Patience and a Positive Attitude — Essential for Adapting to Life in Moscow
Originally from Ontario in Canada, Jesse Campbell has been Assistant Professor at the School of Public Administration since the fall 2014. HSE English News asked him to look back over his first year in Moscow and share his impressions.
— How did your first year in the HSE go?
— My first year went well. I taught a 3rd year seminar and was impressed by the quality of my students and their engagement with the course material. Of course, it has taken time to integrate meaningfully into my department, but my general impression is that things are improving. It has been a positive experience overall.
— What have been your research interests and achievements for this year?
— My current research focuses mostly on motivation and behavior in public organizations. In terms of publications, I've recently had a fifth journal article accepted which identifies the HSE as my home institution.
— What was difficult and what have you enjoyed about working and living in Moscow?
— Moscow is a wonderful city. The city's attractions — its art, architecture, culture, etc. — continue to fascinate after a year. Moscow also has a lot of green space that is especially nice in the warmer months.
— How did you cope with the Russian language? Have you been trying to learn it? Can you find your way around the city and buy whatever you want in a store? Do you have any favorite places in the city?
— Learning the Cyrillic alphabet and some basic Russian vocabulary is very useful for traveling around the city and shopping. Luckily, this is not so difficult, especially with the many resources available online. In general, living abroad presents challenges, but, viewed in a certain way, these can also be opportunities for small, satisfying victories.
— What would you recommend other international professionals before they come to work at HSE Moscow?
— Everyone's experience will be unique, but having some patience and keeping a positive attitude can go a long way during the transition period. I think that the HSE has taken on ambitious goals with regard to internationalization and competitiveness. There has been a lot of progress, but, as is to be expected, the level of progress has not been uniform in all areas. As such, new international professors (and students) are likely to encounter some obstacles in the process of settling in. That being said, the HSE's management has tried to demonstrate the school's commitment to its international staff. Such gestures are appreciated especially in times of uncertainty.
Anna Chernyakhovskaya, specially for HSE News service
Jesse Campbell
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