A Sunday at the Beach

My name is Violanti, I’m a student at ITMO University and I study Food science & Technology, specializing in "milk products'. I am from a small island in the Mediterranean Sea, called Cyprus. The lifestyle here in Russia is so different that when I compare it with my homeland lifestyle, it is like I’m living two lives in one. But I enjoy both lifestyles!

The 10th Floor

Travelling to a new country to study as an international student can be very exciting when you think about the opportunities ahead of you. You spend a lot of time checking pictures of the new city and university online and you can’t wait to see and experience the new country but the thought of leaving your friends of many years and family will always dampen your enthusiasm. It dawns on you as the day draws closer to your departure that you will have to be without them for some years. Friends and family are special gifts because you can always count on them. Most times, they are just a phone call away but in a new country, they are thousands of miles away and you start feeling sad.

The Optics Are Looking Good

The ITMO Optics Museum is free to students and has a myriad of interesting exhibitions that will amaze even the most cynical. The Optics museum is located on the ground floor of the Birzhevaya campus. When you walk in, the museum is broken up into several different rooms each with a theme. The museum has way too many exhibitions for me to describe each, I’d love to talk about a few of my favorites--which just happen to be the most "Insta-worthy" concepts.

Exploring St. Petersburg’s Views

Last weekend I finally got to see our beautifully charming St. Petersburg from the top of the roof. The weather was undoubtedly perfect and seeing the sunset in this environment was truly an unforgettable experience.

(Ex)change your life

It’s 15 degrees. I’m having coffee and marzipan cake in a cozy bakery in a small town called Wismar, in a big country, Germany. It’s been a month of studying on an exchange program in Hochschule Wismar and it’s already changed my life.

Discover the Museum that Shows You Mini-Russia

We all know how big Russia is and that it’s quite a challenge to visit every part of the country. Therefore, in order to get an idea of ​​the diversity of Russian cities and landscapes for yourself, the best option besides actually travelling, is to visit the "Grand Maket Rossiya" Museum. I have been postponing my visit to the "Grand Maket" for a long time, because I thought that my expectations would not be fulfilled. Despite the many positive reviews, I was still skeptical. However, I finally made a decision, and went and bought a ticket to the museum.

Memories

It’s strange how some decisions change your path, your perspective, your… everything. At the moment you receive the email about a semester exchange you have no clue how important that "I'm interested" can be. It’s just one semester after all, right? Well, no. It’s a life lasting memory.

Experiences with Teaching at ITMO

In this blog post I want to share some of my experiences so far with teaching, and with work with students at ITMO university. First of all, the courses were done together with my colleagues Liubov Kovriguina and Ivan Shilin. Besides the fact that it is nice to collaborate regarding to course content, sharing the courses was quite essential to be able adhere to all administrative procedures.