My culture shock starts to get a little easier.
For instance, we noticed that Russians do not speak English unless you speak them English first. Our contact person RM started to speak English to us once I finally told that I do not understand Russian. Also, if you want to know something, you need to ask. Nothing is given in a ready package.
We had the beginning seminar in the morning. In Russian, of course. NR told me though that the things told were really general, like "do your homework", "do not cheat" etc. So nothing much informative. Classes start tomorrow.
Now I know my schedules, but only for this week. The school prepares them one week beforehand, because the lecturers are working while teaching in the university. In my home university, we know our schedules till the end of semester.
Funny thing is, that when we have tried to meet our international coordinator EP - we have asked to meet her three times - we were told that she is not even working in the office! Sounds confusing, because we have handled all our issued before coming to Russia with her. Our Finland's coordinator LK contacted her for us, and fortunately we will meet EP on Friday. So she does exist here!
We got our first new friend here: EW, the American Master exchange student. Her situation was even worse for her: she came to Russia all alone, and she does not know any Russian. I and NR were happy help her out.
With Ville Haapasalo's words: "Russia is a country where nothing works but everything will get arranged." My patience has been tested hard, but I am quite positive now :)
Here some pics from our exploration in Arbat in the historic centre of Moscow:
For instance, we noticed that Russians do not speak English unless you speak them English first. Our contact person RM started to speak English to us once I finally told that I do not understand Russian. Also, if you want to know something, you need to ask. Nothing is given in a ready package.
We had the beginning seminar in the morning. In Russian, of course. NR told me though that the things told were really general, like "do your homework", "do not cheat" etc. So nothing much informative. Classes start tomorrow.
Now I know my schedules, but only for this week. The school prepares them one week beforehand, because the lecturers are working while teaching in the university. In my home university, we know our schedules till the end of semester.
Funny thing is, that when we have tried to meet our international coordinator EP - we have asked to meet her three times - we were told that she is not even working in the office! Sounds confusing, because we have handled all our issued before coming to Russia with her. Our Finland's coordinator LK contacted her for us, and fortunately we will meet EP on Friday. So she does exist here!
We got our first new friend here: EW, the American Master exchange student. Her situation was even worse for her: she came to Russia all alone, and she does not know any Russian. I and NR were happy help her out.
With Ville Haapasalo's words: "Russia is a country where nothing works but everything will get arranged." My patience has been tested hard, but I am quite positive now :)
Here some pics from our exploration in Arbat in the historic centre of Moscow:
"Fabergé eggs" in a souvenir shops.
World leader matryoshkas!
A little more traditional matryoskas...
Cheburashka, the most famous character in Russian children's programmes.
Fancy building in Staryi Arbat! I love old fancy buildings ♥
Some paintings at Staryi Arbat.
Statue of Aleksandr Pushkin and his wife Nataliya Goncharova.
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