‘Feel the Atmosphere of Different Cultures’: HSE University Holds Oriental Crazy Day
On May 17, the eleventh Oriental Crazy Day, organised by the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs, took place at the HSE Cultural Centre. Anyone interested in Asian Studies, culture and languages, as well as admission to HSE University could take part in the event. Students and teachers of the university prepared master classes, quizzes and contests, K-pop dancing and kabuki theatre, Asian songs and poetry for all the participants.
At the festival, everyone could immerse themselves in the diversity of Asian culture. The guests learned more about the intricacies of Arabic, Japanese, and Turkish calligraphy, tried fortune-telling with the Book of Changes and Thai chopsticks, and made traditional Korean norigae pendants and scented pouches. The programme also featured a master class in water painting using the famous Turkish ebru technique and lessons in Hawaiian dancing. In addition, as part of the holiday, an open day of the Asian and African Studies Bachelor’s Programme took place. The applicants learned about the admission requirements and the specifics of studying at HSE University.
The festival culminated in a concert with rousing K-pop dancing, Asian songs and poetry, and a performance by the kabuki theatre. ‘This is not the first, second, or even tenth year that this large-scale holiday has been held for those who love, know, and study the East. What attracts us to Asian studies is what we see on stage today, and I hope there will be even more people who want to discover this amazing world,’ shared Anastasia Likhacheva, Dean of the Faculty of World Economy and International Affairs.
The festival guests shared their impressions of the event with the HSE News Service.
Victoria Matyushina, School 1363, 9th grade
— I really like it! I've already taken part in all the master classes and tried to write Chinese and Korean characters. Today, applicants can learn more about degree programmes, understand which language they want to study in the future, and feel the atmosphere of different cultures. I would like to highlight the quiz in Japanese studies, because I specialise in it—I study at the School of Young Asia Researchers.
Mikhail Pikhovkin, 1st-year student of the programme in Asian and African Studies
— Today I am participating in the concert as a Kabuki theatre actor, playing the role of Dengo. I like studying at HSE University, and I especially recommend that future students choose Japanese. The teachers here are very strong and the faculty is good. For me, language is like mathematics: it follows rules, and if you know and study these rules, then nothing is difficult. For students, such events are a way to show off their skills, and for applicants it’s an opportunity to get to know the faculty better. The atmosphere here is wonderful.
Polina Perminova, School 1547, 10th grade
— I often attend various events at HSE University, as this is a priority university for me. I want to enrol either in the programme in Asian and African Studies or in the HSE University and Kyung Hee University Double Degree Programme in Economics and Politics in Asia. The event is very interesting—there are a lot of surprising master classes that help me immerse myself in culture. I also talked with the students, as it is useful to learn the information firsthand.
Anastasia Kryuchkova, 2nd-year student of the programme in Asian and African Studies
— This is my first time at Oriental Crazy Day, and I can say that all the students and all the clubs have prepared wonderfully. I attended workshops on Turkish drawing, Korean calligraphy, creating traditional Korean pouches with scents, as well as a Japanese quiz. Speaking about studying, I think it's difficult to study at any university, and especially in our field, because it's one of the most complicated. However, I would advise anyone interested in Asian studies to apply for it. The university provides excellent training.
Victoria Zakharova, 2nd-year student at the MSU School of World Politics
— I am considering HSE University’s master’s programmes. I like the people here. I attended a Turkish master class where I painted on water, and I also wrote my name in Japanese and Arabic. When people gather at such extracurricular events, you can safely get to know each other in a friendly atmosphere.
Anna Zhibareva, HSE Lyceum, 10th grade
— I am interested in fields related to Asian studies, economics, and politics. Today I tried all kinds of calligraphy—it's really fun. Here you can immerse yourself in the cultures and languages of different nations and learn about traditional games.