30.08.2005
Nothing is more rewarding to the SRAS consultants than positive comments and feedback from our students. Below is what some of our former students have had to say about their experience and SRAS. We have also provided full interviews with some recent SRAS students.
<<< back to Student's Page COMMENTS FROM STUDENTS "Just an email to say thanks so much for all your help with Bishkek. I'm here now and having an absolutely wonderful time." - R. Mullarkey, Spring 2008 (Bishkek)
"I just wanted to let you know that our trip to St. Petersburg last weekend was fantastic! Sergei, your representative there was awesome and really showed us the best weekend we could have asked for." -K. Farris, Spring 2008 (Moscow)
"I had an excellent time in Russia studying there over the Fall '07 semester. Thank you very much for assisting me through the experience. It was so great that I'd like to go ahead and do it again! I'm interested in doing an SRAS internship this summer ... You have taken so much time and energy to make sure every student's questions are answered and that every single thing goes smoothly, and I don't think any other study abroad organization, even directly affiliated through an American college, could ever show such individual care and consideration. It's really something! -S. Gray, Fall 2007 (Moscow)
"I also would like to thank you for a wonderful experience. I've had a great time ... my host family has been terrific, and my Russian has even improved. I can get by fine in just about any situation, even though I make a lot of mistakes, and I've even gotten to the point where I can watch TV or a movie and follow it pretty well -- I watched "Питер - FM" the other night and really enjoyed it. Great film, if you haven't seen it." -D. James, Spring 2007 (St. Petersburg)
"I want to thank you for your help getting me to Moscow. I have my dream job right now, and I don't think it would have happened had it not been for the opportunity and flexibility that you and SRAS provided me. Thank you very much." -I. Woodward, Winter 2006 (Moscow)
"You have been soo helpful in this study abroad process and I want to thank you. Also, your guidance in the NSEP process is the reason why my campus representative (who used to be on the regional scholarship committee for NSEP) has strong confidence in my ability to win this scholarship. On several occasions he has noted that my guidance from you has put me in a great position to win this award. It all started out as a pure desire to study in Russia and it is turning into an experience that may be a determining factor in my professional career." -K. Martin
"Thanks so much for all your help. ... I have since switched over into the translation department and have found that I was given perhaps the coolest rukovoditel [advisor] imaginable for my dissertation. He heads up the trans lab, plays jazz guitar (I myself am a saxophonist)...etc...in short, I am exactly where I would want to be if I could be anywhere here!" -M. Price, Fall 2006 (St. Petersburg, MA program)
"This was an experience that changed my view on life and on Russia. With the help of SRAS I was able to achieve my dream of traveling there but also to do many things on my own and make my experience the best possible one for me. If you truly want to learn Russian at a speaking level seriously look at the Irkutsk program as it will immerse you in a way Moscow and St. Petersburg cannot. Upon my return my Russian professor could not believe the progress I made in only 2 1/2 months. Thank you SRAS for all of your help in making this the excursion of a lifetime." T. Yaroch, Summer 2006 (Irkutsk)
"Hi Renee, Siberia was absolutely amazing and I am going to apply for the Spring semester of RSL in Irkutsk. I realized while I was there how much I want to become fluent and right now I'm about halfway there ... Thanks for everything SRAS did for us. We all had an incredible time!" -Katie. Summer 2006 (Irkutsk and Lake Baikal)
"I had a great 7 weeks in Bishkek, and was very satisfied with the experience. It's great that SRAS has a program in Bishkek, as it is currently the only American program to offer study in Kyrgyzstan. I hope more students will be attracted to Kyrgyzstan to study Russian, it's a beautiful country and Bishkek is a pleasant, laid-back city." -C. Drew, Summer 2006 (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
"I really enjoyed the instructors at InJaz (ILGU), especially the materials they used, which I was able to find and purchase for use with my own students. ... all in all it was a good experience. Irkutsk is definitely off the beaten path, and I spoke Russian so much that by the time I got to Sheremetyevo and actually saw Americans and talked to them while waiting to check in for my flight, I had difficulty speaking English. It was great!" -R. Stauffer, Summer 2006 (Irkutsk)
