Exploring Sochi with a native point of view
I am super excited to start this journey with you. I was born and raised in Sochi, Russia. I was six years old when I first heard of Sochi possibly hosting the Olympic games in 2014. It seemed so far out at that time, but here we are today. My hometown is on track to host this year’s games, but my excitement for the city is impacted by concerns about what some media outlets report as “clouds” of controversy.
Today, I live in Vancouver’s beautiful neighborhood of Forest Ridge. Vancouver reminds me so much of Sochi. Do you want to know why? Join me here on my blog. We’ll explore Sochi together. We’ll talk about history, Olympic games, current trends and developments in lives of Sochi residents, and much more.
To help me write this blog, friends who still live in Sochi will share their photos, stories, and lives to make this a one of a kind cultural experience. Explore Sochi from a native point of view and let’s get started. Read more over the next few weeks. Find me on Facebook or Twitter @GalinaBurley to learn more. — Galina
gburley
Galina Burley, is a long time resident of Vancouver. She is a mother of three and is an immigrant from Russia. After moving to America in 1991 with $50 to their name, Galina's parents relied on her to get a job, learn English, and help them navigate the complexities of their new life in this country. At an early age, Galina became fluent in English, helped her parents start a family business and went to college while working two jobs and raising a family. In addition to her outstanding work as a Manager of a large scale public program, Galina's other accomplishments include: 2013 Golden Ivan Award for Community Building; A President's award from the Oregon Crime Prevention Association for her commitment to Public Safety; The George Robert House, Jr. Award for Outstanding Service (ASPA) for her efforts in community outreach; A recent nomination for the 2013 Distinguished Woman award for her work on diversity and inclusive public policy through the East European Coalition; A Master's Degree in Public Administration; A career in managing large scale programs and services; And an amazing family.