17 Hours Later – I’m In My New Home!

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In a place like Missoula, MT, it is normal and easy to engage in a conversation with a complete stranger. However, in Russia it is a complete 180-degree turn.

This experience is already off to a great start and I look forward to seeing all that Irkutsk has to offer.

Andrew Castellanos

*STA Travel Start the Adventure Scholarship <i>Hello in your host country language</i>: ะ—ะดั€ะฐะฒัั‚ะฒัƒะนั‚ะต (Zdravstvuyte) <i>University</i>: University of Montana <i>Expected graduation year</i>: 2019 <i>Destination</i>: Irkutsk, Russia <i>Program Provider</i>: School of Russian and Asian Studies <i>Major / Minor</i>: Russian Language <i>Language of Study</i>: Russian <i>Demographic background</i>: Hispanic, First-generation, Community College Student <i>Future career aspirations</i>: Diplomacy, State Department, Ambassador <i>Top 3 goals for study abroad</i>: To raise language proficiency; To deepen my understanding of Russian society; Self-awareness and understanding of my own culture by learning about my host country's customs, values, and traditions