How do you turn an educational program into a series of living lessons in geography, history, English, and — more importantly — life itself? We share the story through a real diary, where each day brings a new discovery and a step toward creating one’s own IDENTITY.

The Long Road to Foggy Albion: How We Got to England

A day full of discoveries. Yesterday marked the beginning of our great adventure. We woke up before dawn, checked our documents and suitcases — and by five in the morning, we had gathered at the airport. Ahead of us lay Moscow, then Istanbul, and the long-awaited trip to London.

In Moscow, we had a short layover — just two hours. The next flight took us to Istanbul, and time there was limited — less than four hours. But this only added to our energy: we quickly oriented ourselves, tried not to waste a minute, and the airport staff were happy to help whenever we approached them. That’s how we learned an important lesson — if you need help, just ask.

We went through all the formalities, collected our luggage, and within a few hours, our plane gently touched down at Luton Airport. Passport control went surprisingly quickly. While we were waiting for Mike, we noticed a piano. Of course, we couldn’t just walk past — after all, four people in our group play the piano! A few chords, a bit of laughter — and the terminal was filled with joy. That’s when we understood another simple principle: if you have the opportunity to do something good — do it. Opportunities are all around us.

Since Mike was stuck in traffic, we decided to pass the time and stay warm by taking a bus ride between the parking lot and the terminal — twice. Along the way, we made another discovery: you should dress not for fashion, but for the weather.

The drive to Chippenham took about two and a half hours. Everyone dozed off on the way. Despite the fatigue, we helped each other, offered support, and shared jokes — and gradually, the tiredness turned into a light sense of satisfaction. When we arrived, it was already three in the morning. We were welcomed with the aroma of warm tea and donuts — and it felt like a reward after such a long journey. That’s when we learned that Mike is now looking after the house, and we drew another conclusion: if you have a home in another city, you need to take care of those who will look after it.

And so ended our first day — warm, eventful, and full of discoveries. It showed us that on any journey, it’s not just about reaching the destination — it’s about noticing the joy in every step. What happened next? We’ll tell you in the next diary entry.

Today, the participants got acquainted with a new location — the city of Bristol, the birthplace of the famous and mysterious artist Banksy, as well as the legendary work of an engineer who was ahead of his time — Brunel!

Self-Belief: What Brunel’s Genius Taught Us

Our first morning in England began quite unexpectedly. We were sitting in the living room waiting for breakfast when suddenly we heard the sound of an alarm. It went off so suddenly that at first we didn’t even understand what was happening. It turned out the alarm was not a drill — something had burned in the kitchen. We all quickly went outside and concluded that in such situations, it’s important to stay calm and strictly follow the rules. This moment became our first important lesson: nothing is more important than our safety and our lives.

After breakfast, we headed to the center of Chippenham. We completed various tasks: asking for directions to different places, discovering interesting facts, and talking to local residents. The people turned out to be incredibly friendly, which pleasantly surprised us. Everyone tried to help, smiled, spoke calmly and with respect. Through this, we realized how important it is to be open, not to be afraid to ask questions, and to seek out information that interests us.

We also learned one simple but important thing: it’s always important to be punctual, because it shows respect for others — we came to understand this through our own experience.

In the evening, when we returned home tired but happy, we recalled funny moments, shared impressions and stories from the day. Then we had a lesson, checked and discussed our assignments. The evening ended with board games, and then we all wished each other good night and went to our rooms to sleep.

Getting to Know Chippenham: The Friendliness of Locals and the Importance of Punctuality

Good evening, dear parents! I present to you the third diary entry of the program!

Our second morning in England began with an energizing workout in the yard. It was chilly, but fun! Shortly after the workout, a delicious breakfast awaited us — we ate and joked, and then sat down to discuss the previous day. It turned out that everyone had their own conclusions, and this surprised me — how differently we can see the same thing!

Then we gathered and set off for Bristol. It was a real adventure, because the main road was closed and we had to take a detour. But this route turned out to be incredibly beautiful — outside the window, we saw cities, green fields, and cozy houses.

When we finally arrived in Bristol, I immediately felt the atmosphere of a big and vibrant city. The center was full of colors, graffiti on the walls, and among them, we found real works by Banksy!

Then we went to the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It stands right on the edge of steep cliffs — it looked stunning! We wondered how Brunel designed and built such a bridge! We realized that even when things are difficult and you don’t always see support, it’s important to keep working! And everything is possible if you believe in yourself.

As we were coming down from the bridge, one girl from our group approached an English artist and started talking to her. We learned another lesson: you shouldn’t be afraid — sometimes one step forward can open up new connections.

