Russian Abroad - Panic!

I don't think the Russians are particularly big meat eaters anyway. Certainly, when I've been there, I've had no problem finding vegetarian alternatives in restaurants, and the few Russians I do know don't eat as much meat as I do. You aren't obliged to eat with a family during a homestay, especially not if you have your own dietary requirements. In fact, it's polite to cook for them fairly regularly, and then you can cook whatever you like. Worst case scenario is that you buy your own food and eat separately, surely?

As for a homestay, there's no reason you can't have the odd friend to stay, provided you're reasonable about it and don't take the piss.

I'm gonna be in one of - Moscow, St Petersburg, Tver, Petrozavodsk, Yaroslavl or Volgograd. Yeah it says on the RLUS website that you should be able to get a multi-entry visa when you get there but they can't guarentee it. I'm starting to calm down now. It's just turning out to be very different to how I thought and I'm very good at panicking.

Littleshambles - where are you going..and what's the course? If you don't mind me asking.

I'm gonna be in one of - Moscow, St Petersburg, Tver, Petrozavodsk, Yaroslavl or Volgograd. Yeah it says on the RLUS website that you should be able to get a multi-entry visa when you get there but they can't guarentee it. I'm starting to calm down now. It's just turning out to be very different to how I thought and I'm very good at panicking.

Littleshambles - where are you going..and what's the course? If you don't mind me asking.

cmon if they offer you meat just eat it and stop being awkard, its the least you can do after they are letting you live in there home.

UCL ESPS, Russian major language

I thought Russians ate a fair amount of meat. Well, what they call meat.



Oh, I went with RLUS too. You'll get the visa fine then. Unfortunately Roy Bivon, the guy who runs RLUS, is very incompetent and horrible to work with. I went to Yaroslavl, by the way. The course there is pretty good and the teachers are lovely. Let me know if there's anything you'd like to know about it.

Ok, so I'm due to start a degree in European Studies and Russian at Manchester this September and would have a year abroad in Russia in my third year.

Stupidly, I didn't really read into the year abroad that much before I applied but have spent the morning doing so and this is what I've found out..

1. The girl who's written about it on the Manchester website really didn't seem to have a good time at all and actually changed it to spend the second half of the year in france.

2. It seems like it's mainly Homestay accommodation not halls and this sucks on the basis that I'm vegetarian (would have to eat with a family that would most probably eat a lot of meat) and I wouldn't be able to have anyone (ie. my boyfriend) come to visit.

3. They can't guarentee that you will be able to get a multi-enty visa, meaning that you may have to stay in Russia right from early september to june. Not being able to come home for christmas or easter.

Has anyone been to Russia on a year abroad who can tell me a bit more about it because at the moment I am in a complete panic about the whole situation.

Speak to thatwhichiam - she is at Manchester University and spent her year abroad (this year) in Russia

That's cool. Which UK Uni were/are you at? And what does the course in Yaroslavl actually involve? Is it just russian language or is there history/politics/literature/culture involved too? Did you live in a homestay or halls? Just an overview of your experience would be really good.

Thanks