Christopher Yarsawich

Global experience: Funded by a Matthews Honors Undergraduate Award, I spent 10 weeks in Moscow studying and researching Vladimir Nabokov for my honors project, “Speaking in Tongues: Vladimir Nabokov as a Multilingual Writer.” I immersed myself in the culture and mindset that formed Nabokov. His writings were banned in Russia until the end of the 1980s, so I was able to tap into the excitement of his rediscovery in his native country.

Expectation vs. reality: Moscow exceeded my expectations. I started taking language classes at the Moscow University, then quickly switched to a one-to-one tutorial with a Russian graduate student. She showed me how to research in the university library—all card catalogues, no computers—and we read Nabokov aloud. It provided a framework for my honors project.

Memorable moment: I lived with three generations of one family in a small apartment. In a discussion of politics, I was surprised when the grandmother said they mourned JFK’s death. I was moved that they felt a genuine connection across the Cold War political divide, especially compared to our views of Russians at the time.

Educational value: My time in Moscow added a whole new dimension to my education. It gave me a practical experience of foreign study, and let me test the waters of getting a PhD.

Lessons learned: Being totally immersed in daily Russian life absolutely changed me. It changed the way I think about Russians. I would love to go back: it’s a beautiful country.