During his semester, Lourie went on an excursion to Georgia, which borders Russia. Although he has been studying International Affairs and Russian at CU-Boulder for over two years, Benjamin Lourie knew he wanted to take his learning to the next level. After being accepted into the CIEE Russia: St. Petersburg Russian Language program and receiving a Global Grant scholarship from IAFS, Lourie packed his bags to spend his spring 2015 semester in Russia. Here is a glimpse into Lourie’s time in Russia, written during his time abroad:
Здравствуйте from Russia!
By living abroad, I have found it is important to have a routine, otherwise you simply become overwhelmed between classes and extracurricular activities. I’ve made new Russian friends this month as well. With having a routine and local friends, it feels like I actually live here rather than simply being a guest. This feeling of being more than just a guest has been especially rewarding as I try to observe the culture and daily life of Russia.
At the same time, every day has a new experience in store for me, and I hardly have enough time to do everything I want to do. As a volunteer, I lead conversation classes for Russian students improving their English. I went to a concert at St. Petersburg State University in honor of Russian composer Prokofiev. I’ve visited museums, one which houses some of the most famous works of painters such as Repin, Aivazovsky, and others. I also have fascinating conversations with people regarding the cultural comparisons of Russia and the United States.
Recently, I have been filled with thoughts of how this experience will impact my future. Sometime after graduation, I would like to come back to Russia and pursue an international career or further my education. Either way, I am confident my semester in Russia will enhance my language skills and understanding of Russia in a way that wouldn’t have been achievable without being here in person.