" ... Again, thanks so much for everything! This trip has been amazing!" -A. Andrews, Summer 2006 (Moscow)
"Things are going great. Better than great, actually. Tynara has been an excellent teacher (and guide--I wouldn't have been able to visit half of the places I've gone to without her). This trip has given me the information I needed to finish designing my research for my dissertation. And I have had lots of adventures: kyrgyz-anth.tripod.com (blog)" -S. Wheeler, Summer 2006 (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
"Renee ... thanks for setting this whole deal up. It has been remarkably smooth considering that it is a pretty complex operation. I'm pretty impressed." -R. McIntyre, Summer 2006 (Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan)
"Dear Renee and Natalia ... I've never lived such a long days in foreign country, so Russia will be my second home country. I've met many people and some guys complaind and said they dislike this country. But I don't think so. I like Russia, and if I can, I would like to assist development of this country by business. As I expected when I was in Japan, Russia has big potential not only in the meaning of economy, but also people itself. I learned not only Russian language, but also life in Moscow. I hope this experience will help my carrer. I would like to say to you Thank you so much for everything! And I also hope success of your business and life." -T. Oizumi, Spring 2006 (Moscow)
"Renee ... I have been pleased with the service from SRAS and all your expert help. I can say I experienced many valuable discoveries, and will return to America with a new frame of mind - and a few new tricks up my sleeve. I must collaborate with SRAS again in the near future, and look forward to doing so. Thank you for the being the individual instrumental to my introduction to study in the Russian Federation. It has been a great pleasure, and an exciting journey. " -J. Jackson, 2005-2006 academic year (St. Petersburg)
"I really want to thank you for the great program. I had the time of my life in Russia and can't wait to go again." -J. Chan, Fall 2005 (St. Petersburg)
"I want to thank you again for your cooperation, while I was having issues with my university. Your prompt responses and flexibility to meet the needs of my university were greatly appreciated. Thank you again." -J. Stejskal, Fall 2005 (Irkutsk)
"Renee, I would like to tell you that I had an incredible six weeks in Moscow and would like to thank you very much for helping to facilitate my stay. Further, I would like to thank Natalia and Josh for being so kind to me while I was in the hospital. I am happy to fill out the survey for you and I may contact you later in the year about next summer. Thanks again, Evan" -E. Sparling, Summer 2005 (Moscow)
"Hi Renee ... Mikhail was VERY helpful, we really appreciated his assistance with enrollment. Thank you again for all your help, you were wonderful at maintaining encouragement, support, and counsel. I think you do a wonderful job and hope to keep hearing from you from time to time about yourself." -L. Robertson, Fall 2005 (Moscow)
"Hi Renee, I am finally home. Thanks again for helping arrange a fantastic, really productive summer! The special courses were everything I'd hoped for and then some." -E. Mark, Summer 2005 (Vladivostok)
"Dear Renee, Hello and welcome once more from Peter. I am almost done with my stay here (unfortunately). I have been having a wonderful time and would love to recommend the SRAS program for you. The people at the university are amazing and have planned some really amazing excursions for us. Thanks, Becky" -B. Bavinger, Summer 2005 (St. Petersburg, internship and language study)
"Hi, Renee! Everything is great here! White nights are starting...school is ending:) I suppose I have a paper that could be published, but I'm afraid! I wrote a paper about Putin's "Democracy" this year. If you want, I suppose I can try to get the nerve to send it to you:) I want to tell you how much I appreciate you. This is nothing new- I have reminded you again and again how much you help me, but now there is even more that points out how lucky I am to have found you and SRAS in general. All of the other foreign students in my program complain so much about paperwork (and various other bureaucratic things) that they don't understand or didn't expect. Dealing with the bureacracy has turned several of them off from even continuing this program! At first, they were confused about why I couldn't empathize with them, but now when they complain about something and I am silent, they just look at me with contempt and say, "SRAS". I didn't even realize how helpful it was that you prepared me so well for everything I would encounter here in terms of registration, etc.! Thank goodness for you, Renee!" -A. Nave, Fall 2004 (St. Petersburg - MA program)
