Reports :

---Original Message---

Letter 1

Hi Eric! How are you today? I always look forward to your letters. When I read your messages, a smile automatically spreads across my face. Today is a special day because it's my little sister Cibina’s birthday – she’s turning 7 years old! We decided to celebrate in the village with our grandparents, so I’m enjoying a day off. My mom and sister came to pick me up, and together we headed to the village.
On the way, we stopped at the store to buy some food and a birthday cake. I was so happy to see my grandparents, and they were equally thrilled to see us. I really wish I could visit them more often, but life tends to get busy. Now we’re decorating the house and setting up a festive table. My grandmother has been baking traditional Russian pies all morning – they’re absolutely delicious! I’ve never tasted anything like them anywhere else. What’s your opinion on Russian cuisine? Have you ever tried any dishes from our culture?
Grandpa is busy working on the bathhouse, which always gives me that warm, cozy family feeling that I’ve missed so much. As for Cibina’s birthday gift, I decided to get her a drawing tablet because she loves to draw. Mom also bought her some earrings, and her grandparents gave her some money so she could pick out her own present. It’s a good thing Mom brought her laptop along, as it allowed me to write you this letter, even though the internet connection here is not the best.
I took some pictures during the trip and will send them to you soon. I hope you like them! By the way, how is your day going? What are you up to? How do people celebrate birthdays in your country? Do you have any special traditions for your birthday? I’d love to hear about it!
Wishing you a great day! Looking forward to your response.
Take care,
Rhiza Bernales

Letter 2

Good afternoon, Eric! It’s always a pleasure to receive your letter. How are you today? We had a wonderful birthday celebration and then returned to Volgograd. Now the usual routine of work has begun again. Do you enjoy the peace and quiet of the countryside? I really like it – it’s so relaxing and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city. I hope that one day I’ll have my own country house.
Today, I wanted to tell you about a trip I took to Belgium, which still brings back fond memories. I had the opportunity to go to Belgium in 2020 for a plant exhibition. At that time, the pandemic had strict travel restrictions, and I had to take nearly a dozen express tests. A group of students, including myself, was selected under the guidance of two professors. We stayed near Brussels for two weeks, and I worked in a botanical garden, studying plants. My assignment was to research plants that could thrive in Russia's climate.
It was challenging, but also fascinating. My work caught the attention of the garden manager, who was a Russian immigrant. He offered me a job to come back and work in Belgium the next season, which I gladly accepted. In 2021, I went back to Belgium on my own, after securing a 3-month work visa. I’ve stayed in touch with the organization, and I’m still doing remote 3D design projects for them every month.
I truly enjoy landscaping and planting. In Europe, there’s much more focus on landscaping, especially for personal properties, whereas in Russia it’s still gaining popularity. By the way, how are things with work in your country? Are there enough job opportunities, and are they well-paid? Unfortunately, many companies have left Russia, but things are slowly improving.
I’d love to know more about your country. Do you have many parks in your city? What types of plants grow there? Do people in your country treat nature with respect? I’m also curious to know how people view Russian people in your country – is there any tension due to current events, or do people treat each other with kindness? I’d really appreciate your thoughts on this.
Looking forward to your response, and I hope you’re having a lovely day!
Take care,
Rhiza Bernales

Letter 3

Hello, my dear friend Eric! I’m always happy to hear from you. I read your letters with so much joy. It feels like I’m getting used to you more each day – I think of you often and can’t wait to read your next message. When I write to you, a smile appears on my face, and my friend, who I live with, often says that I’ve become more cheerful and dreamy lately. Perhaps it’s the positive energy you send my way?
When the war started in Ukraine, I was really frightened and confused. I didn’t understand what was happening or how to live through it. Of course, I’m completely against the war. No war is worth the cost of a single life. Sadly, the war still continues, and I hope for peace soon. I wish people could live together in harmony, and that children could grow up without knowing the horrors of war. But right now, it seems that peace is hard to come by.
I’m curious to know how your country feels about the situation. What do you think about the war? I’d really like to hear your opinion on it.
Back in March 2022, I was contacted by the Belgian Botanical Gardens, who offered me a job and a chance to relocate to Belgium. They saw potential in me and were ready to help with my residence permit. At the time, I had a boyfriend, and he convinced me to stay in Russia. He promised that we would marry after I finished my studies, but he ended up leaving me just a few months later. Now, I realize that I made a mistake by staying behind for him. That chapter is behind me, and I’ve learned a valuable lesson. Nothing is holding me here anymore, and I’m ready for a big change in my life.
I see you as a man of your word, someone I could trust. With you, I feel confident enough to take that first step toward a new life. I’m curious – how do you imagine our first meeting? If it ever happens, what do you think it will be like?
I look forward to hearing from you. Have a wonderful day and take good care of yourself.
Warmly,
Rhiza Bernales