Hi everyone, welcome to my diary. Many of you might remember me from my previous diary about my life in Moscow, Russia. I moved to Saint Petersburg from Moscow and I've decided to open a dedicated thread to document my life as a foreign student in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

I’m a Nigerian student, I study at the Higher School of Economics Saint Petersburg Russia. This thread will basically document and share my life and daily experiences living in Saint Petersburg, Russia. I hope you guys will enjoy and find my diary interesting.


Chapter 1 - The second coming.

I moved to Saint Petersburg from Moscow towards the end of 2018 and it was mostly because the Saint Petersburg campus had suitable programs entirely taught in english, whilst the Moscow program only had Masters programs in English. The other option would have been to continue studying in Russian language at the Moscow campus, but here is the tricky thing. My university is a very prestigious university in Russia (Top 3 in the country) and the standards are very high. There is this thing in my university called dopsa, so if you fail 3 exams in a year, you'll be expelled from the university and deported. So that means that out of 14 to 20 courses in an academic year, you can't fail 3 courses or you'll be expelled and deported as soon as possible. So I basically moved to Saint Petersburg to study in English because I do not know enough Russian to study entirety in Russian language and not fall behind in class. So my moving to Saint Petersburg was strategic.

A little about Saint Petersburg.

Before I begin, I want guys to know that words alone are not enough to describe how beautiful Saint Petersburg is. I honestly do not have enough adjectives to describe how magical and beautiful this city is. I've lived in Saint Petersburg for over a year now and I'm still awe struck. The center of Saint Petersburg is a Unesco heritage site and there are so many beautiful monuments and buildings all around the center. The center of Saint Petersburg and the city in itself is an architectural masterpiece.

Some nights when I'm sad or worried about something, I just take a quick stroll down the historical city center. Nevsky propekt is so beautiful at night, brilliantly decorated lights, amazing architecture and so on... It's the city of dreams and there is no headache or worry that taking a walk here cannot heal. Saint Petersburg is simply magical and I am a bit sad that I might have failed to accurately describe how beautiful this city is and I hope the videos and pics that will come later will be better.

Life in Saint Petersburg vs Moscow

I've lived in the two cities and I honestly prefer Saint Petersburg. Apart from being the most liberal and European most city of Russia, Saint Petersburg is just not beautiful but people here are much nicer than in Moscow. Saint Petersburg and Moscow are two contrasting cities, Moscow can be likened to Lagos, chaotic, busy and over populated. While Saint Petersburg can be likened to calmer cities like Enugu, Abuja or Calabar. Life is much easier and simpler here than in Moscow and most importantly, things are cheaper too than in Moscow. But like every other city, Saint Petersburg has its disadvantages too. Because of its proximity to the baltic sea, the winter is much more brutal here. It's windier and colder here than in Moscow. I'll do a more comprehensive comparison of the two cities in the future but I'll always advise prospective students to pick Saint Petersburg over Moscow.

Racism.

I know many people are curious about this. I can't pretend or lie racism doesn't exist in Russia but Saint Petersburg is the most liberal city in Russia, so even though some kind of subtle systematic racism exists here, it is still the most welcoming city for foreigners in Russia. I will do a more in depth video or post about racism in Russia in the near future.

Black in Russia.

Like other cities in Russia, it's still difficult to see black people here. Maybe because those that came in illegally during the last world cup don't leave their apartments. But that aside, I think Saint Petersburg has a higher number of black people than other Russian cities. My university has at least 40 or more African students here at the Saint Petersburg Campus.

Last Semester, my university held its annual Culture fest and I was invited to represent Nigeria at the HSE Culture day 2019. I prepared jollof rice and at the end of the culture fest, my jollof rice was adjudged the best food at the fest. It was really exciting to know that many people were genuinely interested in learning about Nigeria's culture, food and way of life. I'll post pics from the event below.

