Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peoples'Friendship University of Russia
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Ratibor Vanin, a third-year student at the RUDN University Engineering Academy (Nanoengineering major), spent six months at Northeast Normal University in Changchun, one of China's leading public universities. His internship was filled with both intensive study and immersion in the cultural and scientific life of the eastern country.
Discipline in classes
Classes were held in Chinese, and this became the main difficulty for Ratibor, even though he had studied the language before coming to RUDN and could speak about everyday topics.
Understanding the lecture material required considerable effort. However, gradually, step by step, mastering the terminology, by the end of the semester I could confidently follow the classes. The support of my Chinese and Russian friends, who would drag me out to play ping-pong, was also helpful. By the end of the internship, my level of spoken Chinese had improved significantly. This experience was both a serious challenge for me and a powerful stimulus for developing the language skills so crucial in international science.
Ratibor Vanin
The student also noted that he was struck by the social discipline at the university. During the entire six months, in all the classes he attended, there wasn't a single extraneous conversation, and the Chinese professors were never distracted by anything other than their lectures.
During his internship, Ratibor not only immersed himself in the theory of his specialty, but also learned the basics of laboratory work in biological fields.
Before this, I didn't understand what experiments meant, how they were set up, how many were used, or what equipment was used. But here I was able to observe the process and receive detailed explanations of the theoretical basis of the experiments. Since nanoengineering is a science at the intersection of various specialties, this knowledge will help me collaborate with experts from various fields.
Ratibor Vanin
Immersion in culture
In addition to studying, the internship program included numerous events dedicated to Chinese holidays. As the student notes, there were quite a few—from several Valentine's Day equivalents to the Dragon Boat Festival and Golden Week (the beginning of October, when China celebrates National Day). During the holidays, Ratibor traveled to other cities: he visited Chongqing, Harbin, and Shenyang.
Every city is unique and rich in attractions. Traveling has helped me gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. I could write an entire book about the differences between our mentalities and the Chinese. I'll limit myself to people: they are raised differently, speak differently, even walk differently, and pay attention to different things. I also can't help but say that Chinese food isn't for everyone. We have quite different understandings of taste and, most importantly, "delicious." Fifty shades of spiciness are best left untrained.
Ratibor Vanin
And yet, the main thing that students value from an internship is the knowledge and skills they gain.
This experience significantly broadened my professional and personal horizons. I still stay in touch with my classmates and one of the professors and am seriously considering applying to a master's program at a university in Changchun.
Ratibor Vanin
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.