From Algeria to E. Guinea: African Students Share Experiences of Studying in Russia on Knowledge Day
© Sputnik . Kirill Zykov
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On September 1, Russia celebrates Knowledge Day, a special day that marks the beginning of the school year. It is observed every year in Russia and many other former Soviet republics.
Knowledge Day is a day to honor teachers and educators, and to motivate students to pursue their academic goals.
On this day, students of all grades attend a festive assembly, where they listen to speeches, sing songs, and receive flowers and gifts. The first-graders are especially excited, as they enter the school for the first time and participate in the First Bell ceremony. A senior student carries a first-grader on his or her shoulders, while ringing a bell to symbolize the start of the new academic year.
But how do African students, who come from different cultures and backgrounds, experience this Russian tradition? To find out, Sputnik Africa spoke to four African students who are studying in Russia.
Jose Adolfo from Equatorial Guinea
Jose Adolfo Mba Micha Ncogo is a student at the Patrice Lumumba People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN) in Moscow. He said that in his country, there is something similar to Knowledge Day, but it is not an official day to have lessons. It is a day to know each other, so the students can get to know the teacher better.
“I think it's a very great idea because knowledge is one of the more important things a human being has,” he told Sputnik Africa. “So we need to have a special day for this. That's why I think it's a very good tradition and I would like to say that it should continue and they should do it better and bigger.”
The Equatorial Guinean also said that studying in Russia is one of the best things that happened to him in his life, because he learned more about life here. He said that this gave him stability and mental peace, which he considers to be a bigger benefit than studying.
“I consider this benefit to be bigger than studying because you can study maybe everywhere but learning about life as I learned here, I don't think I can do it everywhere,” Ncogo said.
Jose Adolfo Mba Micha Ncogo from Equatorial Guinea, a student at the Patrice Lumumba Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN)
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He said that he will use his knowledge and skills to help people in his country, especially since there is a good relationship between Russia and Equatorial Guinea.
He said that he was inspired to come to Russia by his father, who wanted him to study here because he thinks that Russia is a very good country for students. He also said that he learned a lot about Russian history and culture before coming here, and it was like a dream for him.
Ncogo said that he had no problems interacting with Russians, and that everyone he met helped him in some way. He said that even the problems he faced helped him to enjoy life more.
“You know, I have a strange philosophy. I think, when someone helps you, of course he helps you. But, when someone even he thinks he doesn't help you, he helps you too. Because, in every situation in life we can learn something. Then if he participates in that situation or he made it, so he helped you anyway. So that's why I think everybody I met here has helped me,” he concluded.
Mohamed from Algeria
Mohamed Nacerbouhedjam is a master student in political science and international relations at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU). He said that there is nothing similar to Knowledge Day in his country, unfortunately. The Algerian student said that he was surprised when he first heard about this celebration, but he thinks it’s a good thing for students.
“This tradition is very special and gives students a strong motivation to start their academic year,” he said.
Nacerbouhedjam told Sputnik Africa that he was inspired to come to Russia by the quality of education here and the good conditions that Russian universities provide for foreign students. He said that studying in Russia is completely different from studying in his country, because of the different conditions, language, education system and methods of education.
The Algerian said his most memorable experience in Russia was when the temperature reached -30 degrees Celsius, which at one point made him think about returning to his country.
Mohamed Nacerbouhedjam from Algeria, a master's student in political science and international relations at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU)
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“My unique experience that I will never forget in Russia, I think, is when the temperature reached -30 and the outside of the windows started to freeze. So I sat alone in my room and I said, 'Oh my God, what am doing here?' I thought for a while about taking my bags and going back to my country. Then I thought a lot. I said, 'No. I must continue in order to achieve my goal.' That's why, as you see, I'm here and I'm very, very happy,” he narrated.
Nacerbouhedjam said that he had many opportunities to share his culture with Russians, and he noticed an interest on their part. He also said that Russian culture is another world that deserves to be explored, and that it is very rich and cannot be limited to a specific period of time.
