On July 28, a special meeting took place at the Samara Lutheran Church, bringing together students from the Faculty of Philology and Journalism with participants of the "Friendship-Freundschaft" motor rally from Germany. This event offered a unique opportunity for students and anyone interested in the German language and European culture to engage in direct dialogue with representatives from all 16 German federal states.
As part of their "Peace and Friendship" tour, the rally participants have visited numerous Russian cities, meeting and conversing with local residents. Their goal is to return home and share authentic, firsthand insights about life in Russia through lectures, reports, and presentations. In an era where reliable information can be scarce in Europe, these grassroots cultural exchange events enjoy immense popularity across all demographics. The participants noted that the extensive travel required to reach these various meeting points often exceeds the actual distance of their 24-day road trip across Russia.
Samara University's German studies students had the unique opportunity to interact directly with the rally participants during their stop in Samara. Maria Dolganova, an alumna of the Department of German Philology (majoring in Foreign Philology: German Language and Literature), served as a guide for the guests, leading a tour of Samara's key historical landmarks, including the famous Stalin's Bunker.
During the ensuing discussions, students asked a wide array of questions. Interestingly, the German guests noted that certain cultural stereotypes about Russia were actually confirmed during their journey. For instance, they observed that Russian students often possess a deeper knowledge of German literature than their German peers, and that Russians, in general, demonstrate a broader and more profound interest in various art forms—including music, painting, and cinema—compared to many European citizens.
Marking its tenth anniversary this year, the "Friendship-Freundschaft" rally has established a strong tradition, and the organizers are already planning to return to Samara next year. In fact, the university has already begun preliminary discussions and successfully coordinated a draft itinerary for the guests' upcoming visit to our city and the wider Samara region.
Finally, there is excellent news for all German language learners at Samara University: starting this September, the university plans to resume regular online conversation clubs with native German speakers to discuss a wide range of cultural and everyday topics. These interactive sessions will be held on Thursday afternoons and evenings. We highly encourage all students wishing to practice their language skills and engage in direct dialogue with native speakers to keep their Thursday evenings open starting in September. Further details regarding the exact schedule and online connection links will be announced shortly.
