If you had to live anywhere in the FSU for a year where would it be?

[BrianW]

I'm thinking about possibly moving to the FSU for six months or a year. I'd be a student while living there, all online. I could also work or volunteer part time. I am 26. What would be a good place to live? Say if I only had 10 or 15K to last me.

I'm looking for somewhere with a low cost of living, interesting to be in. Other than that, i don't have any requirements like city, rural, etc. All suggestions appreciated.

I also was thinking about living in the Phillipines. Tropical, inexpensive with friendly people that speak English.

[Sculpto]

Hey Brian.. welcome back.  I thought you were settled on the Phils???? 

I would still vote for Odessa but I think lots of people will have other ideas.

[mies]

Where it will be easy to adapt?
Kyiv.
Money should be sufficient, you can arrange relatively inexpensive life there.
Easier to arrange your stay (different from Russia visa regulations)
Low-cost flights to Baltics and Eastern/Western Europe - so you can see more than just Ukraine
You can still travel to Moscow and StPetersburg
Can go skiing in winter and to the seaside in summer

Maybe Belarus would be more interesting.

I did not completely understand what are you looking for. Adventure? If I were you - i'd probably try to live a month or few weeks in all countries of FSU, or at least in the countries where visa isn't needed for you. I personally dream (a) to take train through Siberia, (b) to see all Asian part of FSU. (c) and also Armenia and Georgia.

[mies]

Hey Brian.. welcome back.  I thought you were settled on the Phils????  

I would still vote for Odessa but I think lots of people will have other ideas.

I was hesitating what to write: Kyiv or Odessa. Decided for Kyiv. Mostly because it's in the center of the country. You can still take a night train from Kyiv and be in Odessa next morning if you want to spend weekend there.

[Sculpto]

good point about Armenia and Georgia.. I picked up a photo book at an antique book store with hundreds of photos of Armenia.. it really is spectacular.

[Mir]

If I had the chance it would be Kiev.

[Ooooops]

If you like warm climate and relaxed atmosphere then go to Crimea      

[BrianW]

How much would it cost to live relatively modestly in Kiev, per month? How about the language barrier? Thanks.

[mies]

what do you mean by modestly? renting apartment? sharing apartment with a college student?
cooking yourself or eating out?

Renting apartment could be $200/mo with utilities (no A/C in it, central heating). In proximity to subway but not in the downtown.
Get an apartment with a washer. (unlikely you'll find cheap one with a dryer)
Food - varies. I'd say $100-150/mo would be enough for normal healthy diet with meat and veggies.
Local beer is cheap (in case you are interested).
Eating out in the evening - maybe starting from $10/meal in anything basic decent but not fancy.
Eating out just to eat - under $10/meal.
Public transportation is affordable.  
Language barrier - depends whom do you plan to talk to. Ladies at the street market near subway - they don't speak English but you will buy from them whatever you need without problem. Asking for directions in the city center - very likely you'll quickly find a person who will help you. People are friendly towards foreigners unless you have some african or middle-eastern blood in you. Some xenophobia exists (less than in Russia imho). English language is greatly favored, especially by women (of all ages) - older women will take motherly care of you, younger women will start hitting on you.

Hook up with people from KyivPost. If you are on a facebook - i can send you a link to person who works there (I don't know him personally, but i know his name on Facebook). They are usually connected to nice people and large crowd of expats. Maybe will help with part-time job, and in general will help you to adapt faster to local life - parties, new friends, social/cultural events etc.

[Kuna]

If I could live in FSU for a year I would definitely choose Dnepropetrovsk... but that's just because we have friends there - great friends.   

I actually feel very comfortable in Dnepr... for me it was easy to get around and there is enough interesting "stuff" to keep me amused. I've spent enough time there now to have my little favourite spots... favourite coffeee shop...  favourite cafe for "people watching"... etc

Once you understand the minibus routes it's easy and cheap to get around and the trolley car get's you uptown pretty quickly when you need to go up there. I also find the people a little more relaxed and open to some light banter and interaction too.

mies post on Kiev was a cracker though... I don't think you can argue with the logic but I would suggest you think about who you're aiming to meet.

Moscow is a magnificent city but would be a crazy place to live for an inexperienced traveler... St Pete is stunning, and I found lots of English speaking locals and tourists, but I don't imagine feeling as settled there as quickly as I'd feel settled in Dnepr or Kiev.

