St. Petersburg: Worth the Weather Past Review
By Jane H (Asian History, Tulane University) for
Bard College: St. Petersburg - Liberal Arts study abroad at Smolny College
I think I've learned a lot of Russian, and I've also realized that I don't want to live in Russia long-term. I have changed my plans based on that. However, I think students who do want to live in Russia for many years would benefit from this program. You'll meet amazing professors who will inspire you, sweet friends who will make you laugh, and all kinds of random strangers.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The RSL classes are really helpful, the professors are amazing the groups are small. Russian teaching methods used in academic classes can seem a bit strange to American students. Attendance usually isn't mandatory, and professors often start classes late, or make last-minute changes. However, the overall quality of the classes at Smolny is excellent. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is a lot of program support once we arrive. All of our needs were most certainly met, and the program staff members are great. My only problem was that when we Americans talked about culture shock issues among ourselves, the program director tended to be defensive of Russia sometimes, rather than being a sympathetic listener. Example: "Man, I'm tired of Russian food. I'd like to eat less potatoes." "Guys, there is a lot of great Russian food out there. And eating non-Russian food is much more expensive. You obviously don't know about a lot of the great culinary options in this city." |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I really, really love my host family. The only problem is that it took about 45 minutes to commute to school by bus, and that's longer than I would have liked. |
| * Food: |
To be honest, I just don't love Russian food. I can't say that Russian food isn't good, just that it doesn't suit me (many Americans, but not all, feel this way). The only thing I've done that's helped has been using spicy Korean pepper-paste on a lot of my meals, which at least gives them a little flavor. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The field trips and cultural events arranged by the program are wonderful! And there are many things to see here on your own, so just get a guidebook and go wherever you feel like going :) |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Pickpocketing is a problem in certain areas, so be careful of your valuables. The program requires health insurance and there is a great clinic here, so I wouldn't be too worried about health issues. |
| 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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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I'd say I spent about $15, but it really depends on what I did, and how I dealt with transportation. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Living with a host family, most of my expenses were covered. However, I really wish the school had provided something for transportation, as at $1 a ride taking the metro is expensive, but some places are just to far to comfortably get to by bus. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | fourth-semester russian |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I think the only problem with this program is that all Smolny students speak English well, so some people will just want to speak English. However, living with a host family helped, and I made some Russian-speaking friends outside the program. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | This is a really great program if you want to study liberal arts, not just Russian language (and your Russian will improve, too). It's a great way to live in a gorgeous city, while getting support from a wonderful program staff. However, be prepared for a dark winter, and consider whether you really want to live in Russia. |
