A Semester in St. Petersburg, Russia

Russia is known for being both vast and mysterious. It is the largest country in the world yet many people know very little about it. This is one reason I choose to study there. Before my study abroad experience, I only had a vague picture of what day to day life in Russia consisted of. For centuries authors and adventurists have noted Russia's mysteriousness as part of its beauty. Russia has long been known for its introverted or "cold" mentality, so I was curious just how true this stereotype was. The Russian language, like the country itself, is also something of mystery, especially to the western world. I was drawn to discover what Russia was really like. So January 2011, I began my Russian journey. Russia, unlike many study abroad destinations, require an extensive visa process. At first the pages of questions can be overwhelming but with help from AIFS, it really wasn't too much of a hassle. AIFS took care of all the hard work I like to imagine. So I recommend not getting freaked out by the long process, it's worth it. Deciding what to bring is also something that takes time but not difficult if you prepare. The weather while I was there was mainly winter with a few weeks of spring towards the end. Most days, until early April, were white with snow yet still sunny. I experienced temperatures below zero degrees but was prepared so that wasn't a problem. I recommend bringing many layers. Bring long underwear and wool socks. Bring shoes that are somewhat waterproof, I actually bought a pair of rain boots in St. Petersburg that worked great for me. I've always had the mindset where if my feet are comfortable, then I'm comfortable. So with some long underwear, some thick pants, a sweater and a winter coat, I was comfortable enough to trudge through the layers of snow. Day to day life in St. Petersburg was a fascinating new experience. I choose to live in the dorms my whole semester and didn't regret it once. I made friends with students from all over the world. The dorms are also connected to the university classrooms so you don't even have to get all bundled up before class everyday. When I left for Russia, I had only one semester of Russian under my belt so I tested into the second lowest Russian language class. This worked out well for me because I had, in my opinion, the best professor and also a small class. But most of my learning, like any language, was done outside the classroom. Often I would meet Russians when we would go out on the weekends. This is where my language really grew and it was nice to interact with Russians my age. Groceries are easy to get and inexpensive, just a walk across the street and you're there. The cultural excursions were also a big plus to the AIFS program and they were all great! We toured museums, went to hockey games, went bowling. You can find something new to do everyday in St. Petersburg. It's also a beautiful city to walk aimlessly around. It is often known as the most European city of Russia but this does not mean they are "European." It's really just the architecture that mimics that of Venice, Italy. The people and culture are still Russian so if it's a Russian study abroad experience you're looking for, go to St. Petersburg! The semester I spent in Russia was honestly the most eye opening and fun I've ever had. I would recommend this program to anyone!