Reports :

---Original Message---

Letter 1

Hello, my friend Richard!
How are you today? As always, I truly enjoy reading your letters—they always brighten my day. In my last letter, I shared a bit about my family, and now I’d like to tell you more about my life.
I live apart from my family and rent an apartment with my girlfriend, as it’s more affordable that way. I’ve been living on my own for four years now. The main reason for this was my mom's new relationship, which I’m not happy about. I don’t like her new husband at all and definitely don’t consider him my father. We don’t have a good relationship.
My mom has been with him for seven years, and during the three years I lived with them, I saw how badly he treated her. He doesn’t work and spends most of his time on the couch while my mom is the one who works to support them. He drinks a lot and has even been violent with her a few times. I’ve told her many times to leave him, but she refuses and says she loves him. I just can’t understand why she would want to stay in such a relationship.
This experience has made me afraid of ending up in a similar situation, and it’s hard for me to imagine being in a relationship like that. Sometimes I even get the impression that all Russian men are like this—incapable of real love and treating women poorly.
My first serious relationship was in high school, in 10th grade, with a guy I had known since childhood. We became more than friends, and everything was going well. However, after high school, he went off to study in St. Petersburg, and we started drifting apart. I think he probably found someone else, and we stopped talking altogether. Since then, I’ve lost trust in men here in Russia.
This is why I’ve been open to the idea of dating someone from another country. But, I must admit, I’m unsure about it. There’s the language barrier, and the distance is a huge challenge. But I still wanted to give it a try.
I’ve shared a lot about my past relationships today, and I’d love to hear about yours. How have your past relationships been? I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
Wishing you a wonderful day and lots of smiles!
Rachel Williams

Letter 2

Hi Richard!
How are you today? I always enjoy reading your letters—they bring a smile to my face. Today is a special day for me, as it’s my little sister Cibina’s birthday. She’s turning 7 years old! We decided to celebrate at my grandparents' house in the village. So, today is my day off, and I’m spending it with my family.
On our way to the village, we stopped to buy some food and a cake. It was so nice to see my grandparents again. I really wish I could visit them more often, but life doesn’t always allow it. We’ve decorated the house and prepared a festive table. My grandmother has been baking pies all morning—this is a traditional Russian dish, and I’ve never had pies as delicious as hers anywhere else. How do you feel about Russian cuisine? Have you had a chance to try any?
My grandfather is working on the bathhouse now, and I can’t help but appreciate the cozy family atmosphere. It’s been such a nice change from the busy city life. For Cibina’s gift, I decided to get her a drawing tablet, since she loves to draw. My mom also got her some earrings, and her grandparents gave her money to pick out her own present. It’s been a great day so far.
By the way, I brought my mom’s laptop with me so I could write to you. The internet connection here isn’t great, but I still wanted to send you a letter. I’ve also taken a few pictures on the trip, and I’ll send them to you soon. I hope you’ll like them!
What about you? How are you spending your day today? Do you celebrate birthdays in a special way in your country? I’d love to hear about your traditions.
I’m looking forward to your response. Have a wonderful day!
Best wishes,
Rachel Williams

Letter 3

Good afternoon, Richard!
I was so happy to read your letter—it truly made my day. How are you doing today?
We had a great time at the birthday party and have now returned to Volgograd, where the usual work routine has started again. It was nice to get away to the countryside for a while. Don’t you agree? It’s peaceful and calm, far from the noise and hustle of the city. I hope that one day I can have my own country house to enjoy that tranquility.
Today, I wanted to share with you a bit about my trip to Belgium, which was a memorable experience. I’ve already told you a little about my studies in landscaping, and I’m happy to say that my hard work paid off. In 2020, I was selected to participate in a plant show in Belgium, which was such an exciting opportunity.
At that time, due to Covid restrictions, I had to take numerous tests, and the whole process was quite stressful. But I was part of a student group guided by two professors, and we spent two weeks near Brussels. I worked in a botanical garden and focused on studying plants that could thrive in the Russian climate. It was a challenging but fascinating experience.
The head of the garden, who was a Russian emigrant, noticed my efforts and offered me a job in Belgium for the following season. I was thrilled! In 2021, I went to Belgium for three months on a work visa, and I’ve kept in touch with the organization since then. Every month, I still do some 3D design projects for them remotely. It’s a great way to stay involved, and the work there is much better paid than in Russia.
Landscaping is an industry that is much more developed in Europe, but it’s slowly gaining popularity here in Russia as well. What about where you live? How is the job market there? Are people finding enough work? Here, many companies have left, but life is gradually improving.
By the way, I’m curious about parks in your country. Do you have many? What types of plants grow there? Are people respectful of nature in your country? I also wonder how people treat each other—do they show kindness and respect? And how are Russian people viewed in your country right now? I know there’s a lot of negativity on the news, but I believe that’s not the full picture. I’d really appreciate hearing your perspective on this.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon. I hope your day is as sunny and wonderful as mine!
Take care,
Rachel Williams