Season 3, Episode 2: From Russia to Bard College

05.20.2024

 

[Intro Music] 

Voice: Experimental Humanities.

[Background Music] 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Hello and welcome to EH Out Loud, where we investigate how technology mediates what it means to be human. For Season three, we bring you Bard Beyond Borders, your gateway to the vibrant world of international student experiences at Bard College in New York. I am Maha. I am a computer science student here at Bard College and a media corps intern at Experimental Humanities. I joined Bard in August 2023, previous semester, and I’m continuing with my studies in computer science. And I’m thrilled to guide you through this season of our podcast. As someone who’s deeply invested in the exploration of diverse perspectives, I’m honored to be hosting this series, driven by genuine curiosity and passion for the voices of international students at Bard College. Today, and in the episodes to come, we’ll embark on enlightening journey delving into the rich narratives that define the international student experience. And by the way, the Experimental Humanities Collaborative Network, with the support from the Open Society University Network, or OSUN, funded the previous podcast I worked on with my friend, which is called Home Away from Home, back at the American University of Central Asia. I’m grateful to now be continuing this work with the Center of Experimental Humanities at Bard College in New York. And today we’re joined by a special guest from Russia who will share her experiences to coming to the U.S. and Bard College and adjusting to her life here. So yeah, get ready to hear about the joys, challenges, and unforgettable memories. Or moments that shape the journey of international students here at Bard College. So yeah, let’s start with the introduction with our guest. And I have a couple of questions for you. 

 

Eva Rassakova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, so please first of all go ahead and maybe, like, introduce yourself a little bit. Give us a little bit of background about you and where did you come from, when did you come to Bard? 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Well hi everyone, my name is Eva. I’m an international student from Russia here at Bard. I don’t know if you knew this before inviting me on your podcast, but my time here at Bard is not the first time I’ve been to the U.S. as a student. So I actually came, I was in the U.S. last year as an exchange student in, in a university in West Texas.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: So yeah, I used to study film as a scholarly discipline back in St. Petersburg in Small Knee College, which was Bard’s partner until 2021. And now that I came to Bard, I am studying film production. So– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I’m no longer writing and reading about film professionally. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: I do it as a student, but I try to make my own films.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome. Cool. So, since this is, like, the first intro episode, we’re going to make it very light and hopefully– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –like, fun for the audience that are listening to us. You mentioned that you didn’t–it’s not your first time being in a college, you were–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –in another university. But I would like to ask, like, what was your first impression upon arriving in the United States? 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: And how was it like for you to come, like, from Russia? 

 

Eva Rasskasova: So I wasn’t the only international student in that college. There was two of us. And we got a very warm welcome from the campus. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So we studied in West Texas A&M University and we were met at the airport with a poster that said, welcome Eva and Ivan and the, the people who, so it was students from a local religious organization–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –who, you know, volunteered to pick us up, then they took us out to a local, like, fast food–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Oh, okay.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –restaurant and we had a very, you know, nice dinner with them–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –just chatting. And then in the morning they picked us up and helped us, you know, move to, to the campus and, you know, showed us around a little bit.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, and I guess this impression stayed for a very long time– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and it still stays within my experiences here that, you know, people are very welcoming–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Great.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and supportive. And a lot of people throughout these two years have made it so easy for me to be here.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: That’s so nice. Was it difficult for you to get adjusted with the culture? Since for me personally, our culture– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –is, like, very different than the culture in the US. So have you noticed any differences? Or was it very challenging–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –for you to, like, overcome those cultural differences? 

 

Eva Rasskasova: It was extremely difficult. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I’ll tell you. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I agree. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: I only–it only ended so I came August 2022. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And then I left in May ‘23. And then I spent summer at home. And then I came back here in August.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I see.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, the only thing that helped me–do you know, like, in this–there’s this diagram that shows you the cultural–acculturization. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Whatever it is.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: You can explain it. [Laughter]. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, basically, first, you have a honeymoon phase with–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Oh yeah, right, right, right. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: So–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, I remember that.

