St. Petersburg: The Enchanting Russian City Past Review
By Christian D (Russian Language and Literature, Tufts University) for
Bard College: St. Petersburg - Liberal Arts study abroad at Smolny College
I learned how to appreciate the little things in life, especially when the environment around you seems very daunting. A study abroad experience in a city like St. Petersburg is so fascinating because you leave the Western World behind. You have the pleasure of being in a European city yet the adventure of a place so drastically different than anything in America or Western Europe. You learn how to speak the language, you learn how to be self-reliant and you learn how to take care of yourself in intense conditions (the Russian winter can be brutal). I had the best time of my life abroad, and learned more about myself there in a semester than I did in two and a half years at college. I can't wait to go back to Russia to live and work.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The academic structure in St. Petersburg differed from the American academic structure in that the amount of time spent in class was greater while the amount of homework was much less. I enjoyed this as it gave us more time to spend exploring the city. Instructors were very knowledgable, experienced and enjoyed teaching American students. Language courses were often quite demanding but yielded fantastic results. Those classes taught in Russian (not language classes) could sometimes be harder to follow but the instructors were more than willing to spend extra time with the foreign students to make sure we understood the material. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The Program Administration in St. Petersburg was very organized and did everything possible to make sure we had a smooth transition into life in St. Petersburg. They went out of their way to help us choose classes, find internships and jobs in the city, help us with travel plans, and set up excursions and lunches on weekends. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The dorm room had one plus: it had an incredible view of the gulf of Finland. Other than that the condition of the room was awful. The window was insulated with socks, our hotplate burst into flames while I was using it, the electricity often shut off, and the room was very dirty. This of course is not a bad reflection on Bard College or Smolny College, who have no real authority concerning the State University of St. Petersburg dormitories. That being said, we were able to make Russian friends and learned to appreciate the little things much more. The bad conditions certainly built great character which is key in any study abroad experience, especially one in Russia. |
| * Food: |
Grocery stores were ubiquitous and inexpensive. Restaurants on the other hand were expensive but delicious and entertaining. Georgian food is a little known delicacy to many Americans and definitely worth trying in Russia. |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The Program arranged multiple excursions in the city, as well as to other cities which greatly added to my experience in Russia. All of the excursions were well organized and included lots of free time to explore with friends. Perhaps the best part was that the Program was always there for you if you needed them but did not keep you on a leash. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
Beware of crazy drivers, drunk people, gangs of kids, icicles and ice on the sidewalks. I didn't have any safety issues but when my roommate ended up in the hospital, he was able to easily get in touch with members of the program and sort out the issue. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
|
Finances
|
* 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) |
|
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent on average 60 dollars a week on food and personal expenses. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | My bank took exorbitant fees from my checking account every time I used an ATM. I wish I had worked something out or looked into this before I left. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Russian 121 (4th-year Russian) |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
|
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Since most people do not speak English, including the local students, we were forced to use our language skills constantly. I personally become very close friends with certain Russian students with whom I always practiced. The American students were often unwilling to speak anything but English with each other so I tried to limit my contact with them to a certain degree so I could use my Russian. |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Bring warm clothing and see a soccer game! |
