Reflections on Penn-In-Moscow
"My summer in Russia was a magical experience. Though very different from American universities, the campus at MGU is tremendously hospitable. Some of the things that one can find on, or next to, the MGU campus are: numerous cafes and restaurants, both western and Russian; a 24-hour, trendy internet café; and an open air food market. Within the main building there are many conveniences, such as washers and dryers, and ATM machines. Also, a famous Moscow Metro station is located within a short walking distance of the dorms, which is convenient, since the metro system is very well organized, and one rarely has to wait longer than a minute for a train to arrive.
My classes usually ended early in the afternoon, and then I had the afternoon free to myself. Though at first I was less-than-adventurous, I quickly realized that the Moscow Metro is very manageable. My afternoons often consisted of me going off alone, to walk around Red Square, to browse Dom Knigi (a very large book store), to visit various museums and parks, to walk around the “underground city” (a shopping complex), to buy souvenirs on the Arbat, or to see a performance at one of the many theatres, including the Bolshoi. Even without knowing much Russian, I never had difficulty getting around, and my limited knowledge only gave me room to learn more, and made every experience doubly exciting.
People tell the truth when they say that Moscow is a city that never sleeps, especially in the summer. Since it stays light until around 10 pm, and is often light again around 3am, it is easy to get carried away by the constant bustle downtown or the seemingly endless nightlife. Also, since there are foreigners everywhere, as well as Russians who are eager to meet foreigners, meeting people comes naturally. In Moscow, there is something to do every minute of the day, and I often had to remind myself to sacrifice some time in the city in order to go back to my dorm to sleep.
Some of the key moments during my time in Russia occurred during the excursions. As anyone on the trip would confirm, our excursions usually involved churches and icons, and were always led by knowledgeable guides, who taught us very much about the Orthodox history and practices.
Russia is a country rich with history and culture, much of which has been captured by its legacy of writers. One person on our trip considered the trip to Leo Tolstoy’s rural estate one of the best experiences of his life, while I particularly enjoyed the tour of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s apartment in St. Petersburg. Some of our more exciting excursions were when we left Moscow, especially in order to visit the small, beautiful town of Novgorod, and the breathtaking northern capital of St. Petersburg during its “white nights.” One of my favorite experiences on the trip was when we took a midnight boat ride through the city, which enabled us to see many of the pastel-colored, western-style architecture, and admire the surreal shades and shapes of the Russian sky.
When I returned from Moscow people were often shocked to hear that I had been there. In response to the concerns that people sometimes have regarding Russia, I can say that I never felt unsafe, and that I always felt comfortable and happy to be there. Also, though there were other Americans on the trip, as well as a teacher from Penn living in the dorms with us, being in Moscow gave me a great sense of independence. Through this independence I learned more than I expected to, especially about myself. My only regret is that I did not immerse myself more than I did—in speaking Russian with people, and getting to know Russians—but I can console myself with the knowledge that I will certainly be returning to Russia next year."
-Shannon Meyerhoff's (summer 2003)
