К сожалению, мне пора…До свидания.

The time has come for me to say goodbye, and leave the city that has so easily become home. It’s difficult for me to separate out my impressions of the St. Petersburg from my time with Liden & Denz, and the past four weeks have been a remarkable experience. The people I’ve met, everything I’ve seen, and the rapid improvement in my language skills have all been made possible by the school, those who work here and my fellow students.

Of course, at times it has been difficult. At first, lessons felt like an endurance test. How could I, having never been previously taught in Russian, understand even a fraction of what was being said in the lessons? I truly believed it to be impossible. However, patience paid off, understanding trickled through, and I finally found myself able to follow things clearly.

I am so pleased that I chose the work-study programme at Liden & Denz. I’ve picked up a great deal of expertise in a relatively short time, as well as having the chance to glimpse working-life in Russia. To prospective students currently considering the internship – take the opportunity, and you won’t regret it for a second.

My main piece of advice for newcomers to St. Petersburg is to walk often, and to walk everywhere. This is the only way to fully appreciate the city that so often changes its colours as the skies slip between icy blue and grey. Allow yourself to become just a little lost (not completely, of course); listen, and observe the life around you. Very soon, this will become your second home, and I can guarantee that you won’t want to leave.