Published: July 18, 2007 12:24 pm         

MEDINA TO MOSCOW: High school student travels abroad as part of Lead America adventure

“Mom, can I go to Russia?”

“Sure, go ahead!”

Nicholas Kaiser, a rising junior at Medina High School, received an invitation from LeadAmerica last winter and the next thing his mother, Chris, knew, he was asking to go abroad.

LeadAmerica offered Nicholas 29 program options from diplomacy and international affairs to theater arts. He chose one of the five study abroad programs in going to Russia and traveled to Moscow, St. Petersburg and Pushkin.

“I chose Russia because it’s an old country with a lot of history,” Nicholas said. “It’s fun to learn about a different culture and see how it compares to ours.”

The two-week trip included a two-night stay with a host family in Novgorod, which was his favorite part. While with this family, Nicholas attended his host brother’s graduation and got a glimpse into their lives and traditions. Luckily for Nicholas, who speaks little to no Russian, his host brother was fluent in English, he said.

Nicholas also met with the Russian parliament and media, toured St. Isaac’s and St. Basel’s cathedrals, visited with Russian university students, viewed historic sites related to the Bolshevik Revolution and got briefed by the U.S. embassy.

After a jam-packed two weeks, Nicholas said it wasn’t quite enough time.

“We didn’t really get to see what Russia was like, just those four cities,” he said. “I would love to go back.”

The trip cost approximately $6,000 and students were advised to bring spending money that they could exchange into Russian rubles. Nicholas was gone from June 16 through June 30, missing a New York state Regents he is scheduled to take in August. For his mother, this excursion to the other side of the world was a big step.

“It was kind of scary,” Chris Kaiser said. “There was no way to get in contact with him once he left the country.”

Chris said she was more nervous for her son than he was at the thought of traveling alone.

No one from New York state was present for the Russian Study Abroad program, let alone anyone from Orleans County.

Medina High School principal Wesley Pickreign said the leadership conferences are a great opportunity for students.

“They’re great programs,” he said.

Pickreign said Medina students have attended People to People conferences, Youth Programs and the Hoby Leadership Workshop among others. Oftentimes the information for these programs goes through the guidance office and is then passed on to students and sometimes the students are directly nominated by teachers or administrators.

A LeadAmerica representative said Nicholas was not selected in this way. Instead, he was chosen through the Student Talent Identification Program. This method identifies students based on academics, extra curricular activities and future ambitions. The fact that Nicholas is close to receiving his Eagle Scout Award combined with his academic record and athletic involvement to hail the LeadAmerica surveyors.

After two weeks in Russia, Nicholas returned home with expanded horizons, over 500 pictures — only one including people, according to his mother — and new friends from all over the U.S.

“It seemed like a wonderful trip,” Chris said. “I wish I could have gone.”

For now, Nicholas says he is just waiting for his next chance to travel.