ISU in St. Petersburg
Did you know that:
Russian is the native language of some 150 million citizens of the Russian Federal Republic. It is one of the five official languages of the UN, and ranks with English, Chinese, Hindi, Urdu, and Spanish as a major world language. Russian is a major language for scientific publication, and it is an increasingly important language for business and trade as Russian institutions, both public and private, integrate with their European and American counterparts.
Students who study Russian have the opportunity to use their language and culture skills in a broad variety of settings in both Russia and the United States. Students go on to work in business as financial and policy analysts for American and Russian companies. They work for non-governmental organizations, for publishing houses, for the print and broadcast media. They teach in Russian schools, and consult in fields such as marketing, advertising, aerospace, and computer engineering. And, of course, some continue to go on to do more traditional work as teachers in universities and schools, and as employees of the United States government.
Wherever they work, however, they find that it was a thorough mastery of the Russian language that opened doors for them, doors that would have remained forever closed without language skills and the knowledge of culture that accompanies them.
St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg's history is rich and truly exciting. The city witnessed so many dramatic events that one can hardly believe that St. Petersburg is not even 300 years old. Founded in 1703 to be the most European city of Russia, it remains Russia's "Window to the West" - just like Peter the Great meant it. St. Petersburg has always welcomed foreigners and newcomers from other parts of Russia. Those people created the cosmopolitan atmosphere which made St. Petersburg so special. Since the early days it was always a city of myth and mystery: you can hardly find a young city which is wrapped in legends and stories in such a unique St Petersburg way.
Due to St. Petersburg's northern location, days are long during the summer months and short in the winter. In May and June, during a period known as the "white nights," the evening twilight blends softly into the dawn and the city never becomes truly dark. During these months, Russians love to stroll through the center of the city in the evenings, watching as the bridges on the Neva are raised and lowered to allow ships to pass.