QI Xiao-yan Angel || BBA (Hons) Accounting and Finance || Uninvest Construction Company, Russia
Driven by her admiration for Russia’s exotic architecture and its mysterious culture, Qi Xiao-yan Angel participated in a newly launched two-way exchange programme to Russia. The one-month internship at the Uninvest Construction Company in Moscow was an experience of a lifetime to her.
Once Angel landed in Moscow, she realised the language barrier would be one of the biggest challenges and obstacles in her day-to-day life in the Russian city. “Very few Russians can converse in English. Of course, I could not speak any Russian, let alone read it,” she says.
To better fit in, Angel enrolled in a Russian language course at the Moscow International Higher Business School (MIRBIS). “Russian is a difficult language to pick up. I attended three lessons hoping to learn some elementary Russian for daily conversation,” says Angel. “Their accent was really difficult to master but it was so interesting to learn a new language.”
Multi-national work culture
In the office, English was the most popular communication tool as the staff were from different countries. “There were Korean and Russian in the office, hence, our daily conservation was mainly in English,” Angel recalls. “The Russian colleagues were always helpful and willing to teach us Russian in the office. They even treated us to dinner and took us to some scenic spots. They were really hospitable.”
Taking the complicated Russian underground system, with over 170 stations, was like traveling through a maze, bringing Angel an arduous yet thrilling experience beyond her imagination. “I had long heard of the systematic railway system in Russia. The underground there is like a palace — glamorous, luxurious and spacious,” she recalls.
“The biggest challenge was to choose the correc
t route and recognise the right station name to alight through carefully listening to the broadcast during the ride. Fortunately, I’d learned the Russian alphabets in MIRBIS, so after several times, I was able to change between lines and find the right way to my destination in this maze-like Palace.”
Russia, the largest country in Eurasia, is considered as mysterious and conservative because of its historical background and unique location. “Before going there, I just knew that Russia was a country full of cultural and historic treasures. In fact, Moscow was much more cosmopolitan and modern than I expected. You can easily find branded shops and luxury goods in the high street. People in Moscow have a high standard of living which is close to the European,” Angel says.
Angel is thankful for the opportunity to the opportunity to join PGDP for changing her in many ways. “I used to be easily swayed by others’ opinions. But now, I have learnt to stick to my own thoughts while comparing others’ ideas objectively,” she says. Angel will will exchange to England in the new academic year. “I’ve become more open and flexible too. I now can face challenges independently.”
