You are in another country, so different from your hometown. Deep down, you know you are a little bit afraid about everything. You are out of your comfort zone even with the most ordinary actions in your routine. At ITMO University, thankfully, there is an organization which aims to help exchange students: the Buddy System. It is composed of Russian students from the University who, amongst other things, are responsible for arranging and preparing an amazing event: the journey to Yagodnoe. This place is a property of ITMO University and there are cozy houses, many facilities and beautiful landscapes, with no phone service. A perfect environment for students to better understand each other and enjoy nature.
The sky is clear. The wind is not so strong. The sun is slowly setting, and the tallest trees are as interconnected as any big forest by the road. Darkness is slowly becoming light. It seems like the last rays of the sun and the yellowing of the sky lasts only a short while and then the end of the day and the start of the night will begin.
While it is a lowly-hyped global destination, St. Petersburg remains a stunning tourist hub! Not only is the city endowed with a broad array of unique attraction sites, but also with a diverse cultural center and home to the world's renowned artefacts. St. Petersburg welcomes you to a beautiful, well-planned, and clean environment, coupled with multiple stunning sceneries. The second-largest city in Russia, and arguably the most beautiful destination in the country is strategically located at the mouth of the Neva River, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It spans across the Northwest Federal District, in the Leningrad region of the Russian Federation. Its federal importance to Russia cannot go unnoticed, ranging from being an administrative center to the best tourist attraction destination in the country.
Having secured a Russian government-sponsored Master’s scholarship in 2018, I embarked on an eleven-hour journey to Moscow from Nairobi, Kenya, albeit with scanty and unclear information about my intended destination. While traveling was one of my hobbies in the past, anxiety of the unknown deprived me of the pleasure as myriad questions lingered on my mind regarding Russia, the people, and, of course, ITMO University.
Last night I was talking to one of my best friends. We were discussing financial opportunities (as students we can discuss them but not really have them). My friend wanted to buy a brand-new iPhone (yes, with those horrible cameras). I was suggesting her to spend this money on traveling. It could cover seeing the Eiffel Tower for 3 days, going around Brandenburg Gate for 5 days or at least swimming in the Mediterranean Sea for 7 days. But she said that she wanted to see where her money goes. So, who is right?
I am an Industrial Engineering student at the University of Campinas in Brazil, and recently I came to Russia to study at ITMO University, in St. Petersburg. Concerning my studies and professional interests, I came to increase my knowledge and skills in technology and computing subjects, to which I don't have easy access where I live. Apart from that, I have had some particular affection to Russian culture and history. Due to that, I am now having a gratifying and intense experience.
Catherine Palace is located 30 km south of Saint Petersburg. It’s an hour’s drive from Saint Petersburg. It was the summer residence of the Russian tsars. And we were there on 12th May 2019. The trip was organized by the ITMO.STUDENTS community. On May 12, everyone arrived at Kronversky on time and the BUS departed from the main campus of the university at the scheduled time. A lady guide was with us. We were about more than thirty students on that trip, including international students. When the boarding was finished, our student IDs were taken from us by the lady guide. The bus departed at 10:47 am and arrived exactly after one hour 11:47 am at Catherine Palace.
Summer has ended but your mind is full of memories to be recalled. Living in St. Petersburg makes Finland one of the most reachable destinations for traveling. Untouched nature, Nordic-styled cities, unique Finnish goods, and more appealing things make Finland a perfect location for your upcoming adventure. Today, I am going to take you through my Finland-on-a-budget trip and share some interesting details that you probably have not discovered yet.
A train from Wismar-Hamburg, with one change in a small-town Schwerin, to Hamburg airport, 2 hours at the airport with a huge anti-depressing pack of gummy bears, 2.5 hours on the plane and here we go, "you're arriving at St. Petersburg, the hero-city Leningrad. The temperature outside is 16 degrees Celsius. Thank you for choosing "Rossiya Airlines.'" Welcome home.
My name is Alexander, and I’m currently enrolled in a Master’s program at ITMO University. Originally, I’m from Pskov, and completed by Bachelor’s in 2018 at Pskov State University. Five years ago I was seriously upset that I couldn't go to study in St. Petersburg. Studying in a large city is more interesting and gives more opportunities. Nevertheless, I was lucky!
