A Handbook for Study Abroad at Komi Pedagogical Institute

BEFORE YOU GO: A Pre-Departure Checklist

Obtain 8-10 passport size photographs. You will need them for various purposes before departure.

If you do not already have one, apply for your passport. Applications are available at the Office of Enrollment Services and Exchange Programs, the Farmington Post Office, or at the Probate Court on Main St. Please allow eight weeks for your application to be processed.

Apply for your visa with your completed visa application. Read the instructions very carefully and bring the completed packet to the study abroad advisor for final inspection before mailing it. Please allow 3 weeks for your visa to be processed.

Make a photocopy of the first page of your passport for yourself before mailing it with the visa application.

You will be registered for INS 392, Semester in Komi by the study abroad advisor.

Talk with your financial aid advisor if you receive aid. (Do not assume that your aid will be automatically increased to cover any additional expenses).

Complete and return the Medical Information form to the Office of Enrollment Services and exchange programs.

For important information regarding health and traveling, review the website of Center for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel/easteurp.htm#country and the US Department of State at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1176.html. 

Discuss with your advisor how you will sign up for the following semester’s classes (you will be in Russia during pre-registration.)

Consult with faculty and students who have been to or are from Russia. Some of the faculty who have participated in the Komi exchange are David Scribner, Lynda Kinley, Bob and Melanie Pullo, Andrea Southard, Al Bersbach, Lee Sharkey, Gretchen Legler. Any of these faculty will be happy to discuss your program with you.

IMPORTANT DATES
The Fall term begins around September 1st and ends with a period of exams in December. Study abroad students may, however, arrange to finish the program and depart in December. The Spring term begins around January 19 and ends with a period of exams in June. Please inform the institute about your departure plans as soon as possible after arrival. Plan to arrive a few days before the term starts. You will be met in Moscow and taken on a tour of the city before departing for Komi by train.

MONEY
Russian money is in Rubles and Kopecks (10 pt. system). Exchange rates vary, but it is currently around $1 = 26R. (1 ruble (R) = 100 kopeks). You will receive a stipend from KSPI of around 5000-5500 rubles per month to cover monthly food and living expenses. The first installment is at the end of February, so you need to have sufficient cash on hand to pay your expenses the first month. You will not be able to open a bank account. It is recommended that you carry currency in no larger than $20.00 bills and that you exchange only what you need for a short period of time, as the exchange rate can vary dramatically. Western Union is available in Syktyvkar if you need to have funds wired from the U.S. Credit cards are not used in Russia. All prices are generally quoted in rubles. Currency can be freely converted at banks, hotels or kiosks specifically for tourists.

WHAT TO PACK

Textbooks - Take the language textbooks you are using at UMF with you. You are not expected to buy textbooks in Syktyvkar.
washcloths and towels
nice dress or jacket and tie
plenty of socks, underwear and long johns
warm clothing suitable for layering (incl. snow pants if you enjoy outdoor winter sports)
some pictures of home and a U.S. map to share with your new friends
reading books and a Russian/English dictionary
film for your camera (it’s less expensive in the U.S.)
a knapsack
sturdy shoes and boots
warm coat, gloves and hat
laundry bag
computer (if available) and an adaptor* Electricity throughout Russia is 220 volt/50 hz. The plug is the two-pin thin European standard. Be sure to bring your own converter as most places in Russia do not carry them.
prescription or over-the-counter medications you may need

CALLING, MAILING AND COMPUTING

Despite the recent rapid improvements in the telecommunications infrastructure, telephoning in Russia can be difficult and expensive. You will find public and even private telephones are not ideal in Russia.. There is a telephone office near the central post office where you can arrange for international calls. There is also a small telephone office near the Pedinstitute. Tokens are required for street pay phones, which can be purchased at newsstands, in some stores, and many kiosks. Alternatively, to use AT&T, Sprint or MCI's USA direct services, check with your long-distance carrier for information on how to call collect, person-to-person, etc. International phone cards, however, do not work. Have your family call you at a pre-arranged time; it will be less expensive! Syktyvkar is 8 hours ahead of Maine; so 10:00 p.m. in the U.S. is 6:00 a.m. the next day in Russia. Use E-mail; it's very inexpensive and convenient! It is recommended that you get an e-mail account with YAHOO or HOTMAIL prior to leaving the U.S. If you do not bring a laptop computer with you, computer internet access service is available for $1.00/hour at the Pedinstitute.

