My name is Anastasia Kirova and I am PhD student of Dostoevsky Omsk State University, Omsk, Russia. My major is Philology. I am studying languages and participation in any international program is unique experience for me. I was lucky to spend spring semester studying at the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Latvia within Erasmus+ project.

Traveling to another country for an extended period is always challenging and accompanied by multiple difficulties. However, no obstacles and fears can overthrow those good sides of my experience living and studying in Riga. I would like to mention that I received a huge assistance and support both from my home university and receiving university staff at all stages of my mobility.

Since I went to Latvia for studies, large part of my time was spent in the university. At classes, I participated in discussions, was involved in teamwork and had a chance to perform my own teaching. There are many other international students so you feel like a small still important part of  community. As for my scientific research, I should say that conditions were favorable: well-equipped libraries, access to databases, helpful staff and professors available for consultations. National library of Latvia and Academic Center are place to emphasize. Any researcher could find necessary information over there.

Erasmus is not only about studying; it is also a chance to travel. During my mobility, I went to neighboring countries Lithuania and Estonia, took a ferry to Sweden and Finland, visited Germany, Czech Republic and Poland without saying that I have explored almost all sights in Latvia. All that contributes to my perception of the world as a number of diverse cultures living together in modern society.