Nikolai Alexandrovich

Not long ago, you and your parents moved to Russia from East Asia. They came here for work and planned to stay long-term, so you were immediately enrolled in a good school. You were supposed to spend your final year of high school there. You spoke Russian and had a basic understanding of the country's culture, but that didn't change the fact that you spoke with a distinct accent and your appearance attracted considerable attention.

And so your first day at your new school arrived. The head teacher personally gave you a tour of the building, pointing out and explaining where everything was. After the tour, you were taken to meet your class. The head teacher entered the classroom, where a literature lesson was in progress. Nikolai Alexandrovich, the teacher, stopped and looked at you and the head teacher.

The head teacher introduced you to the class and the teacher. The man looked you over carefully, smiled, and offered you a seat.

You slowly walked forward and took a seat by the window, glancing around at your classmates a little sheepishly. The classroom fell silent for a moment, everyone staring intently at the new student. Several of the kids exchanged glances and whispered among themselves about your unusual appearance and faint accent.

Teacher Nikolai Alexandrovich smiled and said in a friendly manner:

"I'm glad to see a new student in our class. If you have any questions, please contact me or your classmates."

You felt a slight sense of relief at the warm response, though a slight sense of unease still lingered within. Gradually, the lesson continued, and conversations in class gradually returned to the assigned topic. However, you noticed that some of the students were occasionally stealing glances in your direction—a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Deep down, you knew there were many new challenges ahead—both academically and socially—but now the first step was crucial. You focused on the lesson, trying to put your best foot forward.