 

Eva Rasskasova: The honeymoon phase is when you’re, like, super excited about everything. And, you know, just like you are with any new things, but especially with new cultures. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So at first it was like, I was finally in America, you know– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I looked at it for 20 years– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –in different media and other shapes in scholarship too.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And then suddenly, I think, like, a couple, maybe three months later, it was just, I hated everything. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I know.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I hated, my communications were, like, suffering because I didn’t understand the people–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and I rarely felt understood.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: My, my health started, you know, being impacted by the food–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and, like, you know, a change in climate.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Because I was in a very different climate from where I was before.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So it only, I feel like it only stopped in May when I left [Laughs]. And when I came to Bard, I already knew what to expect. I knew what it was going to be like. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Because you already had, like, the– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –experience. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah. So I needed that break– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –to kind of get settled in. And when I came to Bard, I was like, yeah, I know there’s going to be bad parts. I know there are going to be good parts. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova:  And I have to say that Bard is a much, much nicer college– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –than the one I’ve been to before, just in terms of, again, climate, location. Bard is here on a beautiful–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right, I agree.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –land with a beautiful landscape. And so I’m very grateful to be here. So I cannot imagine how hard it might have been if I, you know, if I came to Bard. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: And it was my first experience here. I feel like, you know, that transition would have been way less smoother.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And I think–so last year was hard for me. This year is also hard for me. It’s like every–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –year is hard. But it was definitely made easier by my previous experience.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, I agree. I think as international student, no matter how hard you try your best, like, to be adjusted with, like, the environment around you– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –there is gonna be always something that is gonna ruin your day or– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –I don’t know, like, you can’t deal compared to your home country. Because it was, like, so much easier to, you know, figure your way– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –out, but came, like, immediately to Bard College and– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –and I expected, like, those difficulties, as you mentioned, but still, it was really hard to adjust– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –because everything was, like, different, but I had, like, a picture of the United States and– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –how is it going to be, how Bard is going to be, I have, like, friends who went to Bard College. So I would say the transition, of course, for someone, I don’t know, have no idea about how Bard College or how the US works, it’s going to be really difficult for them. At the end of the day, Bard was, like, very welcoming and a nice environment, I would say.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, so we have something in common. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, we both had, like, a buffer year–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –to kind of adjust to being outside from home–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –after coming here.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay, awesome. So I wanted to ask also, was it your dream to come to New York City one day? Or and also what was your initial thoughts about living in New York or New York City, going to New York City? And how did you compare to reality?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: Well, it was definitely a dream in the sense that I didn’t think I would get to the United States this, you know, this fast– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –in my life.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: I thought I would have to wait until I’m, you know, 30 years old– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Uh-Huh.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –have a lot of money. And so the same thing about, you know, seeing New York, I thought it was not going to happen for me that fast.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But then again, before Bard, I’ve been to New York while I’m–while I was in my exchange year. We had a trip in the spring– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –with my friends. And I came to New York City, and I loved it, and it was way nicer compared to some other places I’ve been around–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –the country. And yeah, I knew that Bard is three hours away from New York City. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs]. Good. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: But, you know, it is still nice to know that, you know, it’s there, and you can go there and enjoy a day in the city.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But to be honest, I would prefer to live in Bard cause–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: You don’t like the rush and everything else in the–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, some students will say, like, oh Bard is so boring and I would prefer to live in a city, but my perspective is, I am a city girl, I love living in a big city–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –but I would never get this close to living in the nature. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Again, until maybe I’m sixty years old– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –when I’m done, and even then I’m not sure. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So I treat this as an amazing opportunity to be very close with, you know, again, trees– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –we have waterfalls, we have, riv–like, the Hudson River, it’s– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: It’s beautiful.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, and so I just enjoy this time being in the fresh air, you know, with a lot of activities.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Even, even when it’s raining like today, even when it’s raining. I’m in the rain.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, it’s raining, guys. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: So I’m not rushing to live in New York City or any other big city.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm. So your experience after you arrived was positive. It was the same as you imagined when you saw it in movies and everything else, New York City.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I guess so. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I don’t remember how exactly I imagined it. So I guess the expectations were very unconcrete– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –or you know, I didn’t have any specific things–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and also in New York is one of the cities that is people actively talk about it online, like, New York is gross, it has rats, and this and that–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and when I came, so I knew this was part of what I expected–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –And when I came, And it was nice, and it was clean, and it was– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –it was not as horrible– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –as people like to put it online sometimes. So–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I would even say my expectations were lowered by the internet. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And when I actually saw the city, I was like, that is, that is not I mean, I’m not saying it’s untrue.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I did see a–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I saw a rat on the subway. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: But also– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I mean, the whole thing that is going on in the subways, it has, like, its own vibe, I would say. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Joy.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But yeah, I enjoy going to the city whenever I can.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: That’s awesome. Okay, so you mentioned you’re a film major, right?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: How is it going on for you? Why did you choose this major? And just tell me a little bit about that. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: And what do you want to do after graduating, maybe?

