Reports :

---Original Message---

Letter 1

Hi Eric!
How are you today? I always enjoy reading your letters, and they always bring a smile to my face. Today is a special day—it's my little sister Cibina’s birthday! She’s turning 7 years old. We decided to celebrate her birthday in the village with her grandparents, so I have the day off. I’ve decided to dedicate today to my family. My mom and sister came to pick me up, and we all went together to visit my grandparents. On our way, we stopped at the store to buy food and, of course, a cake.
It’s always such a joy to see my grandparents, and they were so happy to see us. I wish I could visit them more often, but life often gets in the way. Right now, we’re decorating the house and preparing a festive table. My grandmother has been baking pies since this morning, which is a traditional Russian dish. Honestly, I’ve never tasted pies as good as hers. How do you feel about Russian cuisine? Have you tried any dishes?
My grandfather is making the bathhouse today, and it reminds me of how much I miss that cozy family atmosphere. I’ve bought Cibina a drawing tablet for her birthday since she loves to draw. My mom also got her some beautiful earrings, and her grandparents gave her money so she could choose her own gift. It’s nice that my mom brought her laptop, so I can write to you while we’re here, though the internet is a bit spotty.
I took some pictures during the trip and will send them to you. I hope you like them! I’m curious, how are you spending your day? How do people celebrate birthdays in your country? Do you have any special birthday traditions? I’d love to hear more about how people celebrate in your culture.
Looking forward to your reply. Have a wonderful day!
Bye for now,
Amber Hahn

Letter 2

Good afternoon, Eric!
It’s always such a pleasure to receive your letters, and I truly enjoy reading them. How are you doing today? We had a lovely birthday celebration for Cibina. Afterward, we returned to Volgograd, and the routine of work began again. Living in the countryside has its charms, don’t you think? The peaceful atmosphere, away from the hustle and bustle, is something I appreciate. One day, I hope to have my own country house.
Today, I’d like to share a bit about a memorable trip I took to Belgium. I still think about it with great fondness. As I’ve mentioned before, I studied landscape design. Because I was a dedicated student, I had the opportunity to participate in a plant exhibition in Belgium in 2020. The pandemic restrictions were strict at that time, and I had to take nearly a dozen express tests just to travel.
I went with a group of students and two professors, and we stayed near Brussels for two weeks. I worked in a botanical garden, researching plants that could thrive in the Russian climate. It was challenging but incredibly fascinating.
During my time there, my work caught the attention of the site manager, a Russian émigré. He was so impressed with my dedication that he offered me a job at the botanical garden for the following season. I loved what I was doing, and the experience was rewarding. In 2021, I returned to Belgium for 3 months on a work visa. I’m still in contact with the organization and now assist remotely once a month, creating 3D design projects for them. The work is profitable for them since landscape design in Belgium is much more expensive than in Russia, and I also enjoy doing it.
In Russia, interest in landscaping is growing, though it’s not as developed as it is in Europe. How is the job situation in your country? Are there enough opportunities for people? Here, the situation is tough. Many companies have left Russia, but life is slowly improving.
Can I ask you a few questions? Does your city have many parks? What kind of plants grow there? Are people in your country generally friendly and respectful of nature? I’m curious—how are Russian people viewed in your country? I’ve heard so much negative propaganda, and I wonder if it’s true. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.
I look forward to hearing from you and learning more about you and your country. I hope you’re having a sunny day and a great mood!
Take care,
Amber Hahn

Letter 3

Hello my friend Eric!
It’s always a joy to hear from you. I read your letters with pleasure, and I’ve begun to feel like I’m growing accustomed to you. I think about you all the time, and I eagerly wait for your next letter. Whenever I write to you, I can’t help but smile. My friend, with whom I share an apartment, has noticed that I’ve changed. I smile more often, and my head seems to be in the clouds. Perhaps that’s your positive influence on me?
When the war started in Ukraine, I was terrified and didn’t know how to cope with it. Of course, I’m against the war because no war is worth the loss of even one human life. Unfortunately, this war is still ongoing, and I hope that peace will return soon. I want to see people living in harmony, and I want children to grow up without knowing the horrors of war. But it feels like peace is out of reach these days. How does your country feel about this war? What are your personal thoughts on the matter? Your opinion is very important to me.
In March 2022, the Belgian Botanical Gardens contacted me and offered me a job. They wanted me to relocate to Belgium and even offered assistance with getting a residence permit. I was ready to make the move, but at that time, I had a boyfriend. We discussed it, and he convinced me to stay in Russia, promising that we would get married after my studies. But he left me not long after. I realize now how foolish I was to have stayed for someone who didn’t care about our future. But that’s in the past now, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson. There’s nothing holding me back here anymore, and I feel ready to make a dramatic change in my life.
I see that you are a man of your word, and I feel I can trust you. With you, I wouldn’t be afraid to take a chance on starting over and changing my life. I hope I’m not mistaken about you. I’d love to hear how you imagine our first meeting—if it ever happens.
I look forward to your letter. Take care and have a wonderful day.
Bye for now,
Amber Hahn