Russian Trade Mission in the Arab Republic of Egypt in Cairo
Maxim Akishev graduated the “Regional Studies” educational program in 2012 and undertook an intership in Russian Trade Mission in the Arab Republic of Egypt in Cairo. He shared his impressions of this trip with Temuri Aviliani, who is a 3rd year student of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs.
Improving a foreign language skills in an almost field environment is an essential part of studying process at the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs. For this reason, visiting the region where people speak the language that you learn is crucial. The Arabic language is different from others since studying it in the countries of the Near East and Northern Africa has become difficult because of the Arab Spring. Maxim managed to visit Egypt before the revolutionary wave and he gave us an interview about it.
Temuri Aviliani (T. A.): Why did you choose Egypt for studying abroad?
Maxim Akishev (M. A.): This trip was conducted within a special program organized by The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation. I was offered to take part in a contest that would give the opporunity to undertake an internship in one of Russian trade missions abroad. In order to win the contest I had to meet the following criteria: high grades, rankings, region of specializaton, high level of a foreign language. The Ministry
allocated a quota in Russian Trade Missions abroad. Egypt was among them.
T. A. What was this internship about?
M. A. The internship was at the Russian Trade Mission in the Arab Republic of Egypt (Cairo) and last for about 2 months. For the most part I was making translations and helped the staff of the Mission to solve some tasks.
T. A. What skills aquired at your home university you were able to apply there? What difficulties did you face?
First of all, Arabic and English, which I learnt at my university. Quite high levels of my Arabic and English helped me not only to accomplish the tasks that I got from the staff of the Mission, but also to communicate with people from “the country of Pyramids”.
At first I had some difficulties with undestanding Egyptian Arabic, that is sometimes completely different from Modern Standard Arabic. However, after several weeks of communicating with native speakers, I gragually got used to it. As for me, the fact that the government only gives you the opporunity to undertake an internship (sometimes it also gives you accomodation), is the main problem of undertaking it. Students have to pay for the rest of expenditures like food, housing and transition by themselves.
As for Arabic skills, it is important to be realistic. It will take years of hard work to master this beautiful and complicated language. Especially when it comes to our faculty, which is aimed at making us diplomats, not interpreters. We have less language practice because of many other disciplines connected with economics, politics etc. However my level of Arabic was enoiugh to accomplish all the tasks, especially when I had a lot of time for it.
Besides that, I was very lucky to be surrounded by great people during this internship. They were real professionals who spoke perfect Arabic, leaving alone their personal qualities. Any employee, no matter of his or her position, was ready to help me, give advice or explain what to do. Communication and work with those people became a wonderful experience that I’d go not only to Africa, but even to Australia for.
T. A. Were you satisfied with the accomodation? Was it comfortable to live in Egypt as a foreigner?
M. A. : Luckily, the Mission provided me amd my collegue from Russian Foreign Trade Academy with the accomodation, so we didn’t have to rent an apartment in Cairo. It was a spacious and comfortable apartment with everythins that is needed for a comfortable life, so I can say I was satisfied with the accomodation.
Speaking about Egypt and its capital, I have to admit that it was my first travel abroad. It was extremely interesting to see the city. When a working day was over, I turned into a tourist and explored different streets and districts of the city, taking snapshots and talking to ordinary Egyptians. Cairo is a huge overpopulated city. Its districts differed greatly so I wanted to visit as many places as possible.
T. A.: Did you get the opportunity to travel? What were the most memorable moments?
M. A. Since it was my first travel abroad, I could help travelling across the country. The most memorable places were the Pyramids, Muslim mosques, Coptic churches, a huge citadel in the center of Cairo, the endless street market Han El Halili.
T. A.: What would you wish or advise other guys, who want to study in Arabic countries?
M. A. : First of all, it is necessary to have a brief understanding of the country you’re going to. Financial questions is also very important, because even in Egypt (where cost of living is much lower than in Russia) the expenditures on transortation, food, taxi etc. can be rather high.
Furthermore, I’d recommend students to be more active, not to be shy to ask about something, because you go there to learn and to gain experience. Such internships give you a unique experince which helps you not only improve your professsional skills, but also find your career direction, which is not easy at all.