It was so nice to get an email from Valery in Perm. He said he valued the teaching, and it wasn't like the "fast food" that so often passes for teaching overseas.
My general plan is to visit Russia every other year, but it makes you want to go back sooner when people send comments like this. I've been there 5 times now, mostly in the Ural mountain region. On the last trip I went as far east as Kurgan.