Rebecca Bernstein

Rebecca Bernstein participated in the 2023 CLS Russian Program hosted by the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She is currently in her first year of the Masters of Eurasian, Russian, and Eastern European Studies program at Georgetown University. Rebecca has a Bachelor of Arts in Russian Language/Literature and Jewish Studies with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership and Social Innovation from the University of Maryland, College Park. She plans to apply her Russian language skills as she pursues a career working for an international Jewish nonprofit organization, specifically with Jewish communities in and from the Former Soviet Union.

Getting to Know Rebecca

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. My mother is Italian and my father in Jewish. As an only child, I was very independent and curious. My father spent his high school summers in Italy, and he always encouraged me to have a similarly formative experience in language and cultural immersion when I grew up. I always enjoyed traveling and took this advice to heart when I participated as the first exchange student between my high school and the Leo Baeck Education Center in Haifa. Aside from travel, I enjoy running, reading, being active with friends, concerts and live music, cheese tasting, and thrifting. 

Why Russian? 

My interest in Russian began in 2019, after I attended an international Jewish youth conference for Russian-speaking teenagers from across the Former Soviet Union in Kyiv, Ukraine. That trip redirected my professional interest in Jewish nonprofit work in the international sector, specifically in Russian-speaking communities, so as soon as I returned home I changed my college major to Russian. Learning Russian is so much more than what is available in a classroom: it requires a commitment to cultural immersion and understanding. This is why an experience like CLS is essential in not only developing my language skills, but also in building connections with the regions in which it is spoken. 

A Favorite Phrase in Russian 

My favorite phrase in Russian is «не пуха не пера,» which literally translates to “neither fluff nor feather.” It is the equivalent to “don’t break a leg” in English, and it comes from a hunting reference, when you would encourage someone to shoot not the feathers, but the heart of the animal. 

A Trip to the Bazaar 

One of my favorite memories in CLS was when my friends and I went to the bazaar with my host mother. We had so much fun laughing, shopping, and spending quality time with each other. When we returned home that night, she confided in me that she had never had so much fun or felt so loved in a long time. That moment really showed me how transformative and memorable an experience like CLS is on both sides, for the host community as well as the participants. The relationships built between me and my host family is invaluable and still a treasure I have cherished well past my CLS experience. 

Learning from One Another 

The CLS program provided value and cross-cultural understanding for both the host community and the CLS participants. I have taught my community back home so much about Central Asia and the incredible culture, people, and opportunity there. Whether in professional or casual settings, I have enjoyed fostering interest in a part of the world most Americans do not get exposed to. I make an effort whenever possible to make traditional foods, bring my friends to the local international stores, and share movie and art recommendations to further share my accumulated cultural knowledge with my community. On the other side, I taught my host family and language partner so much about American culture, education, and customs that has helped them build an interest and understanding of my culture as well. 

Why Should Others Learn Russian? 

Whenever I tell people I am learning Russian, they mostly have the same reaction. They usually are surprised and make some comment about people having an interesting time learning Russian given world events. Those moments reinforce for me the importance of studying Russian and using language as a tool to positively connect with other communities. The more the world becomes divided, the more important it is to work to develop cultural competency, find connections with those you would never expect, and foster a more nuanced, well-rounded approach to global relations. Because of this, I encourage everyone to start to learn a critical language, and you will gain so much more than understanding about the world and your ability to cultivate change. 

Go the Extra Mile 

What is so special about CLS is the immersive potential you have outside of the classroom environment to engage in with the language, the people, and the culture. I cannot stress enough that the more you put into your experience, the more you will get out. I recommend going beyond the rudimentary program requirements to take first, and sometimes intimidating steps, to push yourself and your peers to take advantage of your time together holistically as well as academically. The little, conscious decisions of taking public transportation, exploring local landmarks, sitting at cafes, organizing trips within the country, talking to passersby, and making as much of an effort you can to experience the culture will allow you to foster powerful relationships with your host country and your peers that will last far beyond our time in the program. 

Lifelong Friends 

The relationships I built with my language learning peers lasted well beyond my time at CLS. This past summer, I reconnected with 3 of my closest friends from my summer in Bishkek, and we traveled together to the Baltics and the Caucasus for 3 weeks to continue our cultural immersion in different parts of the Post Soviet space. The friends you make during CLS who share your interests in language learning will continue to be your biggest companions and supporters as you grow and further develop your relationship with your target language. No one understands your passion and curiosity for your language like these peers!