Editor: Valorie Lennox 656-1151 TheReview Tuesday, December 24,1991 — A9 oan Community ~ The decorated tree is the same, the gift-giving is the same — but the whole celebration will come a week early for Russian exchange student Sveta Tochilina, who will celebrate Christmas with host family John and Sandy Bumpus. Sveta, 14, arrived in Canada last August to spend 10 months as an exchange student. At Parkland Secondary, she is taking grade 10 and 11 courses, studying English, social studies, drama, computer science and math. “It’s very interesting for me. I want to know lots of things about _ Canada, language and culture,” she said. One part of culture she is learn- ing about is Christmas, which she has not celebrated in Russia. - In Russia, families decorate trees with ornaments and small toys, tinsel and lights — but they hold their celebration to mark the New Year, not Christmas. Gifts are opened New Year’s Day, Sveta said. In Moscow, Sveta’s family lives in an apartment. Her father, a mineralogist, has his own com- pany which supplies stone for monuments and also imports stones from around the world. Her mother works for a com- pany which exports raw graphite. For the New Year celebration, Sveta’s family would erect an evergreen tree in their home and decorate it much as a Canadian tree is decorated. Some people use artificial trees, Sveta said, and others use three- inch candles in place of electric FOR R Early Evening Dinner *19.95 Your Choice of *Appetizer *Entree *Dessert , SPEICAL — NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH $11.95 “Two Sittings 10:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. . 652-1146 ~ 7 on A CANADIAN CHRISTMAS will be celebrated by (left) Sveta Tochilina, a 14-year-old exchange student from Russia, who is staying with host family John and Sandy Bumpus. Sandy, (right), says 14 guests will be at her family’s Christmas dinner, including Sveta. Celebration early for Russian student lights. Schools are closed for three weeks, she said. On Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, the family would hold an open house and friends would visit. Although no special foods are prepared for the festival, the family presents as bountiful a selection as possible, with fish dishes predo- minating. Gifts are exchanged with parents and friends. Although Sveta is looking for- ward to a Canadian Christmas and likes her host family, she also misses her parents, friends, school and Moscow itself. The food in Canada is different, she says. “We didn’t eat cold food.”’ For breakfast in Russia, Sveta would have porridge and ham, sausage or pork. Sveta is not used to the cold cereal or sandwiches commonly eaten for breakfast and lunch in Canada, Sandy Bumpus said. _ Meal times are also different. In Russia, Sveta would have breakfast about 7:30 a.m., dinner about 3 p.m. and supper about 7 p.m. In Canada, because she must take a bus to school, she must be up at six a.m. and leave the house by 7 a.m. In Moscow she was a three- minute walk from school. She attended school from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m., studying 18 subjects including math, physics, chemis- try, geometry, algebra, history, geo- graphy, literature, cooking, Eng- A\ Greetings C lish, drafting and art. One difference in Canadian schools is the availability of com- puters. In Russia, she notes, there were only 13 computers for her entire school. Generally, she says*classes in Canada are easier and the teachers are more approachable. In Moscow, Sveta would spend afternoons participating in sports, especially gymnastics. She also enjoyed cross-country skiing in Russia and is looking forward to going skiing in Canada over the holidays. = JAY LYN JEWELLERS GOLDSMITH FGEMa0LoaisT All Done on Location #12 - 2510 Bevan Ave. (Corner of 2nd & Bevan, Sidney) HOURS: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Sat. 656-5556 —— ANoE Cove Corree Suop NEW YEARS DAY Open for Breakfast Only 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 2300 Canoe Cove Road 656-5557 eWish YouA Merry Pegi as May the love of home and family bea special gift to treasure throughout the season. John, David & Shannon VICTORIA AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICES ~ Best Wishes for the Holiday Season & the New Year from all of us at Work Wear World in Sidney! A Sincere Thankyou to All of Our Valued Customers who Supported ' Us for Another Fabulous Year!