Trial by Weather
Clothes and Personal ITEMS
SIBERIAN WINTER
Whenever you go to another country, it's vital to be prepared in advance. Siberian winters tend to be severe and long, so you might need to bring some warm clothes with you, which includes, but is not limited to proper headgear, footwear, coats and gloves. The average January temperatures in Surgut lie within range of -22...-17 °C (-7.6...1.4 °F), but sometimes they may reach -30° (-22°F) or even lower. Since Surgut is a very snowy city, you should have comfortable, warm, preferably waterproof boots with soles that are well-suited to snowy or icy sidewalks. Waterproof boots, a raincoat and an umbrella might be necessary for fall and spring periods, when it may also be windy and wet.
SIBERIAN SUMMER
Siberian summers tend to be relatively short and warm, yet sometimes rainy, with the average July temperature ranging from 15°C up to 22°C (59..71.6°F) in daytime and around 13°C (55.6°F) at night, though it can often reach 27°C (80.6°F) and higher.
Shopping and Language
In case you don't bring warm clothes along, you can always buy things you need here in Surgut. There are many stores, boutiques and markets, where you can find suitable clothes. While prices in some shops may seem high for students, it is also possible to buy winter clothes rather cheap in the open markets and/or small boutiques. It may turn out to be a more practical approach to having what you actually need. Chances are you might save some money buying things at place rather than trying to guess what you need, spending a lot of your money, having to pack everything and then discovering what you have brought is not what you actually need.
Should your Russian language skills be good enough, you may be able to go shopping on your own, using a list of nearby shops. You may ask about the necessary items via phone or text. Students are encouraged to ask the curator or other native speakers who know the city and the shops and who can help with finding required items for help.
Personal hygiene items
We highly recommend you to bring certain things you will likely need, such as personal hygiene items. Within the first few months of your stay in Surgut your organism will have to adapt to new conditions, which may cause temporary problems with skin, hair and nails.
It is recommended to bring hydrating cream, hygienic lip balm, masks, and possibly oils or lotions to help your body during this period.
