Traveling to Moscow!

Hey friends of Danielle! My name is Sarah, and I am currently studying the world in Moscow, Russia! I am staying at a university here that is associated with my own university in the USA. I must say, I love it here! There are so many interesting and different sights and experiences!

So why study abroad? And why did I choose Russia? First of all, I think studying in a country other than your own will give you an understanding of how other people think. Every country is different, every cultural is different, and just because they are different doesn’t necessarily mean one is worse than another. For example, I am here in Moscow; this culture is very different from my own. There is a specific difference in the attitude toward meeting new people. At home it is pretty easy to meet new people: you can often just start talk wherever you are. But in Russia it often takes several times of seeing each other, and then introducing yourselves, then you can become friends. Now to many of you, that may sound worse and harder, but there is another big difference…once you have worked to become friends, you are more likely to be really good friends.

Now as to why Russia; I have always wanted to come here! When I was little I listened to a radio program where they often visited Russian orphanages. Ever since then, I have had an increasing interest in Russia as a whole. In high school I learned some of the language, I learned to cook some Russian food, and I learned some of their history; including seeing the famous Faberge eggs four times! So when my university offered a new three week trip to Russia, I jumped at the chance.

So, what advice would I give you? First, become interested in a country other than your own. Learn about it; try food from there. Try to learn some of the language. And most importantly, learn what the culture is like. How is it different from yours? Do you think these are good or bad, or even just different? Be open to new ideas and experiences. And finally, just go! It may seem scary at first, but it is totally worth it! I can definitely speak from experience since this is my first time out of the country and on a plane, but I am so glad I came!

Enjoy the world!