TSU in Spanish. Students from South America learned about TSU from Instagram and are preparing for admission.
Hello, tell us a little about yourself
Hi, my name is Denis Mandonaldo and I am from Ecuador. To be honest, I did not plan to study in Russia, but my family insisted. In Ecuador, I worked and earned money for my family. My mom said that now is the time to learn and develop, to think about yourself and your future. When my younger brother finished school, I decided it was time to study and entered TSU. I never thought that I would study in another country, especially in Russia. This is a new experience for me. At first, it was difficult, because I did not know Russian at all. Now I am intensively studying the language, my family and friends support me, so I feel much better.
So this is your first higher education?
Yes. I am a second-year student at the Institute of Biology.
Do you like studying in Tomsk?
Yes, of course! Here I met good people who are always ready to help me. I've gained a lot of friends. I am very glad to be here.
Will you stay in Tomsk after completing your bachelor's degree?
Maybe. I like the city, it is very quiet and peaceful here. I feel safe here. I can't say for sure, we'll see, but of course, I would like to.
Let's talk about work. Are you working somewhere now?
Yes, I found a job with the help of the UNIPROFI labor exchange. I work as a social project manager.
What are your main responsibilities?
I work with Instagram and Facebook. I have an account in which I advertise our university and promote it through social networks. This account is in Spanish.
Do you already have any results of this TSU's promotion?
Yes, I know for sure that there are applicants from South America who are interested in entering TSU next year. They write messages with questions about how life in Tomsk is arranged, they ask about my experience of admission, and much more.
Did you have any difficulties in getting started?
I think no ... The only thing is that sometimes it is difficult for me to understand fast Russian speech, then I ask to speak a little more slowly.
Was this work experience useful for you?
In Ecuador, the situation is now very difficult due to the pandemic, many people were left without work, including my family. Therefore, I have to support myself, and work at TSU simply saves me. I am very glad that I had the opportunity to find a job. I also have a lot of experience with Instagram. Now I understand better all the mechanisms of the social network.