Helen Gorshkova is a Siberian woman who’s lived in Irkutsk since her student days. Always interested in speaking English, and learning more about foreign cultures, she’s put her interests to good use by offering her spare room for homestay guests. It’s quite a special homestay, though, where three generations of Russian women (grandmother, then Helen, then her daughter) help to make your stay a whole lot more interesting. We interviewed Helen about Helen’s Homestay in Irkutsk.
Why did you begin Helen’s Homestay?
The idea first occurred to me when I came across a French traveler lost in Listvyanka , who was hopelessly trying to find someone speaking English and an overnight stay. I had a spare room and free time. My guest had stories about his world travels - we thoroughly enjoyed conversations and laughs together. It was the first time when I realized so clearly how important it is for people to share a roof and a table to understand and accept each other.
What kind of visitors have you had at your homestay?
I’ve had visitors from Switzerland, Belgium, Malaysia , New Zealand, Argentina, Germany, England, Netherlands, Austria, South Africa, USA and France. Most remarkable were a Swiss couple with their two young children: by the time they came to my place they had already traveled for 2 years non-stop). Some travelers I meet suffer itchy feet and just need to change places and sceneries for the sake of change, others relish every moment of their travel experience and contribute to the community to which they come as guests either by supporting hosts, or taking part in environmental projects (Great Baikal Trail).
What’s special about staying at Helen’s Homestay?
Well, one just may feel absolutely free and at home at my place! Maybe you feel like cooking your favourite meal or playing a guitar or teaching me how to dance tango or playing funny games all night long or watching TV accompanied by hot tea and home-made cake. My daughter and I teach our guests Russian games and beliefs and enjoy learning new things ourselves. There are also maps of the area and my handy advice on your trips around Baikal, so we can make up your plan together. Apart from that my Mum cooks real Siberian home-made food for our guests. The notoriously nourishing Russian soups, and local Omul fish, and my special fish-pie, and much more.
What do you especially recommend seeing in Irkutsk?
Of course, there are many things to do depending on your preferences and the season. But the wooden houses and the churches are a must. The heart of Irkutsk is in the old part, where old wooden houses are still surviving with their resistance to modern pressure. You can see laced window frames and under-roof decorations of those times when people used to build not simply shelters but beautiful homes with style and soul. Buildings of various styles and ages – from elegant classic palaces to ugly Soviet monsters- make the city a piece of history. Churches in Irkutsk are worth visiting too. I would recommend visiting as many of them as possible – they are all diverse and picturesque, and attending the services will give you an idea of Russian spirit. I can accompany my guests to Listvyanka as a guide, we can visit the open-air Museum of Wooden Architecture (with Siberian houses built without a single nail!) and eat Omul fish right on the shore of Baikal.
You can check Helen’s handy price list and contact her from the Helen’s Homestay website.
