ST JOSEPH ’ S INSTITUTION • JOSEPHIAN ANNUAL 2014 LEARNING JOURNEY
31
HISTORY TRIP TO RUSSIA – SURREAL !
The Josephian is exposed to Russian history as early as Sec 2 where he learns about Lenin and the significant revolutions which led to the world ' s first communist state being formed . At Sec 3 , Russian history is prevalent in nearly all the chapters as the students doing History are taught the rise of leaders like Stalin and Russia ' s role in the outbreak and end of WW2 . At Sec 4 , Russia features significantly again as the students are taught about the Cold War and Russia ' s rise as a super power until the end of communism in 1989 .
Hence , the History department felt it was befitting to organise a trip to Russia to broaden the experience of Josephians when they come into contact with the Russian people , places , culture and situations which cannot be found in their textbooks and to stimulate the Josephian ' s interest in the key events in Russian history in the 20th century and 21st century . So in June 2014 , 27 excited Secondary 4 History students accompanied by 4 History teachers made their way to Russia – Moscow and St Petersburg .
The entire trip which lasted from 12 June to 21 June was indeed an enriching one for all . Everyone was awed upon seeing historical places which we only read about in our
Outside one of the cathedrals within the Kremlin
textbooks . These included visiting places like the mausoleum where the embalmed body of the father of communism - Lenin rests , Trotsky ’ s cell , the Yusupov Palace where Rasputin was murdered , the Winter Palaces of the Tzars and the naval district where the Kronstadt rebellion took place . We also had the privilege of admiring some of the greatest art pieces by da Vinci , Rembrant , Monet at the Hermitage museum in St Petersburg .
One for the album ... at the ever famous Red Square
The late President Yeltsin ' s wife praying at his gravestone
There was no doubt that the trip enriched us all in more ways than imaginable . The expression to sum up everyone ’ s thoughts about the trip – “ It was surreal ! “
At the extremely windy naval base in Kronstadt where the mutiny against the revolutionaries took place in 1921
The remains of the last emperor of Russia , Nicholas II and his family laid to rest in The Chapel of St Catherine the Martyr
At the Toy Museum where we all made our very own Matryoshka dolls
Spot the impressive historical figures !
Leonardo da Vinci ' s Madonna and child at the Hermitage museum
Within the Kremlin Walls with the ever famous Tzar ' s bell