Ciao from Italy! Today, we are excited to introduce you to Marco Puca, a second-year master's student at Tomsk State University's Institute of Economics and Management. After coming to Tomsk on an exchange program, Marco fell in love with our cozy Siberian city and decided to return to continue his studies. In this interview, we discuss a range of topics with Marco, including his experience as an international student, his love for grandmother’s caregivers, stylish men, Viktor Tsoi, cats, and oriental cuisine. Read on to learn more about Marco's journey as an international student.
My connection with Tomsk began a few years ago when I applied for an exchange program during my first year of a master's program in Italy. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most Russian universities canceled their international exchange programs, except for TSU. As a result, I arrived in Tomsk in September 2021 and stayed for three months. After returning to Italy, I defended my thesis and received my master's degree. Interestingly, my thesis focused on the history of Siberia, specifically the works of writer Sergei Alekseevich Zaplavny, who also studied at TSU. Although my background is in linguistics and translation, I decided to pursue a master's degree in a different field and applied to the Institute of Economics and Management.
International students are often asked why they chose to study Russian. My interest in the language and culture dates back to my childhood. Growing up, my family hired caregivers to take care of my grandmother, and many of them were from Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Moldova. They treated me like their own grandchild, and I considered them to be close family. These women often listened to music and watched movies in Russian, read books that were written in letters that were “strange” for me. This sparked my interest in the Slavic world, and when it was time to choose a foreign language to study at university, I chose English and Russian.
Before arriving in Russia, I had heard many stereotypes about the country. Some of them turned out to be false, such as the belief that Russians never laugh. However, after spending a significant amount of time communicating with Russians, I realized that this stereotype is not true. I also believed that Siberians never feel cold due to their exposure to low temperatures, but I learned that even they feel the effects of extreme cold, such as -30 or -40 degrees. On the other hand, there are some stereotypes that have proven to be true, such as the love for cats and the consumption of a lot of tea among Russians.
One thing that stood out to me was the "unofficial traditions" that Russians have, such as grilling shashlik with family in the forest or visiting a sauna with colleagues and friends. I also appreciated the fact that many Russians have a dacha, wh ere they can spend quality time with their families and relax. This is something that I found to be quite nice.
I was pleasantly surprised by the level of technological progress in Russia. In many cities in Italy, it is not possible to order a cab through an app, and food delivery from supermarkets is still in the early stages of development. However, in Russia, even grandmothers are able to pay for bus tickets with a card, which is not something that is common in Italy. This shows the advancement of technology in Russia, and I believe that it will take Italy at least 20 years to reach this level. Another difference that I noticed was the customer service in restaurants. In Italy, it is common to wait for an hour or more for a dish to be cooked, especially on weekends. However, in Russian cafes, I have never had to wait more than 15-20 minutes for my order.
While Italian cuisine will always be my favorite, I have also discovered many delicious dishes in Russia. I particularly enjoy eating soups in the winter, and I have come to love borscht, solyanka, and ukha. I have also tried potato pancakes and pancakes for the first time in Russia, and I found them to have a unique and interesting flavor. In Tomsk, I was introduced to oriental cuisine, and I have developed a taste for shashliks, khachapuri, manti, pilaf, and samsa.
For international students, the first period in Russia can be incredibly difficult. They are in a new country with a different language, food, and climate. They also have to deal with a large number of documents and undergo medical tests, which can be a source of great stress. This can be even more challenging for students who have come to Russia alone. However, these difficulties should not discourage them. It is a challenging experience, but it is also very rewarding. After a month, things will become much easier as they get used to their new surroundings and have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. They will also learn to take care of themselves. So, even though it may seem tough at first, everything will eventually fall into place.
The material and photos were made by Elvira Trushina from TSU Multimedia Center