Russia behind the curtain Past Review
By jackson.ranheim (St. Mary's College of Maryland) - abroad from 06/24/2013 to 07/12/2013 with
SRAS: Moscow - Politics and International Relations at MGIMO
I learned a lot about Russian society and culture. It was completely worthwhile, and fascinating for me.
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 material was intended to be a general introduction, at a beginner level. |
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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? |
The dorms looked to be Soviet Era dormitories, that were furnished minimally. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Integration aside from other MGIMO students is entirely up to the student. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Moscow can be a dangerous city, if the traveler is careless. That being said, smart travelers should have nothing to worry about. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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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? | About 50-100 depending on how often I ate out. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | If you have a kitchen and fridge available to you, then be sure to take advantage of the local supermarket. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | IB higher level Spanish and Italian. |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Go out and talk to locals. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
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? | What to expect about living in the dormitories. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
