Money and Communications

Because the currency situation in Russia is in constant flux, Colby recommends that students have or have access to additional money for personal expenses. It is virtually impossible to have money wired to you in Russia, and money should never be sent via mail, so students should take care to make arrangements in advance. American Express cards entitle you to obtain money in dollars, and American Express Travelers Checks can be cashed in tourist hotels and other hard currency locations. Major credit cards are accepted at all large hotels, stores, restaurants, theaters, etc.

In St. Petersburg you will probably find yourself carrying more cash with you than you are used to. You must be extremely careful about security. A money belt (worn under clothing) is very secure. You may be able to leave personal money in the safe at the Gimnazium; talk to the Gimnazium Director about this. It is all right to leave a small amount of your personal money at home in your host family's apartment, but be sure to check with your family first and take their advice. You should not under any circumstances leave your money anywhere in the Gimnazium (coat room or classroom or cafeteria, etc.) and when you are traveling you must carry your money on your person in a money belt at all times. Never leave money or any valuables in hotel rooms or train compartments, even if you just leave the room for a few minutes. Keep in mind that foreigners, Americans in particular, are targets for anyone with an inclination for robbery.

Colby advances to each student prior to departure a sum of money for daily public transportation, newspapers, mail service, and other essential expenditures. Program fees do not cover personal expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, or purchase of gifts and books.

In September 2002, the exchange rate is approximately 28 rubles to the dollar, but the rates fluctuate. Currency exchange rates are posted in every large store, in every tourist hotel, and at all the many official exchange offices in the city. Initially you should change perhaps $30-40 into rubles to handle daily needs such as newspapers and metro, and then after a few days you will know your daily ruble and dollar needs. Given the exchange rates, it is best to buy in rubles whenever possible, but there are many items that are available for purchase only in dollars.

PHONE

Do pay attention to the fact that your families are accustomed to almost instantaneous communication with you and will worry that they cannot just pick up the phone and talk to you. Talk to your families about this in advance to prepare them for the lack of communication. When you arrive in St. Petersburg, call your families immediately to tell them that you have arrived and give them your home telephone number. And as soon as possible after your arrival in St. Petersburg, set up some regular channel of communication with your family at home.

Please be very considerate about your families at home during the semester. Do not call home to complain; do not call home if you have had a bad day. Remember that your family is far away and cannot see you or talk to you later that day or the next day when you have recovered your equilibrium. Do, of course, tell you families what is boring and terrible and what is exciting and inspiring, but do not use your families as a shoulder to cry on.

International phone calls are sometimes hard to make because the lines are too crowded. You may want to make an arrangement in your host family about calling the US, and if you do, be sure that you pay the family for each call that you make. The easiest and cheapest arrangement with your family is for them to call you because they can direct dial your St. Petersburg home telephone, and a call from the US to Russia costs a fraction of what a call from Russia to the US costs. Students often set a time and a day of the week -- every second Saturday at XXX o'clock-- and then wait at home in St. Petersburg for their family's call. Your family can get all information from its phone service about charges and direct dial codes. You must be aware, though, that lines are often clogged, and it is not unusual to have to place calls over and over again before you get a free line. Remember that depending on the time of the year, St. Petersburg time is 7 or 8 hours ahead of US East Coast time. Dial 11 (International) followed by 7 (country code for Russia) followed by 812 (area code for St. Petersburg) followed by your family's phone number.

Calling from the US is easiest during non-business hours, i.e., 5-6:00 a.m. on the east coast (noon or 1:00 p.m. in St. Petersburg), or Saturdays or Sundays.

FAX

Particpants have access to the FAX machine at the Gimnazium for business communication with Colby. Gimnazium FAX number from the US is 011-7-812-235-13-02. The Colby Russian staff will ask that students report every couple of weeks, and that reporting or any other communication you need to have with Colby about questions, problems, registration, etc. constitutes legitimate FAX usage. Colby FAX is (207) 872-3805, attention Sheila McCarthy. You may, of course, use this FAX for any emergencies; Colby will telephone your families immediately.

If your families have access to a FAX machine, and you plan to have a large quantity of personal FAX communication, you may want to open a FAX account at any of several locations in St. Petersburg. Private companies are anxious for your FAX business and give very good service. . Some students have preferred to have their personal FAX accounts outside of the Gimnazium. The Gimnazium staff is not unduly intrusive, but as they send your FAXes it may well be that they read a line or two. If you have strong feelings about the privacy of your letters, the personal account is best.

E-MAIL

A computer has been set up at the Gimnazium, and it is available for reasonable student use. In Russia, Colby must pay for every message you send and for every message you receive. The costs have risen drastically in the last two years, so Colby has had to place some restrictions on e-mail use. You may certainly conduct all your Colby business via e-mail at the Gimnazium. That includes regular communication with the Russian staff at Colby. Please DO NOT carry on daily e-mail with family and friends in the U.S. Be sensible about e-mail use and help us while we are trying to adjust this big expenditure. Your E-MAIL address at the Gimnazium is colby@gym.spb.su

NEXT SECTION: Getting There (and Back)