciate my life more and don't take things for granted like I used to. I can mix with people from different backgrounds better and learnt how to respect their views.

What does an exchange mean to you?

1) An exchange means "youth" person or people go to another country, and the other group go to their home place. To see and find out about their culture.

2) Interaction between 2 groups of young people between 2 countries.

3) Learning about their culture and ways of life and making friends and their lifestyle.

4) A group from a country meets another group from a difference country, also they change the visit vice versa.

5) Exchanging cultural notions and using ISL

6) Swap. Could mean in terms of money or people.

7) Exchange of experience and information and views

8) Exchange means to me, people are swapping to each other aka different countries.

9) Gaining experience from another culture/lifestyle by visiting the countries involved

10) Swap things, experience etc

11) It mean exchange deaf youth group from different countries

12) Swap over something, to be fair e.g. a country came to UK and it's our turn to go over to their countries.

13) Two different countries (swap) to see what the life is like, e.g. Culture and Education

14) Know each other, experience exchange, see what is their culture like! More information to know about Moscow!

15) Exchange experience, gain skills of ISL, learned about Moscow and people and deaf people's culture

16) Visiting other country (vice-versa) Learn and fit in their community/culture. Share ideas and information

What important things have you learnt about Moscow?

1) The most important thing I have learnt about Moscow is the culture. Very different between England and Moscow.

2) Different culture and lifestyle. Also Moscow's history - e.g. Red Square, Kremlin and communism

3) Their history and how it affects the people there and the deaf community there

4) I was intrigued with the history of Moscow, especially the Red Square and the World War Museum. I tried my best to respect their culture.

5) Russians view their world differently from us

6) History. Culture (both deaf and hearing)

7) The quality of life and its history

8) Their culture.

9) Its size compared to London, the wide gap between the rich and the poor, the Mafia and how much control they have, parts of the history of Moscow.

10) Communication, culture and attitude

11) Concern about their history, e.g. Red Square

12) Their culture and the living of Russia

13) Their history (I admit I am not good at history), communication and culture

14) Sleeping at a deaf friend's home for 2 nights, going to the museum, ISL

15) History, building, communism and transport services

16) Deaf culture/ culture in general / political issues / education system / behaviour norms. Its an interesting comparison to the UK.

What skills have you learnt from this exchange?

1) ISL, to be able to communicate with the Russian people.

2) More effort in team work, ISL

3) ISL, making the first move in communication!! (Putting up with Alison!)

4) ISL. To think positive when the situation becomes awkward.

5) Communication skills, especially ISL.

6) ISL and Russian Sign Language

7) ISL and generosity! Skill of respectability and communication

8) Extra International Sign Language and some Russian Sign Language

9) Learnt to be more confident, involve everyone, ISL, signs of life in the world - awareness of different cultures.

10) Loads!

11) To learn how to communicate with them, including International Sign Language

12) Bit of Russian Sign Language and International Sign Language

13) Lots of things like ISL

14) Communication skills, and getting to know people in our group very well!

15) ISL, communication skills

16) ISL!! How to work with people as a team.

Were you involved in the planning of the exchange?

1) No I didn't

2) No.

3) Not at all! (OOPS!)

4) I participated in fund-raising in order to fund the group, e.g. London Tube Stops!

5) No - (sorry, should I have been involved?)

6) No, not unless you count the training day

7) Nope - training day - participated

8) NOPE

9) No

10) No

11) Yes, to help our friends

12) No

13) NOPE!

14) No.

15) No.

16) No

Will you go on another exchange? Where would you like?

1) Yes, such as America, Africa, Japan etc.

2) Yes, I would like to visit Japan or Hong Kong

3) Yes deffo! Somewhere very different like China, Japan or Africa!

4) Yes - Mexico and Canada!

5) Yes - somewhere not in Europe and not an English speaking country

6) Yes. South Africa, America... would love Australia especially but I have been there

7) Yes - anywhere where the difference of deaf culture is very significant

8) Yes - Anywhere as I really love travelling other countries and learning about their culture

9) Yes I would love to, especially France and America

10) Of course, anywhere which is very different in culture from ours, like the Far East etc!! Not in Europe! USA, Australia!

