The National Centre RUSSIA in faces: young guide Anastasia Zolina

Anastasia Zolina enrolled in the School of Young Guides at the National Centre RUSSIA, inspired by her mother's example. Anastasia is 11 years old, she is in fifth grade, and she is learning all the subtleties of guide activities. Together with her mother, she conducted tours at the International RUSSIA EXPO at VDNH in Moscow, and now she is preparing to become a guide for adults and children through the expositions of the National Centre RUSSIA. 

"I was very interested in how my mother worked, and I decided to try my hand at being a guide. I conducted eight tours with my mother, and I really enjoyed it. Therefore, when I heard about the new exposition of the National Centre RUSSIA, I decided not to sit still and enrolled in the School of Young Guides," shared Anastasia Zolina. 

According to her, the storytelling from a child-guide turns out to be unique. When a young guide narrates about the beauty and attractions of Russia to peers, they gain a new experience, Anastasia is confident. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

"Our School is a real second home for lovers of unusual and educational projects. We both conduct tours and listen to them with great interest. We learn a lot of new things, and I also found new friends, we learn to interact with each other," said Anastasia Zolina. 

At the lessons in the School of Young Guides, children study theory and the main rules of conducting tours. Future guides train public speaking skills through tongue twisters and other exercises. 

"We even examined a real guide's portfolio and spoke into loudspeakers, trained by doing real work. We study the exposition where we will conduct tours. We study facts ourselves so that we can tell about the district we are currently touring. Some people don't even suspect the existence of something we talk about. If we don't know about the legacy of our own country, then we won't be able to continue its development, both in each region and in the country as a whole," emphasized the future guide. 

Photo: Press Office of the National Centre RUSSIA

From her personal experience of traveling across Russia, Anastasia Zolina happily recalls family trips to Crimea, where she, for example, learned to swim. 

"The journey to the Crimean peninsula is what I remember most. We went there more than once. I especially remember the amazing nature. We saw beautiful waterfalls, caves and ruins there, and also dolphins that swam up to the ship," recalled the young guide. 

Anastasia Zolina also talks about her small homeland — Moscow. For the future guide, this city is unique in that the capital simultaneously combines rich history and trends of a modern metropolis.