would you live in your fiancee's country?

[sara..... 371]

\

yep in a heart beat

[Satellite 1]

For those who have read my posts in the past and I am very strong critic of Russia. I speak fluent Russian and I was born in the former Soviet Union. Not in a million years would I want to live there. I don't even visit if I don't have to.

[GiGii 4]

I dont think I could afford to live there. Everything is so freaking expensive. Food is more, clothes are 10x more, going out on the town is pricey too.

I'm not even going to mention Moscow real estate prices. I'd get a dingy 50m2 flat and would end up paying probably double what my house is worth here.

But mostly the constant "being checked on" is what would tick me off. No freedom to do what I want, always worry about what or who is watching me. Also Russians are quite gossipy. Everyone has to know everything about their friends/family and then go around blabbing to everyone they know. No privacy.

[mox 298]

Regarding housing prices, the cost of real estate and rent both have dropped precipitously. The housing market in Moscow and St. Pete, has crashed magnitudes harder than in the US. It's really a buyers/renters market right now.

[Melissa&Vadim 0]

This topic has come up with us at home recently, with the economy the way it is. We began seriously discussing moving to Moscow when my husband visited his former colleagues last month and they told him they want him back! The issue is, my ten year old son. We would have to send him to a regular Russian school, and although people tell us that we shouldn't worry because he would pick up the language quickly, more than one Russian friend tells me that it is not the best place to raise a child! Still, if things get any worse here, it may be our only option. On the other hand, we are at the wrong point in the immigration process to be able to return to the US together if things didn't work out in Moscow. So, we're still fighting economics here, at least for the time being. In the future though, I would love to live in Russia for a year or so, just for the experience!

[Danno 1,228]

Of course the question always remains.... "what would you do for income" over there?

Sure some of you guys are close to retirement .... and others are amazingly wealthy... but does anyone have any hopes of actually earning anything close to a living over there (assuming the economy picks up)?

I talked to one USC a year or so back, he was starting a car rental biz which catered to the wealthy. I have not heard from him since but I do wonder how it panned out.

I know of another guy living in Ukraine who has hopes to start a lawn-care type service which seems like a lame idea to me.

Of course english tutor is most often the path most people take, unless they are already hooked up with a firm which has work for them in Russia.

[PJB 0]

Been there, done that, was very sad to leave. But now that we are both here together in the US it is like a whole new adventure. We can't wait to get the immigration process over and start traveling and living in different states just for fun! (after living in Russia we figure we can survive anything! )

[slim 1,530]

Ruble was going for like 36 to 1 dollar today. Was about 25 last week and most of last year. The dollar may not be the best form of currency (especially when crude jumps) but it's usually pretty fashionable.

I've lived several places overseas so I wouldn't mind living in Russia, but I wouldn't prefer living there. Not right now, anyway.

[K1researcher 0]

Of course the question always remains.... "what would you do for income" over there?

Sure some of you guys are close to retirement .... and others are amazingly wealthy... but does anyone have any hopes of actually earning anything close to a living over there (assuming the economy picks up)?

I talked to one USC a year or so back, he was starting a car rental biz which catered to the wealthy. I have not heard from him since but I do wonder how it panned out.

I know of another guy living in Ukraine who has hopes to start a lawn-care type service which seems like a lame idea to me.

Of course english tutor is most often the path most people take, unless they are already hooked up with a firm which has work for them in Russia.

good point. The jobs that I would want require citizenship which takes time. i could work in as a hitman or maybe resurrect the KGB, Russia is easy like that in the movies

[Danno 1,228]

Of course the question always remains.... "what would you do for income" over there?

Sure some of you guys are close to retirement .... and others are amazingly wealthy... but does anyone have any hopes of actually earning anything close to a living over there (assuming the economy picks up)?

I talked to one USC a year or so back, he was starting a car rental biz which catered to the wealthy. I have not heard from him since but I do wonder how it panned out.

I know of another guy living in Ukraine who has hopes to start a lawn-care type service which seems like a lame idea to me.

Of course english tutor is most often the path most people take, unless they are already hooked up with a firm which has work for them in Russia.

good point. The jobs that I would want require citizenship which takes time. i could work in as a hitman or maybe resurrect the KGB, Russia is easy like that in the movies

Haven't you heard... Putin already has that gig?

[ndalessandro 0]

Of course the question always remains.... "what would you do for income" over there?

Sure some of you guys are close to retirement .... and others are amazingly wealthy... but does anyone have any hopes of actually earning anything close to a living over there (assuming the economy picks up)?

I talked to one USC a year or so back, he was starting a car rental biz which catered to the wealthy. I have not heard from him since but I do wonder how it panned out.

I know of another guy living in Ukraine who has hopes to start a lawn-care type service which seems like a lame idea to me.