11) Far East, e.g. Japan or South America (Brazil)

12) I would go on another exchange - Australia, South Africa, Far East or other countries that have deaf associations in their country

13) I would love to go anywhere that has a completely different life, culture.

14) Yes, Japan or Romania. (Hawaii?!?!?!)

15) Yes, Japan, China, Thailand (Hawaii!!) anywhere outside Europe due to finance!

16) Yes!! America? Finland

Will you keep in touch with some of your new Russian friends?

1) Yes, course I'll try to keep in touch with my Russian friend

2) Yes, especially through faxes

3) I would like to - hopefully!! (Realistically not really possible!)

4) Yes, one in particular gave me the address for contact

5) Yes - I will try but I think it will fade away after a while, wait and see

6) Will send copies of photos to one whom I stayed with but no particular correspondence - hate writing letters!!

7) Maybe 1 or 2

8) Yes of course, they are my friends, I will keep on sending them faxes and letters

9) I really hope so, but the language barrier affects me. I can't write or understand Russian!

10) Of course! Silly question, at least if they keep in touch with me!

11) Yes if I can try my best!!

12) We have exchanged our contact addresses so it would be great experience to keep in touch with them, only if they do make the effort (!) same with us.

13) I hope so!

14) Possibly!

15) More likely exchange Xmas Cards

16) Yes! I have exchanged addresses with several Russian friends

Would you like to be more involved with the planning next time? How?

1) Wouldn't mind to try and help out with the leader, involved in the planning, organising etc.

2) I would like to help the person responsible for organising it etc. I would keep people up to date with information etc.

3) Don't mind really - depends!

4) Yes, to encourage more fund raising

5) I wouldn't mind getting involved next time

6) If I had free time and was asked, probably yes because I have proved I have good organisation skills etc., but have University next year (second year) and so would like to focus on that.

7) Brain-storming - ideas on how things are run?

8) Yes, by contacting the leader and helping the leader

9) No

10) Yes, need someone to tell me how!! (Training) then I will make a fantastic plan!

11) No but I would like to help others like being the assistant leader, to get more involved

12) Yes, organise the exchange trip - after looking up at the leaders and got some experience from them.

13) I would like to be more involved, but not big planning because I am not the type of person that plans lots of things

14) Yes! Information from Tyron W, Deaf Clubs and Internet!

15) Yes, to be part of the project, helping the leader to sort something out, such as a budget, insurance, organise trips etc

16) Yes

Write down 5 things about the exchange that could be improved

1) Less people, such as 12 or under. "Youth Exchange", not "School" exchange. Age. Interpreter.

2) Programme - to be organised better. Interpreter for British People. Need more information bout places of interest when we are visiting. Learn basic ISL before the trip to prepare. Stay in somewhere like a youth hostel!

3) Timetable/rota of places. Information before we go to places. Letting us go out whenever we want to (non-restrictive please!). Interpreters for outside visits would be useful.

4) Programme should be more flexible. If a large group, split into 2 groups more for activities. A wide range of ages.

5) Meet more Russians of my age! Some sympathy from the Russian leaders. Better food - more vegetarian awareness. Let Jane lead more often. More freedom.

6) Russian leadership! More independence needed. Better time-keeping. Food. School as a place to reside - no!

7) Can't think of 5, but 2!: Quantity of group. Age range - 16-24 in the UK group, yet under 18's in Russia group! Equal ages would be better.

8) Information. Generosity. Smaller group (less people). Leaders to tell us how much pocket money is best to bring. Give us plenty of time. Another leader (HA HA!)

9) Leadership Methods (Russian). Over 18s only. More freedom to shop and have space. More information about the history of the country. Communication between the Russian Staff and us, provide a translator.

10) Let the Russians have more freedom with us. 

11) Maximum of people. Give us more information. Give us more Russian Basic Sign Language. Make us more prepared about what to expect each day. Plan who stays with whose family well before, don't do it at the last minute. Should visit Moscow in the Summer time.

12) The staff who lead in the foreign country should be young. Deaf awareness (staff in Russia). The group is a bit too big, 14 would be perfect. Don't reside in a school building. 

