Learning How to Advertise in Russia and Much More

I have been trying to catch up with everything I needed to do while I was ill, therefore I barely had time to think about this blog.

My advancement in Russian language has stagnated, even gone worse, but that was expected. Got contact with teacher that has course, where I can practice communication. For a week now, I have been using Google translator to communicate in shops, instead of looking the vocabulary in advance. I just have been so tired of "studying" 24/7 and therefore gave myself a break.

Back to my work:

So, I was signed as the coordinator for one exchange program in Finland. This actually has been really interesting project to get to know Russia. In Finland the students needs to seek the information about the exchange opportunities themselves - here in Komi, we seek the students to go for the exchange programs:

We look up everything for them in advance, such as how much money approximately they would need during the exchange. Basically, anything they need to know. It may sound odd, but going abroad is not that common here and to get it established as common thing, well, it needs work! Therefore, we also have to help the students. So starting from making advertisement for the social media and the screens (that shows adverts on the corridors of the university). For this I actually requested to have a logo's or pictures for use from the target university, but I got the basic Finnish answer:

Ask them to look from the internet. *sigh * It just does not work that way in here... I also made the first draft for the ad, and this gave me the opportunity to learn what is seen as appealing ad in here. I have not the ability to write such things, but this is for learning and that is what I am doing. So now I can compare my version to what is seen as good ad! Cannot wait to get to do another one.

We have had a bit of a hurry with the schedule for the exchange program and therefore, the result for the Tuesday's meeting with the Head of Department, was for me to leave at ones to present the opportunity at the department of languages and the head of that department referred me to the English language teacher, who kindly invited me to give an ad hoc presentation on the subject. I was also invited to present the program to second group on Wednesday and was really pleased to hear that the Tuesday's group had 10 interested students and there was several on the second group too! When the starting point was that they are lucky if getting one student to present for the  receiving university.

This led me to my second task, which I presented to my team and was accepted: I start gathering all the possible exchange programs and collect them into one document to have advertisement of them and thus to present more than one opportunity for the student. To spread the knowledge of these, especially the ones, which provides grands to assist the students with the expences.

After the presentation, I had a lunch and prepared for the Master Class, which I gave to the students and entrepreneurs in the newly founded business incubator. My subject was, what it takes to have a startup in Finland and especially growth pains. I am really waiting to learn how it is here and currently, there is one Innovation Forum called Innovatika on, in which I was invited to give this speech. Not yet using Russian, but had translated my PowerPoint, and had a help from our department as Mikhail was the interpreter for me. He did well when thinking I was talking about special subject: startup, technology and financing with all the lovely jargon included in it - of course!

The Innovatika is similar to Finnish ones and I am going to have a post about it too in soon future.

 Just love the buzz!

Opening ceremony

All and all, I am going to enjoy every moment of it. :) Oh and the heating is working!

Fixed Lights and Plug + Conversing in Russian

Today they came to fix the (socket) plug and additionally had my light in the hallway changed too. I must say, the repairer is hilarious and makes me to chat in Russian more than I actually could, but that is the way to learn the language. 

I had the basic questions to answer: Am I married, am I Finnish, What languages do I speak. I returned the favour likewise and asked more questions. I am still at the dormitory, but do write some stuff, which I am able to prepare for Monday. I just need to translate my PowerPoint for the Master Class in Russian during this weekend, if I am not mistaken, it is on Monday and therefore I have no more time to loose.

The temperature in the room is still bellow 18 degrees. I am trying to get used to it, if I sit around for a long, I do get cold. I assume after next week I am getting used to speak in more than two languages. It just always takes so much energy to get used to talk in other than the languages one is commonly using. Just wish it would be over sooner. At this point I feel like I just want to stay in the room for 3 days and not to talk! 

Getting to Know Stuff and Problems with Internet

I seem to have taken all the bugs running around and yet again I was on a sick leave from my work. Maybe now I have harvested all I could and the next week would be dedicated to work!

There are few things I have gone through with actual experience, such as the new law for Internet data storing in Russia. This made me to change service provider and I will get to that in this or the next post. Here I am going to show you first some glimpse of what this university is about. 

Showing the international students around and getting to know studies and training facilities.

Some hardware to use on the pumping of oil.

Presentation hall for Uhkta.

Gazprom has one of it's biggest offices in Ukhta.

Pipelines.

Both Lukoil and Gazprom are well presented in the university. These are here, according to the tour, to be able to present themselves for the students and get the best ones to work for them.

