Goodbye Liden & Denz!
After a busy two months, it’s time for me to say goodbye to Liden & Denz St. Petersburg. My Russian has improved immeasurably, I’ve learnt a lot about Russian culture and I’ve had a great time being a tourist in the city of St. Petersburg.
I would deeply encourage anyone who wants to learn Russian to study at Liden & Denz, whether it be through the internship programme or through a study programme. The course is intense, being composed of 20 teaching hours per week, but the teachers work hard to match the speed of the classes to your abilities. This means that you feel that you have learnt a lot whilst not being sick of the sight of Russian at the end of the day! The way that the course is tailored to each teaching group means that you are constantly learning new vocabulary and picking up new grammar tips.
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- The Bronze Horseman
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- The General Staff Building
My experience in Russia was definitely elevated by staying with a host family, which was organised by Liden & Denz. My host family were very warm and accepting, and I loved talking to them in Russian and learning about Russian culture from them. I will certainly stay in contact with the family in future!
As for St. Petersburg, there are a few things that stand out to me as necessary trips for tourists. If you are here on a sunny day, I would recommend visiting Peterhof. I absolutely loved seeing the fountains in action there, as well as admiring the view across the Gulf of Finland. You can read the Liden & Denz guide to visiting Peterhof here. Additionally, a trip to Udelnaya market is essential for those who love flea markets. I went there twice, and really enjoyed the atmosphere of the market and finding trinkets among piles of bric-a-brac. My top tips for visiting the flea market can be found on this blog post.
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- The Gulf of Finland as seen from Peterhof
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- Peterhof Palace
Living in Russia for just a few months has given me an appreciation of Russian culture, and I intend to continue learning about this whilst finishing my undergraduate degree in Russian in the United Kingdom. I am sad that my time in Russia has come to a close, but I am hoping to return to St. Petersburg in the future and to travel further afield in this huge country. So пока for now, Russia!
Leila, currently studying at Liden & Denz St. Petersburg
