"My first six months in Russia": African students share their experiences and impressions of our country.

Ludovic Dakhonte arrived in Moscow from Chad. Surprisingly, the student enjoyed our climate.

Photo: personal archive.

African students shared their impressions of the first half of the year spent in Russia with “Komsomolskaya Pravda.” According to the Ministry of Education, there are currently 34,000 African students studying in our universities. The quota for such applicants increases year by year, and those wishing to study in our country choose "to the brim."

DIMITRI FROM THE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: IN RUSSIA, "YES" CAN MEAN "NO"

Dimitri Bebrembi (yes, he has almost a Russian name!) came to Tomsk from the Central African Republic. He is preparing to study medicine at Siberian University. With such a diploma, he can become a respected person and earn well upon returning home.

In the first 1-2 years, foreign students in Russia usually do not complete the main university programs. They focus solely on language training: without at least basic language skills, it is impossible to begin mastering any field, especially medicine.

However, even after language courses, misunderstandings can occur.

— In Russia, "yes" can mean "no," — the African notes. He recalls an incident in a store where he asked if a certain product was available. The seller replied, "yes..." — but the product was not there. It turned out the person meant: "Yes, but...".

Another linguistic challenge is the similarity of words and issues with cases. For example, Dimitri asks at a café: "Do you have a pie?" But something goes wrong. After all, cafés don’t sell boats.

Dimitri Berembi from the Central African Republic wants to become a doctor while learning the difficult Russian language.

Photo: personal archive.

The first snow he saw in Russia, according to the student, "reminded him of a magical scene from a movie." He initially struggled with winter, as it is 30-35 degrees year-round in tropical Africa. But once he understood how to dress in layers, everything got better.

— Russians are quite straightforward in communication; if they need something, they say it directly, without polite preliminaries. This can be confusing at first. But then you realize: they know how to be friends, although friendship does not form immediately. However, once it happens, the relationships become very warm! — shares his impressions Dimitri.

He is convinced that education in Russia, especially in medicine, is highly competitive. Here, the emphasis is initially on theory, while in the West, it is immediately on practice. But how can one become, for example, a surgeon without a thorough knowledge of anatomy?

LUDEVIC FROM CHAD: "HERE WE ARE CONSIDERED EQUALS"

Ludovic Ngakutu Badji Dakhonte studies at RUDN — a legendary university that was named after the African freedom fighter Patrice Lumumba two years ago.

The student from Chad is still confused by the language: instead of saying "I am 19," he might say "I am 90." He is very happy with the Moscow winter, walking around without a scarf or hat. However, his African-style fluffy hair can serve as a substitute.

— In my home country of Chad, you get tired of the heat; 40 degrees in summer is normal. And there are sharp temperature contrasts: in the desert (the Sahara stretches across the northern part of the republic), it is hot during the day and cold at night. In Russia, paradoxically, the climate is better, — explains Ludovic.

At RUDN, he is learning the basics of journalism. In N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, the young man submitted documents to Rossotrudnichestvo (which also attracts foreign students) for admission to a different faculty — economics. But he ended up in the journalism department.

He really likes it in Russia. Almost every Chadian family has a relative living in the former metropolis — France, so he has something to compare.

— In Russia, we, Africans, are considered equals. In the West — no.

Additionally, living here is cheaper than in the USA or the European Union. Ludovic has already earned some money working in a fast-food café. Fortunately, the student visa allows it.

This French speaker lives in a dormitory across the street from the RUDN faculty of philology. In the same block, there are guys from Namibia (former German Africa), Egypt, and China. They were intentionally placed together so that, despite their different native languages, they could all practice Russian.

I tell the student about Nikolai Gumilev, who wrote poems about his country: "Listen: far, far away, on Lake Chad, an exquisite giraffe wanders..." Ludovic had not heard of such a poet before but promised to read him.

TAFIK FROM ETHIOPIA: STUDYING AT 40 IS JUST RIGHT

Unlike other students, Ethiopian Tafik is already a mature individual. He is nearly 40. In his home country, he is a well-known scholar and university professor, and his articles on economics have been cited many times in scientific journals.

But he wants to continue developing. In Ethiopia, education obtained in our country has been valued since the socialist times, and in Addis Ababa, they still remember how Soviet military experts helped repel aggression from neighboring Somalia during the Ogaden War in 1978.

Tafik is a Muslim, and he chose Russia also because our country is multi-confessional.

And so, the dark-skinned professor is back in class, studying Russian at the preparatory courses of the Financial Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation.

In Soviet times, African students were provided with warm clothing at budget expense and received increased scholarships. Now, they have to find part-time jobs themselves.

Tafik has done various jobs in Moscow! He wrote analytical texts in English about economics, assisted Russian businessmen in placing advertisements in Ethiopian media, and stocked shelves in a grocery store.

To prepare for winter, he bought clothing at the market near the MKAD: "Later, I saw the same thing in a brand boutique for five times the price."

— I miss my wife and children who stayed at home. After my studies, I will return to help Africa again, — this is Tafik’s life plan.

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