Personal items

Clothes and other stuff

 

As you are heading to another country, it is high time to think over a few things to prepare yourself. The Siberian winter is severe and long, so you need to stock up on some very warm clothing, including good headgear, footwear, coats and gloves. The average January temperature is about -19 to -21°C below zero, but sometimes it can be as cold as -30° or -35°C. Tomsk is rather snowy, so you will need good and warm waterproof boots, with soles that are well-suited to snowy or icy sidewalks. By the way, waterproof boots, a raincoat, and an umbrella are necessary for autumn and spring, too, when it can also be windy and wet. The Siberian summer is relatively short and sometimes rainy; with the average July temperature of 19-21C° by day and 16°C by night, though sometimes it can reach 30°C and higher.

 

 

 

 

If you do not bring warm clothes with you, you can always buy things you need here in Tomsk. There are many shops and markets where you can find suitable clothes. While the prices in some of the shops may be expensive for students, it is also possible to buy winter clothing items at the open markets relatively inexpensively, as well as in many second-hand shops. This may be a more practical approach to having what you actually need. Perhaps you can earmark some money to get things locally, rather than trying to guess what you will need, spending a lot of your money, having to pack everything, and then perhaps discovering that what you have brought is not what you really needed, after all.

 

In case your Russian language skills are quite good, you may be able to shop in the Russian stores on your own, even using the list of shops with their phone numbers to check on needed items by telephone. For most students it is recommended that you ask for help from your responsible person (a volunteer) or other native speaker who knows this city and shops, and who can help you find just what you need. You can also call the International Student Services Centre, where you can obtain more detailed information.

 

List of shops:

No.

Title

Address

What you can buy

1.

Sportmaster

(Спортмастер)

Lenin Ave. 217 building 22

(Пр. Ленина217 строение22)

A wide range of sports clothing and footwear, and accessories.

2.

Terranova

Lenin Ave. 91

(Пр. Ленина 91)

A wide range of different clothing.

3.

Gloria Jeans

Lenin Ave. 82a

(Пр. Ленина82a)

A wide range of jeans, clothes, accessories.

4.

H&M

KomsomolskiyProspect13B

(Комсомольский проспект 13Б)

Different brand clothes, outerwear and footwear.

5.

Oktyabrskiy rynok – Market (Октябрьскийрынок)

Irkutskiy Trakt 61  building 2 (Иркутскийтракт61 ст. 2)

A wide range of different clothing, footwear and other. The prices are tend to be lower but you should pay special attention to the quality

6.

Zentral’nyi rynok – Market (Центральныйрынок)

Karl MarxSt. 48 (КарлМаркс48)

A wide range of different clothing, footwear and other. The prices are tend to be lower, but you should pay special attention to the quality

*This list is open, in this city you also will find different second hand shops, markets, brand shops and so on according to your clothe and price preferences.

 

IMPORTANT!

We also recommend you bring certain things you will undoubtedly need.

Personal hygiene items. For the first few months in Tomsk your body will need to get used to new conditions (dry air, moisture, snow, and frost when winter arrives), and that may cause temporary problems with skin, hair, and nails. It is recommended you bring a moisturizing cream, hygienic lip balm, masks, and possibly oils or lotion to help your body during this period.

Anything that would remind you of home. A change of lifestyle and place, and a great distance from your home, can lead to depression or loneliness. So, even if you are enthusiastic about your upcoming studies, we recommend bringing with you a few photos of your family, a souvenir given to you by friends, or a few items from your current home to your new home. These little things will make your new home, “homier” and more comfortable. 

A laptop or notebook, as modern education requires the active use of computers.