To call Russia from the USA: 011 (International) 7 (Russia) 8212 (Syktyvkar) xx-xx-xx

MAILING ADDRESS Your generic mailing address in Russia will be:
English Department
Komi State Pedagogical Institute
25 Kommunisticheskaya Street
Syktyvkar, Komi Republic 16761
RUSSIA
*You will receive your room assignment which becomes part of your address.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS (give these out as EMERGENCY only numbers to your family/friends)

Diana Schulyak
Assistant Director UMF/Komi Exchange Program
(7-8212) 43-07-90 (home) E-mail: kspi@kspi.komi.ru
FAX: 011-7-8212-21-44-81

U.S. EMBASSY IN MOSCOW
It is highly recommended that you register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Russia upon your arrival to Russia. Please note that the Embassy will not release information about you to third parties, including your family, unless you sign a waiver and submit it at the time of your registration. (See attachments.) The Embassy is located in Moscow at Novinskiy Bulvar 19/23. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is available to assist you in emergency. Their telephone number is 011-7-095-252-2451, FAX 011-7-095-956-4261, After hours number is 011-7-095-4422, if calling from the U.S.A. To contact the embassy while in Russia, omit the 011-7 prefix. You may also monitor the Embassy’s website at http://www.usia.gov/posts/moscow.html.

THE RESIDENCE HALL

Students live in a dormitory. In the dormitory you will have a private, furnished room with shared kitchen and bathroom facilities. This will suit those who enjoy living independently, shopping and cooking for themselves. Your room will have a bed, desk, chair, drawers, and wardrobe. Showers in the residence halls are shared by a block of 8-10 students. Your bedding will be changed every-other week or so. There will be no phone in your room. (The photo below is courtesy of Alana Querze, a fall 2002 UMF exchange student to Komi)

MEALS

You may eat lunch and breakfast at the Institute canteen, where Russian food is available and you pay each time, or use the kitchen facilities available in the dorm to cook for yourself.

CLASSES

The individualized study program will vary with the student’s discipline, and you should consult with your UMF advisor prior to your study abroad to arrange for study appropriate to your UMF program. The Russians grade on a different scale. While at Komi, one of the previous Russian exchange professors can help explain the grading system. (Diana Shulyak, Natalia Chuprova, Irina Mikhailova, Tatyana Golven, or Ludmila Visheratina).


CREDITS / GRADING
The Semester in Russia program allows you to earn up to 15 academic credits upon successful completion of all courses. Typically you will take 12 credits in Russian language and culture, plus a 3 credit individualized study in your discipline. The grades you receive for modules taken at Komi will appear on your transcript and count toward your cumulative GPA as a UMF student.

WEATHER
Snow is guaranteed, and it will be very cold -- 26 degrees below zero is common.

HEALTH QUESTIONS

For important immunization and other health related information, before departure, review the website of Center for Disease Control at  http://www.cdc.gov/travel/easteurp.htm#country. A physical exam prior to traveling is advised. You will be treated free at the Pedinstitute Health Care Facility should you need medical attention there, but it can be slow if it is not an emergency. Check with your health insurer before you depart to ascertain your coverage in the event of emergency. Many insurance providers offer specialized riders which can cover emergency evacuation. There is some insurance coverage with your International Student Identification Card. Take with you any medication you might reasonably expect to need during your stay (including aspirin, cold and flu medication, vitamins, and prescription medications). Water quality varies widely in Russia. Your best bet is to drink and brush your teeth only with bottled water. Be careful to avoid ice and raw foods and vegetables.
*A completed Medical Information Sheet must be returned to the Office of Enrollment Services and Exchange Programs.

