Student Spotlight: Yash Kulkarni, India

Hey Yash, thanks for joining me today. How are you doing?

Hi, I am doing well. So excited to chat with you today.

Please introduce yourself to our readers.

I am originally from Mumbai, currently doing an integrated Master's degree program at Parul University in Ahmedabad. ITMO and Parul have a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in place regarding semester exchange for students and that’s how I got this opportunity. ITMO, in my opinion, is one of the best universities I could have ever studied at, not just because of their high global ranking in IT, but also because the subjects that I wanted to study are taught here.

That’s amazing. Tell me more about your Master’s program at Parul University.

It is a 4-year integrated program (Bachelor's + Master's). During these 4 years, I have been completing both my Bachelor's and Master's in computer applications (BCA and MCA). 

How did you become aware of the semester exchange program at ITMO? 

I had been scoring well at Parul University and one of my professors told me that I should apply for a semester exchange at ITMO, as it would help me do better in my career. Parul University also offered me a scholarship and I took advantage of it. There were multiple options available, but my mind was fixed on ITMO based on what my teachers and peers said.

Cool! What does the scholarship from Parul University cover?

My flight tickets were booked by Parul University. Additionally, the entire visa process was taken care of by the university, too. They were kind enough to help me with all the difficult and hectic tasks.

Does the curriculum at ITMO meet your expectations?

ITMO’s curriculum contains all the subjects that I wanted to study this semester. My grades at ITMO during the exchange will be transferred to Parul University and added to my final grades. Hence, I won’t need to pass any additional exams at Parul. 

Nice! And how are you feeling as a student at ITMO?

Studying here is a great experience because at ITMO all study materials are available online and offline, unlike in India. The curriculum here is designed in such a way that students can mix extracurricular activities or work with their studies without any problems. The way the lab assignments are handled and performed is also very nice. Everything happens at a good pace and I love it. I am yet to take the exams at ITMO, so I can’t comment on them much, but the way it is going, I love education here a lot. It's more interactive and practical.

And all your courses are taught in English, right? 

Yeah, all my courses are in English. 

That's amazing. What are your favorite subjects to study at ITMO? 

Actually, I find all the subjects very interesting because of the engaging teaching style.

The lab assignments are designed in such a way that every student gets to learn concepts hands-on. If I had to pick just one subject, network security would be one of my favorites because I have so much to learn about it and I want to make a career out of it as well. 

Are you currently working on any project here? 

Not yet, unfortunately. However, I am involved in a lot of lab work and coursework. 

When did you arrive here in St. Petersburg? 

I arrived on August 28. The journey was great and very comfortable. I came through Uzbekistan and made some new friends during the layover at Tashkent. The journey was long, but I came prepared with my food and movies.

Once you landed at the airport, did you get any support from ITMO? 

Yeah, I got a Buddy from ITMO. Her name is Angelina. She had contacted me before I started my journey to discuss everything important. I touched down at Pulkovo Airport late, so ITMO accommodated me at a hotel first. The next day I was transferred to the dorm on Belorusskaya St. 6A. My Buddy was there all the time to assist me: she picked me up at the airport, accompanied me to the medical examination, and helped open a bank account. 

How are you feeling in Russia?

Life has been great so far. What impressed me the most was the public transport here. Metros and trams are cool, but I love the buses most. They are one of the easiest modes of transport in the city and we can enjoy the stunning beauty of St. Petersburg as we commute. What more can you ask for? 

That's pretty cool. How is your life at the dorm? 

Besides traveling, everything is perfect. My dorm is quite far away, compared to those that are located closer to the city center. But I am from Mumbai, so traveling long distances is not unfamiliar to me. The best part of living in this dorm is that there is a 24/7 supermarket called Hyper Lenta (Гипер Лента) nearby. It has almost everything that a student needs, from stationery to food to games and fun stuff! It makes life very comfortable here. Also, the surroundings are very peaceful.

What captured your heart the most in St. Petersburg?