I think if you've got this choice to make you really need to dig into yourself to understand what you REALLY want and what you enjoy in life...  and then you need to research the heck out of the cities because the wrong choice would definitely spoil the experience (I'm thinking of some smaller Ukrainian cities when saying that).

If you can do this - it will be an amazing experience!!! 

[Boethius]

If I wanted people who are a little more laid back, but still be close to a lot, I'd think about L'viv.  The only concern I'd have there is how safe I'd be vis a vis cash.  Western Ukraine has a bit of a different vibe from the East.

[I/O]

Brian: Your criteria is very wide. Taking that into account, you are probably hard pressed to beat Kiev or Moscow for some varied experience. As a foreigner, neither are going to be cheap at the outset but you'd quickly work your way into the fabric enough to figure out an economical lifestyle.

From all the cities I have visited (There has been quite a few) I would have to say that Riga Latvia was the easiest to settle straight into stride although it's been a few years since I was there. Awfully changeable climate though. For a grass roots experience but still having access to reasonable communications facilities, winter skiing and a number of out door activities, I just wouldn't be able to resist the opportunity to spend extended time in one of the Baikal villages. I just fell in love with the area and the people within about 2 days.

A point to consider is airport access. There are various airports with international access dotted across the FSU areas and a few which spring to mind include (not limited to) Kishinev, Riga, Kiev, Odessa, Moscow, St Pete, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Ufa and Vladivostok. It is probably not such a bad idea to locate yourself within reasonable range of one of those.

I/O 

[BrianW]

What's the cost of living in Rega like?

[Chicagoguy]

For some reason Russia only gives out 3 month visas now so you would have to leave and re-apply. Don't know how convenient or easy this is.   

[Sculpto]

I/O.. isn't the party scene in Riga somewhat of a negative for someone hoping to meet the love of his life?  Riga isn't that often discussed on this board but there are many websites about the city.  I think it would be an amazing place to visit and party and it seems to have a really vibrant art and music scene.. but.. perhaps very difficult to find someone who is looking for a settled life or would even be willing to leave.  Just a thought/question.. I haven't been there so I don't really know.. just the impression I got after researching it a while back.

[Daveman]

OooOOOooOOOops nailed my opinion... I really like the laid back atmosphere of Crimea.  Of the various places my travels have led me, this area is beyond a doubt my favorite thus far.

I would probably choose Simferopol to live as it's the "gateway".  So it'd be easy to head south down the peninsula, or north into Ukraine proper.  Cost of living isn't as high as Kiev or Odessa, though if you wanted to live in a smaller city, you could look at one of the many cities around Crimea for an even better deal as far as living expenses (though you will find far less people who speak English). 

I loved being in Kharkov/iv as well. That's a very cool "larger" city. Cost of living is reasonable and has excellent transportation options and really tons of places to enjoy and explore.

As mentioned, Russian visas are not so easy now (and it appears that Ukraine is headed that way as well).  The only Russian city in which I've spent any real time is Omsk, and I absolutely loved it.  The people of Siberia (or at least the ones I met in Omsk) are quite varied and IMO, very laid back and easy to relate with.  I would have zero problems living in Omsk for a while (well *I* would have some problem with the winter in Siberia, or damn near anywhere in FSU I guess, but you might not as north/north eastern  USA and canada are as cold).

I agree with I/O, you really need to focus in on what you are looking to do/accomplish and then you will receive more useful responses other than "I like THIS city". 

Your range "FSU to Philippines" is rather vague. 

[Kuna]

What's the cost of living in Rega like?

I found Riga to be very expensive... in fact from memory it was significantly more expensive than Hamburg, Germany.

I liked visiting Riga because there were a number of places/sites/locations rooted in my family history, but sadly it's one of the last places I would recommend for someone seeking a life long partner.  That has NOTHING to do with the Latvians, but rather it's a reflection on the raging pommy tourists drunkenly smashing up the place.

Sculpto paints a picture of Riga being a party town therefore it possibly being a difficult place to find a girl wanting to settle down???  That's not quite the case in my experiences there - it would simply be hard to find a partner because foreigners in general are viewed so badly.

I think Latvias entry to the EU, simplification of visa requirements and cheap airfares has ruined the place.  It's a sign of things to come in Kiev if the current government get their way - and that would be a disaster!

