On our last day in Petrozavodsk, we were all a little tired, but excited to visit a Russian class at the Karelian State Pedagogical University. Students had read an American short story at home and were now having a discussion about it. The Russian students' ability to read and analyze the story in English was impressive. We had a chance to talk with the students at the end of class. After college, most of them wanted to become translators -- few wanted to be teachers. Just like in America, teachers are poorly paid for their hard work.