Study Abroad St. Petersburg: The Best Decision of My Life! Past Review
By Elissa Lee S (Political Science and Russian Studies, Iowa State University) for
AIFS: St. Petersburg - Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University
I had the most incredible experience. I loved the city, it was so beautiful and there was always something to do. The language and people take a little time to adjust to, but it's well worth it. Furthermore, I had a blast living and traveling with my fellow AIFS students - we're all still good friends! My experience in St. Petersburg helped me decide that I wanted to pursue a graduate degree in International Relations, so that I have the opportunity to go back and hopefully work in Russia!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 0-2 weeks |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Course work was not as difficult or time-consuming as typical University classes. However, the language courses were rather intense, but extremely helpful. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The programs coordinators were extremely knowledgeable and helpful throughout the semester. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing standards were sufficient, but very nice by local standards. The neighborhood provided basic amenities such as grocery stores, malls, and restaurants, as well as Metro stations. |
| * Food: |
I was nervous about what the food would be like, but I found local cuisine to be delicious and I really enjoyed trying new dishes. However it was easy to find "comfort foods". |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Our weekly excursions were a blast and really helped to ensure we were able to see/experience fun, important sites! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I typically felt safe while living in St. Petersburg. However, it was necessary to be vigilant about your surroundings, belongings and at times speaking English. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
The program helped my language improvement immensely, both in the classroom and in day-to-day life. There were some English speakers, but it was necessary to be able to communicate in Russian on a regular, day-to-day basis. |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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