Hi! I am Sasha. All I really know about my “origin story” is I was born somewhere near Union Square in Manhattan, my first language was Russian, I learned English over the course of six months in pre-school, and have since been bilingual. I looked through a telescope in sixth grade and decided I wanted to study space; I thought that astrophysics was thus the right path for me, but have since decided it might be mechanical/aerospace engineering. That’s what drew me to Rice, alongside its reputation as a happy, loving community – its ties with NASA and the opportunity to man the observatory.
If I never had to work or study again, though, I’d spend all my time as a photographer and an explorer: I would backpack all over the world, taking photos and meeting new people as I went. That’s part of the reason why I chose this study abroad – it blends my non-academic passions with my academic interests. I am quite intrigued by designing, and, more specifically, building solutions that will bring a real benefit to the people around me. I knew I wanted to study abroad because I really value gaining new cultural experiences and meeting people all over the world – some of my closest friends are people I have met at international programs in countries outside of the US.
Besides this course, I am most excited to explore Amsterdam, because I have never been here, and I looove to walk. Amsterdam is such a walkable city, and even from the couple of days I have had so far, strolling around has shown me many pretty and interesting things I didn’t expect. I am also really excited because my best friend from high school happens to be here at the same time, and I haven’t seen her in six months, so reuniting with her is really special.
When planning to explore a new city, I don’t really plan, honestly. I have a few destinations I know I’d like to see (a few museums, a park, a monument or two…), but besides that, I just wander and let myself see whatever I come across. I think that’s the most earnest way to get a feel for a city and its culture/people, and that is the kind of learning that I most like to do wherever I go. I just walk for hours and usually stumble across real gems, whether they are renowned landmarks or little hidden secrets.
I was so happy to meet the University of Amsterdam students! I was surprised that I got to work with a group full of Russian-speaking students, but I’m so happy that I do, because I have always wanted more Russian-speaking friends. They were really sweet and excited to work together, both with me and each other, and were eager to teach me about Amsterdam. Over all, it was a really nice experience and I’m looking forward to seeing them again!