"Renee, I just wanted to drop you one last email saying everything has worked out PERFECTLY, I got a great family and I start classes tomorrow. Everying is going much better than I expected. I just wanted to say thanks for this great opportunity and experience." -P. Lyon, Summer 2005 (Irkutsk)
"Renee, I would like to sincerely thank you for getting that letter out to my (hopefully) future university. I really appreciate your speedy response. They have accepted your document and now it is just a waiting game for me. You have been exceptionally helpful since I started working with you. It's all much appreciated. I will recommend SRAS to others and put in a good word for you as well. Bolshoye SPASIBO, Katia =) -K. Borowski, Summer 2004 (St. Petersburg)
"Hi Renee ... I just wanted to say that I had a wonderful time this summer over in Moscow. I think you do a great job putting all this together and hope you don't decide to give it up any time soon!" From Post-Experience evaluation: "I feel like SRAS is an organization that cares about their clients. I don't know how many times I emailed Renee before my trip and had a response to my question, no matter how insignificant it was, within a couple hours. I never felt like I was on my own. There was always someone there to answer a question or lead me in the right direction when I needed it. I found that very helpful and would feel confident recommending this organization to anyone who is looking to go to Russia." -D. Bunkelman, Summer 2004 (Moscow)
"Hello Renee, I hope you are doing well. I just came back from Russia on Sunday, and now back to work but still with my mind in Russia. It has been a great month, I can not really think of any negative point, the people I met, the places I've visited, the language course, etc. "I would like to thank you for your support, I must admit that you made everything easier, even with short notice requests. The same applies to Oxana and Svetlana from St Petersburg, they were very nice to me all the time, and I really appreciated knowing that I could count on them if any problem arised. "Well Renee, thanks again. I congratulate you for your work. You should know that among the people that I've met in the course, comparing the companies that helped us with papers, etc, your company was definlty the most professional, cheaper, offering services that others do not offer, etc." -J. Goya (Spain), Fall 2004 (St. Petersburg)
"Hi Renee, I just wanted to thank you for everything that you did to help my trip go smoothly. So far, everything has been great and I meet Svetlana tomorrow for a city tour. Anyway, I definitely won't hesitate to book with SRAS again. Thanks!" -M. Chandler, Summer 2004 (St. Petersburg)
"Renee, I have made it safely back to the States and other than getting over some jetlag I'm doing well. I just wanted to thank you very much for all of your help with this trip to Russia-it was great to have you to get in touch with at any time to resolve any question that came up. Thanks again!" -C. Smirnoff, Summer 2004 (St. Petersburg)
"Renee, So I came back to France at last, leaving Siberia and Russia with regret. Though I stayed there just 1 month, I could see many interesting things and meet nice people. I just want to thank you to help me organize this trip, because all went for the best during my stay, and Siberia really was a great discovery for me. As I can't live in Russia for now, I just think about my next trip there, whether in Siberia in winter time or in the Don valley to see what remains of the kossaks culture. I hope to see you again." -J. Roumayat (France), Summer 2004 (Irkutsk)
"Hi Renee! I just wanted to first thank you for suggesting that I stay with Philfak... because I have the GREATEST business-Russian tutor right now who's pushing me to establish contacts and do everything I can to get myself involved in the music world here. Haha. :) And as for my Business School tutors, I'm studying with one right now who's a wonderful, brilliant woman and she's one of the greatest teachers I've ever met. I'll be calling an economics/math professor at MGU soon, so that I can brush up on all of the ugly math I need to know for Business School!! Overall though, things are perfect. :) Thank you Renee." -C. Nakahara, 2003 (Moscow)
