Students of the Department of History of Moscow State University saw the capital of Azerbaijan and were surprised. A field trip of students of the History Faculty to Baku with a concert program dedicated to Victory Day was the first of its kind since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It was a landmark not only for veterans, who were congratulated by Moscow students, but also for the field trip participants.
Our first time in this country, we were struck by its beauty and hospitality. We encountered an absolutely new culture and were surprised to learn that we were perceived in Baku not as citizens of a country to which Azerbaijan was “subjected” to only 20 years ago, but as dear guests and brothers in spirit, united by a common history with the Azerbaijanis. We went to a foreign country, but we parted as true friends.
The city was for us no less a discovery than the people who live there. Residents of Baku have a joke: "Our city is under construction.” We did not see the construction itself, but we noticed its results. The city is very clean and well-built, carved in white stone.
Baku is a city which unites East and West, past and present. It struck us not just with its outer beauty, but by its inner and most important beauty – its generous, hospitable and open people. We threw our coins in Baku fountains and now we are sure to come back to once again plunge into this wonderful world.
Tatiana Nemirovskaya, Department of History, fourth year. Moscow-Baku
