Dr. Julia Ziyatdinova

To many Americans the country of Tartar seems like a far away place that might as well be made up. However, the students at UAlbany discovered new insight into this developing nation that lies outside of the Russian boarders when Dr. Julia Ziyatdinova spoke at the campus on March 19 during her stay in the capital region.
Dr. Ziyatdinova will spend a month during her first visit in America traveling from Albany to Geneseo, and then heading to Chicago and Las Angeles. She is a native Russian speaker yet, is the head of the Foreign Language Department at Kazan State Technical University where she teaches students English. Dr. Ziyatdinova speaks English fluently and is finding her stay in America very useful for improving knowledge of the language. Dr. Ziyatdinova won a federal grant from Tartar that is funding her visit to America; her main goal is to find ways to improve both her university and country.
Tatarstan has long been affiliated with Russia and within the past century has begun to give up their native language; Dr. Ziyatdinova explained the lack of opportunity Tatarstan speaking people experience and the benefits of speaking Russian. In 2005 Tatarstan celebrated their 1000th birthday, a country that has long been rooted in tradition. Only recently have they become more mainstream with many citizens becoming more involved in the Russian culture.
As Dr. Ziyatdinova spoke about Tartar two things became very clear, the Doctors love for her country and that America and Tartar are as different as one might think they would be. In Tartar divorce is very rare and not talked about, it is seemed to be shameful there. However, as many already know divorce in America is very common and greatly accepted in our society. She also spoke about the dirt on the streets in her country, and how in America she no longer has to wipe her shoes clean from dirt after she goes outside. Fashion is much more basic for her country, no multi-colored rain boots only the plain black kind. Another difference is how everyone in America drives and in Tartar that is very rare, mainly people walk everywhere. Dr. Ziyatdinova also noticed the “American tradition to smile” she spoke about her experiences here so far and that everywhere she goes people have a smile on their face. With a laugh she told the students at UAlbany that there are not many Chinese restaurants in Kazan. Public intoxication is a common sight during the weekends here on the UAlbany campus yet; it shocked Dr. Ziyatdinova when she encountered a drunken student on the bus coming back from the Crossgates mall. In Tatarstan this is very frowned upon and this made her very uncomfortable on her trip back to campus.
Dr. Ziyatdinova has really embraced her visit in America and has even started “thinking in English.” She is enjoying learning about our culture and feels that “good people show their culture here.” A freedom we are so grateful to have in America.