SPSU for 10 months!

Hi all! I am going to Russia in 3 days! I will be studying at SPSU for 10 months. I have a few questions.
I am taking with me 900 USD and around Sep 25 I get 3,000. Jan 25 I get an additional 3,000 USD. My dorm is paid for (though actually I will be staying with my girl). I also get a small food stipded each semester that is supposed to pay for two meals per day.
My girl makes 500 per month. Do you think we are in good shape? I like to eat, but besides that I am low maintaince. I just want to go to the opera once in awhile.
I am entering Russia on a 3 month student visa. I was told I can pay $15 Euros and get it converted to multi entry. Has anyone done that?
If I put a few bags in my dorm room, should I be fine with never staying there? I plan to hang out there during the day, but never spend the night (unless of course we are fighting but let's not talk about that ;) ?
Thanks,
Jerrod

You'll get by, but good tickets to opera will cost you. ($100/person - is a minimum, the price can be much higher).

Wow, I figured they would have student sections or at least the upper tear would be cheap. Worst case, I will take the bus to Helsinki (my favorite city in the world) and see an opera there. Besides the opera, together we will be bringing in 1,150. SPB is not as expensive as Helsinki is it?

If something happens and we break up, would 3,000 be enough for my additional meals, a few cultural attractions per months (mainly museums) and a few dates a month?
Thanks

One other question, living with a Russia woman, studying for 10 months in a decent program, and studying like I should, what do you think my chances of gaining everyday fluency are? On the language scale of 1 to 5, do you think I could get a 2+?

you should get to be ok in everyday communication, thought expression etc. i Romanian guy i knew went from scratch and passed the level one exam in 10 months

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Originally Posted by Jamie25

If something happens and we break up, would 3,000 be enough for my additional meals, a few cultural attractions per months (mainly museums) and a few dates a month?
Thanks

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$3000 for food?
Geeze, what are you eating?
Maybe you can cut out the caviar.

Actually I can't stand cavier, yuk. I was told the black kind is better, but I doubt it. I will try it though.
I see so many conflicting statements on how much you need to live off of in Russia. When I travel I always go out to the super markets and buy food, never from tourist kiosks. I just want to make sure $600 should be enough to have fun.
In Russia, what does the average date run? Here in the USA, a standard date to a nice place to eat, a movie, and a cup of coffee, is about $50 USD. Should I expect the same in mother Russia?
I have two years of Russian study in so far. So I am at about a 1, if I could get to 2 or 2+ that would be amazing.
Thanks.

Hi Jamie - ten months of SPB, lucky you! :)

If I count right, you will have 6900$ to spend, plus the 5000$ your girlfriend will earn over those ten months, right? This means you'll have roughly 317000 roubles to spend over the whole period, or 31700 roubles per month.
Believe you me, that's more than plenty, you have nothing whatsoever to worry about. :wink:

Opera and ballet tickets can be pretty pricey, but normally you should get a student card which entitles you to tickets at the price the Russians themselves would pay - which is less than what they charge tourists.

And $50 can buy you a pretty grand meal, if you stay away from the tourist places and let your girlfriend do the talking..... :wink:


SPB is a stunning place - I'm very jealous! :lol: Have a fantastic time! :D

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Originally Posted by Jamie25

One other question, living with a Russia woman, studying for 10 months in a decent program, and studying like I should, what do you think my chances of gaining everyday fluency are? On the language scale of 1 to 5, do you think I could get a 2+?

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In Russia you should learn Russians and his life. This is the key for understanding Russian language :)

As far as the opera goes, you can probably pay about as much or as little as you want -- it's all about the quality. Asking how much the opera costs is kind of like asking how much a meal costs -- you can live on bread and water for virtually nothing or you can feast on a multi-course gourment dinner. There are many different places in Russia to see the opera and many different seating options -- which means a HUGE range of prices. If you want those killer seats at the Mariinsky, then get ready to shell out the big bucks -- if you're willing to sit in the cheap seats at a lesser known place then I think you'll find it affordable -- especially if you are comparing it to western prices and you can somehow swing student rates...

And yes, if you can "upgrade" your visa to multi-entry for 15 bucks it's worth doing. You may want to go to Tallinn or Helsinki, since that's fairly easy to do (and from Tallinn you can buy really cheap airfare to all over Europe on the budget airlines) -- and that says nothing about some sort of emergency if it should arise (a family member dies, you have a medical problem, you need to escape from the mob, etc.).

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Originally Posted by Jamie25

I will be studying at SPSU for 10 months.

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Lucky you! What wouldn't I give to do that! SPB is my favourite place in the world, plain and simple.

OK, useless post. But really, enjoy yourself.

