Last week, we decided to go against logic and send a "message in a bottle" to one of the Commandants of the Russian American Company which was settled in the 1800's. There was a rumor that this has been the way CLC learners have reached people from history that are lost in time. Lo and behold, on Monday morning Baron Ferdinand Petrovich von Wrangel, an Estonian admiral, husband, and leader at Fort Ross appeared in Room 11! Baron von Wrangel is noted for helping foster good relations with the Alaskans, Coast Miwok, other local tribes and the Russians, as well as helping with conservation measures for a quickly disappearing otter population. He told us of his history, explained how his lineage is connected to Inga's (hence the strong familial resemblance), and described his life at Colony Ross. The learners, having studied his bio earlier, had interview questions for him as well. He took the time to write everyone's name in Cyrillic alphabet, but then he was off, back to sea to try to find a way back to his family and life 1800's. We are so grateful to have visitors like the Baron visit us and help us get a taste of what life was in the past. Later, Christine and Lale spent PE time with the learners learning the troika, a celebratory Russian dance. The learners reprised the dance with Christing the next day, with many learners dressed in clothing of the time period. Alas, Fort Ross was sold to John Sutter after a period of just about thirty years, and not to soon after, John Sutter's name would be famous for something else. Next week we'll continue to look to the sea to study how "Argonauts" sailed from places all over the world upon the news of gold in California. The Gold Rush is on!
