Our welcoming experienced host families are thoroughly checked and approved by us.
Anyway one should understand that every family has different habits concerning food, communication, daily routine and way of life in general, but they treat the students with kindness and are eager to meet their needs and interests.
You might meet some cultural differences while staying with a Russian family. But treat it as a normal and challenging part of your overall experience and try to accept the accommodation offered for the duration of your stay in Russia.*
Your room
You will be provided with a single or shared room (upon your request in the application) furnished with at least a single bed or a sofa-bed, a wardrobe, a desk with a chair. Your landlady/hostess is responsible for cleaning your room, but you should try to keep it tidy to enable her to do this easily.
Bathroom and Water
As the bathroom is shared in most of the host families, please, understand that other people in the family also need to use the bathroom, especially in the morning.
Hot water supply. One should also keep in mind that most of the flats have no hot water for 3 weeks during the summer months. Unfortunately The Institute can’t inform you on the exact time of hot-water-turning-off. Russian families usually take cold showers, warm water using kitchen-range, or go to Russian-baths or saunas if the hot water is turned off.
Drinking water. St.-Petersburg water-supply system is old and the tap water is not for drink. Drink only filtered or boiled water!
Laundry
Linen will be changed every two weeks. Students can give the hostess some light cloth-items (such as t-shirts, shorts, skirts, shirts etc) for laundering once per week. Provided that your host family has a washing machine, you may ask them to do the
laundering of coats, jeans, trousers etc. (this service is additionally charged - we recommend that our hosts charge 150 rubles per wash for this additional service). You can also take you laundry to one of the many launderettes/dry cleaning services in the city. The Institute will provide you with more information.
Meals
Host family provides you with half-board (continental breakfast and dinner) or breakfast only upon your choice. Please arrange with your host family the exact time of the dinner and adhere to this. It is only for some exceptional reasons that the hostess can cook some dishes especially for you. In most cases you are offered the same food as the rest of the family that is usually typically Russian food (please mind that many families nowadays use microwave food).
Keys
You will be given keys from the flat so that you can come and go at any time. Though try to be polite and not disturb the family with coming home late at night. If you are planning to spend the night out, please inform the host family. If you stay out without notice, the family is obliged to inform the Institute.
Guests
Living in a host family you are usually not allowed to invite guests without giving notice to the hostess beforehand and getting her permission.
Telephone
Living in a family you can use the phone for the local calls free of charge, for international and long-distance calls, please, use the telephone cards, that you can buy at any big supermarket or telephone booths. To use your mobile phone you can bye Russian sim-card (you need your passport, immigration card with registration) or you can lend one in the Institute.
*Cancellation or change of accommodation after your arrival is only possible on giving one week’s notice to your host and the Institute. Full charges must be paid for this week’s notice. It is only for some exceptional reasons that you can change your host family for another host family during the high season (from May to October). There is always an opportunity to change your host family for guest flat, hostel or hotel on the condition of compensation the differences between the fees.