The 30-year-old said that studying in Russia will benefit his future career goals as a diplomat, because Russia is currently considered an effective political pole in international relations. He said that he will contribute to developing the level of political effectiveness of his country at the international level.
The Algerian student also shared that there are some misconceptions about Africa and African people around the world, but Africa is a sleeping giant that will soon wake up and revolutionize at all levels. Nacerbouhedjam added that he had some misconceptions about Russia before coming here, but he realized that they were wrong, and that Russians are really open with foreigners.
Yves from the Republic of Congo
Yves Chelvi Ibata Ngassaki is a master’s student at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow. He said that in his country, people don’t really celebrate Knowledge Day. At the beginning of the academic year, according to him, students just go to school, sit down and take their lessons.
He said that studying in Russia differs from studying in his country because here he has different challenges, such as trying to survive, find a job and study. He also said that here he has access to technology and Internet 24 hours a day, which helps him to chat, do research and study online.
Ngassaki said that studying in Russia will benefit his future career goals because he is not just studying, he is also learning how to live with other people.
Yves Chelvi Ibata Ngassaki from the Republic of Congo, a master's student at the Higher School of Economics (HSE) in Moscow, Russia
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“My education will really help to develop my country. The reason is, as I study, I discover many things that are not taught maybe in my university. The way teachers teach here is different [...] That's really an advantage for me and for my country, too, because I will show it in the future,” Ngassaki told Sputnik Africa. “Down the road, I will share it with my pupils, my students. They will have some knowledge that comes from abroad.”
The Congolese added that he had a lot of opportunities to share his culture with his Russian and non-Russian classmates, and that they were interested in learning more about it. He also said that the Russian culture is very rich and deserves to be explored, but he didn’t have enough chances to do so.
Ngassaki noted that there are misconceptions everywhere, not just about Africa or African students in Russia, but also vice versa. He said that he met some impolite people here, but also some well educated people. The 24-year-old stressed that it’s important to respect one who is from another culture, because it’s all different walks of life.
Hicham from Algeria
Hicham Kesbadji, a master student at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU), said that he was surprised when he first heard about Knowledge Day celebration in Russia, but he thinks it motivates them to start a new year with new energy.
“The first time I heard about this celebration, I was surprised. But I think it's a good thing for students because it motivates them to start a new year with new energy,” Kesbadji said.
He said that he was inspired to come to Russia by the stories that his grandparents used to tell him about Russia, and by the movies and documentaries that he watched about Russia. He said that he started learning Russian at university, and then he decided to come to Russia to be taught by Russian native speakers.
Kesbadji believes that studying in Russia differs from studying in his country, because here he has the chance to practice the language with native speakers.
“Studying in Russia helped me a lot to increase my level of languages, Russian, English, Arabic, and French, also. Now I can understand Russian and speak freely,” the Algerian told Sputnik Africa. “I think this is what will help me in my future career. This is so beneficial for my future career goals as a translator.”
Hicham Kesbadji from Algeria, Masters student at the Moscow State Linguistic University (MSLU)
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He said that he has different plans after his graduation. He wants to be a translator in the Algerian or Russian embassy, or help Algerian students who are studying Russian, or have his own school of languages in Algeria.
Kesbadji added that he had a lot of opportunities to share his Algerian culture with classmates, but didn’t have enough chances to explore Russian culture.
“I didn't have enough chances to explore Russian culture. Of course, I have Russian friends. They were always telling me stories about their traditions. I have tried the Russian sauna, 'banya'. I really liked it. And I have eaten different Russian traditional food. But unfortunately, I didn't have the chance to explore more,” the Algerian student said.
Hicham Kesbadji highlighted that he had no problems with Russian people because of his origin or nationality, and that there are no misconceptions about Africa or African students in Russia.
“Before I came here, yes, I heard a lot of things about Russian people that they are cold, they have difficult [personalities] and everything, but that's not true,” he noted.
