As with any cross-cultural experience, each participant took away something unique from the time spent in Novgorod. However, in sharing their reactions and reflections, program participants agreed on a number of points relating to the personal and professional impacts of the program.

Members of the host organization, "Community," -- Tanya, Lidia, Marina and Vera -- share Russian folk songs during some down time in Novgorod.

Competency to compare and contrast special education approaches in the U.S. and Russia: some aspects of special education are amazingly similar in the U.S. and Russia (e.g. speech pathology); others are markedly different (e.g. children considered mildly disabled in the U.S. and thus mainstreamed may be classified as more severe in Russia and hence excluded from regular schools)

Understanding of the two-way nature of a cross-cultural professional exchange: one participant remarked, "I envisioned that we would come here as ambassadors, saying 'This is how we do special education.' But I quickly realized that we all have strengths and weaknesses and things to learn from one another."

Appreciation of the intensity and inspiration offered by this kind of experience, both in terms of content and cross-cultural context: it is important for participants to keep an open mind, to listen to others, and to take the time to consider what they are learning and what they are contributing; participants commented specifically on the rejuvenating nature of the program.

Vision for future exchange activities and involvement: participants brainstormed a list of ideas for follow-on projects, including a reciprocal trip for Russian special educators to the U.S. (as one participant said, "Seeing is believing. It would be great for our Russian colleagues to observe us in action, see our approaches and our results, learn about our laws."); partnership projects between schools, organizations, parents' groups etc.; supporting the growth of advocacy groups in Russia through information exchange.

"It was a wonderful experience for any teacher to go through. [The program] was organized and handled very professionally. I received a broad understanding of special education and regular education in Novgorod. I would recommend any teacher to apply." Judy Beam, Athens, TN

The Russian program coordinators also joined in during the reflection session, commenting that nearly all the organizations and schools included in the program had called to express their appreciation for having had the chance to interact with the program participants. The coordinators mentioned some of the specific challenges they face in trying to capitalize on international collaboration, the main problem being the lack of funding for translating and adapting useful resource materials from English into Russian.

Lidia Svirskaya, executive director of the Novgorod organization, "Community," and coordinator of the Project Harmony program, presents farewell gifts to participants at the final dinner in Novgorod. Lidia is an educator and activist who has been promoting progressive approaches to education, including the mainstreaming of special education students, in the Novgorod region for the past decade.

• Forming an institutional partnership between early intervention centers in Michigan and Novgorod;
• Setting up an Internet linkage between schools for severely disabled students in Michigan and Novgorod;
• Providing seed funding to various special education-related projects in Novgorod;
• Running a village summer school outside of Novgorod for special needs children. Participant Katherene Range will be returning to Russia this summer to co-teach at the school. You can read an account of her visit to the village of Veryohnovo during the April program.