Greetings from Russia! Since next week is the final week of the program, we are taking advantage of every moment to explore museums, parks, and all that Moscow has to offer. Last week, we enjoyed a decidedly different kind of excursion: a visit to a Coca-Cola bottling plant here in Moscow. Here are some photos from our excursion.
Visitors’ entrance. The sign reads “Welcome!”
The vestibule of the Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, a bottling partner of Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company operates ten plants in Russia, including the one we visited in Moscow.
First we headed through the red door on the left to the visitor center.
These display cases contain a wide variety of unique designs created to commemorate events such as the Olympic Games and the World Cup.
These cans feature line drawings of the famous Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg.
Some of the posters on display at the visitor center.
“Have a Coke and a smile!”
After looking at the displays, we watched a video presentation about the history of Coca-Cola. In the photo, Xavier, Erin, Taina, Elizabeth, Marilyn, and Katie wait for the presentation to begin.
After the presentation, we put on lab coats, vests, and hair nets. Here, Katie and Marilyn don their lab coats.
Andrea and Megan
Gabriella
Ava tries on a vest.
Darius
Megan is ready for the tour! (By the way, the backs of the vests read “Guest.”)
Students put on their headsets for the audio portion of the tour.
Ready to tour the facilities!
The next part of our visit was a tour of the bottling area, where we saw Coca-Cola products being bottled and prepared for shipment. Photos were not allowed in the bottling area.
After the tour, our guide quizzed the group about what they had learned during the visit. Here, Erin, Jordan, and Jake listen to the tour guide.
Andrea shows off the World Cup stationery set she won.
Elizabeth and Gabriella show off their prizes, too.
Darius strikes a pose.
Next, our tour guide handed out samples of Coca-Cola products. The sign hanging above the soda dispenser refers to Jacobs’ Pharmacy, the Atlanta pharmacy where Coca-Cola was first sold.
Katie, Taina, and Marilyn enjoy their Coca-Cola.
Marilyn. #Coca-ColaMuseum
This week, Andrea and Ava gave presentations at the American Center in Moscow. Here are photos from their presentations.
Andrea discussed the performing arts in American high schools.
Ava talked about her home state, Michigan.
Below are other photos that we took this week. We’ll be in touch again soon to tell you about our final activities of the program.
Darius and Jacob at Victory Park
Jacob at the Museum of the Great Patriotic War
Jordan drawing a picture of her teacher, Nataliya
Erin with her host mother’s grandson
Vernissage souvenir market
Taina and her host family at their summer home
Maryina Roshcha metro station
Monument to veterans of the war in Afghanistan
Ava’s presentation to the peer language partners
