My 10 Most Irritating Cons of Residing in Moscow • A foreigner in Moscow

I typically speak about how improbable life in Moscow is as a result of it is true. Nevertheless it’s not all peaches and cream. Let’s depart the ladies, the events and the joy of the massive metropolis apart. What’s the actual life like in Moscow? 

I do know it is a rattling cliche however, sadly, it is true.

The climate. Fucking. Sucks.

For six months in Moscow, it sucks badly. It is gray, it is chilly, there’s nearly no daylight and also you WILL get depressed. I am scripting this in April and that is the primary month since October that I can keep in mind having consecutive days of sunshine.

It isn’t even the chilly that drains your vitality however the lack of daylight and the very brief daylight time in winter. In my first 12 months, I barely observed it as a result of every thing was new and thrilling. The second 12 months already drains you. Now, I am on the level the place I am working time beyond regulation on structuring my enterprise in such a method that I can get away for not less than just a few weeks subsequent winter.

And no, do not come at me with Vitamin D dietary supplements and chilly showers. Attempt residing for just a few years in infinite greyness after which we are able to speak.

It isn’t a shock that the climate makes individuals very depressing.

Russians aren’t precisely a smiley bunch. I can see now why that’s.

Add to the miserable climate the continuous frenzy of Moscow:

• Folks CONSTANTLY in a rush
• Folks bumping into you
• Everybody wanting pissed off

If I needed to visualize the alternative of “laid again”, I might think about Moscow. Life right here is a lot better than in the remainder of Russia however you would not be capable to inform. Nobody’s content material with what they’ve. Folks all the time attempt to get forward at any price (regardless that it is a very secure metropolis).

It is very telling that everybody ADORED the World Cup final 12 months. Muscovites aren’t used to a carefree, pleased, live-and-let-live perspective. It felt like a breath of contemporary air and a welcome break from the common rut. 

Their no-BS perspective and candidness is refreshing and matches my character properly.

However one factor they undoubtedly do not have down is taking private duty. In Russia, it is ALWAYS another person’s fault.

• Could not discover a parking spot and should pay a ticket now? Not my fault, the opposite vehicles ought to’ve parked some other place.
• Cannot pay hire? Not my fault, my employer is not paying on time.
• Boyfriend dishonest on me? Not my fault, all males are soiled cheaters.
• Not getting good marks? Not my fault, my prof is an unbearable cunt.
• America sanctioning us? Not our fault, we by no means did something unsuitable.

You get the concept. Russians just about by no means take into consideration what they may have performed in another way to keep away from getting themselves in such a sorry state of affairs. It is all the time “However…”.

It was truly a Russian lady that confirmed this suspicion that I had for a very long time. She agreed that Russians have a “savior advanced”. They all the time wait and hope for a white knight to point out up out of the blue and save them. That additionally explains why Putin is so standard, why Russian girls preserve getting married regardless of shockingly excessive divorce charges and a whole lot of different stuff…

​This can be a minor level however often the web bugs me. Russia blocks a ton of websites like Telegram, playing websites, porn websites and utterly innocent non-related websites which might be collateral injury.

Now, I do not gamble and beat off to web porn (anymore). However I might nonetheless wish to have the choice of selecting myself what I wish to see or not see. Most of these blocks you possibly can circumvent with a easy browser plugin or VPN however some not.

It is truly one of many few situations the place you are reminded that you don’t stay in a very free nation.

​This is not annoying about Russia per se however an remark I made.

Even when you transfer to a different nation, you do not begin utterly assimilating with that nation. The identical did not occur to me after I lived in Eire, England or Czechia. I nonetheless saved on studying newspapers from dwelling and getting my info from sources that I trusted.

In Russia, I NEVER learn the newspaper and I’ve by no means even seen a single airing of one of many notorious propaganda information reveals. I merely do not care what’s taking place and it does not have an effect on me a single bit. That is not a nasty factor however it signifies that you will not ever see the “different perspective” except you make a acutely aware effort.

​Once more, this isn’t one thing that annoys me. However I observed that it is arduous to REALLY develop into part of native tradition, irrespective of the place you reside.

For instance, I’ve zero Russian buddies.

I do know that is not an excellent factor. I truly want I had however then once more, I am not bothered sufficient by it to alter it. Although I like Russians, the cultural distinction is palpable. A few of our viewpoints when it comes to enterprise and relationships differ lots.

I’ve by no means actually tried to make native buddies both regardless of talking fluent Russian, figuring out all of the native music, what’s cool for the time being and being in tune with the tradition. The identical occurred to me in different international locations as properly. It takes much more effort to make a connection to locals than to different foreigners. There’s all the time a slight invisible barrier, one thing that separates “you from them”.

On the similar time you all the time catch your self considering “typical Russians”.

This feeds into my earlier level. The barrier retains present in your head since you WILL examine your self and “your method” to “them” and their method on a regular basis.

• See a building website with 5 staff and just one is definitely working? Usually Russian.
• Barista treating you want a chunk of filth? Usually Russian.
• A dude rolling as much as the membership in essentially the most ridiculously tasteless Gucci loafers? Usually Russian.

You don’t do it with dangerous intentions. You don’t even do it on goal. However there’s all the time a “we’re like this they usually’re like that” mind-set. I believe it is associated to your personal identification in a method. The humorous factor is that when you keep overseas for lengthy sufficient, you begin doing the identical factor in your personal nation. I’ve caught myself considering “that’s so German” greater than as soon as after I was at dwelling.

You’ll get uninterested in explaining why the fuck you moved to Moscow (which is a legitimate query, truly).

A actually tiring and annoying facet of residing overseas is the always-recurring query:

“So why did you resolve to maneuver to Moscow??”

If I obtained a Greenback for each time I’ve answered this query, I’d have already made more cash than with this website.

Sooner or later, you develop uninterested in having to elucidate your self time and again. Russians are mind-blown by the truth that a Westerner strikes there. You even begin questioning your self why you truly are there and whether or not they don’t have a degree. For me, a fast look at my Instagram silences all doubts that I’d have…

Discovering buddies overseas isn’t straightforward. At first, the language barrier blocks you. Even when that’s not a difficulty like in my case, you may have the cultural barrier. However let’s say you possibly can take care of that as properly then there’s nonetheless the plain query:

The place do you even discover buddies?

It’s straightforward when you’re a scholar however provided that you examine with locals. I studied with different foreigners.

Should you work in a company job, you’ll discover colleagues however not essentially buddies. That’s not less than a begin although.

Should you’re a freelancer or entrepreneur, you’ll discover companions and enterprise contacts at finest however not actual buddies.

So that you truly should go on the market and actively begin on the lookout for (male) buddies. Simpler mentioned than performed. In fact, there are all the time sports activities golf equipment, gyms or different forms of communities however it should take time and severe effort.

Not complaining however merely stating details.

​Notably in Moscow, you’ll have (kind of) a arduous time getting away. Okay, there’s St.Petersburg however you possibly can solely go there so typically. Flying to some other place in Russia will bore you very quick as a result of all cities look the identical and are uninteresting (sorry, harsh fact).

You’ll be able to all the time fly overseas however flights from Moscow are extra expensive than, say, London or Central Europe. The low-cost carriers solely fly domestically. In summer season, be ready to cough up not less than 300€ for a return ticket. There are low-cost bundles you need to be ready to remain in a 2* lodge someplace in Turkey or Crimea.

Moscow is well-connected, you’ll simply pay a slight premium to get away from all of it.  

There you may have it. Moscow isn’t solely cool and enjoyable. It is nonetheless a higher metropolis that than London however, like with something in life, it is not as black and white as you’d assume.