The apartment

I think it is time to take you inside "my" Russian apartment.

There are 5 rooms plus the kitchen and bathroom in the apartment. This is quite large by Russian standards. Galina and her husband got such a large apartment in the Soviet era because, as they explained to me, they were "at the right place at the right time." Basically, they were lucky! Even though this is a large apartment by Russian standards, it is still a pretty small space for a family of 4 (I am including myself now) and even smaller for a family of 5, as they had when they moved in. There are three bedrooms, a living room, and a small entry room. Galina's oldest daughter Lena lives in a two room apartment with her husband, Sergei, and their son, Grisha. This is a standard living arrangement in Russia. They gave Grisha his own room and they sleep in the living room.

Because the homes are so small, many things must serve dual purposes. Notice that the hallway is also the clothes drying room, and that we all sleep on fold-out couches. People must be efficient and creative! You might also notice some fancy woodwork and fake brickwork in the apartment. These were changes that the family made in the 1990s. When the Soviet system ended, the apartments were privatized. This means that people were able to buy the apartments that they used to rent from the government. Because they owned them now, they were able to make improvements to make the house prettier. Galina's husband was a carpenter, so he added some decorative woodwork.

It's a different sort of home, but it is very comfortable and warm. Even though I have to open a set of three steel doors to get in.