Trip to Veliky Novgorod: Polytechnic international students celebrate the 60th anniversary of the preparation department

This year the Preparatory Faculty of St. Petersburg Polytechnic celebrates an important anniversary — 60 years ago the first foreign students came to Leningrad and started their studies at the Leningrad Kalinin Polytechnic Institute. In honor of this event, a trip to Veliky Novgorod — Novgorod the Great, a city with an ancient history, was organized for current students.

Guys from Algeria, Pakistan, China, Turkey, Chad and other countries saw how Russian culture originated. They walked around the Novgorod Kremlin (Detints), the oldest fortress in Russia, where they learned about the defense of cities in ancient times. At the Millennium of Russia Monument students looked at the figures of great rulers — Yaroslav the Wise, Alexander Nevsky, Ivan III — and learned about them.

Especially impressed everyone was the St. Sophia Cathedral. It is huge and very beautiful! Buildings like this show how much history means to your country, shared Ok Berk from Turkey.

The students also visited the Vitoslavlitsy Museum. There they saw old wooden houses, churches and even a windmill. I liked how the museum preserved the life of peasants. It feels like stepping back in time! said Ahmad Md Nawab from India.

After the tour, the group went to an old village where they tasted traditional dishes and heard folk legends. Novgorod is a city that everyone should see! There is so much history, nature and kind people here, the guys shared their impressions.

The trip became not only a vacation, but also a lesson in Russian culture. The students returned with bright pictures, new knowledge and a desire to learn even more about Russia.

The Preparatory Faculty continues the festive events — meetings with alumni, conferences and a gala concert are ahead.

The Preparatory Faculty of SPbPU has more than half a century of history of successful training of foreign citizens. Our students are very lucky to come to the Polytechnic Preparatory Faculty in this jubilee year. I am sure many of them will take part in the festive events and will stay on to continue their education at Polytechnic, said Pavel Nedelko, assistant to the vice-rector.