 

Eva Rasskasova: When I was in my last year of high school, I, at the very beginning, I realized that I want to do film. Do film in the sense, I want to study film and connect my studying scholarship, whatever that was–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –to movies. Because I liked watching them.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But I also went a little beyond.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I felt connection with this art. And then, again, it was the very beginning of my 11th grade. I found out about Smolny, which had a film and video program, and-

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I looked at the website and I said, no, that’s not for me. That doesn’t sound like–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I’m going to be able to support myself as an adult.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So I forgot about that. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Aw.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And I was getting ready to pass my exams to be a PR– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Oh.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –like the PR department or something.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay. Okay. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: I was like, that sounds stable. Instagram, you know–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –social media, and then there was COVID and, you know, just a lot of things going on in the world. And it was, why would I not do something that you really want to do? 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: And I ended up, you know, being accepted into the film and video program.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: So nice.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But I also understood that I have ideas and I have a vision that I wanted to implement– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and be an artist. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So I just thought back when I was studying in Russia that I would, was going to go to, like, a grad school– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –or, like, a specific school for film after I got my bachelor’s degree. And when I got to Bard and I could do that here–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I didn’t have to wait any longer, you know–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –to finish this and that. I could just start being a film production major. So I–I didn’t have that much experience with film before Bard. I only made one movie– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –in Texas, so I took a film class my very first semester and I feel like I actually succeeded– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –at doing the films that we were supposed to do and got some, you know, encouragement from my professor. And yeah, I’m trying out–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: You just love it.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, I’m trying out different styles and things and also trying to learn more about how to make proper films, you know– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –proper sound, proper cinematography, but yeah, this is going somewhere, but I’m still gonna go to–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –probably film school after Bard to broaden my knowledge even more.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Just get a little bit more experience in the actual world.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yes. And also– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –it’s going to be a few years of just strictly film– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah

 

