Modern life

  Irkutsk is a city that is developed not only economically and politically. Being students, we can't help mention that it's a modern twentieth-century city.
  The number of universities enables us to speak about Irkutsk as a students' city. Some of the universities are among the best-known Russian ones. To begin with, Irkutsk State University is the first in East Siberia. It has a great variety of departments that attract many students from different corners of Siberia and even from the whole Russia. The university, which is one of the largest in Russia, is also famous for its own scientific library. Due to the fact that it is a beautiful white building with columns, it is commonly called the "White House" by students. It offers a wide range of books, so reading is one of the best hobbies to have here. Then there is Irkutsk State Technical University, which is popular with those who are interested in mathematics and physics. If you belong to those who think that economic education is of current importance, choose Baikal   State University of Economics and Law. It is supposed to be the most prestigious one. But for us Irkutsk State Linguistic University is still the best. The students here are communicative and curious and at the same time very different because we study different languages and cultures, and those laguages and cultures influence us very much. In addition, many foreign students study there. So, here one can meet different perspectives, ways of life and behavior. And what can be more exciting that living in such a diverse society!
  But Irkutsk is a place not only for studying; it offers many places to relax. There are many spots for having fun and amusing oneself. The most popular with the students are pizza-huts, movie-theatres, night clubs and just places to gather together like an embankment or Kiroff Square.
  On the week-ends in various cafes and pizza-huts many young people can be seen enjoying the atmosphere of noisy company. Movie-theatres are also very popular. One of them is "Bargusin" named after one of the winds of Lake Baikal. It is situated not far from the centre of the city. The range of films there is very wide. However, if one is not eager to watch anything, it is possible to take a walk - there are numerous parks, squares and boulevards. The most popular is, probably, Kiroff Square. It is very attractive in every season, but especially in winter when an "ice town" is situated here. On holidays it is the most important place to have parades. But it is very picturesque even in workaday routine with many young people sitting in the grass, if it's summer, reading, preparing for exams or just talking. Being at the same time the historical centre and the place   where youth gathers, Kiroff Square, in the best way possible, represents the character of the city, combining different styles and epochs. At night a great variety of clubs is available for visiting. "Stratosphere" and "Akula" (Shark) are probably the most popular. Different parties attract many people. The Angara Embankment is a popular place with bikers, punks and members of different subcultures which are rather numerous in our city.
  Thus, Irkutsk can easily be called a city of youth. To prove it, one only need mention that during the winter holidays, for example, the city even seems "deserted" because most of the students go home. Life "comes to a standstill" but only to boil up again when students come back to study and have fun in Irkutsk.