Also with me were my friends Florence and her younger Sister Grace. They both go to my university and they are really wonderful people. Words alone are not enough to describe how amazing Florence and her Sister are. I remember last winter, I caught a cold, I couldn't breathe properly and I honestly thought I won't make it through the night but Florence and her Sis sat by my bed all night, with aboniki balm and prayed fervently for me till I fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning, I was better.
They're super amazing and you guys will see more of them soon.

Also, I just opened a YouTube channel called Afro Rossiya TV. My aim is to document and share my first hand experience as a black foreign student in Russia so please subscribe to my channel.
This is my second video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNAACpu7znM I went on the streets of Saint Petersburg and asked Russians how they feel about Africans and Foreigners in their country so please watch, like and share my videos please. The opening of the video also has some aerial shots I took in Saint Petersbug.

Follow on Instagram https://instagram.com/afrorossiyatv/ and Twitter https://twitter.com/afrorossiyatv

I will write in this thread then share videos on my YouTube channel so abeg make una follow me all platforms.

So this is the beginning and welcome once again to my diary.

Peace and Love always.

Amazing thread!
Beauty with brains!

Na 404 meat be dis

Nice one, was following you on the other thread although incommunicado. It's nice having you here again.

Your description of Petersburg reminds me of the world cup....I had an amazing two weeks in Petersburg with my wife.

Amuatulu:
Amazing thread!
Lalasticlala sef..



Na 404 meat be dis

christejames:
Nice one, was following you on the other thread although incommunicado. It's nice having you here again.

Thanks bro. Life got in the way but I'm back for good and I'll update this thread frequently

My new video is out.

I cooked jollof rice and asked Russians to try the food and tell me what they think and here is what they have to say


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQMJeS8PCCs

Amuatulu:
Amazing thread!
Lalasticlala sef..



Na 404 meat be dis

Why does this sound like Amuocha?


Toochi in Moscow, now St Petersburg.

Toochi, obelenwa na ese ife onyoyoo ma na agbaji biro na obodo Russia.

I have subscribed to your YouTube channel, I love your content.

TochiPhotos:

Thanks bro. Life got in the way but I'm back for good and I'll update this thread frequently

Welcome back. I followed your last thread (as a silent reader though). I'm super glad you're back.

Op so you can speak Russian language. That language sounds very hard

Amuatulu:
Amazing thread!
Lalasticlala sef..



Na 404 meat be dis

LMAO 404 ke? na chicken hahhaa

helpee:
Your description of Petersburg reminds me of the world cup....I had an amazing two weeks in Petersburg with my wife.

Even Russians themselves haven't forgotten hahaha last summer was really unforgettable I dey tell you, the entire duration of the world cup was just one endless celebration of happiness hahahaa

mikkycoins:
Nice thread
Op try and prepare afang soup with semolina next time
They'll grant you free citizenship by force

Hahahha there is a Nigerian shop here so I go try am one day. Na only okro and egusi I don cook but it's a bit expensive to cook naija soup here

queengift:
I have subscribed to your YouTube channel, I love your content.

Thank you.

missKeri:

Welcome back. I followed your last thread (as a silent reader though). I'm super glad you're back.

Thanks a lot )

zeestone99:
Op so you can speak Russian language. That language sounds very hard

Lol it's hard but na just matter of time and dedication. I'm not fluent yet but I'm improving small small.

TochiPhotos:

Lol it's hard but na just matter of time and dedication. I'm not fluent yet but I'm improving small small.

That your own pass improvement. I wonder how you cope. Place looks like some lonely place to settle.

Op I hope you are still with that your girl?

zeestone99:


That your own pass improvement. I wonder how you cope. Place looks like some lonely place to settle.

St Petersburg is home to over 5million people.

I really like your thread, tochiphotos fopr life

Welcome back. Please don't abandon us again.
I hope you are enjoying your studies. Too bad you broke up with your GF. I thought you both made a really nice couple.

Drenimarcus:
Op I hope you are still with that your girl?

He said they are no longer together on his other thread.

Emmyk:

He said they are no longer together on his other thread.

Oh sucks! I was hoping they could pull it off.

