Get to Know ITMO’s International Office Staff

Ekaterina Gurzheeva, International Students Learning and Support Center
Ekaterina works with students of the Foundation Program. She helps them settle in, answers all their questions, organizes special events, and provides a strong pillar of support.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
Five Corners – I grew up here, I went to music school here, went to university here, and it's where I've been working for many years now. It feels like this place never changes. I also love the 300th Anniversary Park very much. The sea, the expanse, the beautiful view of the city. When I walk there, I often meet our international students. Everyone wants to be near the sea.

Which book should everyone read?
Robinson Crusoe – it’s about how to survive in any situation and keep your humanity.

Best movie of all time?
My favorite movies are Ghost and Forrest Gump.

What food can you not live without?
I love any kind of cheese!

What’s your favorite sport?
My favorite sports are swimming and cross-country skiing.

What is your dream travel destination and why?
I want to go to Bali. Every time I travel, I try to go to a new place. I especially like Southeast Asia: its nature, culture, food, and lovely people. And Bali has been a dream for years.

What is your most essential travel tip?
If you're going to some new place, don't spend all your time sightseeing. To really get to know a country, it is better to spend time with the locals and eat local food – really feel the country from the inside.

If you could be an expert in any field, what would you choose?
I want to become an expert in ecology, with a focus on garbage disposal. Otherwise, the globe is gradually turning into a big dump…

Lyana Zelenskaya, Migration Services Office
Lyana helps students process visa invitations, extend their visas, register at their place of residence, and much more.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
My most favorite places to visit are not popular tourist spots at all. I love the park next to my house (Alexandrino in the southwest of the city) – with ponds, ducks, squirrels, and a pine forest. I also really like walking along Pearl Beach on the Gulf of Finland.

What’s a song you can listen to forever?
It’s My Life by Bon Jovi. The words, the music, the rhythm, it’s all fantastic!

What is your dream travel destination and why?
Probably Japan. I find the East fascinating – everything there is unknown to me. 

What is your most essential travel tip?
Always travel with a smile. In any country, it will help you to get almost any information and help!

What is the latest you’ve stayed at the office, and why?
Sometimes I’ve stayed at work with colleagues till midnight. The busiest time for us is late August to early September, when we work in emergency mode, as new students are constantly arriving at the University and current students are returning from vacation. We are working tirelessly to process all the incoming students and their documents. 

Daria Tolochko, International Educational Programs Department
Daria coordinates the Buddy System at ITMO, which provides international students with a buddy who meets them at the airport, helps them settle in St. Petersburg and at the university, and acts as a supportive local friend.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
I'd say the Spit of Vasilievsky Island, especially in the winter when there are not many people around. There’s just the river Neva frozen over, a spectacular view, and myself.

What’s a song you can listen to forever?
It is a hard question because I'm a melomaniac. I listen to different types of music from Valeriy Meladze to American female rappers. But I'd say Noize MC (Иван Алексеев, признан иноагентом) – Everything's as it should be [Всё как у людей].

Which book should everyone read?
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes. You can learn to be smart, but no studies can teach you happiness.

Best movie of all time?
One of my best friends is from India and he recommended an Indian movie called 3 Idiots to me. It's about the friendship of three engineering college students. That's the movie I'd erase my memory of just so I could watch it again.

What's a funny work story you've had with a student or staff?
Oh, I have so many, starting from a two-meter-tall male student who made me carry his luggage when I was a Buddy, and ending with a student from Taiwan who was walking around Yagodnoe at night while meowing. In my opinion, each of Buddy System's trips to Yagodnoye is a story to be told.

Yulia Garmalyga, International Students Learning and Support Center
Yulia works with prospective and current international students, particularly those studying in Russian-language programs, responds to queries, and helps them settle in the city.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
My home and Yakhtenniy Bridge, from which, especially in good weather, there is a stunning view of the Gulf of Finland.

What’s a song you can listen to forever?
I can't choose one, but three definitely stand out. Years have gone by, and these songs are still equally loved: Careless Whisper by George Michael, Englishman in New York by Sting, and Joe le taxi by Vanessa Paradis.

Best movie of all time?
La La Land – this film combines all the best: beautiful music and dancing, a touching life story, humor, and drama all at the same time.

What food can you not live without?
Fresh bread with cheese, coffee with halva, and strawberry milkshake.

What is your dream travel destination and why?
Lebanon! As it is a sunny country with magnificent mountains and plains, hospitable people, and incredibly delicious cuisine.

Aleksandra Zavalina, International Admissions Office
Aleksandra helps with the admission process for ITMO’s international educational programs, providing prospective international students with information, evaluating academic credentials, and working with incoming exchange students.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
I really like Pushkin. There are some parks that are not for tourists but for ordinary citizens and they are so charming, quiet and soothing. Just for rest and a peaceful walk.

What’s a song you can listen to forever?
I love the French language, so I could listen to Mireille Mathieu, Charles Aznavour, Mylène Farmer or others forever.

Best movie of all time?
I like the Russian film The Dawns Here Are Quiet about war, friendship, and life.

What food can you not live without?
Not exactly a food, but I cannot imagine my day without a big mug of strong black coffee, even better with a slice of cheese.

What’s your favorite sport?
I love basketball. For me, it's the most intelligent game. I have experience as a referee at several championships.

What is your dream travel destination and why?
Japan and Italy – and, for sure, Kamchatka.

What is your most essential travel tip?
Never forget your documents.

Julia Stepanova, Internationalization Department
Julia manages communications and records-keeping for the ITMO Fellowship & Professorship Program, organizes events, processes applications for the program, and helps its participants with relocation and settling in at the university.

What app on your phone do you use the most and why?
Telegram for messaging, Sudoku to relax and improve concentration, and Duolingo to support my Spanish language studies – it’s a great app for language beginners but not if you’re already at an intermediate level.

What is your favorite spot in St. Petersburg?
There are a lot. But for one, I really love Sevkabel Port. For me, it’s a place where cool and grand things are always happening.

What food can you not live without?
Avocado, chocolate and Earl Grey tea.

What is your most essential travel tip?
Sometimes it’s better to enjoy the view rather than rush to get a picture.

If you could be an expert in any field, what would you choose?
Psychology or genetics.

What is the latest you’ve stayed at the office, and why?
I’ve stayed at the office as late as 9 pm. I’ve stayed on Zoom as late as 10 pm, and I’ve worked from home till as late as 1 am. Sometimes I’m inspired to work in the evenings.