Author: Charlie Bacsik

Boat Tour Around St. Petersburg – My Farewell to the City

As the spring semester was winding down in St. Petersburg, my fellow classmates and I all wanted to have one last stroll around the city. Luckily for us, SRAS had another idea in mind: a boat tour! Our local coordinator informed us that we’d have an hour tour that would take us around the canals […]

Saint Michael’s Vydubychi Monastery in Kyiv, Ukraine

On most weekends, I’m guilty of sleeping in late and lounging around my host family’s apartment until the afternoon. My host mom, who serves me mouthwatering meals every day, typically lets me sleep in until 11am before she calls me into the kitchen for breakfast. However, there was one Saturday morning in particular when she […]

National Chernobyl Museum in Kyiv, Ukraine

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 is memorialized in a small but powerful Chernobyl Museum in central Kyiv. Students on SRAS study abroad programs in Kyiv are often taken there as part of their cultural package as the tragedy remains fresh in Ukrainian memories and continues to be a important part of local history and […]

Museum of Partisan Glory in Odessa, Ukraine

Tour of the Odessa Catacombs Travel and excursion included in PCON program, Fall 2017 When I found out that our class was planning a trip to Odessa, Ukraine, I instantly pictured gorgeous architecture, quaint streets, and relaxing beaches. While Odessa possesses all of these characteristics, there were two other factors that drew my attention the […]

Mezhyhirya Residence Museum in Kyiv

During the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych was forced to flee Ukraine and seek asylum in Russia (asylum was later officially granted by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2016). When Yanukovych fled Ukraine, he left behind luxurious Mezhyhirya Residence, a place Yanukovych called home for twelve years. Following Yanukovych’s departure, the Mezhyhirya […]

Ararat Brandy Factory in Yerevan, Armenia: Travel for PCON

Ararat Brandy Factory: A Little Bit of Brandy and a Whole Lot of History Yerevan, Armenia (Excursion included in the Policy and Conflict Program, Fall 2017) Cost of Souvenir Brandy: 7,170-16,730 Armenian Dram ($15-$35 depending on quality of brandy)   During our one-week stay in Armenia, my group had a special excursion to the Ararat […]