Malaysian Students Life in Moscow

by Dr Prabhavathi, EWRF Volunteer

When asked how educated men were superior to those uneducated, Aristotle answered, "As much as the living is to the dead." — Diogenes Laaetius.

It is in this spirit, of pursuing a medical degree that had caused so many Malaysian students to folk to a less travelled part of the world which uses the 2nd most difficult language in the world with winters of up to -30 degrees, the great bear ‘RUSSIA’.

Malaysian students study in various parts of this large continent. Over the past 3 years, the student population has actually increased three fold. Moscow, Nizhy novgorad, Volgograd, Kursk are just some of the many locations where they pursue their medical degree.

Russia is a mixture of European and indo –European cultures that has had is doors closed due to its former communist regime. The doors may have opened after Mikhail Gorbatchov’s implementation of “Paristroika” that has steered the country to adopt a more democratic approach, but a lot of the former communist practices still linger on.

Students encounter this not when they step into the country, but even before that, when they apply for their student visas. Students are only giving a 3 day visa form the Russian embassy in Malaysia after the embassy receives an invitation letter from the Russian foreign ministry via their respective universities. This 3 day visa is the time allocated for the students to enter the country and apply for their actual one year student visa with the aid of their respective universities.

So the adventure starts for them when they land in one of the international airports in Russia. The capital Moscow alone holds 7 domestic and international airports. Students usually follow the rest of the passengers for their passport clearance and luggage claim. It is a tense experience as no personal in the international airport can communicate in English.

They are normally greeted by a university representative at the arrival gate who immediately takes them to the university, for their actual student visa application and all of the other lengthy paperwork involved with registration. Then they are transported to one of the university hostels. Thus their life begins in Russia.

Russian hostels are known as (obshezhitie) are under the different levels of surveillance and security at all times of the day. The building’s main entrances that can only be passed after showing your hostel ID to the private security guards (okhraniki) in the lobby of each hostel building.

On every floor of the hostel there is a "person on duty" (dezhurnaya), whose main tasks includes issuing keys to new students, issuing clean bed sheets and towels once a week, and coordinating the janitorial and maintenance duties needed on each floor. However, it can seem that they spend most of their time watching TV, breaking up parties, and staring disapprovingly at the food that is cooked for dinner.

All hostels have a common kitchen on each floor which is shared by all of the students, which is normally open from 7a.m to 12 p.m. Hostels here are very strict with their curfews and will not admit the student in if they fail to return before the specified time.

Communication is always a problem for new students as one would have to get over the difficult pronunciations, the complicated grammar, and the fact that the alphabet printed in the newspaper is written differently from the one when handwritten.

All Russian universities consist of various building and hospitals that are scattered all over the city. Since the universities normally have a long history, the buildings are large, old and imposing with staircases slightly curved in the middle, eroded by thousands of students over the years who have climbed on them.

Undergraduate students in Moscow can have lessons and lectures in a near-solid block from nine until six and they study up to six days out of seven. Missed classes on public holidays are replaced on Sundays.

The Russian university fees, unlike any other country in the world, covers the tuition fees, the accommodation fees and the books needed for the entire course. Students can just go to their university libraries to borrow whichever subjects that they are currently taking. The same student cards used to borrow books can also be used to borrow real human body parts for their personal study at the anatomy department.

Professors are usually more approachable as the entire class consists of not more than 10 students per class. Each class is numbered and they will follow a particular time table that is unique to them. For example, one student from a certain group will be studying anatomy while his or her friend in another group will be studying general medicine at the same time in another part of the city. Only in lectures will the entire student body be present.

Students travel around to the respective destinations’ via the Metro, which spans almost the entire Russian capital, it is the world's second most heavily used rapid-transit system. Opened in 1935, it is well known for the ornate design of many of its stations, which contain outstanding examples of socialist realist art.

All students possess a metro card which is topped up each month with a flat rate of 150 rubles (RM 21.50). This allows the students to travel unlimitedly all over Moscow for a month. This same system is used for the bus service as well, where students purchase a one month bus pass, which costs 120 rubles (RM17).

The 120 rubles bus pass may be inexpensive, but that is not the case for dining outside. A three course meal with a drink at the university canteen (stolovaya) costs about 120 rubles as well. Dining outside in a café would cost between US 10-15 dollars (RM 35-53).

While dining out remains expensive, regular food prices fluctuate. A kilogram of tomatoes that cost 25 rubles (RM3.60) in summer can cost 100 rubles (RM 14) in winter.

Russia is mainly a northern country with long-lasting cold winter. The food should give as much energy and warmth as possible to survive during the winter time. So, the essential components of Russian cuisine are the ones, which provide more carbohydrates and fat rather than proteins. Fresh fruits and vegetables are sparingly used in food. So, the top five components of a Russian meal are: Potato, bread, meat, butter and tomato.

The most popular Russian food are:

• Borsch (the famous Russian soup made of beet and meat, usually served with sour cream)
• bliny (Pancakes – served with soured cream, honey or jam)
• grechka (a type of Buckwheat - unfortunately it doesn't grow anywhere else)
• Salted cabbage (kvashennaya kapusta - pickled cabbage kept in the jar for several days with berries, salt and spices)
• Salmon caviar (ykra – red or black) – is a traditional Russian appetizer. Black one is far more expensive.
• Meat toasts with butter and caviar.
• Medovuha (the honey based sweet alcohol beverage) - the most popular original beverage in Russia

No matter how exquisite or exotic the food in Moscow is, Malaysian students still basically crave for traditional favorites’ like nasi lemak, lontong, biriyani, thosai,etc. To ease this craving they usually carry boxes of instant perancha packets, biriyani mix, dried chili padi, milo and a whole horde of other items, along with their luggage. Those who can afford it have their parents send them their precious food parcels via post to their hostels.

Since it is not possible to dine out often, students expand a lot of effort in cooking their meals, especially during the weekends. It is one of their ways to unwind, apart from watching movies.

All movie theaters give students a 50% discount for the shows. Even then, very few students’ folk to the movie theaters, as all of the movies aired are in Russian. Only selected movie theaters, like the ones attached to 5 star hotels, show movies in English. The price of US 10 for an English movie, effectively keeps students away from the movie theaters.

A lot of students bring their one year supply of movies or collection of their favorite TV series. Some of them download what they could access on the net.

Students during their spare time like to explore this huge and exquisitely beautiful country that very Asians see. Students can get 50% discount for all museums, exhibitions and even clubs.

This place is a paradise for anyone who loves art and architecture. Russia is famous among European tourists for it’s museums that rivals Greece and France. Students enjoy waltzing through and taking pictures of this place.

Students also go for group holidays for Scandinavian states, the Baltic and trips all over Europe. From St Petersburg they could even take a bus to Europe. A 5 country trip around Europe from St Petersburg only costs US 3000 (RM 10500), which includes flight tickets, hotel stay, food, transport charges and ticket chargers for exhibitions and museums

Another popular travel destination for Malaysian students in Russia is Egypt. Most of the holidays are enjoyed during the winter break in the month of January.

The students generally balance studying hard and enjoying the free time they have rather well, especially in the first years of their courses. Students are students everywhere, with roughly the same combination of irresponsibility and maturity, adolescence and adulthood.