From one School of Economics to another
When I was a 2nd year student ESN (Erasmus Student Network) HSE launched a Language Tandems Project. You fill out a simple registration form, specify a language you want to practice and the organizers find you a native speaker with similar language preferences (for more information follow the link https://vk.com/esnhsemsk).
During one of the events I met a very interesting exchange student from a French university but Czech by nationality. He shared not only some facts on Czech culture and way of life but also inspired me for studying abroad. That is why when I received a newsletter announcing the opening of a new round of international mobility applications I thought that was the chance for my dreams to come true and started collecting the documents.
I chose the University of Economics in Prague. In fact it is the same as the School of Economics, therefore the balance of contact hours and self-study as well as orientation on practical skills were similar to HSE in Moscow. Double coincidence, the names of the universities and the country of my new friend, only strengthened my resolution to go.
Already then I realized how many opportunities the exchange would give me. Another happy occurrence was the nomination for HSE Endowment Fund Scholarship that allowed me to cover part of my expenses. The whole process of document collection and visa difficulties, subject selection and the anxiety of travelling on my own is one thing, but the following 4 months in Prague turned into a whole different life for me.
I largely managed to avoid cultural shock that all the exchange students are warned about. Prague’s daily life is a surprising combination of the Soviet past and a contemporary European atmosphere. Amazing architecture and winding streets gradually turn into quiet suburban neighborhoods with their parks, bars and cafes. At the same time you can find buckwheat in the shops and the language is similar to Russian. The city is slow-paced, quiet and cozy. To tell the truth, I even started to miss Moscow’s speed at some point but I forgot about it when got busy with the examination session.
And still, the life of an exchange student is a different universe. You are in a kind of exchange bubble and it takes effort to make friends with locals. Same as Russians, Czech people do not practice small talk and an easy-going chat with a stranger would be a rare occasion. Therefore, my and my fellow exchange students’ social life mostly happened inside the university and our own bubble. (It is very important though, not to join a group of people from your country on your first day and get stuck there for the whole semester). We lived together, studied together and had fun together. And that experience of constant interaction with so many different wonderful people could not but have an impact. I’m not sure what exactly on, but I will surely find out in future. What I can say now is that it expanded my worldview and provided a large doze of inspiration.
A process of writing a motivation letter before the exchange helped me determine my main goals and expectations from the trip. Some of my friends didn’t create any plan, they just went for an exchange for the sake of experience and atmosphere. Why not, that is an interesting experience anyway. I nevertheless went to Prague primarily to study, even though many other exchange students didn’t share my intentions.
I was carefully choosing my subjects trying to take from my exchange knowledge and skills that are not provided by HSE but can be useful in future. The main subjects on my list were: Introduction to Environmental Economics and Policy, Presentation Skills and Consumer Behavior. Importantly, apart from receiving factual knowledge I had the opportunity to experience more practical learning methods with examples and case studies. That is a very effective way of learning to work in teams and developing brainstorming skills. You come up with creative ideas and learn life hacks from students from all over the world.
Students from the University of Economics in Prague enter labor market much earlier than Moscow students partly because their programs are more market-oriented (so lucky they are).That was another motivation for me to go.
I spent significant time at the library, cafes and study rooms. The university is modern and well-equipped for both rest and study, from a canteen and a library to study zones with sofas. HSE definitely lacks lockers.
My brother called my tough study process ‘work hard, play hard’. And the ‘play’ part for me was travelling around Europe. Prague is located right in the centre of Europe so trips were a magical and an inevitable part of my exchange. If at home I escape from my routine by walking in the park, that semester students escaped to Salzbourg, or Berlin, or even Barcelona. It comes as no surprise that in December I couldn’t make up my mind whether I wanted to go back to Moscow. Of course I was homesick but the whole lot of experiences kept me occupied.
But everything good must come to an end. I would be coming back to my normal routine, but also I would try and find application for the experience I received. The exchange semester for me became more than just a study experience. All the interactions I was a part of during the 4 months, my classes, daily life and travels, made me change my perspective on other cultures, other people and myself.
It was a tiresome and a fascinating semester at the same time. Probably because I absorbed all the emotions and experiences like a sponge. Knowledge that I only had 4 months drove me to experience as much as possible and find my niche and inspiration when I come back home. The exchange semester became an important milestone not only in my education but my life in general.
Instead of a conclusion I would like to share some piece of advice for those planning to embark on the programme.
1. Carefully choose the subjects, read all the requirements and reviews;
2. Become a part of the exchange social circle from the very start. Otherwise, after a while social groups become difficult to join and you risk not to find friends;
3. Live in a dorm if you can. It can be more challenging and everything depends on luck in your relationship with roommates, but it’s an important experience that builds resilience;
4. Travel, explore new countries and routes;
5. Do not be afraid to interact with your professors. They are open for conversation and know that exchange students can be stressed because of the study load and insufficient command of the language;
6. Keep in touch with your family and friends at home. It will help during cultural shock stage;
7. Be open for new cultures and experiences.
Exchange programs in other countries is an amazing experience. It’s widespread among European students and I’m happy that HSE provides such an opportunity. So be brave and apply for the international academic mobility programme. Good luck!