Kazan — summer 2014

It's now official: both ASU and our Kazan side partner IEML have signed the contracts for our summer program, which means yours truly is heading back to Russia this summer. I'm very excited. This is the blog where I'll keep everyone updated on current events for the summer program as well as on my personal travels just before summer.

I have come to really love Kazan. In fact, I like it better than Moscow and Petersburg for a first introduction to Russia for several reasons:

1. There seems to be less alcohol abuse in Kazan than in the other two ‘capitals’ of Russia.
2. The population is about 1.2 million people, so you get big city life without the frenetic craziness of Moscow.
3. The population is about half Russian and half Tatar. The Tatars are the second biggest ethnic group in Russia, so you get a feel for not only the Russians, but also for the most important non-Russian group of Russia.
4. City-born Tatars speak Russian natively with Russian accents. They even make the same mistakes Russians make, so the language environment is excellent.
5. It's a city full of universities. Great intellectual atmosphere.
6. It's a sports-oriented city as well. In summer 2013 Kazan hosted the Universiade, which is kind of like a college-level Olympics.

In short, I can't wait to get back. More later.