"Renee, I'm back in the states again. End of the semester went well over in Russia. I already miss it there. Thanks for everything, my time was amazing and my host family will surely be my friends for life. They were the BEST!" -M. Belz, 2003-2004 academic year (St. Petersburg)
"Hi Renee, I know I haven't kept in touch well enough this summer. I just wanted to let you know that things are going well here in St. Petersburg. ... The history class is extremely interesting ... I am always raving about this class to my friends, and they are quite jealous. :-) I'm happy to report that I have had no administration or setup problems at all since my arrival. Everything was taken care of in advance by you guys, so good job! After seeing some of the hassles that other students have gone through, I'm glad I went with SRAS on my first trip here." -J. Metts, Summer 2003 (St. Petersburg)
"... While I'm emailing you I just want to say I'm really impressed with the SRAS program and have nothing but good things to say about how helpful and cool Natalia has been. My only regret is that I'm not doing this for the whole summer, but in all likelyhood I'll be coming back, if not next summer then the following." -A. Bossie, Summer 2003
"Renee - Thank you very much for all the work you have done in getting me to Russia and taking care of me since I have returned. It was a huge life experience changing the way that I think and view the world around me. I truly enjoyed my stay in St. Petersburg and I hope to return to Russia and further my language skills in the future." -T. Hoffman, Winter 2002 (St. Petersburg)
"Hi Renee, I finished my classes on Monday and left Russia on Tuesday. I just wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed the year and that my classes were great. Thank you for all of your help, and especially for organizing the trip to Petersburg."
-S. Werry, 2002-2003 academic year (Moscow)
"Dear Artour and the SRAS Team,
Thanks so much for setting up a wonderful semester at Moscow State University. The team over there was very helpful. Doug was great at arranging necessary visas and when we wanted to travel to Uzbekistan and other places. Natasha was a great ally to have in dealing with any bureaucratic problems that we encountered. My homestay was fantastic, I couldn't have asked for a better host. Thanks for finding a great place for me to live, that made the stay all the better." -Ross Campbell, Fall 2001 (Moscow)
"Hi Renee - First, a belated thanks to you, Artour, and Doug for everything during my time in Moscow last January-August. It was a great experience, and I really appreciate everything, especially your help with the phone so I could keep in touch with my work here in the States. My language skills improved dramatically, and I was able to land an internship with a U.S. law firm's Moscow office while I was there. All in all it was a great experience." -A. McConnell, Spring/Summer 2002 (Moscow)
"I can only say that in the development of my professional career many years ago seeing your web site and taking one single summer business course convinced me that I want to devote my career to serving the interests of US firms in Russia and that means that you represent quality of service across the board. I didn't know at that time that I will end up staying, will travel and consult in 14 countries in the region, live and manage projects just about everywhere across Siberia, meet my wife in Moscow and get happily married (together for almost six years) thanks to one summer learning Russian business. Wishing you best of luck, many more new clients and success in all of your future endeavors. You are wonderful folks and your endurance and dedication will bring its high rewards." -E. Shor, Summer 2002 (Moscow)
"Dear Renee, Thank you so much for that information. Yes, I am planning on entering the Philology Faculty for degree studies next year. I want to teach. I really am excited about that. :-) ... Thank you for asking about my family's visit. It really was a great time. It was great to see them, and I think that they really were pleased with Russia and the beauty of this country. Renee, I really am grateful for your help. It is really helping my dreams to come true. Thank you so much." -A. Woloszyn, 2002-2003 year abroad (Moscow)
"Hi you guys! Anyway, I just wanted to thank you guys for all your help and tell you that I really had an incredible experience over there. My host family in Moscow was wonderful and I had tons of fun in St. Petersburg despite all the bureaucratic problems (and even that has given me an amazing story to impress people with!).
