I Gave Moscow Everything I Had and Gained Ten Times as Much Past Review
By Josh S (Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting, Ithaca College) for
National Theater Institute: Moscow Art Theatre Semester (MATS)
Yes. This program added fuel to a spark within me and made it a blazing fire. I see theatre quite differently as a result, and I will forever respect the work of all artists, the heart of all Russians, and the inspiration and potential of myself.
Review Photos
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. |
Heaviest workload ever, but definitely manageable. The perfect semester for those devoted to theatre-making, physically and intellectually. Classes 6 days a week, and active from 10am-midnight (or later). |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
2 miles from class, but a 30 minute metro ride. Feels like an on-campus dorm. Building locked every day 1am-6am. Safe and comfortable, with kitchens, showers, coin operated washing machines, and a rehearsal studio (and new gym being installed!). |
| * Food: |
Cafeteria is the cheapest option for lunch and a great place to meet professional MXAT actors and students. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
We saw 30 plays in Russian. Many were the most brilliant theatrical productions that I've seen in my life, even after seeing 30 plays in London the following semester. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
The program is VERY PHYSICALLY DEMANDING. Be aware that physical injuries are likely and occasional. I injured my hip flexor and had x-rays that were covered by health insurance. An affiliate of the program escorted me to the hospital for the appointment. Before studying in this country, an HIV/AIDS test must be taken, with the results mailed. |
| 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? | The Russian Ruble is about 1/33 the value of the United States Dollar. A loaf of bread is about 20 rubles, a meal costs 90-180 rubles at the cafeteria, and 100-150 USD lasts about a week, but could certainly be stretched to two weeks. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Theatre tickets are unbelievably cheap with a MXAT student ID. The weekend field trip to St. Petersburg is a good thing to save money for, but the best value souvenirs can be found at Ismaylovsky Market. Good restaurants will be expensive. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | N/A |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
Many people spoke english, and the semester could be passed effectively without ever using Russian outside of class. So, to learn the language, it MUST be a constant effort in everyday interactions. |
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 do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Students who love theatre are the only people who should consider this program. More specifically, this program caters to lovers of ensemble, physical theatre, Chekhov, movement, direction, and design, and workaholics. Also, always be open-minded and embrace mystery while you're there. |
