STUDENT RESIDENCE
Name: Alina Korolkova
Age: 20
University: Novosibirsk State Technical University in Novosibirsk, Russia
Course of study: Technical drawing
I come from Kazakhstan but study in Russia. During the semester I live in a student dormitory that was assigned to me by the university. I share my room with three wonderful girls: Olja, Kristina and Vika. We have lived together since the first semester and became friends straight away. What I like about living in a dormitory is that you are never alone, you are surrounded by nice, funny people around the clock. In addition, older fellow students are always there to support you if you have problems with your studies. Of course, dorm life also has disadvantages (common showers, shared toilets or, if you're unlucky, messy roommates), but the advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages.
2-PERSON WG
Name: Paula Eslaba
Age: 22
University: Universitat de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain
Course of study: Fine arts
I met my apartment in the second year of my studies - it was love at first sight: I love the sea, it's right by the sea. I like bright rooms, it's full of big windows. I always take the yellow metro line, it's just 100 meters from one of the stations. Unfortunately, all the rooms were rented back then. I then went to Peru for a year as part of an exchange study program and when I came back, one of the rooms had just become available. I was so happy and moved in straight away. The apartment is located in an old district called Barceloneta, where many fishermen and their families still live here. Every now and then there are conflicts between them and the young tourists who increasingly come here and throw one beach party after another. Apart from that, it is a very nice and quiet area where you can escape the chaos of the big city. I couldn't imagine a nicer place to live in Barcelona!
WITH THE PARENTS
Name: Marcelo Leonel Carcamo Alvarez
Age: 24
University: Universidad Austral de Chile in Puerto Montt, Chile
Course of study: Civil engineering and construction technology
At the beginning of my studies I lived in Puerto Montt with a few friends so that I didn't have to go to university. After the first two years, I moved back in with my parents. Now it takes me two and a half hours to get to university because our house is very far from the city center, but I just love living here: the house is built in the southern Chilean style, it's a very beautiful house with a view of the forest. There are six of us living here: me, my parents, my younger brother and two pets.
FIRST ALONE, THEN WG
Name: Yusef Nassar Hussein Vaca
Age: 19
University: University of Bethlehem in Bethlehem, Palestine
Course of study: Hotel and Tourism Management
In Palestine it is customary to live with your parents until you are married. The fact that I moved out beforehand is a big exception and is because Bethlehem is the only Palestinian city where you can study hotel management, but my parents' house is in Ramallah. Commuting every day would simply take too long because you have to pass two checkpoints on the way. During my first year in Bethlehem I lived alone in an apartment, but now I live with a friend in an apartment that is only seven minutes away from our university. At the beginning I was quite overwhelmed with living alone in a strange city where I didn't know anyone. I still miss my family today. Moving away from home also made me stronger and more mature; I learned to cook and keep my apartment clean. Only since I no longer live at home have I realized how much it is worth having your parents around you who support you in every way.
WITH HUSBAND AND SONS
Name: Soňa Prudíková
Age: 42
University: Masaryk University Brno in Brno, Czech Republic
Course of study: English studies to become a teacher
My grandmother died 20 years ago and I have been living in her apartment ever since, now with my husband and my two sons. I really like it here, our apartment is on the outskirts of Brno and is surrounded by green spaces and parks. It takes me half an hour to get to university by tram, but sometimes I also ride my bike. We have our own garden, which is great because my husband and I both love gardening. The only disadvantage of the apartment is that it is a bit too small for four people, we don't even have a living room. That's why we're currently building a small garden shed. I'm really looking forward to it when it's finished, then we'll finally have a little more space.
Whether alone, in a shared apartment, with parents or in a student dormitory. We'll tell you how students live around the world.
