Study Abroad

Jamie Hendrickson Start Date: Mar 27, 2018 - End Date: Jul 24, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
  • St Petersburg, Russia

My Travel Story

by: Jamie Hendrickson Start Date: Mar 27, 2018 - End Date: Jul 24, 2018
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Study/Degree Abroad
Привет! My name is Jamie Hendrickson, and I am an undergraduate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I am double majoring in Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies (REEES) and Slavic Languages and Literatures. I study linguistics and cultures, and I love to study Russian. Languages open the door for a further understanding of a people and how they inherently perceive the world. By studying Russian, I am able to read and translate documents needed for my research on the former Soviet Union and Russia today. Understanding a culture and its people increases effectiveness in international relations between the United States and Russia. As evident in today’s news, the current Russian regime demands attention from the government of the United States.
Studying Russian language, culture, literature, history, and politics is my passion-- and I love it. My entire college career has been dedicated to this subject, and I intend to continue on with it through grad school. I plan to use this knowledge to become a Russian Area Studies Expert and serve the United States government on a cultural and political basis.
Studying abroad in the region you dedicate yourself to is not only recommended-- but needed. I plan to attend the CIEE Summer Russian Language program to advance my language skills and study Russian culture first-hand. I have been awarded a FLAS Summer Fellowship to attend, but it does not cover airfare, food, or the rest of my expenses. I am so close to attending, as I have received $7,500 in funding, but the program total is $8,850 with $1,500 in airfare expenses.  
What I'm most excited about is living with a Russian family, visiting museums (like the Hermitage and Russian State Museum), and finally having the chance to immerse myself in the language and culture. I take my studies seriously, and I always dedicate myself 100% to my work. Due to this, I have a 3.82 GPA and am a member of the National Slavic Honors Society, the National History Honor Society, and Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies. I specialize in Russian Imperial History, 18th-century Russian literature (The Brothers Karamazov is my fave), and modern Russian politics (specifically Putin and his personality cult).
Thank you for taking the time to read this and considering donating to my study abroad program. Спасибо большое!
Sincerely yours/Искренне ваша,
Jamie/Джейми

  • St Petersburg, Russia

More Travel Information

Adventure Registry

  • Summer 2018 FLAS Fellowship

    $ 7,500
    Department of Education
    • Granted

  • Outlet Converters

    30

  • Suitcase

    50

  • Rain boots

    50

  • Mosquito Repellent

    10

  • Rain jacket

    50