The world has reached that stage where everyone is looking for the opportunity to study abroad for higher remuneration, experience, expertise and among other important reasons. The Russian Federation has become one favourite destination of study. Students travel to Russia to study and graduate all the time but what are the conditions over there? . According to statistics, Russia is one of the few countries students love to to travel to and whatsoever the reason may be, we will all find out by the end of the post.
Our news team at Lydia's World went all the way to Russia to find out how international students are faring and below are the exact words from the students; no editing nor changes made. We tell you just as they told us.We spoke to both the new and the old students from different universities. Some wanted to remain anonymous and some were just happy to speak to our news team.
In our interview with them, these were the questions we asked them. They also had the right to not answer any question they were uncomfortable with.
People are claiming finding a job here in Russia is very tough but the question is, have they tried to search for a job and they never found? And how was their attitude towards work when they got given the jobs. Some students were granted the opportunity to work and they messed up big time. I work two jobs so what is the no jobs people are talking about coming from? I will give life in Russia 6.
I am Jamal from Saudi Arabia. I have been in Russia close to three months and I am here to study Business Law. I chose Russia because its affordable and people are friendly. I love the the fact that I am learning a new language because to become a very successful businessman, I have to learn different languages. I decided to come to Russia. In the beginning, it was difficult but as time goes on, things are turning out well. I don't regret coming to Russia. I wouldn't want to work and live in Russia because I would have to pay taxes and other things so I would rather work in my country where I won't pay taxes. Also there's much more money in my country. I would want my friends to come to Russia. I have even told some of them already. I will rate life in Russia 8.
WELL, so you read it for yourselves. This is how your friends and family are fairing here in Russia. About Nigeria's situation we are still working on getting someone to talk to our team. Once we find that person we will bring you an exclusive interview.
Thank you for reading the weekly news on Lydia's World. Please don't forget to leave a comment and share.
Edited by; Dr. Aba Antwi-Wilson
Our news team at Lydia's World went all the way to Russia to find out how international students are faring and below are the exact words from the students; no editing nor changes made. We tell you just as they told us.We spoke to both the new and the old students from different universities. Some wanted to remain anonymous and some were just happy to speak to our news team.
In our interview with them, these were the questions we asked them. They also had the right to not answer any question they were uncomfortable with.
- Name?
- Country?
- Why Russia for studies?
- Course of study ?
- Any misconceptions or rumours about Russia before coming?
- Who decided, your parent or yourself?
- How does it feel like studying in Russia?
- Was it worth leaving your country for Russia?
- How long have you been in Russia?
- Ever been involved in a relationship with a Russian?
- Has your respective country embassy been helpful to you since you came to Russia?
- Any suggestions for better living and studies to the Russian school and government?
- Would you advice a relative to come study here?
- Would you consider working and living in Russia after studies?
- On a scale from 1to 10, where 1 is worst and 10 is best, rate your stay here in Russia?
- What do you have to say to students who claim there are no jobs in Russia?
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| Allen Lee Chinese studying in Russia (decided to remain anonymous) |
My name is Allen Lee, I come from China.I have been in Russia for about two years and it has been fantastic. What i don't like about Russia is that its so cold and some things are expensive here as compared to China my homeland. I also don't like the fact that Russia doesn't have enough fruits and vegetables which limits my cooking and i think that's all. I have been in a relationship with a Russian before and i still am in a relationship with a Russian lady and its good. Russian ladies are good. I don't regret coming to Russia. I just feel disturbed sometimes because its not easy studying in the Russian language. I suggest teachers should also study the English language, many lecturers don't speak english and it makes it difficult for them to understand what i mean. Not only English but also other languages. From one to ten, I will rate my life in Russia 6.
