Tell us something about your hometown.
I was born and raised in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia. It is located in the north central part of Mongolia at an elevation of about 1,300 meters. The city is located in a valley on the Tuul River. Ulaanbaatar is the cultural, industrial, and financial center of the country. It is connected to Russia by the Trans-Siberian Railway.
What was your schooling like in Ulaanbaatar?
It was unique and quite interesting. My main subjects were English, math, and chess. In Mongolia, schools have subjects like chess and Rubik’s Cube-solving. Students also participate in many tournaments in these subjects throughout the year. It is believed that practicing such hobbies can sharpen one’s mind. We are also taught to solve aptitude tests and learn mnemonics.
Do you like playing chess?
Yes, I am very interested in the sport. I have been playing chess for almost six years now.
Why did you decide to study in Russia?
I was looking for opportunities abroad. I really wanted to move out of my comfort zone and test my endurance. I am passionate about computers and wanted to study software engineering. When I googled “best university for computer science in Russia”, I got ITMO as the top result. I was surprised to learn that ITMO students have been champions at the International Collegiate Programming Contest seven times!
A busy night in Ulaanbaatar. Photo courtesy of the subject
What are you studying at ITMO?
I am currently enrolled in ITMO’s Foundation Program, where I am learning the Russian language. After completing this course, I will pursue a Bachelor’s degree in software engineering.
What made you interested in software engineering?
My grandfather was one of the first computer science engineers in Mongolia. I have inherited it from him. From a very young age, I was curious about computers.
How difficult is it for you to learn Russian?
Since the Russian alphabet is very similar to Mongolian, I am already able to read and write well. I would say I am picking up the vocabulary pretty fast as well.
What languages are spoken in Mongolia?
Mongolian is the native language of the country. The writing system is very similar to the Cyrillic script. The second most popular language is English. The younger generation studies it as a foreign language in schools and colleges.
Ulaanbaatar is a colder city than St. Petersburg, says Gunbilig. Photo courtesy of the subject
How do you feel in St. Petersburg?
It is a beautiful city. It is cold but not as cold as Ulaanbaatar. In my hometown, the temperature can reach as low as -40 degrees Celsius. Therefore, it was not very difficult for me to adjust to life here. I know international students have a tough time dealing with the cold weather, but in my case, it is not much of a challenge.
How did you celebrate Christmas and New Year?
I celebrated it with my friends from Mongolia. We cooked several Mongolian dishes together at the dorm. After having a grand dinner, we played board games such as Monopoly. We had a fun evening.
Which dormitory do you live in?
I live in the dormitory on Vyazemsky Lane. It is a very nice place to stay. The dorm is equipped with every modern amenity. My roommate is from Kazakhstan. He speaks Russian very well. He helps improve my Russian, too.
How many Mongolian students are there in your dormitory?
There are around 15 students from Mongolia who live in my dormitory. It feels so great to have a few people from my home country. Mostly we stay together as a group. It helps us overcome homesickness.
Skiing is one of the many hobbies that Gunbilig has. Photo courtesy of the subject
What are your hobbies?
I like skiing and riding bikes. I am also highly interested in social media marketing. I have worked with different companies and helped them improve their social media presence. Graphics design and editing are also some of my other hobbies and skills. Since 2019, I have been interested in Forex and cryptocurrency. In 2020, I joined a company that deals with foreign exchange and cryptocurrency. One of my latest interests are non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
What software do you use for graphic design?
I use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Premiere Pro for editing photos and videos. I find these programs to be very robust and easy to use.
What do you do with the content that you make?
I post it on my social media. I really enjoy creating content.
You should join the ITMO Influencers student club. You would do great there!
Can you give me some more information about this club? I don’t really know a lot about it.
ITMO Influencers is a student club that helps students grow and influence the world. As a member, you get the opportunity to write blogs for ITMO.NEWS, create content for ITMO's official social media pages and display their photography, videography, vlogging, and editing skills.
For more information, join the club’s official pages:
VK – https://vk.com/itmoinfluencers
Telegram – https://t.me/itmoinfluencers
