Study Abroad (Russia)

Applying to College
1

<p>(So I am new here and if I am posting something someone else has already post I just want to say sorry in advance.) </p>

<p>I will not be using a study abroad program through my college, I plan to use a program such as AIFS. If anyone can tell me if they have had any experience with this program I would very much appreciate it. Also if you know any other good, or reputable programs/sites please list them in your comments. :)</p>

<p>(I am a junior in High school (Summer is 16 school days away) and I will be studying abroad my Freshmen or Sophomore year of college. I will be majoring in Russian and Slavic Studies here in the states.)</p>

<p>I know for sure that I want to go to Russia but I have a few questions:</p>

<p>1.) What are common foods they sell/ eat over there (is it like American foods?) ?
2.) What places in Russia would you advise me to stay away from?
3.) What places would you advise me to see?
4.) What should I pack for a year abroad in Russia?
5.) How safe is the country?
6.) Any tips on adjusting to the culture?
7.) How much do you think I will spend monthly? (Food and transportation card is included in fees at AIFS)
8.) Should I convert my American money to Russian money? Use half and Half? or just stick with American money?
9.) Any other information I should know or any tips you have are welcome!!</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for helping! :)</p>

2

<ol>
<li>The food is Russian food - why would it be American - by all means be culturally insular - go to Macdonalds if you don’t anything new.
2.What places? Well think where you would not go in an American city and don’t go there in Russia.
3.I imagine that you’d be based in Moscow so go also see St Petersburg, Vladimir, Suzdal, Rostov, Ekaterinburg etc…why don’t you read a history of Russia and decide for yourself?
4.Its fairly obvious what to pack - hot in summer cold in winter, a fool could work that out.
5.Russian culture is based a lot on hospitality - take items as gifts as Russians give gifts to guests and it would be rude not to reciprocate. This is assuming, of course, that you associate with Russians and not just other Americans.<br>
6 You are going to be shot, raped and killed. Or maybe you could exercise the same precautions as travelling anywhere. Don’t be an obvious foreigner, stay in well lit areas at night and don’t flaunt money…
7 Depends where you are. Moscow is expensive if you don’t know what you are doing most other places are quite cheap.</li>
<li>Why would you not convert your money? Give me a valid reason. That is actually an insulting question. Ask yourself this - dollar? Hmm that’s american, for America. Ruble? Hmmm that’s Russian guess it must be for Russia. How weird would you think someone was trying to buy stuff in America with foreign money?</li>
<li>Please do some research you come across as unprepared for travel anywhere.</li>
</ol>

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<p>Azarimanka, you are a dickhead.</p>

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<p>I will help you out, the guy that answered is an ass.</p>

<p>I am Russian, grew up in a Russian home, and have visited Russia many times</p>

<p>1.) What are common foods they sell/ eat over there (is it like American foods?) ?
There are a lot of Cafes, little restaurants, etc. They serve multicultural food in Moscow and St. Petersburg…such as Pizza, burgers, etc. If you want to try Russian food, you will have no problem finding a Russian restaurant.
The stores you shop in will have European food, a lot of cheese, sausage and tea. Canned tomatoes and cabbage, etc. It is all very good food, grew up on that stuff.
2.) What places in Russia would you advise me to stay away from?
To be honest it is a safe place… Just dont walk a lone at night and start yelling in English haha. Stay away from drunk thugs…obviously. Try not to speak loudly in English, Russians dont like foreigners, and dress like everyone else.
3.) What places would you advise me to see?
There are a TON, Visit any museum you see, the Kremlin. etc.
4.) What should I pack for a year abroad in Russia?
The Winters are extremely cold, boots, gloves, large coats, sweaters, long johns, warm socks etc. Summer time shorts and flip flops.
5.) How safe is the country?
Just as safe as America
6.) Any tips on adjusting to the culture?
The housing is much different than the US. There are no suburbs, people live in communal apartments. They sometimes feel dirty and unclean. The cable shows suck haha. Everyone smokes. You must understand the country is still adjusting and making efforts to make Russia a great nation again…but you will be hassled by the Police if you are there for a year…So have some bribe cash on you just in case.
7.) How much do you think I will spend monthly? (Food and transportation card is included in fees at AIFS)
Just as much as you would living here in the U.S
8.) Should I convert my American money to Russian money? Use half and Half? or just stick with American money?
Some take dollars, but I would convert to look less foreign.
9.) Any other information I should know or any tips you have are welcome!!</p>

<p>I love Russia…it is a beautiful country, very vast, and full of different culture and people. Take it all in and enjoy your stay.</p>

<p>Dont smile to strangers. </p>

<p>Keep a pocket knife on you just incase. </p>

<p>And a flask filled with vodlka :)</p>

<p>May I ask why are you studying Russia and its culture??</p>

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<p>Thank you for answering Tatman123.
I am studying Russian because that is where many of my ancestors are from on both my dad’s and my mom’s side of the family. My dad’s mom (My grandmother) used to live in Russia and I have grown up hearing wonderful things about the Russian culture, and language. So I want to see where my ancestors/family is from and I want to study the language as well as the culture and bring a little of that back with me to the states. I am hoping to become a Russian language teacher, a Translator/ Interpreter, or possibly a Multilingual Editor – Proofreader.</p>