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| Emmanuel Owusu Aboagye Ghanaian in Russia |
My name is Emmanuel Owusu Aboagye, a Ghanaian studying Economics here in Russia. I could have studied economics in Ghana but you know its abroad and they have good teachers and this is the place i can study Economics very well and move on. I have been in Russia for close to five weeks. It was my decision to come to Russia, well I heard so many scary stories about Russia. I heard the weather is really cold and i was a little bit scared. I heard they were racists too but i haven't experienced anything like that since i came here. Its great studying here in Russia. I really like Russia and i think it was worth the decision. I would love to live and work in Russia after studies but not for long. I also have to go back to my country and help my country. I would love my relatives and friends to come study here because the teachers are so good. I would rate life and study here in Russia 9 out of ten.
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| Rashad Mexdiyev From Azerbaijan in Russia |
My name is Rashad and I have have been in Russia for a year and quarter. I am from Azerbaijan. Studying here (Volgograd) is not as awesome as studying in Moscow but it also has its interesting times. I just can't seem to adapt to the very cold weather in Russia. I have been in a relationship with a Russian lady before and she was good. And African girls are good too.
On the whole I don't regret coming here but sometimes I get very tired and stressed and when I don't get it all because I am being taught in a different language , and teachers talk very fast, I just feel like going back home. However, this is a feeling that comes once in a blue moon.
I really wished the third floor of the hostel where I live could be kept a little quiet since it's too noisy. Also, I have never really needed the help of the Embassy. I love all the teachers in my school and I mean that. From one to ten, I will give studying in Russia 7.
(**TRANSLATED FROM RUSSIAN TO ENGLISH**)
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| Jason Umar Miqdad Ghanaian studying Computer Engineering in Russia. |
My name is Jason Miqdad from Ghana. I have been in Russia for about a month now. I am here for Computer Engineering because I have interest in computing and looking at the trend the world is taking, very soon computing or technology will take over and will be part of our daily lives. I learnt Russia is very good in this particular course that was why i chose to study it here ( I also saw it online). I didn't really hear any scary news about Russia before coming. It was my decision to come to Russia. When I was a child I always wanted to travel outside Ghana and Russia was the country I wanted to travel to; it was an innate decision. I find studying in Russia very cool. It was really worth it coming here. The main reason was to come and study, and work here. If possible I will marry a Russian lady and give birth as well. I will rate life in Russia 10 out of ten.
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| Clinton Azubuike Nigerian studying Medicine in Russia |
I am Clinton from Nigeria, and I am here to study Medicine. Medicine is something I have always wanted to do since I was a kid . I have been here for three weeks. I chose Russia because, I heard the fees are very affordable and living in Russia, especially this city Volgograd, is very comfortable. Although I heard of racism cases before coming here I think it is now over considering i haven't heard of any of such incidences. My parents decided for me to come to Russia. I am still trying to cope here. It was worth leaving Nigeria. I would really want my friends and family in Nigeria to come join me here because the fees here are even more affordable than some schools in Nigeria. A university like MacDonald University where my sister studies, take exactly as i pay here. I will give life in Russia 10.
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| Peter Lamptey Ghanaian Studying Chemical En- geneering in Russia |
I am Peter Lamptey from Ghana studying Chemical Engineering. I have been here for one year two months now and it has been cool, just the Russian language that makes things tough here. There is nothing really i don't like about Russia but definitely have some things i like about them. A few encounters with my mates show they are very friendly, anyways some are sceptical when they meet you for the first time. Russians organised, industrious and time conscious. When a Ghanaian meets a white man, he or she tries to slow down when talking so the foreigner can understand him or her. Well that is not the case here. Russians speak very fast and treat you as though you were Russian. The teachers are different though. They slow down and try to give the international students different topics to treat so the whole class can be on the same page. I don't regret coming to Russia. I suggest Russian students should be made to live with the foreign students for exchange of culture and more importantly the language. I haven't really experience any form of racism from any white person since i came here.
I personally haven't been in need of any service from the Ghanaian embassy in Russia but my friends who have, say so far its been good. One no longer have to go back to Ghana to replace passport in cases of stolen, expired, destroyed or misplaced passport. I will rate life in Russia 8.
