The Primorsky Oceanarium is an educational center located on the Russky Island in Primorsky Krai, Russia. The main building of the Oceanarium has a modern look and unique shape, meant to symbolize a shell poking out of the blue sea. The oceanarium focuses on educating visitors about Russia’s aquatic zones, meaning ocean, sea, and river […]

Russia only acquired Primorsky Krai, the region that contains Vladivostok, in the 19th century. China, the Mongol Empire and the Balhae and Jurchen nations had all controlled the area around Vladivostok before Russia gained it through the Treaty of Aigun with China in 1858. Vladivostok was founded primarily as a Russian military post rather than […]

Vladivostok has a fascinating history and culture. To present this, it shares in Russia’s strong museum tradition, with many well-curated museums throughout the city. The city has long been a naval and trading port and thus has many museums specifically dedicated to this heritage. However, it also has a surprising number of art galleries and […]

Vladivostok’s main art gallery, a large stone structure, is located in the old part of the city, close to the train station, the city square, and the government administrative building. The first exhibition room featured French prints from the 19th century. These depicted a variety of landscapes, cities, and people both in Russia and from […]

This weekend, we got to make another excursion outside of Vladivostok. This time was not for hiking, however, but to see some of Primorsky Krai’s famed wildlife at the Safari Park. As part of a university sponsored trip, we took a chartered a bus from the university and headed north. Vladivostok is a fantastic city, […]

Apart from the Golden Bridge (Золотой мост) and Russian Bridge (Русский мост), the Primorsky Stage of the Mariinsky Theater in Vladivostok is without a doubt one of the more impressive structures built in preparation for the 2012 APEC summit in Vladivostok. Crossing the Golden Bridge going away from the city center, the theater comes into […]

Like any good traveler, after booking my flight to Vladivostok, I set off to the library to do a little bit of research on the city in which I was about to spend the next nine months. Not expecting to find much, I was yet still underwhelmed. My university’s library database turned up a small […]

Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service (VGUES), where SRAS study abroad programs are held in Vladivostok, is a relatively new institution with an ambitious and modern outlook. Cultural events are regularly held, including, occassionally, fashion shows. Most such events are either very inexpensive or free. Pacific Style Week Fashion Show By Jordan Bryant Living […]

Russian drama is one of the world’s most respected. Greats like Ostrovskii and Chekhov changed the way that Theater itself was defined, and revolutionized the dramatic storyline and its relation to the audience. But before Russian Theater came into its own, there were the days of Moliere re-imaginings and Russian adaption of the French comedic […]