Russia: An Experience Worth the Challenges Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

My academic experience was, overall, very positive. My professor was an excellent communicator, and he did a great job explaining key concepts and providing his students with clear expectations and goals. In my language course, I experienced no significant difference in teaching methods from what I experienced in the United States. For the purposes of this language program, there were no substantive differences between the way it was run at the Academy and the way it would be run at an American institution. The workload was significant, but not overbearing -- it provided me with ample opportunity to improve my language skills, while leaving me some time to explore the city and to complete my work duties at my internship.

On-site administration of your program

The program staff in Russia were amazing! They were always accessible for any sort of question, and they constantly looked for our feedback, in order to help us have the best possible experiences in Russia. They actively sought out our opinions on how the program could improve, and they held regular meetings to check in with us to see how we were liking our home stays, internships, and, of course, the language courses. The staff were all incredibly helpful and incredibly friendly!

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Most aspects of my home stay were positive. I lived in a nice, safe, quiet part of town, not too far from a university and a number of parks. My apartment was comfortable, but small (which is to be expected in Russia). My neighborhood was very close to the school at which I studied, but it was not close to the center of the city, where most of the nightlife happens. However, Moscow is a huge city, and my commute was by no means the worst. I thought the location was great. Although I did not get along very well with my host (due to communication issues) during the first three weeks of my visit, I ended up getting along with her very well, once we understood each other. She was a very good cook, she allowed me the use of her washing machine, and she was eager to engage in conversation. On the other hand, she did not have an abundance of patience in dealing with a less than proficient speaker of Russian, and she was very particular about money and payment issues or delays. The home stay was a positive experience, on the whole, but I personally cannot feel at rest when I am living in someone else's home, so once was probably enough for me.

In my home stay, the food was pretty good and abundant, and my host took my tastes into account when she cooked. Restaurants in Russia are very expensive, so I rarely ate out, but I can recommend Teremok and Schokoladnitsa to any travelers.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

All of the trips arranged by the academy were great, but I especially enjoyed our tours of the Kremlin and Victory Park, as well as our weekend trip to the dacha. Social life in Moscow is great, as well. It is a large, vibrant city with a lot of nightlife options (though it is extremely expensive).

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Moscow felt pretty safe to me, but I am also a large caucasian male who can pass as Russian, so I was not at risk for racial, ethnic, or sexual discrimination or harassment. As with any large city, you need to be careful. I did not think that Moscow was any more dangerous than Boston, Seattle, St. Louis, or any other city I've lived in, but the police are not as helpful or friendly as in America, so it's important to be responsible and to be vigilant on your own behalf.

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

I practiced Russian in all aspects of my life abroad. Not only did I speak Russian in class, but I also used it at home (I lived with a Russian host), at work (I worked for a Russian organization), and everywhere in between (from the subway to the grocery store to restaurants). Most Russians do not speak English, so I used Russian to communicate in most everyday interactions.

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• Host Family

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• Host Family

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• Americans

• The staff. They were very helpful and friendly, and their support eased many of my worries.

• They could do a little better job providing orientation information to individuals before they arrive in Russia. There is a lot of information to process when you arrive, so having that information earlier would ease the culture shock.