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| Mohammed Ali Mohammed Ali Basim Ali From Iraq studying Economics in Russia |
I am Mohammed Ali Mohammed Ali Basim Ali from Iraq. I have been here for six months and I am here to study Economics because I just like it. I heard about "MAFIA" when I was coming here (laughs). I decided to come to Russia. Everything is good, the people are friendly and I like them.
I just like experiencing other cultures. I am still thinking about whether or not to stay in Russia after studies. I won't advice anybody to come and study here but if it is just for a vacation fine.
I rate life in Russia 6.
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| Eugenia Ankrah Medical Student from Ghana |
I am Eugenia Ankrah, Ghanaian. I have been here for two years and it has been a bit challenging. The weather, the language, the food and so on, it was not what I expected. Its just so cold and the food here is just "one way" unlike home where there are varieties. I can't really lay my hand on what i don't like about Russia. I went for a christian camp once and the Russians met there were really nice people. Well I don't know whether it was because they were all christians but they were very nice. All my teachers are fine and so far all the people I have come into contact with are all fine. I wish I could change the weather (laughs very hard) but its not possible. I also wish we had an African market here in Volgograd where we could get food. For the people, I think we can't change people so just leave them to be how they want to be. I want food....IT's sad.
I haven't been in need the Ghanaian embassy here so far. I give living in Russia a 6. I feel Russia is boring and I won't advise anybody to come here. (Laughs again)
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| Obi Elijah Obiechine Nigerian Student in Russia. |
My name is Obi Elijah Obiechine from Nigeria and I have been in Russia for one year six months. Life in Russia is basically different from Africa; the weather, the food but its been good. I have not been emotionally involved with a Russian because I think their way of thinking is very different and it requires lot of study, lots of work to understand each other and it will be stressful. Well I like black skin so I will just stick to my black skin girls. I haven't really experienced any form of racism. I think if you understand the concept of being in another person's country, then you shouldn't really bother about certain things ;there are things you can and can not do. I don't find insults as racism. I think some of them are just scared of that which they don't know thus seeing someone black. Some of them haven't seen black people before and they also have misconceptions about Africans. As for the ones who do what they do all i can say is God should help them (laughs). I don't regret coming to Russia at all because I braced myself before coming. I think they should restructure the accommodation system here. The fees are cheap as compared to other countries and i just love their education system. Well, I am praying i will never need the Nigerian embassy and i am praying i never need the whole Nigerian government. I am Nigerian and i will never want to change my nationality but the country is making things difficult for students studying here abroad. In terms of forex, in terms of investments and everything. I just hope this message gets as far as it can to make the government do something about how tough they've made living here hell for us Nigerians. There are even students on government scholarship here who haven't received their stipends for months now, how are they going to survive. Well thank God I am a private student.
People are claiming finding a job here in Russia is very tough but the question is, have they tried to search for a job and they never found? And how was their attitude towards work when they got given the jobs. Some students were granted the opportunity to work and they messed up big time. I work two jobs so what is the no jobs people are talking about coming from? I will give life in Russia 6.
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| Jamal Khaled Bagaar Saudi Arabia Studying Business Law |
I am Jamal from Saudi Arabia. I have been in Russia close to three months and I am here to study Business Law. I chose Russia because its affordable and people are friendly. I love the the fact that I am learning a new language because to become a very successful businessman, I have to learn different languages. I decided to come to Russia. In the beginning, it was difficult but as time goes on, things are turning out well. I don't regret coming to Russia. I wouldn't want to work and live in Russia because I would have to pay taxes and other things so I would rather work in my country where I won't pay taxes. Also there's much more money in my country. I would want my friends to come to Russia. I have even told some of them already. I will rate life in Russia 8.
WELL, so you read it for yourselves. This is how your friends and family are fairing here in Russia. About Nigeria's situation we are still working on getting someone to talk to our team. Once we find that person we will bring you an exclusive interview.
Thank you for reading the weekly news on Lydia's World. Please don't forget to leave a comment and share.
Edited by; Dr. Aba Antwi-Wilson
