August 27, 2026

Living, Studying, and Exploring in Central Asia

For a long time, the Russian language has been a personal hobby of mine.  I would spend hours every week studying grammar, speaking with tutors, and listening to podcasts for learners.  I had put in the work studying Russian, but I craved practical learning and experience in a place that actually uses the language.  When […]

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September 5, 2024

Bishkek vs. Yerevan: The Best Study Abroad Location

I spent eight weeks in Yerevan, Armenia with SRAS and another eight with a US-government run program in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (SRAS also hosts programs in Bishkek). Afterwards, I was surprised by how similar the two cities felt despite being thousands of miles apart. That said, each city also has characteristics that make it unique which […]

June 26, 2019

Bishkek Study Abroad Reviews

We asked some SRAS graduates to share their open and honest evaluations of their experiences on SRAS Study Abroad in Bishkek. SRAS actively seeks out feedback from students on all programs so that we can continually improve our offerings. Kathryn Watt (Spring, 2019) For the last four months I have lived and studied in Bishkek, […]

May 27, 2017

Home and Abroad with RSL in Bishkek and Irkutsk

Julie studied abroad in Bishkek and Irkutsk, learning Russian as a Second Language with SRAS’s Home and Abroad Scholarship program, with the goal of someday having some sort of Russia/Eurasia-related career. Below is her review of her programs abroad and experience as a Home and Abroad Scholar. Academic Program in Bishkek and Irkutsk Bishkek First, the basics. […]