topics

tools

Expatica countries

editor's choice

Top 8 places to visit in Moscow

Tips for travelling in Russia Part 1

Tax: a practical guide

Tragic history lurks in Sochi's ski slopes

Tips for travelling in Russia Part 2

Index	Last	Var.(%)
BEL 20	2085.39	0.20
DAX	6318.32	0.15
IBEX 30	6602	0.98
CAC 40	3018.64	0.22
FTSE 100	5301.36	-0.69
AEX	290.33	0.03
DJIA	12442.49	-1.24
Nasdaq	2813.69	-2.10
FTSE MIB	13223.52	1.03
TSX Composite	11330.68	0.04
ASX	4098.8	-2.61
Hang seng	18951.85	-1.30
Straits Times	2779.1	-1.54
ISEQ 20	487.72	-0.33

You are here: Home

Life in

Expat voices

Expat Student: Sebastiaan Pronk

Expat Voices

24/05/2011Expat Student: Sebastiaan Pronk

Expat Student: Sebastiaan Pronk

Name: Sebastiaan Pronk
Nationality: Dutch
Country of residence: Russia
How long have you lived here: 7 months
City/town of residence: Moscow
Date of birth: 1984-2-22
Civil status: Single
Occupation: Student
Reason for moving to your new country of residence: Partner

What was your first impression of your new country of residence?
Exciting, all new countries are interesting, and the move here was highly anticipated. It has been almost nine years now that I visited Moscow for the very first time as a tourist, and that was a good trip, so I had positive memories of the city.

What do you think of the education system?
I don't know enough about the Russian education system to give a balanced opinion. I follow a course at an English university taught in Moscow.

What do you think of the nightlife?
I enjoy the late hours of restaurants. I'm not a real party goer and haven't seen much of the fabled Russian nightlife.

What's the best thing about studying in your new country of residence?
The cultural experience.

What do you find most frustrating about living and studying in your new country of residence?
My inability to speak the local language

What advice would you give to a student who has just moved here?
Engage in any community that appeals to you. This can be charities or special interest groups. This way you get to know the city and it's people quickly.

What is the weirdest thing that has happened to you since you arrived?
Nothing stands out.

As a student, how do you think you have benefited from living here?
It has enriched my cultural understanding. I am more aware of the fact that there are different views on the same facts and situations. This will (hopefully) help me better understand, or at least communicate better with, other cultures.