FIFA World Cup

In 2018, Russia hosted the World Cup and millions of visitors from all over the world went visiting the country. For many international visitors, navigating an unfamiliar city where even the alphabet looked different was a real challenge.

At the time, I was studying Linguistics and, honestly, I was craving something more than textbooks and theory. I wanted to hear real languages in real situations, not just read about them. So I signed up to volunteer, helping international visitors with directions, transport and whatever else they needed to get around the city.

Every day I was out there talking to people from different countries, switching between languages, while helping people feel belonged to the city where I lived – Rostov on Don. It was not always smooth or straightforward, and that was exactly the point. I had to listen carefully, adapt quickly and find ways to communicate even when language hit its limits.

That experience gave me something no classroom ever had. It showed me how language actually works in messy, unpredictable, real world situations, where people are tired, lost and trying to be understood. It deepened my appreciation for how much meaning lives outside of words, in gestures, context and patience. Looking back, it did not just sharpen my language skills, it changed how I think about communication altogether, and confirmed that understanding people is always about more than the words they use.