We also went shopping! We split into groups, and one team member who had previously been very quiet suddenly started socializing with us. That’s when we made another discovery — in a new company, you shouldn’t withdraw into yourself.

In the evening, we returned home, had dinner, and went to class. After that, we had a party! We played “Spy,” laughed, and had a great time. At the end, everyone wished each other good night and went to bed.

A Journey into the Past: The Magic of Avebury’s Ancient Stones and the Coziness of Lacock

We started this morning with exercises, and for breakfast, we were treated to a proper English breakfast: fried egg, bacon, hash browns, sausages, beans, and mushrooms. After breakfast, we had a lesson where we received our instructions, and then we set off for Avebury — a small but remarkably significant English village.

This is not just a village — it is partially surrounded by an ancient henge, a stone circle, one of the largest megalithic monuments in Britain. We walked among the standing stones — it felt as if history itself was touching you.

Then our path led to Lacock — a charming English village that looks like it stepped out of an old painting. Tall half-timbered houses, cozy streets, a Victorian spirit, and of course, Lacock Church, which preserves its history and architectural heritage. In Lacock, you feel how the past intertwines with the present: stone houses, shops, a quiet market — everything seems frozen in time.

Conclusions we drew from the day:

The tradition of “selling talent”
The English truly value local craftsmanship. We saw in Lacock small craft shops selling jewelry, clothing, and sweets. These are not just souvenirs: they are part of their culture, their skills, and their heritage — which they are proud of and share with visitors.

Pets everywhere
Almost every second English person had a dog, which shows their attachment to their pets. Animals seem to be almost an addition to the family portrait of their lives.

We had a wonderful day today. In the evening, we returned home, had dinner, played various games, and went to bed.

In the Footsteps of a Great Writer: What We Learned at the Jane Austen Museum

Day Five of our stay

Our new day began with morning exercises, which helped us wake up and recharge with energy. After that, a delicious breakfast awaited us — aromatic pancakes that everyone loved. Then we had our morning lesson, where we received our assignments.

Later, we gathered and headed to the city of Bath by train. After buying our tickets, we made our way to the station and soon arrived — the journey took only about ten minutes.

The first stop on our route was the Jane Austen Museum. However, upon arriving in the city, we had some minor navigation difficulties, so we had to ask passersby for help. All the residents we approached were very friendly and readily showed us the way.

At the museum, we learned about Jane Austen’s family tree and watched a film about her life and work. The film allowed us to better feel the atmosphere of that time and understand how her days unfolded.

After visiting the museum, we began working on the assignment we had received in the morning: we needed to take photos in front of five landmarks of Bath. For this, we again asked passersby to take pictures of us — and everyone happily agreed to help.

During our walk around the city, we noticed that street concerts were taking place near Bath Abbey. The musicians played live music, creating a joyful and warm atmosphere.

After all the tasks were completed, we continued our walk through the ancient streets of the city. We went into small shops, bought souvenirs, and talked to local residents. This gave us many positive emotions and helped us better understand the culture and friendliness of Bath’s inhabitants.

In the evening, we met again at Bath Abbey — one of the city’s main historical landmarks, founded in the second half of the 7th century. The architecture of Bath impressed us with its harmony: most of the buildings are made in the same color scheme, creating a sense of unity and special beauty.

We took several photos of the city at night and headed back home by train. Upon returning, everyone was a little tired but happy with the day we had lived through. After a short rest, we had another lesson, followed by dinner — warm soup and pizza. The day ended with watching a movie and wishing each other good night.

And so ended our eventful and memorable day in Bath — a day full of discoveries, impressions, and kind encounters.

Sheep, Dragons, and Students: Our Impressions of Oxford

Today our morning in England began with a fun workout. We stretched, jumped around, and immediately felt energized! After that, a delicious breakfast awaited us — omelet and crispy toast. Once we finished breakfast, we had an interesting lesson. And then we set off for the city of Oxford!

First, we went to a hill where, according to legend, Gregory defeated a dragon. This story fascinated us. I was especially surprised to see so many sheep grazing all around — entire fields of them!

After that, we headed into Oxford itself in great spirits. First, we visited a museum where we were given a task — to take five creative photos as a team. We asked passersby to help us take pictures and practiced our English in the process. It was fun and a little exciting!

Then we went to Oxford University. There we chatted with first-year students and learned that studying at Oxford is very interesting but also quite challenging — and expensive.

After that, we visited another museum — it turned out to be very engaging! After the museums, we walked through the city, admired the ancient buildings, and took beautiful photos.