<p>I am in my junior year of high school and I am taking college credits from my local Community college. So I have decided that to help save money for my trip to Russia I am going to spend my first year of college at my local Community college. And I will be studying abroad my sophomore year through AIFS. Then once I get back I am applying to a 4 year university in which I will be studying abroad again my sophomore and Senior year through my University. So I will have a total of 3 academic years abroad in Russia by the time I am out of College.</p>

<p>If I am going to stay abroad for a year how much should I pack? (Clothing wise that is)</p>

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<p>I’m a dickhead. Good. Or rather don’t ask obvious questions. I have spent a lot of time in Russia and know my way around as it were, none of these questions could not have been answered without reference to a guidebook.</p>

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<p>^ You’re not a dickhead because you didn’t answer the questions. I agree the person should have got a guidebook.</p>

<p>You’re a dickhead because of the way you communicated. If you’d said “get a guidebook!”, that would be one thing. But to go through each question making sarcastic comments… that’s a-dickhead.</p>

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<p>Somber- when you do start packing, lay out all the clothes you’re thinking about taking, and then only take about 1/3 to 1/2 of that pile. Bring a good coat, good boots, good gloves and hat and warm stuff, but try to limit yourself to two large suitcases (max). Be aware that you’ll buy stuff abroad that you’ll want to bring home. And remember that the rest of the world is not quite so obsessive about wearing a new outfit every single day for a month like you might find in an American high school.</p>

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<p>Thank you to everyone for there help. I do want to say that even though I think Azarimanka choose a bad way to get there point across I can see how my questions might have made it seem like I had not done any research before posting this thread. I have read many guide books as well as post online. I just wanted to know what everyone on here thought and if they had any tips that could be of use to me.</p>

<p>A few books I bought:</p>

<p>1.) St. Petersburg (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
2.) Lonely Planet Russia (Country Travel Guide)
3.) Trans-Siberian Handbook: Seventh Edition of the Guide to the World’s Longest Railway Journey (Trailblazer Guides)
4.) Russia - Culture Smart!: the essential guide to customs & culture
5.) Frommer’s St Petersburg Day by Day (Frommer’s Day by Day: St. Petersburg)
6.) The Russia Reader: History, Culture, Politics (The World Readers)
7.) The Rough Guide to St. Petersburg 6 (Rough Guide Travel Guides)</p>

<p>And I have ordered:
Culture Shock! Russia: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette (Culture Shock! Guides)</p>

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<p>nice topic</p>

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<p>1.) What are common foods they sell/ eat over there (is it like American foods?)?
Post-Soviet Russia is pretty much like any other European country. If you try, you can find burgers or pizza or any other foods that you would be used to in America. However, Russian food is different. Russian food is normally very plain (of course, to save money in the Soviet days). However, it is by no means bad food. </p>

<p>2.) What places in Russia would you advise me to stay away from?
This is a very hard question to answer. If you were in America, you can’t really tell someone to stay away from anywhere, except for the obvious places. You’d want to stay away from Downtown Detroit. Same rules apply in Russia. Especially at night, stay inside (Russians are rightfully known to be drunks, and most of them come out at nights). On important holidays, you want to be careful when dealing with drunks.</p>

<p>3.) What places would you advise me to see?
St. Petersburg. Period.</p>

<p>4.) What should I pack for a year abroad in Russia?
Imagine you were in the South Pole for the winter and then New York for the summer. Pack for that.</p>

<p>5.) How safe is the country?
While on the outside it seems just as safe as the US, it is a very corrupt country. To be honest, I would avoid going there at all costs unless your Russian sounds like you’re a native. They are very xenophobic. Even though I speak Russian, I was discriminated against when visiting Russia because I was not exactly like them. On one occasion, I wasn’t allowed in a store because I was an “alien.” While this isn’t so common, be prepared to be given some dirty looks if you sound American.</p>

<p>6.) Any tips on adjusting to the culture?
Be a follower. Your goal should be to act, dress, and speak exactly like them. Russians are very proud of their culture, and are quick to denounce foreign cultures. Also, I would avoid watching the news while in Russia. It’s a bunch of xenophobic garbage. </p>

<p>7.) How much do you think I will spend monthly? (Food and transportation card is included in fees at AIFS)
Same as in America.</p>

<p>8.) Should I convert my American money to Russian money? Use half and Half? or just stick with American money?
Definitely convert. Some places might not accept the dollar. You want to conceal your nationality.</p>

<p>9.) Any other information I should know or any tips you have are welcome!!
Bring lots of extra money! The police are notorious for being extremely corrupt. The chances are that you will be falsely charged with committing some crime. The police would do this just so you can bribe them. To most Russians, money is more important than morals. Power is often taken advantage of. Etiquette is extremely important in Russia. If you forget to say “thank you,” you will be judged just from that. If you slouch when you sit, you will be looked down upon. As I kept stressing earlier, do as they do.</p>

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<p>I was interested in AIFS intially also, but I began looking at the options my university gave me, and more often than not, AIFS was not accepted. Have you browsed CIEE yet? They offer a nearly identical program in St. Petersburg, minus/plus a few things here and there. If you’re interested in going abroad, it is definitely worth looking into.</p>