I have known North-Eastern State University in Magadan since 1999, first of all within the partnership in the field of German Studies between Philological faculty of NESU and Erich Maria Remarque Centre / University of Osnabruck. I was the Head of this inter-university project supported by DAAD from 2001 to 2010 years. During this period of time 28 students and 18 post-graduate students and lecturers from Magadan took part in this programme. In its turn I had an opportunity to visit NESU in 2001 and 2002 years. These visits had the most positive impression on me which I gained from meeting with colleagues and students.

On termination of this partner project in 2011 our cooperation was prolonged by signing the Agreement on cooperation which brought its beneficial results.

One of the results was a foundation of a well-known research centre supervised by Professor R. R. Tchaikovsky in Magadan which was studying, as well as Remarque's centre in Osnabruck, works of a famous writer. This centre conducts research work in history and practice of Remarque's writings translations into Russian, and it also deals with stylistics' issues, metaphore studies and other problems relevant to German studies and Linguistics. Scientific activity of all the faculty scientists is appreciated in international scientific society.

Publication activity of the faculty staff is very high. Significant scientific publications of professors, post-graduate students and undergraduates of the Philological faculty are continuously published in NESU publishing office as well as in leading international scientific journales.
Do hope and feel quite sure that co-operative work of Osnabruck and Magadan will be successfully carried on in future and will lead to fruitful collective projects and publications.

Our past collaboration has been very important to both our Russian and Alaskan institutions. Over the years, we have had successful student and faculty exchanges, joint projects and conferences. This cooperation has built trust and good will between us. Within a year of the opening between Russia and Alaska in June of 1988, President Kokorev, Dr. Roman Chaikovski and many others came to Alaska. Our ties with our friends and colleagues at NESU continue to the present.

I have savored the many times I have visited Magadan. I am always impressed with the superb education you provide. It is quite remarkable that you have been able to maintain the high quality of education at your university in spite of huge financial challenges and political changes. Each time I have visited Magadan, your philological students have interpreted for me. Their expertise in interpreting has been excellent. Because I do not speak Russian, our good communication depends upon their skill. I have been very grateful for their assistance. I have been impressed by their ability to interpret both directions in any conversation. I have admired their confidence in providing interpretation before large audiences.

On most of my visits I worked closely with your philological faculty in the English Kaffedra. I enjoyed being invited to be a guest professor in their classes, which allowed me to work directly with them and their students. In this way, I was able to see first hand the good teaching your faculty provides. I admired their innovative teaching practices. I know from my language colleagues such as Dr. Margritt Engel that the quality of your language instruction is excellent.

For decades I have also worked closely with Professor Dr. Roman R. Chaikovski and his graduate students. I have been especially impressed with the quality of his students' research, which has been exceptional. He and they have become world renowned through their work.

For eighteen years, I had the pleasure of honoring an outstanding professor of the year, so I met professors from many different departments. It was wonderful to learn about their outstanding academic research, service to their community and region, and their excellent teaching.

This year Alaskans are celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska by the U.S. Our Russian background is part of our own Alaska history. To me, maintaining our Russian ties is very important. Magadan and Anchorage continue to be Sister Cities.

While travel between our universities has become more difficult in recent times, technology in the past two decades has opened many new doors. This should give us a chance for optimism. As technology unfolds, it brings new opportunities for working together. We can envision continuing our partnerships between Russian and Alaskan faculty and students, perhaps joint conferences and some new projects. I look forward to continuing our longstanding friendship and collaboration.

I was teaching at North-Eastern State University (Magadan) from August, 2016 till January, 2017. During my not very long period of work at this university I realized that life and education in this university are very comfortable: professors, students, students' families and even people who you don't know – are very friendly and nice. As I was a teacher from abroad my colleagues at NESU helped me in everything. First, they helped me to get a visa. Then they gave me advice on how and where to hold classes, what textbooks and tutorials to use. They were very supportive in everything. So I can say that lecturers there are very attentive and helpful. Thus, if you want to study at NESU you don't need to doubt the lecturers – they are really good.

Besides, I would like to say a couple of words about the students there. They are smart and skillful and easy-going so you can make friends with them. They can help you to take part in various events.

Also I want to say a couple of words about students' families. I was invited into several families during my short stay in Magadan. There we were cooking Russian and Chinese national dishes. It was a beautiful example of intercultural communication.

The same with city people who you don't know – when you meet them in the street – they greet you as you are a foreigner.

Housing opportunities were also nice. Student residence where I lived is not far from the sea so I had a wonderful view of it. So it's one more bonus for you if you like the sea.

I had my own bathroom, also have to mention good facilities for cooking. Not far from the student residence there are food shops and a shop with Chinese goods. It means if you want Chinese cuisine you can easily find products used in it.

There is a Chinese market in the city. A lot of Chinese people work there, so you can go there any time to communicate with your compatriots. Magadan is really a very safe and friendly city so if you make up your mind to study there you will get nice conditions for it. Certainly, I wish you to go to the North-Eastern State University to personally learn and understand serenity and peacefulness of the Russian North-East and the city of Magadan.