13) Respect! Sheep Syndrome! (always together like sheep!). Make Russians more involved with the English group. Tell us to be prepared. Programme mixed up a bit. 

14) Right time! Don't change the timetable! I can't think of anymore that could be improved!

15) Not too tight programme. Assistant leader should be more involved. Rather Youth than children in the school. Prepare ISL training. Don't stay in a school again.

16) Better communications, as there were some communication breakdowns. Exchange with a youth group, not a school group. Exchange with similar age group, most of them were 16/17! Encourage small groups, randomly. More shopping time, ha ha!!

Write down 5 positive things about the exchange

1) New different people - new friends. Learn about their culture. Different sign language. Made me even more independent. Achievement.

2) Experienced 2 nights in a Russian home. Learnt how to use ISL. Interacted with the Russians well. Visited interesting places. Learnt more about Russian culture - especially deaf culture, ie theatre etc.

3) Knowing that Russian Deaf in the school enjoyed having us and learned from us all. Look at discussion papers please, I don't want to repeat myself!!

4) The group support was very good. Plenty of places to visit. To learn their culture. To improve ISL. To integrate with Russian people which was excellent.

5) Everyone got on with everyone brilliantly. Dynamic leadership. Meeting Deaf Russian teachers. Learning about the Mafia, KGB and corruption. Everyone was able to put up with dear Sean!

6) Got on well with the Russians. As a group we got on well. Learning experience in terms of history and culture. Good fun! Action-packed.

7) ISL. Culture Exchange. Experiences. Team Development.

8) Leader. Group got on well. Meeting people. Mine and Tyron's best friend!

9) Good Team-work. Encouraging leadership (English). Learnt a new culture. Made new friends. Gained new confidence.

10) Cheerful Group. Respect was high. 

11) To get to know each other. Its good for us to learn what their culture is like. Learn how to communicate with them (Russia Sign Language). Team work.

12) Mix with new people. ISL. Independence. Good team work, we all shared. Respect.

13) Good Group. We tried our best to get on with the Russians. Met new people. Learned their culture and lifestyle. Sean is away a lot, busy with the girls (he thinks) ha ha!

14) Good team-work. Everyone respected each other. 

15) Being with Russian Deaf people. Exchanging knowledge and culture. Keeping Russian Deaf people involved with the programme.

16) We had lots of fun and memorable moments. Most of us had built firm friendships with the Russians/English. We made the most of it. The programme was full. Staying over a Russian family's home was brilliant, a real taste of their culture! Despite a few problems, everyone got on and worked together very well.

Has anything inspired you particularly?

1) Yes, especially the deaf-blind school

2) Russian language and Russian sign language has inspired me to learn more. Will buy a Russian/English dictionary!

3) The Russians' ability to eat any food!! Happy whatever the cost, and very generous and good fun and this is brilliant considering their situation.

4) The courage of Russian people - especially they are leading a hard life

5) The Deaf Russian's ability to keep positive despite negative attitudes from hearing society.

6) History i.e. Lenin and Stalin, but not enough information

7) Quality of life in Moscow and the school

8) Once in the deaf-blind school, one girl is now an orphan (only about 1-2 yrs old) because she's deaf. It was very emotional.

9) The deaf-blind school really touched my heart

10) (BLANK)

11) Not really

12) Yes, especially the visit to the deaf-blind school

13) (BLANK)

14) Theatre and drama!

15) Kremlin, Red Square, Statues. Stayed over deaf family. The Underground. Theatre and performers.

16) Everyone used sign language in various versions all week which was wonderful!! It has certainly inspired me to learn more about ISL and other countries' sign languages.

Would you come back to Moscow again? Why?

1) Yes, didn't have the chance to visit all of the places and to see my friend?

2) Yes, because I'd love to learn more about its history and to explore more.

3) Yes, to see any improvements and to have more sightseeing. Also to see how our new friends have done with their lives.

4) No, but I would like to go to St Petersburg. There are a lot of places in the world to visit, so a trip to Moscow was fulfilled.

5) Yes - to see if things have improved for Deaf Russians

6) No - its a place that if I have been there, I won't go again, I'd sooner go to a country that I haven't been to before as FINANCE! Moscow wasn't particularly fabulous, not like Munich in Germany.