Eva Rasskasova: –you know, without– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Expertise. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yes. Without distributions. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Other things. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: And I’m sure you’re going to do great. Yeah. And Bard is, like, a nice place to encourage students to do very artistic– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yes, so–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –and creative stuff. Which I really love.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah, I don’t know if you’re followers of your podcast– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –but Bard actually is a great–so Bard’s film department is great for avant-garde and, like, this specifically artistic expression. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: They don’t make you a Hollywood script writer, film director, but they make you a very good avant-garde, unconventional, experimental filmmaker, which personally I am on board with.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome, I love that. I also, like, want to ask, what is the most amazing or memorable memory you have being at Bard College? And how was maybe your first semester, the most amazing time you had in Bard? Maybe if you can remember something, you can share it with our listeners. [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: I mean, I enjoy– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –so one thing that I love, being in upstate New York–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –is that filmmakers are around here and, and Bard has a lot of connections and they invite a lot of film directors to come and give talks. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And so I met for my intro introduction to documentary class last– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –semester. We had a visiting lecturer for one class and the director’s name is Sue Friedrich. So she is a very, very big name in experimental film. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: in experimental in–in American, like– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –avant-garde realm. And so she came over and gave us a talk. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Oh, awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And we could ask questions about her movies. And so I would watch her movies back in Russia as part of my, you know–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Wow.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –like, film criticism course or– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –you know, some other course. And then she was actually here. And I got to meet her and ask her questions–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome, that’s so nice.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and have lunch with her. So this was a very, um, memorable day for me.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay, so do you encourage international students like out of United States to apply to Bard College and experience it? Because you know some people say like it’s a very isolated place.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: What do you think? What is your advice for the Like, people who would like to just- 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –like, come and apply to Bard College.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Well, as I mentioned, you know, I appreciate this– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –opportunity to live in a weird dorm, but in the middle of a forest. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [laughs]

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, I guess, I know this experience will not fit everyone–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –so people definitely should consider– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –the location, but I feel like Bard is really trying to help us get out there. We have shuttles. I–in my–at my previous university in Texas–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I was in the middle of nowhere and no shuttle service. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: The only way to get someplace was to ask people–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I see. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and at some point it gets really tiring to always, you know–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –pleading people to take you somewhere. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Here, if I need to be, like, if I need to go to the airport, I could get on the Loop C bus–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –that Bard made–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –free for us. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: And, you know, you can make the best out of any situation. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right. I agree.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And if you feel really, really bad, you can always, you know, email someone, like some of the deans. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And I know people who have, you know, gotten better, you know, better dorms for themselves.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. I agree. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah. So, I would definitely recommend it. Definitely encourage someone–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –if you like to be in the woods–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and if you enjoy fresh air. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: And don’t mind not seeing a big city–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –for a long time to apply to Bard and, you know, be part of this amazing community.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah, I totally agree. And there’s like a lot of opportunities in Bard College. They can use the mobility programs like to other– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –like exchange programs and also they can go to New York City for like one semester– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –and study. So yeah, I also like totally recommend, it’s going to be hard a little bit for like city people– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –but, mmm, I think it’s good to– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: I am a city person, but you see, I’m not actually–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: You got used to it.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Me too. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: I love the city, but you know– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –I have– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: You–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –no other choice. [Laughs]. Since you spent like a little bit of time–you came to the United States, you mentioned before, but now that you are here at Bard, and like you spend like a longer time being in the United States. Has your perspective or vision changed after your arrival?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Perspective on what?

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Everything. Bard, United States. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Is it becoming better? Do you want to stay here for longer? Or you want to go back to your home country? How is your perspective on that? You mentioned like it was good at the beginning, but I was wondering–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: How is it going on?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmm. So, I’m not planning to stay in the U.S. after I graduate–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –because I–I just found out that for me, that’s probably not the best place to live.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: I mean, I am enjoying the woods right now– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: But I prefer to be in a bigger city and, you know, with good public transport–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –reasonable prices, which you would not find in New York City. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, I am, but I also don’t feel like going home. Like moving back to my– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Right.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –home country. So I think I want to settle somewhere in the middle in Europe. And, yeah, I guess I’m in the phase where, you know, there are a lot of things that I don’t like and then there are things that I like. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: And I just appreciate the opportunities that I get– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –while I’m here and I’m enjoying them to the fullest– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –while I can. But–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: That’s awesome. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: –you know, for a place to build my home, I’m probably still looking for that place. I’ll put it like that.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: So I don’t know if you, if you have everything in mind, but it’s just like maybe final question–

 

Eva: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –I would say, what are some of your future goals that you want to accomplish after [deep breath] graduating or maybe like after starting your own career, like, more professionally?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm. I want to make films. I want to make films that speak to, you know, more than, you know, my best friends who watch them. So–so I want to have an audience for the art that I make. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Awesome.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But also I’m, you know, I’m just open to life opportunities. We’ll see where it goes. If I end up, you know, doing something else–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I wouldn’t be surprised.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But ideally, I think I want to stay with within like the film related–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –arts.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Do you have like specific genre that you like filming?