I am in mother Russia! Wow, I instantly began to improve in Russian just by walking down the street. This is the only way to learn a language. I can not express the satisfaction to be watching the news and all of a sudden understand what is going on. Not translating, but just knowing; if that makes sense.
I have searched the Internet over and over to find out how the student visa process works. I have never been able to find anything. So I will share my experiance for future students.
Student visas are issued for 93 days. Upon arrival in SPB, I had to take an AIDS test (Yes again), take 7 photos (explanation to come), and pay 600 roubles at the sberbank on campus.
5 photos are needed for the registration, one photo is given to you stapled to a document that states you are in the process of registering (takes 5 days here) and that a multi entry visa will be issued to you in one month. That seventh photo is for your multi-entry visa issued for the whole term of study. This second visa is free.
Be advised though that you need your passport to change money, so do this well in advance.
I will update this post and let you all know my experiances. I am really excited to see how well my Russian will improve. My girlfriend and I speak only Russian now.
Take care

I'm going to Petersburg for 10 months in a couple of weeks too, but not to SPSU.

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Originally Posted by TATY

I'm going to Petersburg for 10 months in a couple of weeks too, but not to SPSU.

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Появляйся здесь, когда получится.
Успехов!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Jamie25

Hi all! I am going to Russia in 3 days! I will be studying at SPSU for 10 months. I have a few questions.
I am taking with me 900 USD and around Sep 25 I get 3,000. Jan 25 I get an additional 3,000 USD. My dorm is paid for (though actually I will be staying with my girl). I also get a small food stipded each semester that is supposed to pay for two meals per day.
My girl makes 500 per month. Do you think we are in good shape? I like to eat, but besides that I am low maintaince. I just want to go to the opera once in awhile.
I am entering Russia on a 3 month student visa. I was told I can pay $15 Euros and get it converted to multi entry. Has anyone done that?
If I put a few bags in my dorm room, should I be fine with never staying there? I plan to hang out there during the day, but never spend the night (unless of course we are fighting but let's not talk about that ;) ?
Thanks,
Jerrod

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Hey! You are me 3 years ago! Exactly what I did, 10 months at SPBU!!! Say hi to Vladimir Andreev for me! He is the guy with the guitar! :wink:

Jamie25, I'm going through the same process, I'm going to go to MSU, and I leave in three days so it's all over, but you had to get an HIV test, again? :roll:, I won't be able to stand another hole in my body...but if it's for staying in Russia, I suppose. Now, did you pay your tuition when you got there (actually carried the money?) or wire it? How'd you do that if you did.

if in moscow, are you gonna be at the ЦМО facuty? when i was there they exceped cash transfer and cash (i had to withdraw 10000py a day and take it to the faculty)

Russian Language Program, not Pre-University Program. I'm basically in the dark about everything until I get there. I don't even know my dorm room or anything, but that's usual :lol:. I'm hoping everything goes smoothly, especially all the money aspects.

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Originally Posted by Kareina47

Russian Language Program, not Pre-University Program. I'm basically in the dark about everything until I get there. I don't even know my dorm room or anything, but that's usual :lol:. I'm hoping everything goes smoothly, especially all the money aspects.

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Just wondering, are you going to MGU using the program of the Russian Language Centre (RLC) ??

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Originally Posted by Kareina47

Russian Language Program, not Pre-University Program. I'm basically in the dark about everything until I get there. I don't even know my dorm room or anything, but that's usual :lol:. I'm hoping everything goes smoothly, especially all the money aspects.

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Hi Kareina,
I am on an exchange and so I did not have to pay for anything. Yes you must get another AIDS test if staying in Russia for more than 3 months. It cost me here at SPB 225 roubles. I then had to pay 400 roubles for registration and 200 roubles to convert it to a multi-entry visa. This takes a little over 3 weeks.
Here at SPB you are completely on your own. They wrote down an address and said this is where you live. I have only 2 years of Russian, so you can just imagine my frustration when I made my way out to the dorm, only to find I needed additional documentation. ASK over and over, especially if the person you are getting help from does not speak much English.
DON'T CARRY MONEY INTO RUSSIA (or any monetary instruments)! If it is over 3,000 USD, you will need to go through customs and it is a big hassle. Withdraw it at a bank if need be.
Please put your entire visa process here for other students. I am sure you have searched the net about how this process works.
Also, this new multi-entry visa is not pasted into your passport, but rather a series of papers you just carry. I was told I would not have to fill out migration cards or register anywhere else, even while on vacation (please don't take my word for this yet. I must ask 10 or 15 people in the office till I get a collection of the same answers (be prepared for this!)).
I got my passport back today, and it does not have my migration card. I do not get that back till I get my multi-visa. On Sep 22 or 28, who knows which is the correct date.
I think you will be amazed out how just being here your language skills sky rocket.

Exodus, no. I directly enrolled through the Center of International Education. This is a college course, you can't make up your own dates, and I do have some college classes in Business and Culture on opposite days. :D

Jamie25, oh, goody, more holes... :roll:.