Today I cooked jollof rice and I'll go to the center of Saint Petersburg and ask Russians to try Nigerian jollof and tell me what they think about it. The few times I cooked jollof and shared with my Russian classmates, they all loved it. So today, 'll go out and see what the general public thinks about Nigerian jollof rice. Video will be out on my YouTube channel in a few days.

My best friend here in Russia is crazy about Nigeria food, he has tried jollof rice, egusi and okro and he can't seem to get enough of our food hahaha. His name is Roma and I want to use this opportunity to briefly tell you guys about Roma.

I think I'm blessed when it comes to friendships because all my adult life, I've been really fortunate to only meet and get close to really wonderful people. No matter how hardworking or self made you think you are, it's always important to acknowledge the people that have helped you in one way or the other to get where you are in life.

My friendship with Roma started the first day I resumed at HSE Saint Petersburg. After the first class, he came to me to know how I was handling the transition of moving to a new city and all the craziness of life at a new school. He genuinely showed interest in knowing me as a person which was really nice. It might seem insignificant to other people but it was a very nice gesture and it meant a lot to me. Been a different race especially in Russia can be very challenging, sad and quite depressing but having a friend like him made everything smooth and easy for me.

Roma and I particularly connected instantly because we had so many things in common. We are the oldest in our entire department, he just turned 23 and I am older than him. Other students in our department are mostly teenagers who just left high school so Roma and I bonded over our past failures, age, our dreams and the shared hope for a better tomorrow.

Also, Roma is one of the smartest people I've met my entire life. He was previously studying Applied Mathematics at Saint Petersburg State University before he had an issue in his final year and then moved to our University. This guy has a brilliant mind and he is so smart and knowledgeable about everything you can think of. He's literally a genius. Think of real life Sheldon Cooper level of Genius in the big bang theory. I usually feel so dumb whenever I'm around him cos this guy literary knows about everything but I like that cos I learn so much from him daily. Since the first day we met, we attend lectures together and sit in the same seat in every single class. We literally do everything together. He got married last year to his American girlfriend. He lived in America for years before returning to Russia and the girl he married, was his high school girlfriend in America.

Also, his parents are the most wonderful people I've met in Saint Petersburg. They are both medical practitioners and they usually invite me for dinner in their house and that's where I usually eat authentic Russian food hahahahaha.

Below are pics of Me and Roma and our classmate and friend Nastya. Also, Nastya is a good friend to me too. The picture I posted earlier from the culture fest, she is the one in the yellow Dashiki. I gave her the dashiki on her birthday. She also helped me a lot when I started at this Uni and she is like a little Sister to me.

I'm off to shoot videos for my channel so guys please subscribe to my YouTube channel abeg )

First picture - Me, Roma and Nastya.
Second picture - Russian Easter dinner at Roma and his family.
Third picture - Roma and I.
Fourth picture - Dinner with Roma and his family.

I will upload new videos this week so please subscribe to my YouTube channel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNAACpu7znM

i remember you now there's a thread you created b4 abi you have a gf u visited her parents during christmas and you love going to gym

jovialswag:
i remember you now there's a thread you created b4 abi you have a gf u visited her parents during christmas and you love going to gym

him don comot from Moscow.He felt the need to open another thread since he now reside in st Petersburg.

Young man, why did you leave that girl? she even introduced you to her parents

Jorussia:
him don comot from Moscow.He felt the need to open another thread since he now reside in st Petersburg.

My Chief I hail o

Mizwisdom:
Young man, why did you leave that girl? she even introduced you to her parents

madam don vex

TochiPhotos:

My Chief I hail o

Mizwisdom:
Young man, why did you leave that girl? she even introduced you to her parents

Young man comman answer oo

Jorussia:
him don comot from Moscow.He felt the need to open another thread since he now reside in st Petersburg.

ok

Mizwisdom:
Young man, why did you leave that girl? she even introduced you to her parents

Honestly don’t think it’s due to the distance, but hey it’s a personal something.