Feedback Report
Meredith Redlin
December 26, 2008
There were no real parameters noted for this report, so let me just comment briefly on three key areas: 1) Accommodations; 2) International office assistance; and 3) University activities. I will also be filing a report with the Fulbright office on my return in January, and will be happy to send a copy of that report to you directly as well.
First, the accommodations were comfortable and the staff very kind and welcoming. I especially appreciated that the internet connection was in and ready for me on my arrival. That made such a difference, and you may want to keep the cords in the rooms on a permanent basis? (The responsibility for establishing and paying for an account would of course remain with the user.) Dorm mates were great overall, but for an adult living in a dorm does have disadvantages, regardless of how well it is run! Many thanks to dorm administrators for providing more refrigerator space, although the drying room and one washing machine always required some pretty serious planning ahead. Again, this last is just the nature of living together with 25+ people, so I’m not sure it can be remedied.
Second, I much appreciate the help of the international office in every interaction! People have been unfailingly kind and helpful, and very patient with my limited Russian skills. I especially appreciate Larisa taking me to the bank and the grocery store on my very first day here. That was such a great welcoming gesture and really made my first couple days of adjustment so much easier. Thanks, too, to my colleague Denis for helping the following day with setting up the internet account, cell phone account and getting additional household goods. As I didn’t speak the language at all, it was so important to have help with these steps. The office staff expedited all necessary visa and travel transactions quickly, smoothly, and pleasantly and it was always a pleasure to visit regardless of the reason. I have no other feedback here, as everything seemed to go so smoothly from my perspective! Additional thanks for arranging for language tutoring with the wonderful Tatianna.
Last, the University offered activities were always fun and interesting, and I was happy to participate when I could. As I was here based in the sociology department, as opposed to one of the language teaching departments, I wasn’t necessarily in the same circles as other dorm members. Therefore, on occasion messages about events weren’t always transferred beyond the international student group. Of course, that may solely be a factor of interpersonal communication in the international dorm. Also, on occasion announcements were posted in Russian, and I simply couldn’t read them, which is clearly a personal short-coming rather than an organizational critique.
Thanks again for all of your help this past four months. It’s been a pleasure!