November 3, 2004: Headlines: COS - Russia: Marriage: Tulsa World: Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Russia: Peace Corps Russia : The Peace Corps in Russia: November 3, 2004: Headlines: COS - Russia: Marriage: Tulsa World: Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child

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Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child

Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child

Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child

Community Focus: Opening young eyes to the world

Nov 3, 2004

Tulsa World

by Cory Young World Staff Writer

Festival to give taste of dozens of cultures

Brett and Zina Morrison want Tulsa children to experience Russian life. And since they can't pack them all in their suitcase, they will bring a taste of Russia to Kids' World.

The children's international festival, sponsored by the Tulsa Global Alliance, is held every two years. It brings together people from across the globe to teach children about other cultures and countries.

The Morrisons will be among the many people presenting their countries' ways, through hands-on activities, music, art and food.

Brett Morrison was a two-year Peace Corps volunteer in Russia, where he met Russian-born Zina while teaching an American conversation class. The two married in 2000 and are expecting their first child.

The couple's goal is to entertain the several thousand youngsters expected to pass through the Tulsa Zelenograd Association's Russian booth during Kids' World.

For Kids' World, the Morrisons will pull the strings for a puppet show of a popular Russian fairy tale, "Wicked Swan Geese."

Zina said the Russian puppet show is especially important to her, since it reminds her of the homeland she left four years ago.

"It's really special. I wanted to do it in Russian, but we have 3,000 American kids coming, so we'll have to do it in English," she said. "This is a fairy tale that I grew up with. It's like going back to your childhood years later."

Brett said the story's message is good for all backgrounds.

In the tale, the parents go to the market and leave their oldest daughter in charge of her younger brother. But, the daughter leaves her brother to go play with her friends.

"So then, the older sister had to rescue her brother from Baba Yaga and the Wicked Swan Geese," said Brett, who will narrate the tale.

Markham Collins, president of the Tulsa Zelenograd Association, said Zelenograd is one of Tulsa's seven sister cities in Russia. The association, which has approximately 30 members, started 12 years ago and includes many people who have been to Russia.

The group last did a Kid's World puppet skit in 2000.

"They had a lot of fun with it," Collins said. "(Kids' World) is a really great program because it's hands-on, quick-paced, and there's a huge educational component. As they go around, they're learning about the differences of each country represented there, and that it's OK to have differences."

Show times for "Wicked Swan Geese" are 6:30 p.m. Friday

11 a.m., noon, 2 and 3 p.m. Saturday

and 1 and 2 p.m. Sunday. The Russian presentation will include a Cyrillic alphabet lesson.

The Russian exhibit is one of about 60 in 2004 Kids' World, said Laurie Tilley, 2004 Kids' World chairwoman.

"It's an international children's festival that brings the world to kids here in Tulsa. It's about (children) having an opportunity they would not have in their own back yards.

"They can actually try on wooden shoes with the Dutch Heritage Society, or see a henna painting (a decorative body paint) at the India Association booth, and then talk about where it fits into their history," Tilley said.

The target is to promote understanding and peace by increasing tolerance and an appreciation of all cultures, she said.

One unique aspect is that children receive passports from each country, just like they would if they were traveling outside of the United States.

"Only a small portion of us get to travel outside of the U.S.," Tilley said. "This is a time when kids are given a passport and given a stamp at each booth. So when you visit China, or Iran, or India, you get a stamp."

Tilley joined the Tulsa Global Alliance after seeing her children's reactions to Kids' World in 2000.

"They came home with all these wonderful things that they created, and had a story about each one," she said. "They took me through their passports andlet me know about each dance, and what country they are from. I knew that itwas something that could make a difference in children's lives. I've seen itin my own home."

KIDS WORLD

What: KidsWorld, an international childrensfestival

When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, 9 a.m.to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, andnoon to 5 p.m. Sunday

Where: Exposition Center building atExpo Square, 21st Street and YaleAvenue

Cost: $3 for those 12 and younger,$4 for others

For more: Call 591-4750





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Story Source: Tulsa World

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Russia; Marriage

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