Zoard Honeczy Came to PetrSU to Study Russian from England
Zoard was born in Hungary and studies at Cambridge University. He came to Petrozavodsk University to learn Russian.
- Zoard, why did you choose Petrozavodsk University?
- I chose PetrSU because I didn't want to go to the capital cities. Everyone there speaks English, whereas I wanted to speak Russian. And Petrozavodsk seemed like a beautiful and interesting city, not very far from the capital cities.
- What were your first impressions?
- I arrived in autumn, so the nature was very beautiful! I thought I had never seen such beautiful nature in my life. I was very surprised that people in Russia are so kind and helpful. I like that there is so much snow here - it is unusual for me! Before I arrived, I was really afraid of the Russian winter, I thought I wouldn't be able to survive it. But then I bought a new jacket, winter clothes, and all things were going alright.
- What are your impressions of your studies?
- I have been studying at PetrSU for six months and I am graduating here at the end of January. I mainly studied Russian, but I had a few literature and art lessons, too. The university lecturers are very knowledgeable about teaching international students, and I liked that very much. For example, they know how it is easier for us to understand some difficult aspects of the Russian language. I really like the Russian language because it sounds very beautiful. I started getting into Russian literature and films when I was still in school. I can't explain why the Russian language wins my heart, but I really like the way it sounds, I like the way it works (grammar, syntax and so on).
- Have you made any friends here?
- Unfortunately, I don't have many friends, but the reason is that I had individual classes, so it was hard to meet other students.
I'm going back to England because I have another course at Cambridge. I’ll be working in Austria for six months. Of course, I’ll miss this place. Life in Petrozavodsk was exciting, I met my girlfriend here, her name is Olga, she is studying psychology at PetrSU. I only speak to her in Russian, which helps me a lot to improve my vocabulary. I speak Hungarian (my mother tongue), English, German and Russian. I’ve studied French at school, but unfortunately, I don't speak it.
- What are your favorite books by Russian authors?
- My favorite books in Russian literature are The Idiot and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I love this writer very much. While I've only read his short stories in the original, novels are still difficult for me. Also, my favorite authors (whom I've read in Russian): Chekhov, Gogol, Zoshchenko. And poets: Mandelstam, Akhmatova, Blok, and of course Pushkin.
There is great interest in the Russian language in the world, because it is not like other languages, it is original. In addition, Russian culture is rich, and one wants to study it in the originals.
- What is your dream?
- I dream of becoming either a professor or a journalist.
- What do you wish for the students?
- I wish students success and as much and better time together as possible.
