Living with a Russian family gives students a tremendous opportunity to improve their Russian language skills and to experience much more of Russian culture and cuisine. In the homestay students receive breakfast and dinner every day. Lunch is provided at the Russian Language Center adjacent to the residence hall. There is no extra charge for living in a homestay. Students in the residence take three meals per day in the residence cafeteria.
All students live in the residence hall the first five days for orientation and start of classes.
Students must decide at the time of enrollment which option they prefer. Because of the strict Russian visa regulations about housing for foreigners, students are not allowed to move back to the residence hall. If they are unhappy in their family, it may be possible for them to move to another family. As a cost saving measure, major Russian cities have no hot water during three weeks each summer. Since dates for this are not announced very far in advance, this lack of hot water may occur during part of the summer school in St. Petersburg.