All it Takes is a Little Common Sense

September 6, 2016

Before I left for my Dialogue program, many people were concerned about my decision to study in Russia. For many in the United States, Russia is a very foreign and “backwards” country, thus they feared for my safety and warned me of the many things that could happen to a 21-year-old girl in Moscow or St. Petersburg. While I initially was unsure about my wellbeing during my program, I have never felt unsafe in Russia, regardless of the time of day or location. There are police in most public places, which put me at ease and assured me that I had nothing to worry about. Nevertheless, Moscow and St. Petersburg are major cities, so it is crucial to be aware of your surroundings.

Firstly, make sure your belongings are secure. Pickpocketing is very common in every large city. If you are on the metro or in a public area, keep your hand over your purse or bag, and never keep anything in your back pockets. Overall, traveling abroad takes common sense. If you are capable of protecting yourself and your belongings in Boston, you can absolutely protect yourself in Russia.

Other than safety issues, it is important to pack light. If you don’t need it on a daily basis, do NOT pack it! You will probably buy souvenirs and will thank yourself later for not bringing everything you own. Additionally, make sure to check the weather before you travel. Russia is surprisingly much more warm and humid than you would expect. You will not need your parkas or snow boots!

Traveling abroad, especially during your time as a college student, is a very rewarding experience. Embrace the opportunities you have now, but make sure you are prepared to stay in your host country, and make friends with other students to decrease your chances of landing in dangerous situations.

Written By

Elisabeth Borja

Hello! My name is Elise and I am a senior at Northeastern University. I have a major in Communication Studies with two minors in International Affairs and French. I will be apart of the Tale of Three Cities Dialogue of Civilizations program, which takes place in Moscow, Kazan, and St. Petersburg, Russia. I hope that this Dialogue of Civilizations program will help me improve my Russian language skills, as well as educate me on the many parts of Russia that aren't shown in Western media. A fun fact about me is I speak three languages: English, French, and Russian. I am very eager to share my experiences with you for the next several weeks, and hope you continue to read my weekly posts!