Crimea river Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Middlebury is known for its rigorous academics and while this program wasn't particularly rigorous, it was difficult. Learning a new language is always hard and especially when you have to take classes purely in that language--that is the Middlebury pledge. The grammar and class with Professor Trufanova were difficult because grammar is always hard but Trufanova was talking about European Imperial foreign policy using words I have not learned before. The discussion sections were purely in Russian with local Russian students, so it was sometimes hard to keep up with what was going on. A class with graduate students in the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU) was hard because the students were more advanced and the teacher was demanding but the other class with graduate students in the Higher School of Economics (HSE) wasn't hard and while it was hard to keep up sometimes, the professor wasn't as academically challenging.

On-site administration of your program

Nana and Shushana were very helpful. Our group bombarded them with questions day and night. They worked hard to be available to us every day and to make us comfortable. They were like family.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I live with a Russian lady in her sixties and her adorable cat. She was a wonderful host mother, who cared for me whenever I got sick and since she had the same taste as me when it came to food, we would enjoy our fried blinchiki and talk about our lives. When I started having stomach problems, she worked really hard to accommodate me. I think living with a host family is the best option. That is true cultural immersion.

It is going to be expensive but you can find all kinds of food in Moscow.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I established a good relationship with my Russian host mother, which was helpful but I wish I were more proactive when it came to local students.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

If you do not want to go to a Russian clinic, they have clinics run by foreigners that have bilingual staff.

It was fun, engaging, we traveled to many places, my prejudices were shattered, and had good food. What more could you want?

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

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

Middlebury pledge is self-explanatory

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Local Students
• Americans

• Travel
• Food
• Host family

• Integration
• Teaching better coping mechanisms

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