Twenty-two-year-old Staisy Kaptusarova exchanged Russia for Rotterdam. And she would do it again, she explains.
Words: Jelle Simons
We agreed to meet at Erasmus University, my old and her current school.
The campus has changed a lot over the years. There is a food court these days. A proper food court, not the shabby soup kitchen I had to deal with in my younger years. There is even a Starbucks. No need to muse over the good old days, thatβs for sure. English seems to be the lingua franca, although the farrago of accents shows that students from all corners of the globe are enjoying college life in Rotterdam nowadays.
Twenty-two-year-old Staisy Kaptusarova is one of them.
Staisy was born in Moermansk, but attended high school in St. Petersburg. According to Staisy, the Presidential Physics and Mathematical Lyceum of St. Petersburg No. 239 (her former school) is a pretty good. According to Google, it is one of the best schools in Russia. After her graduation, Staisy decided to study in Western Europe. She heard promising stories about Erasmus University in Rotterdam, so she travelled to the second city of the Netherlands to determine whether the school and city met her expectations. Staisey was impressed with what she saw: βThe first thing I noticed was the number of international students over here. It is a truly international institution. Even Dutch students speak English, so you donβt have the feeling that youβre not really part of the college community, because you donβt speak the language. I also appreciate the way students and professors interact with one another. It is very cordial and informal. You donβt see that in Russia. Or at least not in that degree.β
Erasmus University gave her a favourable impression, but the city stole her heart. βWhen I came to the Netherlands, I visited a number of Dutch cities, but I found Rotterdam to be the most dynamic. Besides the stunning architecture, there is a great atmosphere in this city.
People seem to live a balanced life. During the day they focus on their jobs, but at night there is always time to relax and unwind. And Rotterdam provides plenty of opportunities to that. People donβt just exist, but actually live, and that really appeals to me. My favourite part of town? Well, Iβd say the area around Blaak. I love Markthal and Hoogstraat. It is an attractive shopping district, but it also has plenty of bars and restaurants were you can meet with friends and just relax. Again, it is very balanced over here, which makes it a very enjoyable place to live.β
Modesty is regarded to be a virtue in many countries, Russia included, so it seems. Staisy is a gifted student who was educated at a prestigious school. She studied econometrics and economics, was rewarded with internships at Nationale Nederlanden and Unilever and is currently studying for a masterβs degree in business analytics and quantitative marketing. Companies are already lining up to woo her. She acknowledges that she has βgood opportunities in the job market,β but thatβs all she has to say about that, after which the conversation meanders into other areas. The word βbalanceβ seems to pop up in every subject that we discuss. When asked whether the Dutch can learn something from the Russians, she answers: βDutch people donβt really open up. They like to talk about the weather, football and other general subjects, but they hardly ever discuss their true emotions. Russians tend to be a bit more frank about their feelings. You donβt really see that over here, unfortunately.β And is there is anything the Russians could learn from the Dutch? βBe less emotional!β
Staisy fell in love with a Dutchman, so she wonβt return to St. Petersburg any time soon. Whether the couple will stay in Rotterdam is yet to be determined: βWeβll see how life goes. After we graduate, we will probably work for a few years, get a place of our own, and then weβll see. As Iβve said, I love Rotterdam, but Iβd like to keep my options open. Thatβs the great thing about living in the European Union; you can basically live anywhere you want. So, weβll see. Yes, that might be a very Russian answer.β
Passport:
Staisy Kaptusarova
Age: 22
Favourite restaurant: VIP (Very Italian Pizza)
Shopping area: Alexandrium
Favourite neighbourhood: Kralingse Bos
