"Renting an apartment now - no chance." How students move into Minsk dorms

Onliner journalists decided to observe the move-in process at the Student Village and the new BSUFK dormitory and find out what it's like to trade a cozy parental apartment for student romance.

"We've been queuing for two hours already"

The queue to the entrance of the new BSUFK dormitory on Viasyolkavaya Street, 25, is visible from afar. At first glance, about fifty people have gathered.

Today, first-year students are moving in – those lucky ones who are guaranteed a sleeping place. From the second year onwards, it will be more difficult – you'll have to study well and show activity – simply put, a dorm won't be given just for pretty student eyes.

Павялічыць

In the crowd, some are already standing with suitcases, while others arrived empty-handed – just to get a room, and bring all their belongings later, without the fuss. The queue moves slowly, but there's no fatigue visible on the first-year students' faces: on the contrary, they are getting acquainted, joking, and sharing plans for their future student life. Many have come with their parents – support will not be superfluous in an unfamiliar city.

The move-in process has stretched over several days – students are being settled by faculties. For example, yesterday future sports managers came for their keys, and today it's the turn of those who chose coaching.

First-year students submitted applications immediately after admission, and then nervously monitored the university website awaiting the lists.

Павялічыць

At the end of the queue are Eva and Lera. The girls came from Gomel: one is involved in athletics, the other in academic rowing. Both studied in the same class and decided to apply together. They hope to be lucky enough to get a double room.

The new dormitory is divided into blocks: each has its own kitchen and bathroom. The only question is how many neighbors there will be.

— "Actually, I already found an apartment on Zalataya Horka, right in the center. It cost a thousand and some change – a one-room apartment with excellent renovation. Great! But a dorm is still better – everyone together. To have your own crowd. I want to meet everyone," says Eva.

Павялічыць

Sofia, Lera, and Klim. The girls are entering the specialty "sports psychology," Klim – coaching in karate. To be admitted, everyone had to pass sports standards, but the boys and girls modestly note that they managed without particular problems.

— "It was scary not to get in, and there's still anxiety now," admits Sofia. "We have to wait in line for a long time – I've been here for about two hours already. They say the first people arrived here at seven in the morning. Lera and I have come without our belongings for now – just to go through all the procedures. We'll go home and then move in with our suitcases on the 30th."

Павялічыць

While others are moving their bags forward just a couple of centimeters, Masha is already getting ready to enter the building. The girl came from Cherven. Since 10th grade, she dreamed of entering this university. She seriously pursues athletics – she constantly traveled to republican competitions and won prize-winning places (she was just a little short of the first adult rank). At BSUFK, the girl chose sports directing.

— "At first, I planned to go into rehabilitation. But then I looked at my scores and decided not to risk it, but to go into directing. As I understand it, they teach how to organize sports events, etc.," Masha frankly recounts. "I'm very glad I got into the new dorm. The university also has an old building where my mom once lived. She said it was a lot of fun to live there. I hope it will be the same here."

Varvara shows a video from her block: minimalistic decor in calm tones, a neat kitchen, fresh tiles in the bathrooms. In the rooms – single and bunk beds, study desks.

— "The building is new, so the conditions are excellent. We only pay 54 rubles. For that money, everything looks great," says the interlocutor. "I would really like to live my student years specifically in a dorm – to feel that atmosphere."

Павялічыць

"Getting a dorm is not easy at all"

A completely different scene unfolds in the Student Village near the "Piatroŭščyna" metro station. Unlike BSUFK, where first-year passions are high, it's quiet here. There's hardly a soul near some of the buildings. From time to time, someone passes by with a suitcase or a stack of papers, and parents sit sadly on benches while their children complete formalities.

Павялічыць

Павялічыць

All the main hustle and "storming" of the buildings will begin tomorrow when the first-year students arrive. Today is the day for the seasoned ones – mostly older students are moving in.

Павялічыць

Lera, Angelina, and Anastasiya have moved to the third year of the BSPU Institute of Psychology.

— "We were confident that we would be housed, we just didn't know exactly where. All students from our faculty received places. The Student Village mainly houses activists who participate in public life. We also tried to be visible everywhere," say the friends. "We've all lived in a dorm since our first year; that's where we met."

The girls are in excellent spirits: they used to live in an old dorm.

— "We'll pay about 60 rubles. It was a bit cheaper in the other building, but there was a shared kitchen on the floor that closed after midnight: if you wanted to eat at night, you couldn't. And we also had to rent a refrigerator for the room or bring one from home, so in terms of money, it ended up being about the same."

Павялічыць

The girls have long grown accustomed to the lack of personal space, although household misunderstandings are not uncommon.

— "The most common problem is cleaning according to schedule. It's unpleasant when you have to do everything for others. But over time, you adjust to each other, and everything becomes normal."

Павялічыць

On the porch of one of the buildings stands a family from Gomel – they arrived with their daughter. Anastasiya this year moved to the fourth year of the BSU Faculty of Economics.

— "In the fourth year, move-in takes five minutes, but in the first year it was something else entirely – huge queues," recalls her mother, Valentina.

— "In general, it's getting harder and harder to get a dorm now; benefits are being cut. For example, there will be no more benefits for Chernobyl certificates next year. I was lucky that I'm in my final year and managed to use it for the last time," says Anastasiya. "It seems they also want to cancel benefits for large families... Probably because of foreign students – there are more of them, and they are provided with housing first."

Павялічыць

Every summer, the girl participates in a kind of "lottery": rooms and neighbors are constantly changed.

— "Renting an apartment now – at these prices, there's no chance," reflects her father, Konstantin. "If we had extra money, we would rent one, but the dorm is a lifesaver. Our daughter wanted to go to Minsk, her scores allowed it, and we supported her. Now it's her fourth year; she needs to think about work and distribution. Maybe she'll return to Gomel, who knows."

Павялічыць

Milana and Natalia arrived in the capital from Baranavichy. The girl is in her second year at BSMU and frankly admits: to live in a good dorm, you have to "toil" all year.

— "They don't just give you anything. If you don't do anything, you'll end up in the old dorm, where the conditions aren't as comfortable. There's simply no time for fun. You have to study hard, participate in events... It's good for Minsk residents – they don't have to go anywhere; they enjoy student life."

Павялічыць

— "And renting an apartment now – that's impossible," joins her mother, Natalia. "And never mind an apartment, even finding a room is a problem. You have to start looking back in April-May. In June, people are already paying rent in advance, just to hold a spot until September. And in August, you shouldn't even try to rent anything."

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0