This is for development of technology etc. studies

How the companies are working closely together with the locals and surroundings (one example).

Mining the oil, not just pumping.

One of the biggest lecture hall.

Walking down the Lenin street to work.

This was taken yesterday as my phone package had cut off and Mikhail came to my rescue to find unlimited package. Yes, we were running around trying to find the shop and outside of the main street, behind the buildings the roads are as such.

Needed some coffee and ice cream after that!

When I came back to my room, I was told to change the rooms and end up cleaning second apartment for myself. Washing the floors; true Russian experience I would say, but functional. 

I think they started feeling sorry for me sleeping with my winter jacket on. Still do as I need to plug this off while sleeping or going out (Risk of fire). Actually one of the plugs behind me was smelling funny and made crackling noises when we first used it - and no, no electrical mechanic was called in to inspect it! Just was told not to use it. :D

Had to attend this one, where we were told not to use any electrical stuff (such as water boiler) in our rooms. There has been more than one case of fire and deaths: Though, I am working here, so rules are for me a bit different.

This is the service provider I would recommend to find, they are one still left with unlimited data per month. Though, I only can call within Komi with this package. Tele2 I "burned" in 10 days so not for someone who uses a lot of data! 

Even though I paid double this month for my Internet, I still got it 3 times cheaper than in Finland. It works just fine. Only thing is, that you need to pay the fee in the stores every month, unless you have Sberbank or something similar to be able to pay online.

With Tele2 I had additional problem of getting messages and phone calls nonstop with the previous owners name. It was really annoying. This one has been silent. So my voice goes to Megaphone company if planning on getting your own number in Russia.

Other than that, I am really tired with the language, just jamming all the time. Quite normal as I have gone through the language fatigue before. One recommendation to learn before coming here:

"What would you recommend."

additionally, take your study books with you even though it is extra weight. I would have desperately needed them now to study what I have been using during the days or needed to use! Now I have not had time to find a bookstore to buy ones here, so just take them with you. Secondly, learn to buy phone/sim card in Russian language before coming here. It is easier when able to buy stuff by yourself.

I will leave the work related news to my next post, I still need to rest to fully recover.

Back to Work - New Students and Language Skills Development

So I actually managed to forget to take pictures as I was helping with translation between English and Russian (sometimes French). Anyway, to take pictures outside was impossible as it was raining and quite persistent wind was preventing such activities aswell.

These were the gifts given to new students and I got myself one too.

I have noticed I have surprisingly huge passive vocabulary and to be honest, even my "boss" is encouraging me to use Russian in future, when giving speeches or lectures. I think I just should get over with myself to use Russian more. At this point it is actually starting to be the first language that my mind offers me when starting to talk. I also have noticed, I have started thinking in Russian or at least trying to find words to what I am thinking of.

CV is developing bit by bit, just needs some more adjustments. I need to find decent dictionary though. It is just slow work as I need to figure out the words (straight translation will not do) or use some other way to find how it is been expressed in Russian, or how certain Finnish things are actually translated when there is no such word/thing/etc. in Russian!

Additionally, I have been pushing myself by listening news in Russian and watching some movies too. Slowly getting into the speed of their speech and keeping up with the content. Today, I managed to have discussion - in Russian - about Shoulders of Giants Oy and the presentation they wish to have. It is funny how fast this all has happened. I just came here this Monday.

Oh, enjoy my cozy evening picture, found some rice porridge stuff and yarn, hooray!

Flu Got Better of Me - Assignments for My Internship

So the flu kicked in fully and now I am bed ridden. Therefore, end up going back to the dormitory after lunch, which I  had with our Head of the International Department; who was kindly showing me the route to the cafeteria ones more. I think I am starting to get hang of the layout and where I need to walk. Survived the trip to and from the campus area as well.

My first task was to translate my CV into Russian as it is easier for them to send around my information to different faculties that I am going to visit du ring my stay. One thing I really have to emphasize as a huge plus for this university as an internship place:

They really give me challenging tasks and helping me to get out of my comfort zone. I really feel I am learning and developing my professional skills here. I only need to suggest what I would like to learn and they will do their best for me to gain the experience.

This time the post is a bit shorter, but I am sure there will be much more to come in future as we get all things rolling.

I will leave you with these amazing birch trees, which I have the pleasure of having as a view.

"Ты туда и улетай"

"Улетай на крыльях ветра..."