[ECOCKS]

If I were you, I would plan on two locations in different countries due to the visa situation (see other thread) now. Doing Kyiv for 3 months and then shifting for the other 3 to somewhere like Riga, Talinn, Krakow, Bratislava or Prague (a bit more of western Europe to enjoy and a great base for traveling around a bit if you''re into sightseeing and the foreign experience). Yes, Prague and Riga are party towns but get out into the suburbs and prices ease off a good deal. Combining your stay with a language training program might be useful to you also. Some of the schools which do training can arrange a homestay for you where you have a bedroom in a family home and can probably arrange to pay for their internet upgrade if necessary. Of course, this has an effect on your social life....

The Kyiv budget was fine although the housing and perhaps your willingness to do without the  western options will be a bit of a challenge on $200/month. Most expats buy a microwave and some box fans when they get there. Especially challenging on the budget will be if you want Internet already installed. I would plan on at least double that to be safe. Expect at least a minmial refrigerator and stove with oven, a euro-style sleeper-sofa, kitchen table and a chair or two.

[elliott]

I'm thinking about possibly moving to the FSU for six months or a year...I could also work...Say if I only had 10 or 15K to last me.

Wouldn't $10-15K last long enough so as not to have to find a job for at least the six months he plans on being there?

[ECOCKS]

He could. It wouldn't be living very well and there would be a significant lifestyle change to effectively "go native." Not everyone can do it.

The other problem is that the visa situation has changed. More and more countries are cracking down on illegal workers. Sort of ironic when you consider the thinly-veiled contempt many Europeans have for the US and British illegal immigration situation. Too many westerners got into the FSU countries and were working illegally, overstaying and slipping under the radar. The additional problem is that just as in the EU, it is more and more difficult to find an employer-sponsor to cover you with the  paperwork.

[ScottinCrimea]

Just not enough information on what he is really looking for and what his wants and expectations might be, as well as what he would and would not be comfortable.  There are a lot of great places, but very individual on whaich would be best.

Of course, along with Dave, I would choose Simferopol.  I love Crimea (why do you think millions of people from the FSU go there for vacation?) Simferopol is central, a large enough city to find what you need, and central to everything in Crimea.  The coastal resort cities are nice, but too expensive, and dead during the winter months. Better to just visit them or spend a couple of weeks there during the summer. Cost of living is less than in most FSU cities.

[I/O]

Seemingly, communications facilities are fairly critical and as such pretty much everything is available wherever you go.

I found Kunas comments regarding Riga interesting. He's been there since me IIRC therefore his info is more up to date. The party scene was there when I was but I didn't find it a problem or an issue. Nevertheless, I spent most of my time in or around the company of a local law firm and one lawyer in particular. We tended to avoid the BS although were exposed (By choice) to some extent. I found the people fairly open. What I did notice was the underlying fierce resentment between ethnic Russians and native Latvians. I found I could move into the Russian circles from a basis of being associated with native Latvians, however I suspect it would have been much more difficult the other way around.

Sculpto, I can't recall regarding art but the architecture is interesting, much of it revolving around the Lutheran churches and as such I suspect there would be quite an underlying platform of arts. I believe (Please don't quote me) Bach may have worked briefly in the area and one of his wives was from the Baltic regions or of Baltic blood. IIRC there is at least one "musical society" named in his honor, however all this could simply be a result of a heavy influence of Lutheranism.  I just don't know enough of the history to really make infomed comment.

I/O

[SANDRO43]

I believe (Please don't quote me) Bach may have worked briefly in the area and one of his wives was from the Baltic regions or of Baltic blood.

1st wife (& 2nd cousin): Maria Barbara, born in Gehren, Thuringia.
2nd wife: Anna Magdalena, born in Zeitz, Saxony.

You should read Baroque gossip rags more attentively .

[I/O]

1st wife (& 2nd cousin): Maria Barbara, born in Gehren, Thuringia.
2nd wife: Anna Magdalena, born in Zeitz, Saxony.

You should read Baroque gossip rags more attentively .

Sandro: Sorry but your point is lost on me. :noidea: BTW where was his 3rd wife born and from what bloodlines?

I/O

[SANDRO43]

Sandro: Sorry but your point is lost on me. :noidea:

Thuringia and Saxony are in central Germany, far from the Baltic.

BTW where was his 3rd wife born and from what bloodlines?

J.S. Bach had no 3rd wife, when he died in 1750 at 65 Anna Magdalena was still his wife - and widow.