Where People Live

99% of the population in the city lives in apartment buildings consisting of pre-cast modular concrete construction. There are primarily three classifications: Five stories means built during the Stalin era, now quite decrepit. Kruschev expanded their horizons and offered a seven story variety. Modern buildings are stretching to nine stories, and have added curved balconies and tinted glass. Those are for the elite. I live in one of those. Buildings can stretch for a mile with thousands of residents. Sometimes they are painted different colors or with murals (mine has sunflowers - the logo of the Tatarstan Oil Company), but for the most part they are all very much alike. No effort is made to hide plumbing, and electrical is often surface mounted, with a dearth of electrical outlets. Hallways are not lit - no need to waste electricity. The city was planned around major thoroughfares spaced widely apart, the apartments placed between them. There is usually no parking at the buildings themselves since, until recently, people did not own cars. The trolley and bus system is adequate. People walk from their apartments to the trolley or bus stop with plastic bags laden with groceries. For those who now own cars, there are parking lots sometimes adjacent or sometimes a few blocks away. Between the apartments exists a labyrinth of walkways, grassy areas (actually "weedy" areas) and rusted playgrounds for the kids. On a summer evening the pathways are filled with young couples pushing baby strollers, babushkas gossiping, and shoppers returning from the market.

A feature we don't see in the states is the floor lady, well actually only one for the building. She is responsible for keeping the entryways clean, maintains the flower garden in front of the building, arranges housekeeping or maintenance services if needed, and keeps out the rif-raf. They work in shifts and are there 24/7. At this complex they provide the added benefit of keeping an eye on the residents and reporting them when they come in too late. The client has a complete record of comings and goings on each of us. If anyone comes in after midnight, they automatically qualify for "the list". Questions have been asked as to how us ex-pats can be productive at work if we are out until midnight. So far no expulsions have occurred, but we know we are being watched.