"Just so you know, when I go back to school I will be spreading the word and recommending you guys to anyone who asks. I think one of the best things you people have going there is your weird combination of hand-holding and total flexibility, how you guys can arrange everything and fix problems, but don't chain students to the front doors of MGU like most college programs. It's really really cool that you have contacts all over the country, because it's not all about Moscow. So, anyway, thanks!"
-R. Chaplin, 2001 year abroad (Moscow and St. Petersburg)
"Dear renee, hello from russia! it's sam hart. i am writing to let you know that things here are running smoothly and i am having a great time. my family is very cool and they are feeding my tons. i have built them a small door for their pantry and they love it, so far so good ... thank you for all your help, you have made this an amazing experience for me thus far." -S. Hart, Spring 2003
"Hello to everyone at SRAS!! I got back from my year abroad in Chelyabinsk in August. I had such a wonderful time, and that is why I am contacting you again. First, I would like to thank you all for all that you did for me. And secondly, I would like to ask some questions ... "
-T. VanKeulen, 2001-2002 year abroad (Chelyabinsk)
"Privet Artour! Sorry it has taken so long for a reply. It seems like we just skipped over the last few weeks, and suddenly it is almost time for me to go home. I have had a wonderful time here, and as excited as I am to go home and see my family, I am also getting very sad to leave here. Julie and I talk all the time about how glad we are that we came here to Siberia instead of going to Moscow.
"I had a wonderful time in Ulan Ude. The contacts you have there are amazing people. It was a very relaxing place, a nice change of pace from Irkutsk. The people in Ulan Ude seem to be a bit more laid back and not in such a hurry all the time. We all felt very at ease there, it was like a vacation for us. Svetlana did so much for us, she took care of absolutely everything, we were all able to just relax and enjoy our time there. Not knowing all the work it takes to set up a program like the one you have here in Irkutsk, it is easy for me to suggest a program in Ulan Ude as well. I would recommend to anyone who asked. I hope to return to Siberia again, and especially to Ulan Ude."
-A. Zendron, Fall '02 (Irkutsk)
"Dear Renee! A very happy new year with a lot of inspiration for the organisation of as beautiful trips in Russia as last year. I had a real great time! Do you have new plans and interesting programs for Russia in 2003 already??? And maybe this time to Sergej Posad as well?? I still have my preparation materials ready for that one. Ha!"
-I. Wierda, Summer '02 (Moscow)
"I had a great time in Russia. Thank you for all your help in organising time, dates and individual instruction for me. I really appreciated being able to do exactly what I wanted to do there."
-K. Skewes, Spring '02 (Moscow)
"By the way, I am having such a blast! I've been volunteering in the community with the orphanges and schools giving cultural presentations about the US. It's so much fun! This might be a neat recommendation or even a neat addition to thestudy abroad program in the future - or at least to recommend or encourage this option as part of the experience. Today I gave a presentation to a class of 22 hockey playin' 10 year old boys. IT WAS A TOTAL RIOT!!!! :) I LOVE my ethnography professors here! They have all been absolutely wonderful and I'm learning so much!!! The program has been amazing and I will definitely recommend it to the anthro dept. back at Michigan."
-C. Vandenbosch, 1999-2000 academic year (Khabarovsk and Moscow)
"... Also I forgot to add that my classes with Tatiana Borisovna at IGTU are wonderful. Wanted to thank you for making this possible. "
-C. Burke, Fall '02
"Thank you very much for putting together an excellent program. I benifited enormously from the instruction I received at both VGIK and MGU -- the professors designed fascinating and challenging courses to suit my interests and needs -- and the staff at both locations were cordial, accommodating and went out of their way to help. It was a wonderful two months, and I learned a great deal."
-T. Coxe, Summer '01 (Moscow)
" ... By the way, after a rough start, Kate was very happy with the instruction she received through this program. Thank you for your kind assistance. Sincerely, Karl Bakkum."
