Candy has 33 years of teaching experience, working with children from ages four to 22. At NCSU, she teaches future teachers of social studies -- geography, history, economics, government. Candy´s family includes: her husband Bill, who works for the Environmental Protection Agency; her son, Seth, a computer networker and his wife, Rebecca, a doctor; her daughter, Amy, a 20-year-old student at NCSU; and her other daughter Elizabeth, a student in her last year of high school. This will be Candy´s fifth trip to Russia, and her third program with Project Harmony. She´s been to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Smolensk, Petrozavodsk, and Volgograd. As she writes, "I have become a great lover of the beautiful Russian countryside and the wonderful Russian people. I enjoy history and have studied about all of the areas I have visited." Project Harmony appreciates all the work Candy has put into this program, between working with her four students traveling on the program to helping publicize the program to schools throughout North Carolina.

Candy knows all but one of the US participants, and has shared her impressions of each person below.

Anna is 22 years old, and has been in college for five years. Before transferring to NCSU, she attended Peace College, a small girls´ school. After graduating this May, Anna plans to return to Murfreesboro, North Carolina, where she grew up. There she will teach students from ages 11-13. Anna has one brother who is two years older than her. Her father owns an agricultural products business, and her mother is an interior decorator. Anna enjoys reading, cooking and being with friends and family. Anna has never traveled to Europe before and writes about her trip to Russia, "I am interested in Russia especially because I will be teaching its history, geography and culture for years to come."

What Candy wrote about Anna:

Anna Brown is the one whose accent the Russians will love the most. Forget the "American talk" and just listen to her transport you to the South! Anna´s savvy and not to be underestimated. She can really handle herself in the classroom, and in discussions cuts to the chase better than anyone. She has fantastic ideas, is creative and brings fun to any experience!

Raleigh is in her last year at NCSU, studying education with a focus on social studies. She is originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where her parents and brother still live. She visits with her family as much as possible. Her father is a computer analyst and her mother is a floral designer. Her family enjoys music, art, and traveling. Raleigh´s own hobbies include: singing, dancing, reading, writing, shopping and learning. She speaks a little Spanish, and hopes to learn French. This will be Raleigh´s first time out of the United States. She writes about her trip to Russia, "It is my great pleasure to be able to observe Russian schools and learn about the curriculum, as well as learn about the culture."

What Candy wrote about Raleigh:

Raleigh Gregory is really a can-do person. No task is too large and she doesn´t let a challenge go unanswered. She is a tremendous judge of character and understands herself and the motivation of others better than anyone I know. She is a gifted curriculum designer and has clever ways to appeal to kids and hook them into her teaching.

Molly used to work as middle school teacher, but switched careers about ten years ago to become a nurse. She now works in a nursing home caring for the elderly. She lives in a suburb on Detroit with her husband, Richard, and her 23-year-old daughter Celeste, along with three cats. Richard is a semi-retired teacher who still substitute teaches at the high school level, and follows the sport of boxing. Celeste recently graduated from a fine arts college and is going back to school to train as an art teacher. Molly has traveled to Mexico, Canada, England, Scotland, France and China. She has always wanted to visit Russia. She writes, "One of the things I enjoy most about travel is learning something of the everyday lives of the people. So I feel very good about the chance to visit Russia and learn about people´s jobs, families, and hobbies."

What Candy wrote about Molly:

Molly Lindell is the one person who can tell you about me. She and I went to high school and college together and kept in touch at Christmas. If the truth be known, she was faithful about sending cards. I was not. But this year I sent one and she called, not to find out about the family, but about the trip! Imagine....we can´t get together in Virginia, but can in Russia! She´s from Detroit so can teach us Southerners a thing or two about cold. She´s a great person, always ready for an adventure and I´m really looking forward to reconnecting with her. By the way Mary, Molly was in China last year, too.

Mary was a teacher for about twenty-five years, with experience at the elementary, middle school and college levels. Her main area of interest was reading, mostly for students who were unsuccessful in the regular programs. She has a masters degree in Psychology of Reading. Mary´s late husband was a professor of education at North Carolina State University. Mary has three children, two boys, Christopher (36) and Timothy (35), and a daughter, Laura (33). Mary´s current education activities include volunteer work at the local natural sciences museum, environmental education with a coalition to protect a state park near her home, and trying to keep up with and understand current events. Mary spent six weeks in Germany when she was seventeen, and has visited other parts of Europe as well as China. While in Russia, Mary hopes to learn more about what the values of the Russian culture are and how they are transmitted. She writes, "I am interested in the environment and participating in outdoor activities as well as visits to museums, school and historical sites...I believe we are all citizens of the world and need to learn to appreciate and get along with each other."

What Candy wrote about Mary:

Mary Martorella is a travel pro and had to miss Saturday night because she was jetting off to either NYC or Miami or Colorado. I can´t keep up with her! She is a former school teacher who meets a challenge better than anyone I know. She will be our resident expert on Russia since she has been studying up on the history and people of Russia. I mentioned the trip to Mary months ago and after a minute of thought she jumped right in.

