In Petersburg, you will see some fantastic historic buildings. However, you will also see what one friend of mine called "Petersburg ruin." Many of the city center's historic buildings are literally crumbling. The difference between restoration and demolition is a matter of money -- more specifically, who has the money and what they want with the building. And for the people already living in these buildings, the reality can mean anything from living in squalor to sudden eviction.
Check out this 20 minute video on residents of Saint Petersburg, who live steps from the Hermitage. For those of you planning on spending a year here, this is a very candid look at a deep-rooted problem that you will almost certainly wind up discussing with teachers, host families, and friends:
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