SPbGASU international students. Anik is wearing a blue dress with white flowers.
Anik Maritel Chavarria Garache, a student at the SPbGASU Faculty of Architecture, came to Russia from Nicaragua to fulfill her dream of pursuing an architectural education at one of the country's oldest specialized universities. Today, she is a successful student, representing her home country at university events, winning international competitions. Recently she completed an internship at the Leningrad Region Capital Repair Fund. We spoke with Anik about why she chose SPbGASU, how she adapted to life in Russia, and her plans for her career.
Anik was born and raised in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua. She says her interest in architecture began in childhood thanks to her parents: her mother is an architect, and her father is a civil engineer.
"I literally grew up surrounded by architectural projects. My mother drew plans, my father calculated designs, and I watched as future buildings were born on paper. That's when I realized I wanted to dedicate my life to architecture," the student says.
Family history also influenced her choice of country to study. Anik's grandfather visited Moscow in 1985 during the heightened relations between Nicaragua and the Soviet Union, and the matryoshka dolls he brought with him are still kept at home. Later, she began studying Russian at the Russkiy Mir Center at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua), participated in cultural events, and ultimately decided to continue her education in Russia.
Entering SPbGASU became the fulfillment of a long-held dream for her.
"SPbGASU was my first and only choice. It's one of the oldest universities in architecture and civil engineering in Russia, and St Petersburg is a veritable textbook on architecture. When I learned I'd made it through the competitive selection process, I cried with joy," Anik recalls.
She notes that she became the first student from Nicaragua to be admitted to SPbGASU to study architecture.
The first months away from family were challenging. Anik admits that the hardest part was adjusting to being separated from her family, the climate, and the new way of life. The preparatory center, her coursemates, and her dormmates played a major role in her adaptation.
"Russia has become a second home for me. I met people here who supported me from the very first day. Thanks to this, I was able to quickly adjust to the new country and feel part of the university community," she says.
According to the student, she is particularly attracted to SPbGASU's combination of fundamental training and a creative approach to the profession.
Participation in international competitions occupied a special place in her student life. Under the guidance of Fedor Vladimirovich Perov, Associate Professor at the Department of Architectural Design, she won the international competition "St Petersburg - Managua," organized by the Stieglitz Academy in collaboration with UNAN-Managua. Anik took first place in the "Subject-Spatial Complex (Project)" category and third place in the "Residential Architecture (Implemented project)" category.
In addition to her studies, the student actively participates in university life, representing Nicaragua at fairs and festivals for foreign students.
The internship at the Leningrad Region Capital Repair Fund, which she completed in the design and survey department, was a key step in Anik's professional development.
During her internship, she studied technical documentation, participated in discussions of design solutions, and learned about modern technologies for major renovations of apartment buildings.
"The most interesting thing is seeing how a solution is developed for a building in need of help that can extend its life for decades. I was particularly impressed by the energy efficiency technologies. This is still a relatively new topic in Nicaragua, so I will definitely try to apply the experience I've gained in the future," she notes.
According to Anik, it was her studies at SPbGASU that allowed her to feel confident in the professional environment.
At the design and survey department of the Leningrad Region Capital Repairs Fund. Photo provided by the Leningrad Region Housing and Utilities Committee press service.
"At the university, we're taught not just to read blueprints, but to understand them. During my internship, my knowledge of structures, engineering systems, regulations, and experience working in teams helped me. Thanks to this, I was able to fully participate in discussions of professional challenges," the student says.
Anik admits that living in St Petersburg has long ceased to be something unusual for her.
"I love St Petersburg very much. I especially enjoy strolling along the Neva embankments during the white nights. This city inspires me every day and becomes a teacher for a future architect," she says.
After graduating from university, Anik would like to develop her professional activities in two countries at once.
“I want to build a bridge between Russia and Nicaragua. I want to apply Russian experience in the field of architecture, restoration and energy efficiency in my homeland, as well as participate in projects here in Russia. Architecture for me is an opportunity to unite people, cultures and countries,” the student emphasizes.
For those who are just choosing a university, Anik advises not to be afraid of difficulties.
"If architecture is your calling, SPbGASU will not only give you knowledge but also teach you to think big, respect history, and understand space. Yes, Russian is a difficult language, and yes, studying requires effort. But the results are worth it," she is confident.