The expat life in the FSU

[Anotherkiwi]

In the nutshell:


"I will not tolerate neighbors from Dagestan. 


Intolerance is the main problem of Russia."

Thank you, Ooooops.

[Ooooops]

No worries, Anotherkiwi   

[lonedrake]

So how is it to ride in the Kyiv (Kiev) Ukraine metro underground subway now that English has been added to the announcements and some of the signs? Now we find out ...

 If you were to rely on English to get around on the metro.....you will never get where you want to go. I saw a couple signs in English and they do have a list of rules and regulations posted in many languages, but that is about it. Never once did I hear English on the monitor. They do however provide interesting video clips and advertisements. The most interesting part of the metro to me is how deep underground it is. You get on the first escalator and it looks like you are going down to the center of the earth!!!  The other thing is it seems many people become like frantic animals once they enter the metro. Walk slowly on the streets...but as soon as they enter the metro...they cannot move fast enough. Always plenty of people trying to walk down escalator to move a few seconds ahead....and then you stand by them waiting to get on train.

I would say the worst part of the metro is all it takes is one person out of many to have bad BO and stinking up train.

[Chicagoguy]

We have been married 4 years now and my wife used to mention us going back to her home in Cheboksary, Russia. Saturday we returned from a visit. 2 months for her and 2 weeks for me. And last night for the first time she said she likes it better here in U.S.
Could I have ever lived there ? Probably not. Maybe Moscow if I had some big money but nowhere else. Also, I am older and have never been good with languages so this wouldn't have helped. I would be tied to the ex-pat community most of the time.

[mendeleyev]

Young and hip, this kid has lived and worked in Moscow about 3 years:

[Faux Pas]

Have you ever asked her and got a very enthusiastic "Lets do it!"?   I'm curious because we did have an offer to move to Moscow for few years for work and I've said "No" to it (being from Moscow myself).

We talked about it at length several times. A "let's do it" hasn't been mentioned. Maybe because she see's the reality or perhaps she doesn't really want to. She has no romantic notions that Russia is better or that the US is better. I think most of her feelings concerning Russia is tied directly to seeing her family. She does extended visits every year, is excited to go and according to her, can't wait to leave and return to the US.

How often do you visit Russia?

[Ooooops]

How often do you visit Russia?

Not often at all - I've been back 6 times over 20 years, each time for about a week.   I guess I am a bad relative.   

[Ooooops]

Young and hip, this kid has lived and worked in Moscow about 3 years:

US $ 1,2K/month ain't too bad a price for apartment in one of "stalinski" buildings, even a tiny one like his... 

[mendeleyev]

Yes, decent rent as it is good condition. At his age and being American, like you I'm surprised that he got a decent deal. Most American expats would be paying more until they learned the lay of the land.

He could pay a little less in a decent remodeled Khrushchyovka but the neighborhood and adjoining apartments might vary greatly.

[Ooooops]

He could pay a little less in a decent remodeled Khrushchyovka but the neighborhood and adjoining apartments might vary greatly.

Oh yes, the unforgettable "подъезды"...       

[Faux Pas]

Not often at all - I've been back 6 times over 20 years, each time for about a week.   I guess I am a bad relative.  

Yeah I suppose you are 

My MIL is elderly but, very active, healthy and likely to live into 100+. She and my wife are very close and as long as I am able, I'll see to it that she visits as often as she likes. Without her mother I don't wouldn't think she would go as often.

[Ooooops]

My MIL is elderly but, very active, healthy and likely to live into 100+. She and my wife are very close and as long as I am able, I'll see to it that she visits as often as she likes.

Good to hear that!