Study Abroad Program Review of CIEE: St. Petersburg - St. Petersburg University

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Submitted by Megan Carter (major: IR) on December 3rd, 2009

Academics Overall

**Rate your overall educational experience:

**Please comment on your above response(s) on academics:

All classes are with fellow Americans in the Center for Russian Language and Culture (which serves foreign students). There is a heavy emphasis on Russian language. While it would have been great to take university classes with Russian, my language skills (and those of most program participants) is not at that level.

Language Overall

**To what degree did the program encourage and improve your language acquisition?

**Please comment on your above response(s) and include advice on ways to improve language skills abroad:

I think no matter where you go, it is up to the student to try and use the language as much as possible. If you only hang out with Americans, then you are bound to speak English.

Participation Year:

2006

Term:

Fall

Host Country Program Administration Overall

**Please rate the on-site administration of your program provider or exchange site:

**Please explain why you gave the rating you did, including the program’s strengths and weaknesses:

As stated earlier, the program administration in St. Petersburg clearly had a long-term and positive relationship with the host university. Their knowledge of the culture (even the American administrators') was fabulous!

Housing Overall

What were your living arrangements? (Select all that apply):

Host Family

**Please rate your housing satisfaction:

**Please describe your housing and location satisfaction:

I lived with a Russian woman who had hosted many students before, so she was familiar with the challenges foreign students face. I had my own room in the apartment.

Students were spread out all over the city and in St. Petersburg, there are a series of bridges that go up a little after midnight. So if you are out with friends on the "wrong" side of the bridge when it goes up, then you are stuck. That, along with the fact that the metro closes early, impedes nightlife. My neighborhood was average, but safety should always be highly considered in Russia.

Food Overall

**Please rate your food satisfaction:

**Please comment on your above rating:

Russian hosts will feed you SO MUCH. We all have stories about how we tried to turn down food, but you must eat it all! So you definitely won't starve. The food is fairly simple, but I didn't have a problem with it at all. Definitely try Georgian food! There is a great Georgian restaurant off of the Fontanka--Legedze. Check it out!

Safety and Health Overall

**How adequately were student health issues addressed through your program?

**How safe did you feel throughout your program?

**Please comment on your above ratings:

As I stated above, the program tried very hard to make all students as safe as possible at all times. There are cultural issues that are difficult to deal with, but CIEE did a good job of helping us navigating that.

Money Overall

**How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

General Assessment Overall

**What words of wisdom would you give to a student considering this particular study abroad program?

I don't think this advice is CIEE-specific, or even Russia-specific (but maybe more true in Russia than other places): be flexible! Things won't always go according to plan, but roll with it--you will DEFINITELY laugh about your whole experience later!

**If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program?

Yes

**Please rate your overall satisfaction with your study abroad experience:

**Was your study abroad experience worthwhile? What qualities and/or understandings did you gain from it?

It was definitely worthwhile. I learned so much about Russia, made some wonderful friends, and even want to go back! It really lends some perspective to your university studies, which can be a bit of a bubble.

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Study Abroad Program Review of CIEE: St. Petersburg - St. Petersburg University

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