Abdelbasset El Hammar: “There is an atmosphere of kindness, friendship and unity here”
We continue telling the stories of our international students as part of the Second Home project.
Abdelbasset El Hammar, a junior year student of the Institute of Social and Philosophical Sciences and Mass Communications, is from Salé, Morocco.
Studying Russian and Tatar culture
KFU attracts students from all over the world, and Abdelbasset El Hammar has become one of those who not only mastered his chosen profession, but also actively participates in the extracurricular life of his alma mater.
After receiving his secondary education, Abdelbasset took a long time to find the right option for higher education.
“I mulled over a major and a university for a long time, after which I decided that studying in Russia is one of the best options. And Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan, seemed to me one of the most attractive cities. There is an atmosphere of kindness, friendship, and unity here,” noted the student.
The young man’s expectations were fully justified, and now, in addition to Russian, he is actively studying Tatar.
“The more I learn about the culture and traditions, the easier the adaptation goes. I can even say a few words in Tatar, such as ‘hello’, ‘good afternoon’ and other basic words. I hope to add to this list soon. In addition, I know six other foreign languages,” says the young man.
Adaptation to life in Russia and KFU
Abdelbasset was able to get along easily with his classmates and teachers. He is confident that one can overcome any obstacles if desired.
“It was easy for me to adapt to life in Russia. I immediately realized that if a person wants something and has set himself a goal, he will be able to achieve it despite any difficulties,” he adds.
He admires the way people in Russia celebrate holidays.
“Victory Day and the Day of the Republic of Tatarstan are impressive here. Russia has a great respect for history, always remembering and honoring the feats of their ancestors. The future generation should know the history of their country,” Abdelbasset emphasizes.
Although Russian was not easy at the start of his studies, through perseverance and effort he was able to achieve a high level of proficiency in the language and is able to communicate fluently with others.
“It was a bit difficult for me, the language barrier was felt, but I tried to be on the same level as the Russian students. Now I can freely explain myself and speak Russian, sometimes I even think in Russian,” the interviewee adds.
Love for local cuisine and the profession of a chef
During the conversation, the interlocutor shares that in addition to his studies, he is actively studying Russian and Tatar cuisine. He enjoys cooking borscht and dumplings, and admires the variety of Tatar dishes. His passion for cooking has grown into something more, so now Abdelbasset combines his studies with his work as a chef in a Tatar restaurant, “I really like borscht and dumplings – they are really delicious dishes. Of course, I’ve also tried Tatar cuisine. For me, the best dessert is gubadiya. I also like kyimak (fritters) with jam. I would also like to mention tokmach (noodles) and kyzdyrma (roast).”
Friendship in Russia
Abdelbasset is always ready to help his fellow students who may have a hard time adapting to a new culture and a new language. It is worth noting that the young man is a member of the association of international students of the Institute.
“There are many students from China in my group. I am always ready to support them and help them with their studies. As a foreigner, I can explain things to them that are difficult for others to understand and provide help when it is needed,” he shared. “The more I learn about the culture and traditions, the easier the adaptation goes.”
In the future, he wants to return to his home country and actively pursue journalism, developing strong and friendly relations between our two countries.