Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Instruction was on the board, on the table, and in the books. There were no gimmicks--no powerpoint, no internet assignments. Just old fashioned, highly disciplined study. The teachers' methods were not for the weak. When people ask how long I've studied Russian, I think it's absurd to group the year I spent in Russia with the two years I spent studying Russian in America beforehand. I must have learned more than ten times as much Russian in half the time. Also, English is not the language of foreigners in Russia; Russian is.

On-site administration of your program

In general, all cogs of the machine in the administration were interested in getting the job done, not just getting a paycheck. I didn't appreciate that until I left that program for one in Beijing, China, where everyone was always looking for a way to get out of work.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

It was very noisy living on the Moika River, with tour boats (when it was warm enough) and drunk kids making a commotion all night.

That was the cheapest "business lunch" one could find in the city (for about 150ru, or $6) while actually being tasty, filling, and well-balanced. Russian food is typically very expensive, poor-quality, and poor-balanced

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Much literature has been written on the social experience of Russia--especially in regard to train ride encounters--which I shall not attempt to reiterate. ACTR took us on a mind-blowing river ride down the Volga, stopping every day at a new city to explore. Shooting stars were numerous at night. Finally we saw the massive and tragic memorial at Volgagrad. I felt like I grew a little after that week, and I'm already an adult who has worked and traveled in some extreme environments; to most students, who are still children and haven't really experienced the world, such an experience must be a real awakening. That was the closest I got to really feeling the elusive "Russian Soul."

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The medical doctors were a little rougher but, in my opinion, more effective than any that I've dealt with in the US. Also, I had much less problems with the insurance. That's in spite of language barriers. For a combat trained male of nordic descent, such as myself, St. Petersburg doesn't seem very unsafe, but I know the young men there are a bloodthirsty element. Visiting foreign students would be wise to conform and keep their eyes open and ears perked. All and all, it's still a much safer city than NOLA...but then so are all cities.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I couldn't smoothly construct a single sentence before I came. I left fluent.

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• Americans