Second Fire at Lombard

November 18, 2015 Palisades News Page 17
Kalea Power: To Russia with Love
By LAURIE ROSENTHAL
Staff Writer
Palisades High School alumna Kalea
Power is in her junior year at Princeton,
studying Slavic languages and
literature.
Through Princeton’s International Internship
Program, the 20-year-old spent
this past summer doing an internship for
the Russian International Affairs Council in
Moscow. She is interested in possibly pursuing
a career in international relations, and
felt the summer program gave her an introduction
to what that path would look like.
“My main responsibility as an intern
was to conduct my own research, working
closely with my supervisor,” Power told the
Palisades News. “I focused on the current
trends in Russia’s foreign energy policy and
presented my research in two articles: ‘On
Both Sides of Turkish Stream’ and ‘Russia-
China Energy Relations: A Long-Awaited
Partnership Develops.’”
This was Power’s third time in Russia.
She is enthralled with the country’s language,
literature and culture.
Her interest in Russia stems from her
childhood ballet teacher, Yuri Grigoriev,
who hails from Moscow. Power began danc -
ing when she was about five, and is currently
in two student-run dance companies at
Princeton, one ballet and one modern.
In 2013, sponsored by the State Department’s
National Security Language Initiative
for Youth, Power’s trip to Russia included
training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in
Moscow.
In 2014, she finished her second year
studying the Russian language in St. Petersburg,
through Princeton’s Department of
Slavic Languages and Literatures. She is
now nearly fluent. “I have a natural affinity
for the language,” she said. “I love studying
it and practicing it.” Previously, she took
Spanish at PaliHi.
When in Russia, Power enjoys conversing
with locals, and discussing Russia’s role in
the world, as well as America’s. “It’s interesting
to share opinions about what is happening
right now,” she said.
“It’s nice to have disagreements. All
conversations in Russian are good for my
practice.
“This summer was different in that I received
varying reactions when I told people
I was from America. Most of my conversations
after this question would turn into a
political discussion about the Ukraine crisis
and the role of the U.S. government,”
Power said.
“Many of these conversations also led to
cultural questions. Russians I spoke with
were very curious about what Americans
Palisades High graduate Kalea Power spent
her summer interning at the Russian
International Affairs Council in Moscow.
Photo: Shelby Pascoe
thought of Russia, the Russian people and
of Putin. They always asked me in Russian,
‘What do they say about us there?’”
Though there is less variety in food
choices than Power is used to at home in
Pacific Palisades, and the supermarkets are
smaller than here, she considers the meals
“really, really yummy.” During her first
summer, she ate a lot of potatoes, even
though she tried to get fresher and healthier
fare. In the mornings, her “Russian mom”
would cook blini (pancakes), which, she says,
“all Russian families make for breakfast.”
While observing the typical Russian
lifestyle, Power realized that grandparents
are a truly important part of the family system,
and often take the children over the
summer so the parents can have some time
off from parenting.
Her parents, Terry and Virginia, have
grown to understand and encourage Pow -
er’s love of Russian culture. Terry hails from
New Jersey, while Virginia grew up in the
Philippines. They don’t speak much with
their daughter when she is abroad, as communication
is difficult.
“They were initially shocked that I was
so serious and taken by this culture, which
was so distant from us ethnically and culturally,”
Power said.
“When I’m back home, I teach my parents
and siblings about Russia so they can
be more aware about what I’m passionate
about.”
Her sister, Erin, is a senior at Pali, while
her brother, Robert, is an eighth grader at
Corpus Christi.
Power remains enthusiastic about traveling
overseas. “After I graduate, I may look
for any sort of scholarship to study abroad
for a year.”
Need someone who
speaks fluent insurance?
Trish Bowe CLU, Agent
Insurance Lic#: 0606059
860 Via de la Paz, D-1
I can help you get the right coverage at the right price.
Don’t pay for unnecessary extras. I’m here e to help make sure you
understand
your options so you can choose the right coverage without
getting lost in translation.
Get to a better State ® . Get State Farm ® .
CALL ME TODAY.
Stores and restaurants along
Swarthmore Ave. are open for business.
BENTON’S SPORT SHOP • BOCA MAN • MAISON GIRAUD • CARLY K
BOCA • SOLIS SALON • CITY NATIONAL BANK • GET DRESSED • LAVENDER BLUE
MADISON • MICHELE INTERNATIONAL BLOW DRY & BEAUTY PRODUCTS
MICHELE INTERNATIONAL • TOY ZOO • P2 SKATE SHOP
1408286
Happy
Thanksgiving
To All!
BRETT C. DUFFY
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
881 Alma Real Drive, Suite 100
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
(310) 230-3716
BrettDuffy@bhhscal.com
Servicing Westside Communities from the City to the Beach