In the southeastern part of Michigan, there are many Russian-speaking people, and on the streets of Ann Arbor, where Michigan State University has one of the leading departments of Russian and Slavic languages in the USA, you can often hear Russian speech.

Detroit and its surroundings have the highest concentration of Russian-speaking businesses in the Oak Park-Southfield, Farmington Hills, and West Bloomfield areas.

Michigan also has many Russian stores and even local Russian folk groups. The leader of the group "Papa Vanya and the Vagabonds," Ivan Fedorov, notes: "To think that there is nothing to do in Detroit is a big misconception. Detroit is an amazing city, especially in terms of musical culture. This is where techno music originated, and the annual electronic music festival is the oldest and largest in America. Detroit is home to global celebrities like Madonna, Eminem, Aretha Franklin, John Lee Hooker, Iggy Pop, and many others. Recently, we performed at a festival in Hamtramck and were amazed by the diversity and quality of local bands. Here we feel at home."

However, other immigrants hold a different opinion. Irkutsk native Sofia Kachinskaya says: "Some areas can be very unsafe. If only 2 people have been killed in Ann Arbor over 14 years (according to official statistics), in the devastated Wayne County (where Detroit is located), cars can be broken into, people can be beaten, or drugs can be offered. On Eight Mile, for example, there are no stores without bars or bulletproof glass between the seller and the buyers."

Some Russians have settled in Ann Arbor. Former Muscovite Maria shares her impressions of Michigan: "In Ann Arbor, real estate prices vary greatly, but on average they are around $225,000. The middle class spends $350,000-$400,000 on a house, which corresponds to about 250 square meters. The average annual family income is about $65,000. In Ann Arbor, there is an old farmers' market on Wednesdays and Saturdays, where you can buy farm products and support local producers. But I more often visit regular supermarkets. They have options for every taste: both expensive and cheap, even for vegetarians. I prefer stores with organic products, which are of course more expensive, but the quality is better. We usually go grocery shopping once a week and spend $150-$200 there."