“Volunteering is an opportunity to really get to know the world better,” — Karina Beatriz Caceres Ortega, RUDN University student from Paraguay

What is studying in Russia like?

An amazing opportunity to get good education, especially for people from Latin America. Russia is great in the fields of science, mathematics, engineering and social sciences. RUDN is a well-known international university in Russia. I think this is the best place.

What is your first impression of the country and the people?

Moscow is a beautiful city with developed infrastructure and services. I have not been to other Russian cities yet, but the capital has undoubtedly become one of my favorite places in the world. I have traveled extensively and visited more than 17 countries. Russia is a mixture of different cultures, still people are united.

There is no snow in Paraguay. What did you feel when you first saw snow?

I first saw snow in Bulgaria, where I was a volunteer, and then in Turkey. But when everything around is white every day, it is amazing. Moscow changes with New Year decorations and lanterns. This memory will stay with me forever.

What will you do when you graduate from university?

I want to return to Paraguay, become a diplomat and represent my country in international and regional organizations. The Global Security and Development Cooperation program will give me the tools to analyze and understand international phenomena and teach decision-making.

What is the most important thing in the world?

Thanks to the pandemic, we have learned how important health is. Without a good physical and psychological condition, we cannot work.

It is also very important to develop a multipolar world and cooperation among developing countries, and strengthen regional integration for the benefit of people. We need to understand that we all live in an interconnected world.

Now you work for Russia Today. How did you start and what do you do?

I have been working for the RT news agency for six months. I found out about the vacancy through the university channels and submitted my resume. At the qualifying stage, they tested my general knowledge and analytical skills. Then I underwent an internship in the department. I was impressed by the care everyone around me was treated with. I already had experience in communications in my home country: in radio, television and social media as a producer. Now I also do behind-the-scenes work: from preparing the news to distributing it. My position is a social media producer.

The three most important skills that you acquired in Russia Today.

The first one is to be able to work under pressure, in tense situations, when everything does not go according to plan.

The second is to communicate effectively with people. Whatever the work, you need to interact and communicate with colleagues in order to achieve result.

Third, you should understand the behind-the-scenes work. I like to see from the inside how the work is in full swing and what efforts are made to create content.

You like sport. How do you manage to combine it with study and work?

It’s about time management. Now I go to a fitness club, play football and volleyball. In Russia, I first learned to ski (so far only in the forest, but this year I will try it on the slope).

Why is being active and volunteering important to you?

When I left Paraguay, I was 18. First I went to Argentina to study. There I realized how important it is to pay attention to the little things around us, to get to know other people and their culture, and most importantly, to focus on your goal and move towards it. Volunteering is an opportunity to get to know the world better. In my free time, I collaborate with the Federation of Latin American Students, together with them we created the Association of Paraguayan Students of RUDN University.

How did you celebrate the New Year?

This is my second New Year in Russia. Paraguay takes Christmas very seriously as it is a Catholic country. Here I celebrated Christmas and New Year with friends on Red Square. This year I was on night duty, so I celebrated the beginning of 2023 with colleagues at work. But it didn’t make me unhappy. It doesn’t matter where you celebrate the holiday, the main thing is who you celebrate with.

Interviewed by Maria Stepanova