Of course english tutor is most often the path most people take, unless they are already hooked up with a firm which has work for them in Russia.

good point. The jobs that I would want require citizenship which takes time. i could work in as a hitman or maybe resurrect the KGB, Russia is easy like that in the movies

Haven't you heard... Putin already has that gig?

You can find work in russia, just like russian immigrants find work in USA. How difficult it is for you to find work would depend on:

1. Your level of education

2. If you have any specialities

3. and Most important, who you know.

I emphasis 3, because if you move to russia as a single man... not knowing anyone, I would be inclined to say your chances of finding a job are more difficult. But if you have family over there who could help you find work, your chances have increased.

Maybe I am wrong in what I am about to say, but as far as what I can see from visiting my fiancee, but it seems that a lot of russian business is done by with the, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back' mentality. So, if you have family (your fiance and her family) over there when you move, they can help you to find a job, because at some point in time, somewhere in the past, someone probably owes a family member a favor.

Plus, beggers can not be choosers. I work in a physical capacity now at my current job with Coca-Cola, so the idea of working in a warehouse or doing some form of physical, or intensive physical labor work is okay with me, that would otherwise be turned down by another person because they are used to working in an office setting.

And as time went on, I would gradually master the russian language the best an immigrant could do. I would eventually become a citizen (3 years after marrying my fiance) and I would eventually return to school. Which would eventually lead me to a better job in the future.

But, you have to start somewhere... and that somewhere might be a pretty un-desirable job. But, whatever it takes to keep the family together... be it here in the USA or in Russia.

Nick

Edited February 6, 2009 by ndalessandro

[Corey-Mariya 14]

I would Love to live in RUSSIA! Believe it or not me and my wife actually talked about it for abit when I was over in Russia

[Corey-Mariya 14]

Of course the question always remains.... "what would you do for income" over there?

Sure some of you guys are close to retirement .... and others are amazingly wealthy... but does anyone have any hopes of actually earning anything close to a living over there (assuming the economy picks up)?

I talked to one USC a year or so back, he was starting a car rental biz which catered to the wealthy. I have not heard from him since but I do wonder how it panned out.

I know of another guy living in Ukraine who has hopes to start a lawn-care type service which seems like a lame idea to me.

Of course english tutor is most often the path most people take, unless they are already hooked up with a firm which has work for them in Russia.

good point. The jobs that I would want require citizenship which takes time. i could work in as a hitman or maybe resurrect the KGB, Russia is easy like that in the movies

LOL English teachers get paid pretty good! Is equivalent to 3000 a month which is good for Russia. I met a man over in Russia that was from Canada and did not speak any russian yet he was an english teacher lol He was over on a work visa. Mariyas mom takes english class 3 times a week over in UFA Russia!

[eekee 182]

You can find work in russia, just like russian immigrants find work in USA. How difficult it is for you to find work would depend on:

1. Your level of education

2. If you have any specialities

3. and Most important, who you know.

I emphasis 3, because if you move to russia as a single man... not knowing anyone, I would be inclined to say your chances of finding a job are more difficult. But if you have family over there who could help you find work, your chances have increased.

Maybe I am wrong in what I am about to say, but as far as what I can see from visiting my fiancee, but it seems that a lot of russian business is done by with the, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back' mentality. So, if you have family (your fiance and her family) over there when you move, they can help you to find a job, because at some point in time, somewhere in the past, someone probably owes a family member a favor.

Plus, beggers can not be choosers. I work in a physical capacity now at my current job with Coca-Cola, so the idea of working in a warehouse or doing some form of physical, or intensive physical labor work is okay with me, that would otherwise be turned down by another person because they are used to working in an office setting.

And as time went on, I would gradually master the russian language the best an immigrant could do. I would eventually become a citizen (3 years after marrying my fiance) and I would eventually return to school. Which would eventually lead me to a better job in the future.

But, you have to start somewhere... and that somewhere might be a pretty un-desirable job. But, whatever it takes to keep the family together... be it here in the USA or in Russia.

Nick

It's actually not quite that simple. Many jobs in Russia require citizenship, and are only open to those in a certain age range--usually under 30. Want to work in a clothing store? Sorry, but unless you're under 30 and a citizen, you're probably out of luck. Says so right on the advertisement for the job. And why would a Russian company want to provide visa support to an American citizen if there are Russians who can do the job? Your options are pretty much teaching, working for a foreign company in some capacity, and freelance work.

And sure, there are physical labor jobs open to immigrant workers... but these all go to laborers from the Caucacuses/Central Asia who do these jobs for wages that Russians would not accept.

Edited February 6, 2009 by eekee

[Brad and Vika 129]

We have discussed the possibility briefly, but as with some of the posters above I couldn't make anywhere near the same living I do here. I enjoy traveling to Ukraine, and I think I would enjoy it more if I could stay in one place for awhile. My Russian could use the immersion, and Vika (and her family) would be thrilled. I think eventually splitting time would be great, if my job ever slacks off enough.