| American expat Amanda is no stranger to expatriate life, having lived in different places outside the USA since 1999. Now she lives with her husband in Moscow, and shares with us some of her observations about what it's like to live in Russia's capital city: from the high cost of living to the kind and considerate treatment they receive from the people there. |
 Amanda Surbey |
-Where were you born?
USA
-In which country and city are you living now?Moscow, Russian Federation
-Are you living alone or with your family?With my husband and 2 children
-How long have you been living in Russia?
Since December 2007
-What is your age?
47
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Russia?
Last summer. It was a logical step for my husband's career (he's a lawyer).
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?It's complicated. Ideally, one 's employer handles all the details (which ours did).
-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?It's a benefit of the job.
-How do you make your living in Russia? Do you have any type of income generated?I don't. I have a BA/MA in English and speak virtually no Russian. I see jobs for what I do, but they want someone fluent in Russian.
-Do you speak Russian and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I can now read Cyrillic. A little. I have some very basic speaking skills, but would like to learn more. it is not an easy language, but I believe it would make the experience so much richer (not to mention easier).
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
Sure. Moscow is extremely expensive, so I miss eating out in restaurants regularly, buying inexpensive children's clothes, etc. We don't have a car, so getting out of town is something we have not really explored. We used to be rather serious bikers, but that is not really feasible in Moscow either. We have a social life with other expats, but we don't do the sort of recreational things we have done in other posts.-Do you have other plans for the future?
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We rent. Rents are extremely high. We are within the city center (on the Garden Ring). Our rent is $5600/month for 110 m2.-What is the cost of living in Russia?
Through the roof. We are paid in dollars, so the rate of exchange is, perhaps, worse for us than for someone paid in Euros or pound sterling. Obviously, the Russians get by. But living in the city is expensive.
International schools are also very expensive . . . in the neighborhood of $20,000/year per child.
-What do you think about the Russians?
I have been treated with nothing but kindness. In my local grocery store, they look out for me, and, for example, will not sell me something if they think it isn't as fresh as it could be. Probably they think I am a grinning fool for being kind and saying "please" and "thank you." We joke that they must think I am being taken advantage of left and right. But the opposite is true. Shop clerks may LOOK sullen and angry, but they have always helped me and done so cheerfully.
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Russia?
I can only speak for Moscow: it's a big city, with all that is good and bad about that. The metro is a wonder to behold: cheap, clean, and efficient. You can find anything you want in Moscow, if you are willing to pay for it.
I think it is difficult to be gay or a person of color in Russia. obviously these people do live and work there. But the general population can be downright hostile. I would be careful.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Russia?
Try to learn Russian. Negotiate as much from your employer as possible.
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Russia?
http://thebeetgoeson.blogspot.com . . . this is my blog about our adventures. I have other Moscow-related links listed on it.
Hi
Hopes alls well in RU
Trevor
Need help
Hi Amanda,
I'm looking for a family that lived in Port St. Lucie FL and moved back to Moscow. If you think you can help, let me know.
Sincerely,
Ken N3MQO "Ham radio operator" Look me up on QRZ.com
"We are within the city
"We are within the city center (on the Garden Ring). Our rent is $5600/month for 110 m2. "
Guys, c'mon. The area within the Garden Ring is the very center, it's only for the very rich people, there's nothing surprising here. Most of people in Moscow wouldn't afford anything within the Boulevard Ring either. Also, people usually don't live in 110 m2 flats. So, nothing surprising you pay that much, it's actually not an unreasonable price.
Comment of a local
Hi, I have read through the only two posts available about Moscow, I think they do not present a full picture of the city.
I am originally Russian, but right now I am an expat leaving and studying in Switzerland for two years, in my late twenties.
So I have a few comments to what has been said. First, about the prices. The city is expensive, but the most of it comes from accomodation. If you go outside the centre (which is the Garden Ring), the prices gradually become moderate, at least compared to Switzerland I would definitely say so. The accomodation is not overpriced, rather there is some shortage of budget accomodation. The rest is typical for a city the size and economic imporance of Moscow. Additionally, the budget accomodation is mostly offered by private individuals, and the older generation rarely speaks any English. With some knowledge of Russian, the opportunities are much broader and one can discover that there are a lot of decent offers. Finally, one needs to keep in mind that expat salaries in Moscow can be very high, higher than, say, in Western Europe, and the personal taxes are very low.
Food, beverages, clothes, and electronics are inexpensive if you go to retailers, which are plentiful in Moscow - a big contrast to the country where I currently am. The prices there are lower than in Western Europe from my observations. Restaurants in the centre are mostly overpriced, true. Most local population do not consider eating out as part of everyday life.
My advice is to learn a bit of Russian before you come cause Moscow is not yet comsopolitan, in the sense that there are not many people from the English-speaking world. There are certain radical groups that are quite nationalistic and even racist, but the majority of the population is OK about this issues. One needs to be careful at night in certain places the same way as one would watch out for general crime in other big cities. The general level of crime is higher than in Europe but lower than many other places.
I would not say anything about people because I will probably sound opinionated. I would recommend to make friends with the locals though, at least with those who are English-speaking. That would greatly change the perception of the country.
move in to moscow
Dear Amanda,
I am US citizen and live in North hollywood, Ca. my husband move to Moscow, Russia, and i move there too but I really can't find job there. I have 2 bachelor degrees but somehow it is hard for me to get job form US in Moscow. Please if you think you can or your husband can help me fand a job email me at margaritatovmasyan@yahoo.com. If you want I will send My Resume too. I just want to so much to move there and be my husband again. We have 3 years old daughter whi misses her father very much...
Thank you.
Please email me.