Russian at UH Student Spotlight: Meet Gus

The Russian program at the University of Hawaii is filled with people from all over the United Stated, even all over the world. Every person brings such a unique perspective and adds dimension to the program. Among my classmates, there are a multitude of different reasons for pursuing Russian, different skill-sets when it comes to learning the language, and a variety of post-graduate goals. Every month, I will interview a student in the Russian program and share some of their own personal story: Why they chose Russian, studying advice, what they plan on doing once they graduate, their other hobbies & interests, and what they recommend doing while living in Hawaii.

October 2018: Meet Gus!

Gus is a Junior here at University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is a Sociology major, with a minor/certificate in Islamic Studies. Also, he is a military veteran, having served several years in the Marine Corps, and he’s using his GI Bill to attend UH. As far as languages, he is fluent in Spanish, has a roughly advanced-beginner to intermediate knowledge of Arabic, and he’s taking Russian 101 this semester.

Gus in Thailand

1. Why Russian?

Gus isn’t a Russian major, but he wanted to take Russian because “it’s related to what’s going on globally. Russia is a super-power, and they keep us on our toes.” Plus, he says, “Generally, I like the culture and the people, and I hope to visit Russia someday.”

2. What is your favorite memory so far in the Russian program?

It is only his first semester in the Russian program, but he enjoys going to the Russian Club meetings nearly every week- “they build a sense of camaraderie.”

3. What has helped you succeed in class?

“Knowing another language, for sure.” (I have to agree with him here- learning one language makes learning the next one much easier, based on my own experience).

Gus in Seoul, South Korea

4. What advice would you give to other RUS 101 students?

For Gus, he stresses knowing English grammar. He believes that “the basics are critical” and even something as simple as knowing what a noun or pronoun are in English, makes it that much easier to understand the same concepts in Russian. He also believes that doing the homework really helps. (We don’t just have rote grammar exercises, but ones where we have to speak and record ourselves.) He says he actually looks forward to the homework because it definitely makes a difference.

5. How do you plan to use your knowledge of Russian once your graduate?

Even though he’s not a Russian major, Gus still plans to incorporate what he’s learned into his future. He is considering a job with Intelligence, where knowledge of Russian is a huge plus. Also, even if he decides not to use his Russian in a professional context, Gus would like to visit Russia. He says, “knowing the language will make me more culturally cognizant if I visit,” and enrichen the experience.

Snorkeling in Okinawa, Japan

6. What is something that someone MUST DO in Hawaii before they graduate?

-Okay, if you love poke, you MUST go to Fresh Catch- hands down, some of the best poke.

-Also, you should try spear-fishing and scuba diving. Gus adds that he wants to attend the “floating lantern festival” (neither of us could think of its ‘proper’ name) when it's held next.

7. Other interests and hobbies?

-Hiking, spear-fishing, going to the beach, hanging out with friends, relaxing at home