Angela teaches world literature and American literature, both of which are integrated into history or social studies. She is very active in many school and community organizations, including the North Carolina Teacher Academy, where she trains other teachers on integrating the arts into the curriculum. She lives in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, which is situated on the North Carolina coast. One of Angela´s favorite things to do is stroll on the beach. She is interested in music, culture and the arts. She sings in her church´s choir, and loves reading. Angela´s husband, Owen, is a business man. They have two sons, Owen Jr. (16) and Alex (10). Angela has traveled to many warm places, including Hawaii, the Caribbean Islands, Saint Martin, Jamaica, and the Bahamas. She is looking forward to visiting Russia, and to sharing her experience with her students, friends and members of her church and greater community.

What Candy wrote about Angela:

Angela Metts is my newest friend on the trip and you will really like her. Talk about busy! She is going for National Board Certification, teaching high school and taking care of a family. We were able to grab her for a few hours on Saturday night before she had to drive back to Wilmington. I´m really looking forward to hearing her views on what she sees in the Russian classrooms. She is a "roll with the punches" woman and will be a great addition to THE GREAT ADVENTURE.

When Brady graduates from NCSU this May, she will be certified to teach social studies and language arts to children ages 10-15. In addition to her student teaching, Brady also volunteers at Exploris (www.exploris.org), a children´s museum focused on educating about our planet´s vastness and diversity. Brady grew up in Ontario, Canada, with her mother, Susan, younger sister, Renee, and grandmother, Marjorie. Brady enjoys cooking, jewelry-making, gardening, walking in the woods, boxing and yoga. She also is inspired by art, music and dance. Having grown up in a bilingual country, Brady speaks French, but does not use it much and fears that it is slipping away. She would like to learn Spanish, as she envisions spending time in Latin America in the future. She has traveled to Central America and Europe, and is very excited about the opportunity to spend time in Russia. Brady has many goals for her trip, including learning about the indigenous peoples and the ecology, as well as the educational system. She writes, "Dr. Beal, our professor, has told us many good things about your schools, the determination of the students, and the efficiency of the teachers."

What Candy wrote about Brady:

"Brady Rochford reminds me of the 60´s because she has all of the caring and concern for those that need a champion and that drive to make a difference in the world. She has a wonderful knack for making a connection to people and really listening to what they have to say. As a teacher and person, she is extraordinary. She led a feisty group of 8th graders last semester on a wetlands adventure and is working with integrative teaching and learning this semester at a charter school. No small task!"

Lowell has been involved in elementary public education for the past 32 years. He taught grades 3-5 for 20 of those years, and worked as an assistant principal at an elementary school of 500 students. Berlin Elementary School has 260 students and serves a rural community. Lowell´s wife, Karin, is the director of the special education at a local college. They have three sons. The oldest works for Project Harmony in Moscow, the middle one teaches at a school for emotionally disturbed students in Massachusetts, and the youngest is a senior in high school. Lowell took Russian classes in high school, and thus has some familiarity with the language. It has been his lifelong desire to visit Russia, and now finally the chance has come. In terms of the professional aspects of the program, Lowell writes, "My school has hosted Russian educators. I know that this was a truly eye opening experience for them. I expect that by visiting Russian schools and seeing first hand the work of my Russian counterparts, my eyes will be opened as well."

Candy doesn´t know Lowell, but Miranda does:

Lowell is someone who is always posing thoughtful questions and seeking out new knowledge. As a guest in his woods-surrounded home, I was asked about my adventures in Russia as well as my family background. When I accompanied a group of Russian educators to Lowell´s school a year ago, I saw how much attention he provided these visitors. I was able to call on Lowell last fall when a group of Finnish educators visited Vermont; once again, he offered to be host. I know how excited Lowell is to take this trip to Russia, combining his professional and personal interests. We´re hoping that his oldest son, Sam, will join us in Pskov for a few days. I must also credit Lowell with introducing me to snow shoes. I tried out a pair of his a year ago, and have been floating across the snow ever since!

Corrina is a senior at NCSU, majoring in social studies and language arts education. In May, she will graduate certified to teach middle grades in North Carolina. She was born in a small town in Missouri and attended elementary and middle school in California. She has three sisters and one brother. Her older sister is married with two kids, and one of her younger sisters, Tia, also attends NCSU. Her other younger sister and brother live with her dad in Norway. His town, Bergen, is one of Corrina´s favorite places to live. Corrina recently became engaged to her boyfriend, Josh. They will be married in August of 2001. Corrina works part time in a jewelry store in a local mall. She enjoys shopping, hanging out with friends, exercising, going to the movies and playing on the computer. She also likes traveling, and has been to the Caribbean, Mexico, Norway and many US states. She is excited about traveling to Russia, and is looking forward to learning more about the educational system there.

What Candy wrote about Corrina:

Corrina Walle is my soul mate when it comes to Norway and travel. She´s always up for an adventure and has been known to take on more than she should, but manages to find a way to make things happen. She has a lot on her plate right now, Legacy, wedding plans and student teaching, but will somehow find a way to cram a few more hours into the day. Coming back she´ll gain 8 hours. Too bad she´ll be too exhausted to take advantage of them! She will be an outstanding teacher because she can empathize with people.