Universities including Moscow State University start on September 1rst, and finish on July, 1rst with a winter break from January 25th to February 8th.

Always take your valuables and documents into your hand luggage. Carry money and passports underneath your cloths to prevent losses from robberies, which occur frequently at train stations or airports. Always lock your luggage with a separate lock, since cases of theft have been reported even from airport workers opening pieces of luggage.

Take your own medication with you, since you will not know whether your preferred or prescribed medication is available. Western pharmacies can be found at:

- 'Litpharm', Ul Tschernjachovskogo 4, Tel: 155 87 88, 155 70 80
- 'Pharmakon', Ul. Tverskaja 4, Tel 292 08 43, 292 03 01
- 'Sana', Ul. Nischn. Pervomaiskaja 65, Tel 464 12 54
- Hotel 'Mezhdunarodnaya'

There is a medical center on the university campus where you have access in case an emergency. A small fee may be asked to cover material costs. If you wish to cover general medical treatment for non-emergencies, you may purchase a 60$ per month medical insurance from the same center. Please inquire in our office for details.

There are also several Western European Medical Centers that offer medical services:

- European Medical Center (per. 2nd Tverskoi-Yamskoi 10), emergency Tel. 251 6099
- American Medical Center (pr. Shmitovsky 3), Tel. 956 3366

Make sure your insurance will cover the costs at these clinics. Entering the clinics, you might be asked to make a deposit by credit card.

No vaccinations are required for Western tourists visiting Moscow and Russia in general. If you spend more than 3 months in Russia, you must present evidence of a recent negative AIDS test when applying for a visa. Please check also the CDC page for current medical recommendations/requirements and disesase outbreaks in other countries you may plan to visit.

Hard currency is still required in Moscow to survive even though a number of restaurants, bars and expensive shops accept credit cards. Cash advancements on credit cards are possible in several banks, but commissions usually as high as 2-5% in addition to the commission required from you issuing bank are imposed. There are several ATM's for EC International that spit out roubles. Inside the University, three ATM's are reported to work and accept VISA cards. Your issuing bank of your credit card will be able to tell you exact locations in Moscow for ATM's. Locate all VISA ATM's or Mastercard ATM's.

Hard currency should be used in small denominations like $1 to $20. For larger changes at currency exchange offices, $50 or $100 bills should be used. Make sure that all you $ notes are new (newer than 1989) and in immaculate condition, since torn, creased or strongly worn notes will be rejected by banks. Usually, a minimal amount of $50-$100 is asked to change to get good exchange rates. Russia introduced new roubles in 1998, devaluating the old roubles by a factor of 1000. The old roubles notes from 1996-1997 are still valid though: a 10000 note from 1996 will actually be worth 10 new roubles. However, be aware, that all notes from 1991, 1993 and 1995 are no longer valid as a matter of strange currency policies by the Russian Central bank to undermine claims that regions had printed their own notes that were flooding to Moscow. It is safest to use only the new roubles issued in January 1998. Consult our list of Russian banknotes.

The yearly inflation rate is estimated to be stable at 10-20% for 2000. The exchange rate for roubles is oscillating and as of August 2001, 1 USD were around 30 roubles.

It is good advice to take a few passport photographs with you. You will need them at the first week to establish your student card, library card, monthly transportation cards, etc. It used to be hard to get photographs in Moscow, however, there are photo shops now at every Metro station, so don't worry too much.

Local calls are free in Moscow and in all major cities. Public phones, however, require phone cards or 1 rouble coins. These coins are difficult to find and cost up to 1$. International phone calls are possible from most private phones and from our office. Also public phones with calling cards now offer to possibility to call abroad without the hassle of going to the central telegraph station to order a call, wait for 1-2 hours to make the connection, just to know in the end that the line was busy. International calls from Russia are now reasonable cheap (.10 cents a minute). There are a number of phone cards which make calls from the US to Russia really cheap. Please check for the cheapest rates. As of Mai 2000, the following were the winners (in USD):

Moscow = .035/min w/1.59 conn. fee (PhoneBank Card)
Moscow = .10/min w/0.00 conn. fee (Freedom Card)
Russia = .16/min w/1.99 conn. fee (Phone Bank Card)
Ukraine = .13/min w/2.00 conn. fee (UNI card)

Mobile phones (GSM 900 standard) also work in most urban areas with good quality.

You may always use our FAX number to send and receive personal faxes at our office.

Even though there are officially no restrictions, people still consider filming or photographing railway stations, military installation, airports, etc. unlawful. Using flashes in churches or performances is not allowed. Museums usually ask for special fees if you want to take flash pictures. Film material and development agencies are abundant.

Mobile phones (GSM 900 standard) also work in most urban areas with good quality. You may also lease a cellular phone in Moscow for the duration of stay. Other radio electronic devices brought into Russia must have certificate from Glavgossvyaznadzor - including all emitting, transmitting, & receiving equipment such as GPS devices, satellite phones, and other kinds of radio electronic equipment. Excluded from are, of course, consumer electronic devices such as AM/FM radios.

You can bring your laptop to Russia without problems, as long as it is for personal use. You may be required to show that your laptop is functioning properly at the customs when entering the country!

Russia has good internet connections in all big cities. At MGU, you have limited access through our office, and if you wish, you can get an online provider and direct access from your room. This however, is only worth if you are planning to stay for min. 3 months since there are hefty set-up fees. If you are travelling, the post-office of any big city offers paid internet access in their business area (they also have printers, fax, photocopier, etc.). Cost is approx. 8 USD per hour. Troughout Russia, there are a number of internet cafes in Moscow

If you need to buy some electronics, MGU hosts several small stores. A large 'Electronic World' Shop is on Leninskie prospekt, dom 70/11 (open from с 10.00 to 21.00, Sat/Sun from 10.00 to 20.00).

