IAESTE- training in Minsk, Belarus

Me

I am 25 year old mechanical engineering student from Helsinki, Finland. I have studied machine designing four years in Helsinki Polytechnic. I spent my third year of studies in Singapore as an exchange student and earlier this year I did a four month practical training in Australia. I did my practical training in Minsk 5.8-3.9.2007

This is my point of view about my exchange in Belarus. One shouldn’t take it as an absolute truth or read it as a bible.

Why Belarus?

I’ve traveled quite a lot around world but never been our neighbor country Russia or any other former Soviet Union countries. I got acceptance letter from Belarusian National Technical University. I was fascinated. I’m going to Belarus. All I knew about Belarus were President Lukashenko, gas problems with Russia and that it is recognized as a last dictatorship in Europe.

I tried to find more information from books and internet but there are not so much help and information available for foreign traveller about Belarus.

Preparation and traveling

After I was accepted to do my practical training in Belarus, much more arrangements weren’t needed. IAESTE Belarus had accommodation for me in hotel of university. IASTE Belarus also delivered needed documents to custom authorities regarding to my visa. Helsinki Polytechnic provided insurance which covers accidents. I took insurance for my personal belongings. Air Baltic operates to Minsk via Riga and tickets are reasonable price.

Vitaly Gorbash on behalf of IASTE Belarus waited me outside of terminal with a label my name on it. Vitaly and the car driver gave drive for me to Minsk. Car ran smoothly and Vitaly made me familiar with Belarus.

Minsk

I really didn’t know what to expect about Minsk. I have heard stories from my friend - who lived two years in Moscow - how chaotic the everyday life can sometimes be there. (In my mind I associate Belarus similar to Russia.) On the other hand I read from internet that Minsk is clean, safe, modernized city.

The latter impression was more than correct. City center of Minsk is really clean and welcoming. Wide roads edged with trees, flowers and other plants make it really fascinating. Frontages of those massive houses are in really good paint and shape. Here and there you can see a nice square or park with water fountains and statues of national heroes.

Most importantly in this city with 2 million inhabitants people are everywhere enjoying nice weather and cozy atmosphere. I didn’t feel my self unsafe any time though I walked by myself in the city every hour of the day. Lot of militia patrol in the streets and make Minsk a safe place.

Two metro lines, busses, trolley busses and trams operate around city smoothly without delays. Metro is easy and simple to use for visitor. Tickets are cheap and you can get almost everywhere in inner city area with it.

Practical training

I did my practical training in Belarusian engineering office. They provided strength, dynamic, flow, stress analysis and solutions to the clients.

The company used as sophisticate methods and software’s as any engineering office in anywhere in Europe. Most of the programs were strange to me but I had used similar programs in Finland.

My part was make myself familiar with the company and programs what it used. I found it interesting and what best, I could chose my working hours myself. I didn’t work very long days.

We did an excursion to Belarusian refrigerator and freezer manufacturer called Atlant. Atlant exports their products all over Europe but under different brand. It was interesting to see how refrigerator was built from the very beginning to the end. I was promised more similar excursions to other Belarusian manufacturers but they didn't happen.

Lodging

Lodging was really nice and free of charge. It was a quests hotel of the Belarusian National Technical University. Cleaning lady visited every day. There were a bedroom with table and TV, kitchen with refrigerator and bathroom. Hotel was within walking distance from city center and metro stop located only 100 meters from front door.

My daily life

People speak in Belarus Russian and Belarus. For my knowledge they use mostly Russian. I have never studied Russian so that fact made the everyday life little bit harder for me. I learned a few words of Russian but usually I survived with the international language of signs.

Vitaly from IAESTE came to grocery store with me at the first day and next two days Veronica and other Vitaly helped me with everyday things. They opened a local prepaid card for me, showed how to buy public transportation tickets etc. After those very first days I spend most of the time by myself.

I spend time exploring the city and photographing. I did a bit shopping and had beer on Minsk’s many terraces.

I didn’t meet many people in Belarus who spoke fluent English. Usually the conversations were very limited but that didn’t matter. I was totally impressed about people hospitality and their eagerness to talk with foreign guy. They invited me to their homes, ordered food, and showed Minsk to me. Even though you only have a few tools to talk, the enthusiasm and kindness of Belarusian people takes you a good way further.

Countryside

My friends Victor and Svetlana invited me to their few day trip to the countryside. I wanted to see the countryside of Belarus but IAESTE program didn’t let me go because of the dangerousness of the trip and according to them I didn’t have permission from government to stay outside of Minsk over night.

Luckily next weekend my friend Vitaly (not Vitaly from IAESTE) and his sister Julia invited me to visit their grandmother in Stolpcu and see some castles in Mir and Njasvizh during the weekend. Trip was very nice and I had a taste of countryside. I was able to enjoy Belarusian hospitality during the whole weekend.

Homesickness

After three weeks I started to feel little bit homesick. I hadn’t found anybody to have such English skills that you can have a good conversation with. I had explored every corner of inner city of Minsk and there were nothing that interesting to see anymore.

Eating out was relatively expensive in restaurants where the menu is also in English. I preferred the same places as the locals and every time was a surprise - a pleasant one - what food I got after ordering.

Going to movie, watching TV or buying a dvd was out of question because everything is dubbed in Russian. I couldn’t find activities to entertain myself and it started to put me down a little bit.

Aftertaste

I went to Belarus with no idea what to expect. To be honest, actually I expected a lot of Vodka drinking and good food. I didn’t have bad food any single time, although most of the times I didn’t know what I ordered. I enjoyed every single bite I ate. So all my expectations got fulfilled.

Minsk is a beautiful city full of beautiful people. They might be at first shy and reserved but once the ice is broke everything goes smoothly.

You can survive in Belarus without speaking Russian but it’s highly recommended from my side, if coming here longer time. You can get so much more out of your trip.

I had a feeling that the timing of my trip wasn’t the best. It was August and the University was closed. That means no students and that means lack of possibilities to meet people. I enjoyed my time anyway and also recommended my parents to visit Minsk. After hearing my stories and seeing my photos they said they will one day.

Juuso Aalto