The trip went surprisingly well, though after Riga, I was not able to get my internet connection to work. That made me a bit nervous as I was not able to send any message to the university and inform of being on time and on board - and before anyone comment: No I was not able to get any Wi-Fi to work in Moscow Vnukovo airport ( though there should be one!). Next to my adventures with pictures attached:

In this picture my taxi driver had disappeared. He luckily showed up, but I must say it made me a bit worry at that point. He was funny guy, spoke English and has two jobs: taxi driving and installing satellite disks. (Now I know all about the Moscow Oblast regions disk markets.) He got me safely from sheremetyevo airport to Vnukovo, which is 55 km. I think Moscow region is a hint bigger than one would expect... Well, I arrived within an hour to the airport. It was 2 am, no internet and flight to Ukhta left after 11 hours. Yeaaaa, tired! So I ate and notice some funny looking capsules. It had "aerosleep" written on one side. One word: SLEEEP.

So I got myself 4 hours of sleep, a bit noisy. But hey: It's a bed! 

Next pictures are taken at the dormitory, which is basic Russian: functional and rustic.

I think it is a bit chilly, or is is just me...

Kitchen. No fridge yet and still waiting, but I have been able to keep my food in one of my colleagues fridges. (It is not the end of the world.)

Shower room, rustic rustic, but works perfectly for me.

Bedroom, had to buy new pillows the next day. they had some old feather pillows waiting me and I do not like the feathers. 

2. Day

Office and colleagues are wonderful, everyone are great. I have to say the hospitality is excellent here! Only two speaks English: Crash course on Russian, but that is what I am here for. I had a pleasure to communicate in French too. Though, took some time to wake up my language skills. 

Next adventure was an actual adventure...

Here is one innocent looking lunch. Oh boy, I had to work to get it, well actually get out of the cafeteria:

So all went well as my colleague assisted me to the facility and I managed to get something to eat. As I was leaving, the guard stopped me at the door and started to complain about my jacket (I had it on at that point, note: had already as I came in through that same door with the colleague.), luckily there came some exchange students who sorted it out and I was allowed to exit the room with my jacket in the bag. I recommend to never have a jacket with you when entering Russian university, period!

Oh well, survived past by the guard and proceeded to find my way back to the international department. Easier said than done: Russian layout in buildings is something I cannot get grasp. So finally after few minutes, saw two person walking past by, who seemed to be working for the university and managed to communicate enough to inform I am lost and where I need to be. Finally I was escorted to the right door. Still do not know where I had been, what route I came and so looking forward to have the same adventure next day. Oh, did I mention I am coming with the public transport by myself to the faculty tomorrow? 

Who guess where I find myself then? Arkangel or perhaps Ural? Stay tune for the next episode... 

Preparing for the Trip - After Math

I got the internship position a bit later patch and as I had to renew my passport, the schedule was a tight one; especially to get visa to Russia on time. It was mixture of luck, excitement and "yea, this I will sort out at some point later..."


So starting from last week of July, all the way to 5th of September: I was good to go. I actually had common friend with the earlier intern from Finland to that same university. So I was able to ask some advice from her. Here are my few notions if you decide to move to Russia:


* make sure you got all documents needed ready before you actually need them. I lost few days as I thought all was ready. There was few hiccups, such as, my insurance policy information request had been lost somewhere and it wasn't ready.

* When applying for visa, make sure you have also your purse with you. It would have cost me 2 weeks of delay. Luckily, I had my neighbour visiting the consulate at the same time and she lend me the money for visa payment.(Talking about LUCK!)

* I also had to inform (fast) my route to Ukhta in my visa application and end up going via Moscow, (might have preferred Saint Petersburg). Additionally, I booked in a hurry my ticket through E-Dream and thus end up spending 11 hours in an airport near Moscow (Oblast), Vnukovo international airport, and I happen to land to a different airport. So I had to order a taxi service to pick me up, as the airports are 55 km away from each.

*I will let you know how the taxi service was. Probably paid too much for the fair, but anyway, alone in the middle of the night in Moscow - Yea. Lingontaxi, paid via PayPal.


All and all, the reception has been amazingly wonderful by the University. Everything has been planned beforehand. I was also asked, what I want to learn/do while I am there. So I will have now one of my dream fulfilled: Lots of Russian language lectures. If I finally manage to get the grasp of it! As I went through my schedule, I noticed they had arrange a knitting workshop in the center of Komi Culture, that will be an exciting addition. Rest, I will let you guys to follow here in my blog.


I hope you will find this blog helpful if considering Russia as internship or exchange location. Enjoy the time with me and lets see what we learn while visiting Komi Republic in Russian Federation.