Russia

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm majoring in linguistics and Russian and would love to study abroad for a semester or year to improve my fluency and experience life in Russia. I was thinking St.Petersburg, but possibly a smaller city. Has anyone ever studied abroad there? How is it, what was it like? What are the differences and similarities to life in North America?</p>

<p>Edit: I've heard a few reports of violence towards exchange students, immigrants and tourists. I am Canadian and white. Should this be a concern of mine?</p>

2

<p>A couple of my friends actually did study abroad at St. Petersburg State. The only complaint they ever told me was that their rooms in the house they stayed in were kind of dingy and that is compared to dorms even. </p>

<p>Comparing Russia to other places you can study abroad it may not be the safest place but the architecture is amazing. What place doesn't have crime though? Technology speaking they seem to be behind the U.S., you shouldn't see this too much though if you are studying at a university.</p>

<p>I would definitely say do it. Definitely speaking Russian while out would be good, most locals there seem threatened when you don't.</p>

3

<p>Look into Middlebury's programs. They are excellent and I think they do have a few places in smaller cities than St. Pete.</p>

4

<p>I studied in a small city in eastern Russia last year (high school exchange). I'd say go for it! A year there improved my fluency exponentially. Try to find a program with a homestay component. I found that having one or more host families helps you learn a lot about culture that you probably would not pick up just by staying in dorms. Things to expect:</p>

<p>you'll almost definitely be living in an apartment, probably 2-4 rooms plus kitchen and bathroom. Things may feel cramped at first, but you'll adapt. you may end up sleeping on a sofa bed, but this is typical of most Russians. things may seem more simple and/or "dingy" to you than north american box homes, but most russian apartments are quite homey.</p>

<p>you won't have trouble getting around--public transportation is excellent, even in the provinces</p>

<p>even if you're in a big city, people don't speak much, if any, english. this is why your fluency will develop quickly.</p>

<p>you will probably be force fed, especially if you have a babushka. :) people take food/eating very seriously and may be offended if you refuse to eat something. so be flexible. there is usually a hot breakfast (hot cereals, eggs, yogurt), a light lunch (probably at the university) and a hearty dinner with soup and a main course. get used to meats, starches, and fats, because that's most of the diet. cabbage, carrots, and beets are the main veggies available in the winter. tea is drank like water.</p>

<p>you probably won't be able to drink water from the tap.</p>

<p>ask me if you have more questions...I could go on and on.</p>

<p>On race: if you are white, you will be fine. people will probably assume you're russian until you start talking and they hear your accent. once people hear you're canadian, they will probably be quite interested in you--especially if you're in a smaller city. people are pretty interested in north american culture.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, race seems to be the biggest form of prejudice for xenophobes because racial features are the biggest thing that screams "foreigner" in a "homogenous" society (which is ironic, since Russia has many ethnic groups...). obviously don't display that you're a foreigner (flags on clothes, etc.) because in bigger cities there are some nutso skinheads who may be dangerous. Other groups that seem to have problems with blatant prejudice in Russia are Jews, anyone who may look muslim, and stereotypically effeminate men. Homophobia is pretty widespread in Russia and if you are gay or bisexual, you may consider staying in the closet until you have scoped out the viewpoints of the people you talk to. in my provinicial city most people were pretty close-minded on this matter, though I heard that in Moscow and St. Pete it was more acceptable.</p>

<p>on cities: st petersburg is gorgeous and very cosmopolitan. i've been as a tourist twice and it strikes me as a good city for students. I'm going to try to go there for my college study abroad. that said, both Piter and Moscow are a bit abnormal for Russian city life. if you want a taste of very authentic Russian life, you may consider a provincial city for your time abroad, though there's less to do in these cities.</p>

5

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I studied in a small city in eastern Russia last year (high school exchange). I'd say go for it! A year there improved my fluency exponentially. Try to find a program with a homestay component.

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</p>

<p>My D is applying to two study abroad programs in Moscow next year. One focuses on theatre with language and history courses. The other is through her college (where she is Russian language minor and theatre major). Her professors there feel the language options are better in their program and that she will be safer because she will be staying with a family. Also, one professor told that she'll have more exposure to Russian culture because of her living arrangements, i.e., home stay. Her college's program will allow her to take classes in the theatre program because one of the professors has a relationship with the director of the theatre program in Moscow.</p>

<p>Any opinions on safety for American students in Moscow? Anyone here who did a foreign study in Moscow?</p>