She is a tall, lanky, campus standout with a passion for fashion, graphic design and volleyball. She also enjoys art in general and designing and making clothing. She is a quiet and reserved person but gains a lot of campus attention.
Valentina Pushkina is a junior from Moscow, Russia, majoring in graphic design. As a member of the Rams’ volleyball team, Val is a team utility; she often plays in many positions.
Since her arrival in fall 2005, many people on campus have wondered why or how she got to Winston- Salem State. The News Argus wanted to tell her story and reveal the mystery of who she is and where she came from.
Q. How did you get to WSSU?
A.I have played volleyball for 12 years, and my coach made a resume on me and put it online. There is an office in Moscow that places Russian athletes in American universities. Coach Gray, WSSU former volleyball coach, was searching for international athletes and she came across my profile. She contacted me and we communicated for about a year before my arrival.
Q. Were you recruited by any other universities?
A. Yes, I had other choices but I would have had to pass English proficiency tests and I did not know English at all.
Q. When you arrived in 2005, you had to be in culture shock. What were your biggest adjustments?
A. I was not scared about being in a new place; I was very excited to be coming to the U.S. I have wanted to come to the U.S. for a long time. Therefore, if I were to get lost in New York from my flight or whatever, I was just happy to be in the U.S.
Food was one of the adjustments I had to endure. I did not know what many of the foods were, and when people tried to explain them to me I didn’t understand; therefore, I had to try everything. The biggest adjustment was taking classes. I would be sitting in a lecture and I would not understand anything they were saying. The professors were very helpful, which allowed me to pass my classes. Playing on the volleyball team was another adjustment. I had been used to playing with the same people for most of years I played volleyball in Moscow.
Q. Why did you want to study in the United States?
A. In Russia, a U.S. degree is really good and you have experience in language and travel. English language is key in communicating with others; by coming here I was not just learning certain words and phrases, I was communicating with other English-speaking people. It is also easy to obtain a job in Moscow with the English language and my degree.
Q. What are your career goals after you graduate?
A. I want to go back to Moscow and get a master’s degree in fashion design.
Q. Describe your hometown … How’s the food and social life?
A. Moscow is similar to New York. Everyone lives in an apartment, even rich people. It is really expensive to get an apartment in Moscow. Many people have a house out of town which has gardens, etc. … There are a lot of parks and museums in Moscow, and lots of public entertainment places.
Food in Moscow: A typical meal includes wheat sandwiches and oatmeal for breakfast, a large lunch of soup, meat with rice or potatoes or macaroni, and salad; and at dinner there is some kind of meat, macaroni, and rice.
Social life: I am a night person; I like to go somewhere evenings and nighttime. I go to clubs, water parks, museums, and casually walk around because it is a beautiful city.
Q. Any advice to future international students?
A. Don’t be scared of miscommunication because it will take only a short time to adjust. Have fun and enjoy the experience.
The Rams volleyball team will face its MEAC opponents in the final home match of the season at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, against Campbell University.