Adjacent to that structure (behind it in the photograph above), are two 17-story dormitories, one for Russian students who come from across the Russian Federation and one for foreign students. It was in the foreign student dorm (shown below) that I stayed.
The fifth and seventh floors of the dorm were actually hotel rooms where one could stay but for a rather expensive price. The third floor where I stayed had dorm rooms filled with students from Canada, Vietnam, and elsewhere. All dorm rooms contained one or two bedrooms, a toilet room, and a bathroom. In addition, each floor contained a kitchen (shown below) with stoves, sinks, tables, etc.
The kitchen was a very convenient, but not necessarily clean, place to cook breakfast (you must have your own pots, pans, etc.) and dinner. The dormitory is located adjacent to complexes of houses (as the Russians call them) or large apartment buildings. Just behind, or directly west, of the Russian student dorm (at right edge of photo) you see the buildings shown below.
From the top of the dorm, one has a wonderful few of a portion of the Yugo-Zapadnaya district. The next photo (shown below) illustrates very clearly that Russians, at least in the urban areas, live in apartment complexes and not in single family dwellings as do most Americans. The apartment buildings range in height from six or seven to sixteen or seventeen stories. Each apartment generally contains a small living room, kitchen, and one or two bedrooms. Many are very small while others are more spacious.
A major component of the Yugo-Zapadnaya district is the metro stop--approximately three quarters of a mile from the dorm. Everyday, I walked from the dorm to the metro. One of the paths from the dorm to the metro went behind the university academic building, then angled to the northeast (shown below) down a gently sloping hill.
The metro stop is very important to this district and connects it to all other parts of the city. It has also developed into a very important commercial center. Adjacent to the metro entrance/exit, are several shopping facilities as well as a bus station. It is in this area, in addition to the many other smaller shops located in the apartment complexes, that one can by milk, vegetables, fruits, cheese, bread, clothing, kittens, puppies, and almost anything else one would want. The next photograph provides a view of the entire metro vicinity.
The next photograph generally portrays the hustle and bustle that occurs in the metro vicinity. People are not only walking toward or away from the metro, but they are busy shopping. The metro area is a great place to visit, browse, observe, and learn about Russians.
