Architecture and Volga River were surprising
Mohamed Elsayed came to Samara from Egypt. Since childhood, he had dreamed of studying abroad. When it came time to apply to university, his father contacted acquaintances from different parts of the world. One of them agreed to help, as he himself had moved to the capital of the 63rd region (Samara Region).
Thus, about three years ago, Mohamed set off for the banks of the Volga, speaking only English and his native Arabic.
"My friend met me at the airport and for the entire first month, he took me out to explore the city. He would just call and pull me out of the house. We walked around the old part of Samara. I remember being really struck by the architecture—we don't have buildings like that back home. And also Volga River, it had just frozen over. I was even able to walk to the other bank," says Mohamed, now speaking in Russian.
On preparatory courses before entering Samara National Research University, he began learning the language. Communication with locals also helped him progress in this area. Mohamed admits that he "just for fun" got a job as a delivery person, where he also met open and kind people.
Photo: Mohamed Elsayed
Soon, the newly minted Samara person faced the choice of a future specialty. He settled on Computer Engineering and Informatics. At that moment, he thought programming would be easier because good English was important, but everything turned out differently.
"They teach only in Russian. Studying is difficult, especially understanding specialized terminology. Even an intermediate level of Russian doesn't really help here, but I was lucky with my classmates—they always check if I understood and give me hints."
Now the student continues to explore Russian culture. Many things still surprise Mohamed, for example, our bread. He notes that traditionally they eat flatbread with every meal—it's an important part of the diet, while here baked goods are more of an addition to some dishes.
The young man also spoke about the one stereotype about Russians that, in his opinion, actually exists, while the others have been shattered:
"You rarely smile. Of course, it depends on the person, but I would say about half of the locals are very serious."
Cold and Unfamiliar
Divine Agbor from Nigeria is just preparing to enter a university in Samara Region, taking courses for foreigners at the Volga Region State University of Service. He sees his decision to study in Russia as an interesting and conscious adventure—an opportunity to gain new experience and broaden his horizons.
Photo: Divine Agbor
The most noticeable difference between Russia and his home country for the student has been the weather. The cold climate was unfamiliar. Otherwise, as Divine notes, the adaptation process is going quite calmly, without serious difficulties.
The main challenge at the initial stage was the Russian language. Understanding speech by ear is particularly difficult—native speakers talk fast, and at first, this requires extra concentration. The academic process in the preparatory department is structured sequentially: classes run from morning until lunch, and the rest of the time students can devote to independent work and extracurricular activities.
Divine has already made friends. He notes the friendliness of people and the locals' sincere attitude towards their own culture.
Speaking about his Russian peers, the young man emphasizes their ability to cope with a high academic workload. Despite the large volume of assignments, they find ways to organize their time.
On Russian Student's Day, Divine Agbor wished everyone good luck and success in their studies, as well as in their future careers. And to those who are just considering studying in the Russian Federation, he advises not to be afraid of change, to come prepared, and to be open to new experiences, noting that Russia is an interesting country where you truly want to study and develop.
I Liked People and Nature
Viktoria Titova is originally from Kazakhstan. She was familiar with the Russian language and culture since childhood, and part of her relatives had previously moved to Samara, so the girl decided to come to the 63rd region to get an education. Now she is a 2nd-year student at Samara University, a future psychologist.
"I chose Samara Region for my studies because it was comfortable for me. The university provides a dormitory near the buildings. I was also attracted by the opportunity to qualify for a scholarship. And there are many opportunities for travel here."
What inspires the girl most in the region is the beauty of nature, but the weather did not appeal to her: winter in Samara is much harsher than in her native Almaty.
Photo: Viktoria Titova
Regarding admission, Viktoria highlighted the comfortable online format of the entrance exams, although it was difficult to cope with the Russian language exam. Despite the anxiety and some difficulties, the girl succeeded in everything.
In Samara, Viktoria quickly made friends. Her classmates welcomed her warmly, and in return, she shared Kazakh culture, hospitality, and friendliness with them.
Now, the girl devotes all her free time from studies to sports, takes long walks, enjoys the nature of the Samara Region, attends creative workshops, for example, in pottery. In the future, she plans to work in her profession and notes that her expectations from life and study in the 63rd region have been met.
Source: Samara 450
