Experience in Russia, at the State University of Techniques of Astrakhan

My experience in Russia, and particularly in the town of Astrakhan, started in October 2012.

I had freshly arrived from my dear Senegal, after having been to the University Cheukh Anta Diop of Dakar.

It was an awesome moment as suddenly I was on another continent, with a different climate, a different language.

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What I first noticed was the climate. Because in October in Russia, it is already cold. Something I had never experienced in the past as in Africa, and more specifically in Senegal, it is more than 30°C. And here I am with temperatures from -20 to -25°C. It was a shock for a first time but at the same time it was very interesting because I was supposed to completely change of style of clothes and quickly find suitable ones.

The town of Astrakhan is in the South of Russia near the Volga. Dating from a relatively distant time, the architecture is fascinating knowing that Russians are very conservatives about their historical monuments. Numerous nationalities are part of this city, most of them students.

Source : wikimedia.org

During the first year, I took language lessons because I think that when you are coming from a foreign country, the first thing to do is learn about the culture. And language is the basis of a culture. There is an African saying when you arrive in a village if you see everyone dancing on one foot you should do the same. It was hard at first because of the Russian alphabet which is very different from the Latin one, but I had very professional professors and I was quickly integrated. Everything went fast, but I feel comfortable in this town where I made friends among the locals and the other foreign students. It is always wonderful to learn from the others, about their culture, their uses, ...