We interviewed one of our longest-serving hosts in St Petersburg to find out more about her experience of hosting students from Liden & Denz. Lena is an extremely hospitable host and loves chatting with her students. After working as a teacher of Russian for many years, Lena started taking in foreign students into her home 13 years ago. I sat down to tea with Lena to find out more!
Lena with her collection of mini jugs!
When my husband died, I met a young lady who told me about Liden & Denz. I called them up and then started to take in students! Since then I have been taking in students for 13 years. Now I host students in two rooms and I love it!
Most of all I like the sense of order at Liden & Denz. Everything there is very rigorous, clear, and there are no hopeless students. Even if Liden & Denz didn’t pay anything, I would take in students anyway. I find it very interesting to talk with students; the girls are clever and the boys are very respectable. I love to share my experiences. In fact, I even gave some life advice to a boy who was apprehensive about the future. I advised him not to worry, find a partner, and enjoy making friends. Now I am very satisfied that I did what I was supposed to do and helped him to feel at ease. Until this day he calls me all the time! I know that I gave him the correct advice. I like to be a mother to the students. It is a joy to host them and then receive postcards and posters from them after they have left. One student, who is now a diplomat in Moscow, even came back to visit!
Sometimes it is hard to guess what students want to eat, but that’s not difficult, I just make something else. It’s just a trifle. Moreover, sometimes students come home late at night, but it is only a problem because I worry about them. I have had no difficulties – not that I can remember anyway. Everything runs smoothly and I have never come across any serious issues.
Student bedroom in Lena’s home
I meet the students at the gates and get to know them straight away; I ask them their names and show them their bedroom. Of course, I always try to be cheerful and have a laugh – it is clear that any tension quickly disappears. Students arrive feeling apprehensive about being away from home, but they are soon glad that they came. They start to look more at ease and see that everything is normal and good. No-one else but me lives here. If a student has any problems, I only ever sort it out myself and with them. I have never had to call the school in 13 years of taking in students. When the students leave, they go with the feeling that I have been very compassionate.
Lena & I enjoying some Russian tea!
If I know that my friends have good conditions in their home and they live close to a metro station then I would 100% say yes! I would give them my telephone and tell them who to call. “You must!”, I would say.
We were delighted to find out that Lena has had nothing but positive experiences and even stays in touch with previous students who continue to write and visit! Thank you Lena for working so tirelessly to make our students feel welcome.
For some advice on being the perfect guest, check out Anna and Thomas’ posts!
Posted by James Tibbles
Привет! My name is James and I am a student at Liden & Denz. From the dreaming spires of Oxford to the glittering rooftops of St Petersburg I am super excited to write my next chapter in Russia's literary and cultural capital.
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