Visiting Moscow as a tourist can still be considered safer than visiting New York even though business and Mafia related crime has reached unprecedented highs. Beggars, especially gypsy children, will occasionally bother tourists. You should ignore them and walk away. Robberies and thefts have been reported at airports and train stations. So, watch out carefully for your luggage. Metro stations are safe even if you might find some drunken people returning home late at night. It is always best to be in a group of 2 or more. Official taxis are safe to ride, though expensive. A money-belt is essential to safeguard your documents and cash. You may also want to put your valuables into a safe at our office in Moscow or at the Russian Language Center. Moscow State University itself has a strict security system. In fact, all the university buildings, including the dorms, require an entry pass (called propusk) that you should always wear with you. Fore more about security, read a posting about security while travelling in Russia on our message board.

Tickets for sport events are usually sold at the stadium. There is a huge sport complex near the university, where ice-hockey is played during the season. Other popular sport events are soccer games. The university campus offers a variety of sports and has almost a hundred different sports clubs with many famous athletes among its peers.

Tickets are usually sold at the train stations where the trains bound for your destination leave. So, ask for tickets to St.Petersburg at the Leningradski train station, to Kazan and middle Asia, at the Kazanski train station, to Western Europe at Belorusski station, for Trans-Siberian trains (except No 26 to Novosibirsk via Kazan, which leaves from Kazanski) from Yaroslavski (metro Komsomolskaya) station. If you make purchases, you need to know the number of the train, the date you want to leave and the time the train leaves, in advance, since ticket clerks will not advise you on possible train connections, but just tell you whether there are places available for the train and destination you cite. Information on train schedules is available in all the train stations, both in written tables and on computers.

We advise you to purchase tickets within 2-5 days prior to departure. Always bring your passport and valid identification with you to make reservations. As a foreigner, you will be asked to go to special ticket offices for foreign individuals. Unfortunately, prices will be higher than for Russians. If you fluently speak Russian, you can try to obtain discounted tickets with your Russian student identity card issued by MGU if you are taking language courses. These discounts can amount to 90% of the price you would pay as a foreigner. All tickets must be paid in roubles.

For reservations and tickets with several stops, the company TRANSAGENSTVO located at the corner of Ul. Petrovka, Stolesnikov per is a good address (at least in 1996 and 1997). They make both train and air ticket reservations.

Tickets for local trains within Greater Moscow (Elektritschnaja) can be bought at the train station without passports or identification. Just ask people around where to buy the corresponding ticket to your destination.

Metro tokens (called 'jetons') and magnetic cards for multiple rides are available at all metro stations in the entrance hall. One token is good for an unlimited number of rides, unless you exit the metro station. One token costs about 30 cents. Trains are running from 06⁰⁰-01⁰⁰, usually every 5 minutes during rush hours and every 10-20 minutes at later at night.

Bus tickets are available in strips or booklets from people outside all metro stations or from bus drivers. Don't forget to punch the bus tickets inside the bus. If the bus is crowded and you can't reach, pass your money (if you want to buy tickets) or ticket to someone else who will pass it to the driver or the punching machine.

Programs and tickets for all cultural events are usually available at small kiosks on streets or outside metro stations. Programs and available places are posted on the window. Don't expect the selling person to advice you with tickets.

Tickets for the Bolshoi-theater (the season is from September-Mai, during the Summer the Bolshoi is closed) can be purchased from our office. Tickets for the circus next to the university can also be bought at special ticket offices outside the circus prior to the opening (usually at 19⁰⁰).

Moscow has a number of excellent theaters playing classic and modern Russian pieces. Our favorites are

- drama theater, Ul. Malaja Bronnaja 2
- Gogol theater, Ul. Kazakova 8
- Gorki art theater, new house, Tverkoj Boulvar 22
- small theater, Pl. Sverdlova 1
- satire theater, Ul. Sadovaja Bolschaja

The best musicals are performed at the musical theater, Ul. Puschkinskaja 6

Lomonosov State University offers a variety of cultural events throughout the academic year in their own theater, concert hall and cinemas. Inquire at the Russian Language Center for tickets.

If you book individual tuition, we want you to feel comfortable and in good relationship with your personal teacher.

However, for some reason, you may want to change to another teacher. Let us know of any problems as soon as you encounter them. We will always try to find a solution. However, we also ask you to be tolerant and respect local habits.

Vodka is the national drink, which is always ordered in grams (50g or 100g) and usually served pure, non-chilled. You may also buy bottles of vodka in stores. Vodka that is sold on the street is usually of bad quality or simply diluted industrial alcohol. Some reliable brands are Crystal, Moskovskaya, Absolute (Swedish though), Stolitschnaja Export, and Kremlievskaja. On the campus, no alcoholic beverages must be sold, however, the fire department in the main building of MGU on the 5th floor (sign 'Gj;fhyybrb') also sells vodka to quench your thirst, if you knock on their door and inquire for spirit.

At dinners, vodka is usually served before dinner starts and usually drunk in rounds. Be prepared to give a toast on your host's hospitality, on your friendship relations, business success etc., if you are invited by friends at home or in a restaurant. At special occasions, Russian's would even drink pure alcohol ('spirt'), however, nobody will expect you to taste. Opened vodka bottles are usually finished since they cannot be closed anymore once the aluminum cap is removed.

Boiling tap water before drinking is strongly recommended. For fresh water, you should bring purification tablets with you (like the Micropure®-system) that are available in all stores/pharmacies. You may buy bottled drinking and sparkling water at any local supermarket in Moscow.