TRAVEL

You will do some traveling arranged by the Pedinstitute, and you are also free to travel on your own. You will be responsible for making any of your own travel arrangements. Always carry identification when traveling, regardless of the distance. Guidebooks such as Let’s Go Russia can provide helpful information regarding travel in Russia. In addition, the U.S. Embassy in Moscow web site and its links provide important information. You may find it at www.usembassy-russia.org.cn/english/index.html <http://www.usembassy-russia.org.cn/english/index.html> . Youth Hostel information can be found on the Internet at www.spb.su/ryh/ryha.html http://www.spb.su/ryh/ryha.html .

ABOUT FLIGHTS
You will be responsible for arranging your own transportation to and from Moscow, Russia. KSPI provides you with ground transportation from Moscow to Syktyvkar, therefore it is necessary that your flight be booked to Moscow, and NOT St. Petersburg. You must provide the Office of Enrollment Services and Exchange Programs with a copy of your itinerary in order for us to notify KSPI of your arrival time in Moscow.

Moscow has several airports, but most international flights arrive at Sheremetyevo II (SVO) which currently handles an estimated 15,000 passengers daily. Expect to stand an hour or two at passport control. Flying times: 8 1/2 hours from New York, 10-11 hours from Chicago, and 12 hours from Los Angeles

Carriers From the U.S.
Non-stop flights from the United States originate in New York or Los Angeles. From other cities, either a direct flight, which entails at least one stop, or a connecting flight, which involves a change of airplanes, will be your only choice. Some flights, especially non-stops, may be scheduled only on certain days of the week. Depending upon your destination and originating city, you may need to make more than one connection. Your best bet is to use Helsinki for the greatest number of connecting flights. Helsinki is less than two hours from Moscow.
FYI the phone number for Finnair (PHONE: 800/950-5000) and Lufthansa (PHONE: 800/645-3880). In Moscow, Aeroflot (PHONE: 095/156-8019; 095/155-0922 for information on domestic flights) operates flights from Moscow to just about every capital of Europe, as well as to Canada and the United States.

HAND LUGGAGE
You are allowed to carry 1 piece of hand luggage onto the plane. This must fit under the seat in front of you, which means it must not be larger than (9in x 14in X 22in) overall and should also not weigh more than 13 lbs.

CHECKED BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
As well as hand luggage, passengers on transatlantic flights are allowed to check in the following: Two pieces of luggage per passenger each weighing up to 70 lbs. each. When added together, the three dimensions of any piece of luggage
(L + W + H) must not exceed 62 inches.

PERSONAL SAFETY
While it is statistically unlikely, it is possible that political instability, acts of war or terrorism or natural disasters may occur in the countries where UMF conducts overseas studies programs. Many of the structures that need to be in place to deal with a crisis of such magnitude are the same ones that ensure safe running of programs on a day-to-day basis. With the demise of the Soviet police state crime has been rising throughout Russia, however, it is still safer there than in many American cities. In study abroad, as in other settings, you can have a major impact on your own health and safety abroad through the decisions you make before and during the program and by your day-to-day choices and behaviours. Precautions include not flaunting valuables, or walking alone at night through city streets or parks. Before leaving campus for a weekend trip, be sure someone knows where you are going and when you are expected back. Do not be an “ugly American” (loud, boisterous, pushy, confrontational). *For important safety information, visit the US Department of State's website: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/regional/regional_1176.html. 


U.S. EMBASSY
It is highly recommended that you register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Russia upon your arrival to Russia. Please note that the Embassy will not release information about you to third parties, including your family, unless you sign a waiver and submit it at the time of your registration. (See attachments.) The Embassy is located in Moscow at Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No. 8. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is available to assist you in emergency. Their telephone number is 011-7-495-728-5000, FAX 011-7-495-728-5090, if calling from the U.S.A. To contact the embassy while in Russia, omit the 011-7 prefix. You may also monitor the Embassy’s website at http://moscow.usembassy.gov/.