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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Original poster

Anyone in Moscow??

14 replies

Nimme · 06/07/2006 20:03

We might just possibly be going to live in Moscow.

Where to live? Anyone living there at the moment?

Help

OP posts:
southeastastra · 06/07/2006 22:11

blimey, good luck!

Original poster
Nimme · 07/07/2006 07:51

bump

OP posts:
BudaBabe · 08/07/2006 06:55

Haven't lived there but know people who have - DH goes there on business.

It's VERY expensive. Make sure your package includes housing, car, and education. Lots of expats seem to live in compounds.

Have to say DH could go there tomorrow but it's on my NO WAY list!!! Sorry - not very positive!

moondog · 08/07/2006 08:30

i did live there and in other parts of russia

SSSandy · 09/07/2006 17:15

Organising accommodation yourself is going to be a king-sized pain in the butt, hopefully the employer will deal with that. Just read that Moscow is now officially the most expensive city in the world so accommodation prices are much too high for what you get. Honestly as a western woman it wouldn't be my first choice. It's a man's world, a tough place and then there's the whole Russian prostitution, Russian bride/western male sleaze ball scene (yuks).

Have a look around the expat.ru site maybe it answers some of your questions:
expatru

To help keep sane (get information about schools etc), maybe contact the Russian Women's Club if you do go there:
bwc

For general information on getting to/surviving Russia:
travel
You can also check out their forum (beware sleaze ball alert - see above)
forum

SSSandy · 09/07/2006 18:50

oops that should read British Women's CLub of course!

Mamulka · 12/07/2006 14:59

Dear Nimme I can give you sm tips as I am a Russian woman myself. First of all, I am not a Russian bride, I am not a Russian prostitute, I am not a refugee. My DH (also Russian) has been working in Ireland for five years...i think we are going to stay here.
Any way here is info.
When renting an apartemnt 'cause most likely it is going to be an aprtmnt in multiaprtment block, make sure it is a good decent neiborhood. You will not survive otherwise. If using public ransport be alert for pocket thiefs. Always watch your belongins. Do not talk to the strangers unless you really need to. Ask your Embassy about the school/nursery. Get a sattelite TV to watch BBC. Learn sm basic Russian words, as it turns out there are still places where people speak languages other than English...
And... yes it is tough and it is still men's world but... BUT Not all Russian men are sleazy balls, not all Russian people are terrorist/burglars/prostitutes etc. It is a great opportunity to see a beautiful city, experience different culture. Enjoy! Think of the museums, theaters, parks, restaurants, music. Travel around Moscow, try to visit Sanct-Petersburg. I think you are going to have a great time if you open your mind...

SSSandy · 13/07/2006 07:38

The Russian men are fine - the sleaze balls are from the west!

oranges · 13/07/2006 10:16

Can I bump this as I desperately want to know what its like too - basically, what would a 3 bed apartment in a good part of town cost to rent, ANd what is a decent neighbourhood for that matter? and what's it like living there with a small baby? Is it possible to go just go for a stroll in the day or evening, how long does the winter last? And how are phone lines (can I make cheap international calls??)
Thank you!

oranges · 13/07/2006 12:28

bump. please??? terrified og going with 4 month old baby

Mamulka · 13/07/2006 13:07

Hi Oranges! Can email you? Sorry, I don't have a lot of free time to check forum regularly, so my responses might be a bit lenghty. There is a lot to consider when moving with small baby anywhere... Moscow is much more westernized now than let's say 10 years ago. Still we have lots of things that make us unic, good and bad

singersgirl · 13/07/2006 13:13

Can't help on rent etc. Second-hand info coz my sister lived their for 5.5 years until last March.

When she moved she had a nearly 2 year old and her second baby was born that year; she had a third while they were living there (she gave birth to the 2 younger ones back in the UK).

They lived on Serebryannii Bor, which is an island of compounds in the Moscow river - had a lovely house. Pokrovsky Hills is also popular with the expat community as there is a good pre-school and I believe it is where the Anglo-American School is (the best choice for English language education I think). You can do a search on Pokrovsky Hills and find info on it.

There are other compounds etc.

My elder neice went to the British Embassy Nursery which is in the embassy building; my second neice to the Pokrovsky Hills Montessori. My sister also found the British Wives' Club a good way of meeting people with baby clubs etc. Can find out more if you want but must go now.

oranges · 14/07/2006 09:52

Thank you Singersgirl. I guess I want to know if we can have a nice life there for a few years really. Mamulka, I can be emailed on [email protected]

fleurt · 20/07/2006 14:12

I'm currently living here with my three children - 5.5, 20 months and 2 months and have been for the past 3.5 years. It's not the easiest place in the world at times, but it's certainly not the worst in any case. It's very much what you make it. Took me a year at least to get into living here, but have to say I'm quite enjoying it. If you want to email me with specific questions, please feel free.

I'll tell you now though, throw away all the stereotypes you have or have been told about Russia, Moscow, Russian people - see it all for yourself - a lot's changed!

I'm English, my husband's Russian btw.

Fleurt

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