- Guys, please tell us why you decided to get a higher education in the Czech Republic?
- I was interested in how realistic it is to get a European education," says Larisa. "Besides, I have a growing son, and his future is not indifferent to me. As soon as I learned about the opportunity to study in the Czech Republic, I decided to see everything with my own eyes and feel what my son will have to face in the future. After coming here, my doubts were dispelled: European education is indeed realistic for our compatriots to obtain, and it is not expensive here.
- And I, honestly, came here without much thought," continues Alexander. "The cost of education here and at home is almost the same, but the quality of education is different. But the most important thing is that in the Czech Republic I have much more prospects and opportunities to get a good job and make a career. I am sure that at home it will be much more difficult to do, and perhaps impossible altogether. That's why I am here.
- Did you have language difficulties upon arrival? They say the Czech language is very similar to Ukrainian and Belarusian.
- Yes, indeed, the Czech language is very similar to Ukrainian," says Larisa, "the difference is only in pronunciation and accent. It's just hard to communicate when you think you understand this language, try to express a thought, but you are not understood only because you placed the stress incorrectly in a word or pronounced it with the wrong aspiration. As a result, you look with bewilderment: how is it that I said 'desat', but it turns out the stress should have been placed on the second syllable. This gives rise to many interesting and funny situations. There are also very interesting words; in this case we can call them reversals. To ask 'Is this fresh?' you need to say 'Cherstvy?' And do you know what 'perfume' is in Czech? You'll never guess - 'vonyavka'. The language is very interesting, but the most important thing is that I understand and am understood.
- I understand that communicating at a household level is not difficult, but what about listening to lectures? After all, terminology is used there, albeit still elementary.
- At first, of course, it is somewhat difficult," admits Alexander. "But I want to say that the Czech language is learned quite quickly. Moreover, the students themselves help a lot, and teachers always accommodate foreign students. The main thing is to show that you want to study, that you are trying, that you strive. And by the first exam session, language difficulties no longer arise.
- You say that teachers accommodate foreign students. What can you say about the attitude of Czechs towards foreigners?
- In my opinion, Czechs are a very friendly nation," notes Larisa. "I have not noticed any hostility, but on the contrary, only goodwill and a desire to help. To be honest, I did not think that Czechs are so polite. Wherever you find yourself - in a train, bus, elevator - everyone greets you. Any passerby will greet you, and they do it very loudly and clearly. At first it was very embarrassing, I even lowered my head, but now I take it normally.
- I think our readers would be interested to know about the conditions in which you live, study, how you spend your leisure time, and what you can generally say about your daily life?
- As soon as I arrived," says Larisa, "the first thing I did was look for housing. I was offered an inexpensive option - a student dormitory. I was not particularly delighted, but still agreed to take a look. I want to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness and neatness. The dormitory seemed to me like a modern hotel with bright and clean corridors, spacious and cozy rooms (two per block). I was also satisfied with the institute: qualified teachers, well-equipped classrooms, computer labs, free Internet, libraries - all the conditions for good study. Well, I have nothing to say about leisure yet. In my free time I mostly read books and improve my Czech.
- There is a great swimming pool and gyms where you can do sports," continues Alexander. "The guys often play football. In the evening you can go to cafes or nightclubs; by the way, entrance there is free.
- I have a question: how accessible are these entertainments, and where do you get money? After all, you pay for housing, food, and other expenses yourself, and you have no scholarships.
- Visiting the gym, going to cafes, etc. is quite affordable," says Alexander. "Moreover, almost all the guys work, so they can support themselves - some fully, others at least partially. There are student agencies that provide work for students. As a rule, it is ordinary work in hypermarkets: shelving or packing goods. You can earn on average $1-1.5 per hour. We work when we have free time, and we try to prevent it from harming our studies.
- Now that some time has passed, you have become accustomed to the life that surrounds you in the Czech Republic. And what made the greatest impression when you first arrived?
- First of all," says Larisa, "it is the sincere goodwill and responsiveness of people. Secondly, in the Czech Republic the level of service is very high; everything here is thought out to the smallest detail, regardless of the field of activity - whether it is a store, a restaurant, or transport. Also, it was surprising for me that Czech youth is absolutely no different from ours: they listen to the same music, wear the same clothes, and have fun in practically the same way.
- If there were a chance to turn back time, would you go to study in the Czech Republic?
- I think that studying in the Czech Republic is not only a European education, but also a good school of life, - says Alexander. Here I learned to be independent, make decisions and take responsibility for my actions. For me, this is a wonderful opportunity to get to know myself, to understand what I am capable of. And honestly, I am very happy about it. I want to be in demand in this society, I want to find a good job and build a career, and I think that the Czech Republic will give me such an opportunity. So I do not regret at all that I came here to study.
Interviewed by Tatiana POMINCHUK,
association "Gulfstream".