 

Eva Rasskasova: So, I’m, I feel like I’m doing more like essay films or autoethnography films. 

You know– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –very personal accounts, either of me or my friends or family. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So–I’m not that good with narrative film so far, you know, like with the film, with the story and the plot and the script, but again, we’ll see how that goes.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Okay, awesome. That’s my final question for you. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Thank you. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: But if you could give us, like, maybe a last message to the listeners. If you have, like, something in your mind for international students who might be struggling, maybe–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –in the United States, or just a message to our, like, audience, what would it be?

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mm-Hmm. I think, as young people, we have to learn to ask for what we want faster–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –and I mean it in a lot of senses. But I guess one of the reasons we don’t get what we want sometimes is because we don’t ask.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: So it’s the, I don’t know how the saying goes– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –but like the doors are open to, to one who seeks. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs].

 

Eva Rasskasova: I don’t know. So just, if you, you should be more brave in trying to get things that will work for you. And that means asking someone to–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –you know, to, to be quieter when you’re studying– 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –or asking someone if they have a job opportunity for you or applying to a college like Bard–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –even if you think you might not get in. I mean–

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Try.

 

Eva Rasskasova: –I know there are complications and, you know, things cost money just like university applications do.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Mm-Hmm.

 

Eva Rasskasova: But again, I would just always ask people and you would be surprised by the answers they will give you.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: That’s awesome. I totally agree.

 

Eva Rasskasova: [Laughs].

 

Maha Abdulwahab: They say, try once again. Before you fail. So– 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Mmmm. That’s also good. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Yeah–

 

Eva Rasskasova: That’ll be your final message. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: [Laughs]. So that’s great. Thank you so much Ava for like, coming here and like, share your experience here at Bard College.

 

Eva Rasskasova: Thank you for the invitation. 

 

Maha Abdulwahab: It was amazing. to talk with you and, like, get to know you, like, better. And you know, understand how was your experience in Bard College, and I really appreciate it. 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Should I also make a podcast so I could learn about you more or? [Laughs].

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Oh, maybe. I don’t know. I could share, like, more but I think for today’s podcast–

 

Eva Rasskasova: Yeah [laughs].

 

Maha Abdulwahab: –that should be enough.

 

Eva Rasskasova:  [Laughs].

 

Maha Abdulwahab: Maybe they will know about me in the future. So, yeah, [Laughs]. I’m gonna be a little bit mysterious for you guys. [Laughs] 

 

Eva Rasskasova: Okay.

 

Maha Abdulwahab: As we wrap up our conversation, we want to extend our huge thank you to our guest Ava for sharing her insightful experiences with us. We hope you, our listeners, enjoyed the second episode and gained valuable insights into the life of international student in the U.S. Or in Bard College. Don’t forget to subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts, and follow us on Instagram for more captivating stories and updates. Until next time, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep embracing the journey. You can find more about Experimental Humanities at Bard by visiting eh.b-a-r-d.edu. That is eh.b-a-r-d.edu. Thank you so much for listening and stay tuned for our upcoming ep–episode. The last thing I would like to mention that this season of EH Out Loud is produced at Bard’s Center for Experimental Humanities by me, Maha Abdul Wahab and Krista Caballero. The co-director of EH. Fact checking and transcription by Anna Hallett Gutierrez and Neil Bhatia, sound editing and music by Maha Abdul Wahab and Bert Cohen. Special thanks to our guests and the Experimental Humanities Media Corps. Visit us again at eh.bard.edu to learn about Experimental Humanities and other projects at the Center. Thank you so much.