• Society

‘Do What You Like’: Sreypov’s Journey as Only Cambodian Student in Russia’s Far East

• By Nhek Sreyleak
• January 8, 2024 11:55 AM

PHNOM PENH – “Russia is at war right now; do you decide to study? Why?” Or Chan Sreypov was asked this question by the scholarship team which was deciding whether or not grant get a 4-year scholarship to study biotechnology in Russia’s Far East.

“If the war uncontrollably breaks out, they will not open scholarships and students will not be accepted to study,” Sreypov said.  

“I strongly believe in our government. If there are serious problems here, the Cambodian government will not send students to school,” Sreypov recalled in an interview.

While Sreypov has always dreamed of becoming a doctor, she eventually changed her mind to commit to biotechnology, arguing that many students were already into medical studies.

She thinks a biotech curriculum will help her develop unique skills that can help the development of Cambodian in the future.

She is now a first-year student in biotechnology at Far Eastern Federal University in Vladivostok city, Primorsky Krai region. 

The 21-year-old passed a scholarship selection in 2022 while the Russian invasion of Ukraine started. 

Sreypov said she is happy to study in Russia and living there is not a problem as there are over 7,000 kilometers between Vladivostok and Kiev, Ukraine's capital, where most of the clashes are taking place. The Russian region she lives in is calm and she can go to school and visit many places around, she said.

 Sreypov thinks a biotech curriculum will help her develop unique skills that can help the development of Cambodian in the future. Photo provided

Why Russia?

Sreypov was among 121,108 candidates who automatically passed the high school exit exam in 2020 as the exam was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic.  

As Sreypov is fluent in English and Chinese, she naturally wanted to study abroad. She passed several scholarship interviews but eventually decided to go to Russia.

“I see Russia as a competent country in engineering, medicine, science and other fields. All these skills provide a lot of development prospects, so I decided to apply for a scholarship to gain experience for our country,” she said.

“I wanted to find something unique to develop my country and I saw biotechnology which is little known even to my parents. My parents asked me what I will do in this field when I come to Cambodia,” she said, stressing that she can have a career in a wide range of sectors, from the food industry, to biotechnologies, and the medical field.

Sreypov believes that biotechnology will help solve food issues in Cambodia’s food industry while providing the country with its own capability to develop not only medicine but also food.

Sreypov is the only Cambodian student in Primorsky Krai while many choose to study in Moscow. Photo provided

Tough selection process, yet worth it

To get a scholarship to Russia, Sreypov had to apply through the website and go through a face-to-face interview with a selection of only 15 to 20 outstanding students. 

In fact, Sreypov did not expect to pass this scholarship, which is known for its tough process and onerous selection. However, with the help of senior students, she was able to pass this challenge. Sreypov spent a year applying for the scholarship. 

“During the face-to-face interview, it was quite difficult because they wanted the students to show willingness to study. They asked about the general culture, the reasons to study and how could the subject contribute our country,” she said. 

After passing the scholarship, Sreypov had to study Russian for one year before she started university. Russian is a difficult language and she still learns how to communicate with Russian and her classmates.

 Sreypov could adapt to local environment, especially the bitterly cold weather. Photo provided

Eye-opening experience 

Sreypov is the only Cambodian student in Primorsky Krai while many choose to study in Moscow.

Having lived in the Far East for two years, she said that it is an eye-opening experience.

“When I arrived in Russia, it was different from what I thought. I learned a great deal about Russian civilization. The Russian people have helped me a lot since the region where I live has only me as Cambodian,” she said.

As the third child in a family living in Phnom Penh, Sreypov never went far away from her family. But because of her studies, she overcame obstacles to come to Russia alone. 

Sreypov could adapt to local environment, especially the bitterly cold weather. 

She encourages students who wish to study abroad to apply for scholarships to study in Russia and can ask her advice. 

“Believe in yourself and do what you like,” she said.

 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Torn Chanritheara for Cambodianess.