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An Incredible Time in Russia
AIFS: St. Petersburg - St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University
Program Information
Study abroad in the most European Russian city. Founded in 1703 as Russia’s “Window to the West”, it still retains many of the Baroque splendors of the former empire, more bridges than Venice and a fairy-tale atmosphere of gold-domed churches, elaborate palaces and riverside parks.
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| Provider: | AIFS |
| Location(s): | St. Petersburg, Russia |
| Year Founded: | 1964 |
| Website | Take me there! |
Review By:
Timothy M. (Diplomacy/Global Politics, Miami University of Ohio) on September 12, 2011
Overall Rating
Personal Information
| * Start Date: | 2011-01-30 |
| * End Date: | 2011-05-13 |
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Excellent faculty and interesting classes |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Weakness: Far from the city center (though accessible using the metro) Strength: Everything else |
| * Housing: |
In the dorms, everything is included (linens, pillows, etc.) except for an ethernet cable. There is no wireless internet in the dorms and only one person can use the internet at a time in your room. |
| * Food: |
Not a good country for vegetarians, but for non-vegetarians the food is incredible. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Trips to Helsinki (BY CRUISE!), Tallinn, Moscow, and Veliki Novgorod. Also many weekly trips throughout St. Petersburg. All were extremely interesting, fun, and memorable. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
It's a big city. You need to have common sense. Healthcare also is not very good, but the program provides information to hospitals and clinics that are more Western in quality. Did not need any vaccines prior (though you do need an HIV test to enter the country) |
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* Home Institution Advising:
How well did Miami University of Ohio prepare and support you for your time abroad? |
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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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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
Could practice with other students, locals, professors, etc. Only some language professors did not speak English (only in the high level language classesO |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * If you could do it all over again, would you choose the same program? | Yes |
| * What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile? | Absolutely. Enjoyed every moment of every day in Russia. Met lots of lifelong friends too. |