Colby College
Russian Program
Lovejoy, 4th floor
4440 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901-8844
P: 207-859-4400
F: 207-859-4405
 

Packing

Be a minimalist in your packing. When you have to carry your bags or worry about personal items, you'll be glad that you traveled light. And remember that on international flights the usual baggage allowance is two suitcases. Within Russia, the weight limit for baggage is 20 kilos.

ESSENTIALS

The following items are absolutely necessary to your semester abroad. Make sure to pack them!

Passport and visa

2 Xerox copies of the information pages from your passport and 2 copies of your visa. Keep each copy in a separate place, eg. one copy at your apartment, one at the Gimnazium. When traveling, keep the copies in a different bag or carry-on from your passport/visa.

Airplane tickets

2-3 copies of the name, address, phone number and FAX number of St. Petersburg Classical High School, and the name of the School's Director (below). Store these sheets in separate places.

RUSSIA 197198
St. Petersburg
Malyi prospekt P. S. 9/6
St. Petersburg Classical High School
BURYACHKO, Sergei
Telephone: 0117-812-235-4014
Fax: 0117-812-235-1302

Your copy of THE TRAVELLER'S YELLOW PAGES (sent to you by Colby)

Addresses and telephone numbers of friends and family in the US.

Colby FAX is (207) 872-3805, attention Sheila McCarthy.

A pocket Russian-English, English-Russian dictionary.

Prescription medicine kit with physician's letter; proof of AIDS test.

Non-prescription medical supplies.

Toiletry supplies, including facial tissues.

Electrical plugs, current is 127 and 220 volts.

Camera and LOTS of film. Both Kodak and Agfa film is available, but the prices are exorbitant, so bring a huge supply.

At least one roll of pictures of your family, your home, your hometown, your college, your friends.

A few nice, well-chosen special gifts for your host family and your favorite instructors at the Gimnazium. Tapes of popular music are wonderful for young people. Something special from your part of the country is a nice gift from your family to your host family. If you know of crafts that are unique to your area, those gifts for the household would be thoughtful and personal. Picture books of your state or the US are also good. Calendars with local flavor are nice, especially for the students arriving in February. Small gifts from Colby-- note paper, calendar, keyrings, etc. -- are good. Current bestsellers are wonderful if your friends know English.

CLOTHING

Student dress in St. Petersburg is very informal, similar to student dress in the US. Jeans, T-shirts, sweaters, sneakers are the norm. When packing, keep in mind that your laundry will probably be done by hand in the kitchen or bathroom of your home, so choose clothes accordingly. Do not take fussy clothes that require lots of care. Choose clothing that does not show every little spot and does not require ironing. Choose clothing that is sturdy and comfortable and clothing that you like to wear because you will be wearing the same 4-5 changes of clothes for 4 months. You may want to think about taking older clothes which you can discard or give as gifts at the end of the semester, another way of making room in your suitcases for gifts you buy to bring home.

 
At the balletYou should have one "dress-up" outfit. For men this means slacks, shirt, sports jacket, and tie. For women this means a skirt, sweater or blouse, and jacket, or a dress, if you prefer. There will not be many occasions for dressing up, but if you are invited to a celebration of any kind in someone's home or at a restaurant or to a big theater evening, you will feel more appropriately dressed if you have something nice to wear. You may want to travel to Russia in this outfit to save space in your suitcases.

You will need warm clothing for winter months -- November through March. A parka/ski jacket, woolen cap, scarf, and gloves/mittens are good outer wear. (The hat, by the way, is essential; every Russian wears a hat in cold weather and will accost you on the sidewalk with a lecture about your health in the cold if you do not wear a hat.) In St. Petersburg the problem is usually dampness and slush rather than extreme cold, so take particular care with good boots that are waterproof and warm socks. A set of thermal underwear is a good idea.

EXTRAS THAT ARE NICE TO HAVE

Pocket calculator; hairdryer; electric shaver; Walkman and your favorite tapes; short wave radio; Tang and powdered soups for a quick snack; gum and life savers; umbrella; some leisure reading paperbacks just for relaxation and as good gifts for English-speaking friends; a collection of little souvenirs to give out here and there, such as college stickers or note pads, funny buttons or pins, postcards from home town and favorite places, US stamps, cush balls, blank audio tapes if you plan to record your pupils or friends or concerts, and other things you think of.

The best source of information about packing essentials are the students who have recently participated in the program.  Do arrange to talk with them here on campus or by phone because they will give you the best and most-detailed information.

If you forget something, do not despair. There are many high quality specialty shops in St. Petersburg which cater largely to the Western business community. The prices are high, even very high, but you can make emergency purchases in these shops.

NEXT SECTION: Health and Nutrition Information