‘You Meet Incredible People Who Are Always Ready to Help’
The summer break is an opportunity for hard-working HSE University students to relax, recuperate, explore the city and travel. Two such students, Daniel Suarez from Colombia and Oluwafunto Abimbola from Nigeria, share their experiences of the positives (and pitfalls) of summer in the city and life at HSE dormitories.
Daniel Suarez, Colombia
Seven years ago, I decided to come to study in Russia.
In 2016, I entered the HSE International Preparatory Year, and in 2017, I began my undergraduate studies at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. In the beginning, I found it difficult to adapt to a new language and culture completely different from my own. However, with time and after getting to know new people, everything has become much easier.
HSE University has become not only a university for me, but also a home, a special place where I met my wife and countless good friends from all over the world
When I met my wife, Ksenia, she was not a student at HSE University, but due to either my influence or fate, she is now in her second year of a Master’s degree in Marketing. Now we live in Khimki, but for the previous seven years I lived in Dormitory #3.
HSE University dormitories provide an opportunity to meet incredible people who are always ready to help. As a rule, the dorms provide an environment where you can share and enjoy even the most special days, such as New Year’s Eve, which many students spend far away from family.
Travelling to Russia as an international student was a safe and easy experience. The largest cities in Russia, such as Moscow and St Petersburg, have well developed public transport systems. Foreign students can easily move around the city and visit tourist attractions. My wife and I go to the zoo every summer, as entrance is free for students.
Every time I go to a museum, theatre, or use public transport, I take advantage of the social card and student card
In the summer of 2020, I had the honour of meeting Ksenia’s family in Belgorod. It was the best vacation of my life, but it was also dangerous—I gained ten kilograms from homemade food! I came to Belgorod with a suitcase, and returned to Moscow with three suitcases full of gifts and food.
That same year, I was able to work as a Spanish teacher at the Spanish Academy in Moscow, which was also a pleasant experience that lasted until I started studying again in September. In 2021, I entered the HSE University Master’s programme in Applied Politics, and since 2022, I have been working at Moscow University of Finance and Law (MFUA) and studying at the same time. At MFUA, I work in the international department, where I am mainly responsible for the double degree programme, and also help students of English-speaking programmes.
I am currently waiting to start my second master’s programme—Agrarian Economics—in September.
At HSE University, I enjoy meeting professors and knowing that they are able to contribute to the development of my professional career
I can honestly say that the decision to continue my studies was thanks to my supervisor, Evgenia Serova. I am glad that there are teachers at HSE University who constantly encourage you to discover something new, learn more, and study harder not just to pass the course, but for your future. My dream is to work at FAO one day, I am sure that I am on the right track at HSE University.
Oluwafunto Abimbola, Nigeria
I am a 2023 graduate of the Master’s in Political Analysis and Public Policy and a current PhD student at the HSE University Institute of Education.
I have mixed emotions about living in the HSE dormitories. I stayed in two housing facilities. I enjoyed staying at the Sevastopol hotel because I had nice roommates and the administration was good, but I do not recommend the Student Housing Centre. I did not like the environment or administration, plus the internet was poor and there was limited access to facilities.
I rarely go out, but I enjoy summer vacations in Moscow because it's a time away from school work. I get to hang out more with my friends, go shopping, and have picnics
Travelling across Russia hasn’t been a great experience for me, but I plan visiting St Petersburg and Kursk this summer as well. I'm also learning Russian.
I currently do not work—working has been a challenge for me here, but I look forward to being recruited and working with an organisation here in Moscow or within the university. I have experience in media and communication, administrative roles and programme management. I look forward to working soon in Moscow.
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