7) No - one trip is worthy enough for me!

8) Yes, for the friends

9) Yes, to see my friends again and drink in more information

10) Yes, meet my friends, I am able to stay at my friend's place and can then make my own decisions about where to go without sheep syndrome!!

11) No, I just go there once in my life

12) I would, for a long weekend would be better, to visit around Moscow as I didn't have enough time to explore around Moscow

13) I would because I would like to know if Moscow has changed in 10 years time?

14) No, because I would like to go to different places for more experience!!

15) No, because I want to go to different places such as St Petersburg and other places only once.

16) Probably but in a few years' time on a special occasion such as the World Federation of the Deaf, or a Sign Language Festival. It would be nice to see everyone again.

Write down your own summary of the whole exchange visit

1) I have enjoyed it a lot, as it was so challenging and a grand experience for me. To see their "real" world and life etc. It leaves me with a wide thought about lives etc. I believe that exchange visits do good for everybody! It was an interesting visit.

2) Fantastic experience! I enjoyed myself, even though it was very tiring and a tight schedule. I feel that sometimes the staff were too pushy and spoilt the exchange a bit - e.g. change of programme. Despite all of that, brilliant interaction with Russian Deaf people. Great Exchange - useful and very memorable experience in Moscow that will stay in me for life.

3) Too long! I wanna sleep! And I had a brill time. Full stop.

4) The whole point of the exchange visit was to learn the culture and to experience the way of living in a different country, and I was so glad to fulfill the aims. The visit has inspired me to become a globe trotter!!

5) Loads of things packed into a short space. We were treated like royalty which was unnecessary.

6) I was glad that we got on well and had respect for each other in general. Meeting the Russians was interesting but they were a bit too much at times, i.e. expecting too much fro us. The highlight is probably staying with a Russian family - as it was an eye opener. I was not particularly upset to leave Moscow, probably 1 week was enough for me due to the lack of food and adequate facilities. Staying at a school was a main disadvantage as it meant mixing with little children who were also residing there, and sticking to school rules. I left school seven years ago! Like I mentioned before, history and culture were the main two learning experiences for me. Great overall.

7) Whole trip was an eye opener for sure. Culture, weather, people, buildings - all different from the UK! Worth every penny from the sponsors!

8) IT WAS BRILLIANT! (Apart from mine and Tyron's best friend(!))

9) It was fantastic, I've got so much more experience and now I feel I see the world with different eyes. The Russian people were friendly and easy to get on with, I would do it again.

10) Fantastic, brilliant, cheerful. I believe we have cheered them a lot more than what was expected.

11) Well, well, well I've done the exchange twice now, before to Switzerland. Both exchanges were brilliant and there was good team work, but the problem is the Russian staff who looked after us, they were hearing and couldn't communicate with us effectively. I am sorry but I have to say that Switzerland was the best one!!

12) Finally in the end, I have looked back and see that I have enjoyed it so much, it was a great experience and a challenge. The group was good and fun which made the trip more lively!!! There are a lot of events that we have been up to, and its definitely memorable for me. I think that the whole exchange trip was successful!!! So thanks to the leaders for their co-operation with us.

13) Enjoyed myself and it was brilliant because Moscow had information unknown to us, fantastic, very interesting. I am happy that we tried our best.

14) I think a group exchange is a brilliant idea. We enjoyed ourselves and visited most of the museums in Moscow. The strongest part was the deaf-blind school which hit us, cos we realised how terrible some people's lives are.

15) Exchange trip was excellent. People in the group respected each other well and made the effort to enjoy themselves. Nothing negative happened between people such as arguments. We kept together the whole time. Moscow was a huge experience, Russian people are really behind us. They try to keep up to date with us. I was really surprised by the deaf-blind school, it hit me hard. We have never thought about such a place before arriving there. Moscow centre is an excellent place to find our about communism. We played many games with the Russians, which was great fun. Shame that England lost its penalty to Russia!

16) It was a positive, unique and brilliant experience. I'll recommend it to others and would do it all over again. We all had a laugh and learnt a lot at the same time. Trying to adapt and fit in their culture was the best thing.