Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Leoandris Martínez Serrano came to St. Petersburg from sunny Cuba to study. He's now a graduate student at the Polytechnic University. We talked about his choice of Russia, amusing linguistic oddities, the rigorous academic discipline, and how to find common ground with northern culture.
Hello, Leoandris! Please tell us about yourself and how you ended up in Russia.
Hello! I'm Leoandris Martínez Serrano from Cuba. After completing my master's degree in Cuba, I decided to continue my education abroad and am now a graduate student at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
— Why did you choose Russia and the Polytechnic University to continue your education?
"Firstly, because of the historical friendship between our countries—it created a sense of security. Secondly, I was specifically looking for a strong engineering school with a global reputation. The St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is exactly that. I really wanted to get to know this legendary academic environment from the inside, and I must say, the curriculum fully met my expectations."
— What challenges did international students face in their first few months? And what advice would you give to newcomers?
"The most important piece of advice is to not lock yourself in the dorm and textbooks. Immerse yourself in the language through TV series, music, and socializing. And be sure to find time for exercise—it helps you recharge and learn more effectively. And the challenges? They were often funny! Once, at the store, my friend and I asked for "one gram of salad" instead of a kilogram. The saleswoman laughed so hard she couldn't speak! And at the bank, because of the language barrier, I spent a long time sincerely answering completely wrong questions. It was awkward, but it was a valuable experience of real, live adaptation."
— What is the most useful academic habit you have acquired here?
The Russian education system taught me discipline and proactivity. I created a strict schedule, trained myself to study regularly, read a lot of scientific literature in Russian, and, most importantly, I stopped being afraid to ask questions if I don't understand something. They also really develop the skill of solving non-standard problems—it's like mental gymnastics, teaching you to look at problems from different angles.
— Is studying at a Russian university difficult?
"It's a profound opportunity to delve deeply into my research interests. Sometimes so deeply that I sacrifice sleep—that's my biggest challenge right now, establishing a routine. But we have tremendous support: the professors at the Polytechnic University are excellent specialists and always open to dialogue. I've also made wonderful friends here, with whom we study together, developing strategies for better mastering both the language and complex subjects."
— Tell me about your research work.
My research area is automation and control in the electric power industry. More specifically, I develop new mathematical methods and algorithms for controlling powerful technical systems, such as national power grids. Implementing these methods will improve the reliability, stability, and quality of electricity in large power systems. This is an important step toward creating "smart grids" that effectively integrate renewable energy sources and are resilient to disruptions. Thus, I work at the intersection of automatic control theory, applied mathematics, and energy science, striving to make the electricity supply more stable and secure.
— What struck you most about Russian culture after Cuba?
— Contrasts. In Cuba, because of the warm climate, life happens outdoors, and people are immediately very open. In Russia, especially in St. Petersburg, people take longer to get to know people, but friendships formed "in the long twilight" become very strong. I've learned to appreciate the local punctuality and the inner resilience, the fortitude that helps people overcome difficulties. It's very inspiring.
— What are your plans for the future?
— To defend my doctoral dissertation here at the Polytechnic University and stay on as a teacher. I want to continue immersing myself in the Russian language and culture. And I sincerely hope that Russia will continue to be as welcoming to international students, especially those from Latin America.
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