Then a long journey home awaited us, and everyone was a little tired. When we arrived, a delicious dinner awaited us — Chinese food! After dinner, we had a lesson where we discussed the past day and shared our impressions. Everyone was cheerful and content.

In the evening, we played an interesting game, then wished each other good night and went to bed. And that’s how another unforgettable day in England went by!

Big Ben, the Guards, and Wishes Made at the Fountain

Yesterday was a very rainy day. We woke up at 8:00 and went to the hall. No one wasted time — as soon as everyone was up, we immediately did our exercises. After the workout, we were a little hungry and went back inside, where a delicious and hearty breakfast was already waiting for us.

After breakfast, we set off for the next city on our program — London. The journey was long and a bit tiring, but we passed the time by sleeping and chatting.

When we finally arrived, the first thing we saw was Big Ben! Everyone immediately started taking photos and videos, but because of the heavy rain, it was hard to see clearly. Then our attention was drawn to the huge Ferris wheel — the London Eye, sponsored by Coca-Cola. Someone even joked that it was made of Coke! Behind it, Big Ben was visible, and everyone ran over to take photos. We didn’t stay long, though — we had to keep moving according to the schedule.

We approached Big Ben for a closer look — from below, it looked simply incredible! After that, everyone was really hungry, and we went looking for McDonald’s, but only found Burger King.

Next, a museum or gallery was waiting for us. On the way, we met a guard — we took a photo with him, although many of us were a little scared. Then we headed to Buckingham Palace. On the way, guards on horseback passed by us — it was very impressive!

When we reached the palace and had taken in the view, we started looking for the way back. On the way to the car, we threw coins into a fountain and made wishes. As we walked past Big Ben at night, I suddenly realized just how beautiful England is. I can’t even put it into words — it’s simply magical!

Before heading back, we were taken to a souvenir shop, but they only accepted cards, and no one bought anything. I wasn’t upset — the others were joking and laughing, and I had fun with them. We quickly found our car and, still laughing, got in.

The journey back was long and boring. At a gas station, I decided to buy myself a pizza so I wouldn’t be hungry. They let me in, and I happily ate it lying down in the car.

Finally, we arrived home. We were told what we needed to write in our diaries and what everyone would be doing tomorrow. I was terribly tired, so I went straight to my room and went to bed.

And that’s how our eventful and cheerful seventh day in England went by. I can’t convey all the emotions, because there were too many of them: joy, excitement, sadness, fear, surprise, and so much more.

From Accountant to Pub Owner: Stories That Surprised Us

Today was our eighth day in England. The morning began with exercises — they helped us wake up and recharge with energy. After that, a traditional “English breakfast” awaited us — hearty, aromatic, and very tasty. Our mood immediately became lively and joyful.

An hour later, we took the train to Swindon. The journey flew by quickly — green fields and neat little houses flashed past the window, while we chatted and laughed animatedly. Our goal was to visit the library and complete an assignment from our teachers: to find books by authors J. Austen, L. Carroll, J. Rowling, and any Russian writer.

The library had a quiet, cozy atmosphere. We worked with the materials, searched for the right books, and even asked the staff for help — they were very friendly. When we finished everything, we took a short walk through the city center. We went into a café, bought sandwiches, and had a snack right on the street.

We didn’t have much time, so we headed to the shopping center. There were so many interesting shops! Everyone managed to find something they liked, and we were all satisfied.

After walking around the shopping center, we headed to the station. And there, an unexpected surprise awaited us — our train was canceled! At first, we were a bit confused, but then we decided not to get upset and just wait for the next one. The kids played Aliás. Soon our train arrived, and we headed back to Chippenham.

We planned to take the bus home, but as luck would have it, we missed it. We had to walk. But the walk turned out to be fun — we lively discussed what interesting things had happened to each of us during the day and shared our impressions.

When we finally got home, we rested a little, and then went to the pub to meet Steve — a friend of ICAN Production. He was the owner of the house we were currently staying in. At first, Steve seemed a bit strange, but after just a few minutes of conversation, we realized we were wrong. Steve turned out to be a very pleasant and open person. The evening passed easily and cheerfully — we talked a lot and learned many new things from him.

At the end of the day, we drew an important conclusion for ourselves: don’t judge a book by its cover.

Returning home, we joked around a little more, had a fun pillow fight, and soon went to bed. And so ended our wonderful, eventful day in England.

Today is the final day of the program. We visited Chippenham, packed our suitcases, and are ready to fly home! Missed us? But before takeoff, we held a talent show! We also summed up the results of the competition between the two teams! Sharing photos…