-K. Bakkum, Summer '02
"I was wondering if it would be possible to do a study abroad for language in Moscow ... I have been in Moscow for a week and must admit that I have fallen completely in love with the city and I have some free time fall quarter and would love to spend it in Moscow if I could study while here. I also recieved an offer for part time work here in a position that interests me very much ... Thanks."
-M. Lamm, Summer '02 (returning from studies in Sochi)
"I just wanted to drop you a quick note to thank SRAS for organizing the trip to Volgograd. I had a terrific time - it's a great city. I only wish I had a few more days to explore."
-S. Camp, Fall '02 (Moscow)
"The arrangement with spending a week in Moscow and the rest of my summer stay in Irkutsk was perfect. I ended up with some fantastic summer memories, reminding me of childhood days. Russian countryside is so nice in summertime."
-T. Osterdahl, Summer '99 (Moscow and Irkutsk)
"Hi Renee, Just thought that i'd let you know i'm absolutely overjoyed to be back in Russia...feels just like home! I'm pleased that i went with my gut and chose SRAS, because i don't think that i could have gotten any closer to what i wanted and received the personal attention that i have...i know, i'm gushing a little. But, this is a big step for people--at least for me it was--that owes a certain amount of its success to your work and support. Ok, there it is and thank you...if you'd like, i'd be happy to write a testimonial, and i got a message from one prospective student and recommended as highly as i could."
-A. Koltowicz, 1999-2000 year (St. Petersburg)
"I just loved that place (Gorni). I wish I could stay there longer ... did a lot of things that I never imagined I could do, like berry picking, Russian banya ... My favorites were the warm fresh milk Lyuda got every day and Yura's smoked fish."
-A. Uesugi, Summer '98 (Blagoveschensk)
"You guys have a great program in Irkutsk. That was a great summer - I certainly do get a lot of strange looks telling people I would rather be in Siberia than in LA. Thanks for offering such a spectacular program."
-K. Tighearnain, Summer '97 (Irkutsk)
"Dear Renee - I know that this is a bit (in fact, very) late coming but I just wanted to send you a quick "Thank You" for all of your help so that I could study at Yaroslavl State University last semester. I had a really great time and the course which I did I really enjoyed and found very effective.
"I'm back home now in Australia, back at university still doing Russian....and still trying to find the next opportunity to get myself back to Russia. Thanks once again!!"
-S. Bove, Spring '00 (Yaroslavl)
"The program coordinators, and the school administrators have bent over backwards to meet my needs while here in Moscow ... the professors I had also offered to help me in ways I could never imagine."
-J. Nations, Fall '96 (Moscow)
"Hi Renee - it's Janina - how are you? I just returned from a trip to see the reindeer festivals in the north of Amur oblast - I was also able to squeeze in a few days at Ludmilla Stepanovna's place in Gorni. She and her husband are great, busy with spring things, like clearing fields for summer grazing and tending to tomato and cucumber seedlings in greenhouse. Ludmilla Stepanovna spoke warmly of you and asked me to convey a big Privyet. Hope you are well in Moscow! Still have not been to China, propsects are dwindling along with my financial situation. I am saving for a summer in Vladivostok. I was able to get an internship with the Vladivostok News but it will be unpaid so....Still, I am very excited to be heading to Vladivsotok, even as fond as I have grown of Blag and my host family here. All the best,"
-J. deGuzman, 1997-98 year (Blagoveschensk and Irkutsk)
"I chose the summer study program in Irkutsk because I wanted more than mere language instruction and sightseeing. I wanted to connect with people ... to feel the pulse of Russia. Irkutsk and Lake Baikal did all of that for me."
-L. Forero, Summer '95 (Irkutsk)
"I learned at least a year's worth of Russian in just a few months and by the next year I was reading notes from party conferences as research for my Master's thesis in Russian history."
-S. Long, Summer '94 (Moscow)
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