Fall 2014—Newsletter 4– page 1

See what’s happening on campus https://www.facebook.com/AIFSRussia

American Institute For Foreign Study Санкт-Петербург, Россия St. Petersburg, Russia

Contents:

Reminder: Reimburse-

ment for Museums &

Yusupov Palace

(page 2)

День народного

единства &

Blockade Museum

(page 3)

AIFS Trip to Moscow

(pages 4 &5)

Fall 2014 – Newsletter 4

I hope you all enjoyed our trip to Moscow and fall break.

Please note that there will be changes to the academic timetable because

of the public holiday in November. Please check it REGULARLY!

Fall 2014—Newsletter 4– page 2

See what’s happening on campus https://www.facebook.com/AIFSRussia

Reminder: Reimbursement for Museums

As stated in Newsletter 1, AIFS will reimburse you up to

500 roubles for museums/theatre tickets/concerts/ sport-

ing events on presentation of tickets/receipts.

Please note that you must submit receipts no later than

December 1.

Yusupov Palace

Things to take with you:

Please remember your student cards and travel passes.

About the palace:

The wealthy Yusupov family purchased the palace in 1830

– one of the most beautiful and surprising in St. Petersburg.

The Yusupov’s were great patrons of the arts and they

exhibited their impressive collection and hosted concerts

in this palace.

The palace was also the scene of the murder of the infa-

mous Rasputin. You will be shown the scene of the crime

where Felix Yusupov and his entourage tried to poison and

shoot Rasputin in the cellar in 1916, before throwing him

into the river, where he finally died.

This is one of our favorite palaces in St. Petersburg – it is rich

and astonishing, but somehow still retains the feel of a

family home.

Fall 2014—Newsletter 4– page 3

See what’s happening on campus https://www.facebook.com/AIFSRussia

Siege of Leningrad: exhibition at the Rumyantsev Mansion

Things to take with you:

Student cards and travel passes.

About the tour:

Siege of Leningrad (1941-1944) is one of the darkest pages in St. Peters-

burg’s history. More than a million people died during the 900 day siege,

the majority from starvation. They endured one of the coldest winters on

record, no electricity, no heating, no running water and barely any food.

Thanks to the courage and defiance of the citizens, the city survived. This

January marked 70 years since the siege was broken.

The other Blockade museums:

Those of you who want to learn more about the siege can visit the Monu-

ment of the Heroic Defenders of Leningrad on the other side of the city

(metro station Moskovskaya). The monument is an impressive sight with

huge statues honoring the citizens and defenders of Leningrad and a high

needle in the center. Underneath the monument there is a museum. There

is also a Blockade Museum on Solyanoy pereulok, 9 (15 minutes walk from

Chernyshevskaya metro). You can also visit the Piskaryovskoye Cemetery

not far from the university where over half a million victims are buried. The

monument of Mother Russia looks over the mass graves which are marked

by the year and month that the dead were buried. Amongst the music

that plays in the cemetery is Shostakovich's 7th Symphony (Leningrad Sym-

phony), which he composed during the siege.

Tuesday November 4 –

Day of National Unity / День народного единства

November 4 is a public holiday. Therefore, there will not

be any classes on Monday November 3 and Tuesday

November 4, and the AIFS office will be closed.

The Day of National Unity / День народного единства is

seen as the youngest public holiday. It was re-introduced

in 2005 to replace the November 7 holiday which cele-

brated the anniversary of the Great October Socialist

Revolution. In reality, the Day of National Unity was cele-

brated before 1917 and commemorates the end of the

Time of Troubles (1612). Kuzma Minin, a merchant, and

Dmitry Pozharsky, a nobleman, joined forces to over-

throw Polish-Lithuanian invaders who had taken power in

the Kremlin for around 50 years. We saw their statue in

front of St. Basil’s Cathedral on Red Square in Moscow.

Fall 2014—Newsletter 4– page 4

See what’s happening on campus https://www.facebook.com/AIFSRussia

AIFS Trip to Moscow

Last weekend, AIFS students enjoyed a trip to Moscow,

the capital of the Russian Federation. Photos are on pages 1 & 5.

Friday

Classes as per the academic timetable.

Meet at Moskovsky Train Station (metro station Ploshad Vosstaniya) by the

statue of Peter the Great. We will then board the train together. We can

board 30-40 minutes prior to departure.

Train departs St. Petersburg (to board the train you will need your passport,

multi-entry visa, migration card, city registration and train ticket).

Arrival in Moscow. Travel to the hotel by private bus and overnight.

Saturday

Breakfast in hotel.

Meet in the hotel lobby.

Tour of the city by private bus – we will be shown the historical and architec-

tural sites of Moscow including Red Square and Novodevichy Cemetery. We

will be getting off the bus several times for approximately 30-40 minutes each

time so please ensure you wear appropriate clothing.

Meet in the hotel lobby to leave by metro for the Circus performance.

Sunday

Breakfast in hotel.

Meet in the hotel lobby to go by metro to the city center. We will be outside

most of the day so please wear appropriate clothing.

Lenin’s Mausoleum.

Meet guide. Tour of Kremlin. We will be shown the ancient cathedrals and

also the armory where the treasures of the Russian State are kept.

Free time.

Monday

Breakfast in hotel.

Check-out of hotel (you may leave your belongings in the luggage room at

the hotel for free).

Free time.

Meet in hotel lobby to leave for the train station by metro.

Depart Moscow.

Arrival in St. Petersburg and travel home by metro.

Fall 2014—Newsletter 4– page 5

See what’s happening on campus https://www.facebook.com/AIFSRussia