I have been to English-speaking countries several times, but it was my first visit in a non-English-speaking country.
In a laboratory which I belonged to, they understood English, so they spoke to us in English and I communicated with them with little difficulty.
However, I was struggling with making myself understood well in English except in the lab.
Of course, some people in Russia speak English, but others don't speak, especially elderly people.
In supermarkets and restaurants in Russia, when I spoke to the staffs in English, they often did not understand my English.
I can not speak Russian at all, so, in order to communicate with them, I tried to speak easy and simple English.
Before I said in English, I thought what was the best expression for them every time.
Thanks to it, I was improving myself in English day by day and lived a comfortable live.

Department of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Acknowledgement
I would like to thank the researchers in the laboratory which I belonged for giving me such valuable experiences.
Thank you very much!