Kazan State University Professor Meets With UAlbany Students

Meeting someone from a different culture can alter one’s outlook on life. Some UAlbany students got the opportunity to do that this past Wednesday. Dr. Julia Ziyatdinova of Kazan State University gave a presentation to students, followed by a question and answer session. Kazan is located in the republic of Tatarstan in the central European part of Russia. This is her first time in America, and she will be in the country for about a month visiting various universities in the state.
Ziyatdinova’s presentation gave students a short presentation about the Tatar Republic, a place that many Americans know little about. Ziyatdinova gave a brief introduction to the history and culture of the Tatar Republic, and how it became Tatarstan. Today, the country’s population consists of a fairly even mix of Tatars and Russians.
After the presentation, UAlbany journalism students had the opportunity to ask Ziyatdinova more personal questions, and to learn more about her culture. Ziyatdinova is a 31 year old English professor at Kazan State Univeristy in Russia. She chose to be an English professor after studying the English language. Ziyatdinova is fluent in four languages: Russian, Tatar, Turkish, and English. This was her first time in an English speaking environment, although it was difficult to tell just by speaking with her.
Ziyatdinova spoke a lot about the cultural differences she’s noticed between Tatarstan and America. One difference was the abundance of fast food in our country. People in Kazan tend to eat lots of soups, vegetables, chicken, and potatoes. Also, there are not many Chinese restaurants in Kazan while there are several in most American cities. One shocking cultural difference is the way divorce is handled. Although it is becoming more common in Kazan, divorce is still a topic that is not openly discussed in their culture. Another cultural difference is that it is considered impolite to consume a beverage in public, something that millions of Americans do on a daily basis.
When asked about Kazan students, Ziyatdinova replied “I think students are the same.” One difference she did point out was the way that students dress for class. Students in Kazan would never come to class in pajamas, while that is not out of the ordinary for American students. Another thing Ziyatdinova noticed about our culture is the number of people that smile. “That is an American tradition,” she believes. Ziyatdinova also commented on America’s reliance on the automobile. She stated that “there is no way for pedestrians to walk.” This is different from Kazan’s culture, which is more accepting of pedestrians. Ziyatdinova said that there is a lot more diversity in America than there is in Kazan. “It’s good that people show their culture here,” said Ziyatdinova. She has learned a lot about American culture during the first few days of her visit, and hopes to experience more throughout her visit. “I learned things here that no textbook can teach me.”