I think this city is very culturally diverse. I've seen many people from different countries living happily here. There are a lot of tourists as well. I like the infrastructure here a lot. Everything is very sophisticated. And the people here speak English a lot more compared to other cities I've been to. I don’t feel like an outsider here. 

People are very helpful too. Even in the stores, the locals helped me out with language a lot. Some of them readily used a translator to help me, which was quite impressive.

Have you been to some of the landmarks here? 

Yeah, I have been to some. Recently I went on a trip with the Buddy System. They organized a quiz where we had to guess the places from some hints. On guessing it correctly, we were taken to that place for a tour. Isn't it so fascinating!

Indeed! Which ones were your favorite?

My favorite one, I would say, is the Kazan Cathedral. The history, the paintings, the architecture, it all captivated me through and through.

And have you been to any other Russian city? 

Not yet, but I am planning to. I need to extend my visa and then I'll start exploring other parts of Russia. 

Have you tried some of the local food? 

Yes, I have tried local food and it is not what I expected. I heard Russian food is bland and lacks flavors, but it's not like that at all. The flavors are different and not spicy, but by no means is it bland. For instance, we, as Indians, only know the normal white bread and the wheat bread. But after coming here, I noticed that there are so many types of bread and each of them has a different taste. But because we have been eating food with spices so much, it's not easy for us to recognize the subtle taste differences in these breads. 

Exactly. As an Indian, I totally agree with your observation.

Yeah. So, we have to come here with an open mind, especially in terms of food. We have to change the way we perceive food and flavors.

Do you prefer to cook in your dorm or eat out? 

Both. Whenever I have lectures and if I am already out, I visit different types of restaurants to try different cuisines. One of my favorite dishes here is khachapuri (Georgian cheese bread). It is bread that has a half-fried egg inside it. I like it so much. I also like eating the sweet bread here from the local bulochnayas (bakeries). I eat pelmeni a lot as well. The noodles here are also very different from the ones we get in India. It is something we should try at least once. 

When I have time, I cook my food, too. I brought some spices from India because come on, I am an Indian after all and we, Indians, can't live without them. We have occasional cravings for spicy homemade food as well! 

How has your overall experience of being an exchange student been in Russia? 

The first few days were a little up and down because I was still getting to know the country and how everything works here. But once you have settled in, like once you cross the first week, it's excellent. The culture, the food, the environment, the climate, everything is marvelous. I expected Russia to be very cold and harsh on me because Mumbai is a very hot city, but so far, the weather has not affected me at all. I have adapted to it very well. I like living here. 

Going forward, what are your plans? 

This is currently the final year of my Master's and I am willing to do my PhD at ITMO. I have been in contact with some of my friends here who are already pursuing a PhD. I think you know Pankaj, who is like my elder brother right now. He is helping me a lot. I wish to come back to ITMO to continue my PhD.

That’s great. We will be waiting to welcome you as a PhD student. 

Thank you so much. Fingers crossed!

Do you think semester exchanges are a great experience for students? 

I think it is an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to get international exposure. Traveling to a foreign country to study teaches us a lot of important skills like managing money, and taking care of health, and belongings. All of this can't be imagined until and unless we have done it ourselves. Watching videos or reading articles can never match what first-hand experience brings. Semester exchange is a perfect way to experience studying abroad for a short period of time. It is like a trial. 

I agree. For your PhD, would you like to try other countries as well? 

Right now, I am not thinking about any other country. The people around me, the experiences I have had until now, and the fact that I am learning the language, make it very convenient for me to continue studying here.

Finally, I would like to ask if you have any advice for future students at ITMO. 

To be honest, just trust your Buddy. The Buddies at ITMO are excellent. They will help you get everything done the right way. The International Office at ITMO is also very helpful and supportive. The only thing I would mention here is to be smart about what you are packing. Apparel is not as expensive here and you can always buy it locally. So only bring those things that are most essential to you. Of course, that includes Indian spices!