Russian, Ukrainian & FSU Information & Manosphere Discussion Forums

Information & Chat => The Expatriate Life: Living in the FSU, Asia or Elsewhere => Topic started by: Steveboy on January 09, 2016, 01:21:19 PM

Title: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 09, 2016, 01:21:19 PM
Now is the best time for any guys to relocate to Russia for the Russian Dream  :)

http://www.pravdareport.com/society/stories/05-11-2015/132508-russian_dream-0/

Thousands do each and every year but you probably just don't realise it. Forget the American dream, the land of milk and honey is finished. Its time to look East to the Russian Dream.

Advantages:

1. Get away from big brother.

2. Take life easy and stress free.

3. No need to spend thousands on trips searching for women. They're on your doorstep :8)

4. Great weather in the summer...

Disadvantages:

1. Cold winters.

2. ????

3. ???

4. Not so easy to find work especially at the moment  :( But what the hell I made it on a £50.00 budget. A positive attitude is all you need.



Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: yankee on January 09, 2016, 01:23:55 PM
Now is the best time for any guys to relocate to Russia for the Russian Dream  :)

http://www.pravdareport.com/society/stories/05-11-2015/132508-russian_dream-0/

Thousands do each and every year but you probably just don't realise it. Forget the American dream, the land of milk and honey is finished. Its time to look East to the Russian Dream.

Advantages:

1. Get away from big brother.

2. Take life easy and stress free.

3. No need to spend thousands on trips searching for women. There on your doorstep :8)

4. Great weather in the summer...

Disadvantages:

1. Cold winters.

2. ????

3. ???

4. Not so easy to find work especially at the moment  :( But what the hell I made it on a £50.00 budget. A positive attitude is all you need.

Not many golf courses!
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 09, 2016, 01:26:47 PM
Now is the best time for any guys to relocate to Russia for the Russian Dream  :)

http://www.pravdareport.com/society/stories/05-11-2015/132508-russian_dream-0/

Thousands do each and every year but you probably just don't realise it. Forget the American dream, the land of milk and honey is finished. Its time to look East to the Russian Dream.

Advantages:

1. Get away from big brother.

2. Take life easy and stress free.

3. No need to spend thousands on trips searching for women. There on your doorstep :8)

4. Great weather in the summer...

Disadvantages:

1. Cold winters.

2. ????

3. ???

4. Not so easy to find work especially at the moment  :( But what the hell I made it on a £50.00 budget. A positive attitude is all you need.

Not many golf courses!

Who told you that?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: yankee on January 09, 2016, 01:44:14 PM
Now is the best time for any guys to relocate to Russia for the Russian Dream  :)

http://www.pravdareport.com/society/stories/05-11-2015/132508-russian_dream-0/

Thousands do each and every year but you probably just don't realise it. Forget the American dream, the land of milk and honey is finished. Its time to look East to the Russian Dream.

Advantages:

1. Get away from big brother.

2. Take life easy and stress free.

3. No need to spend thousands on trips searching for women. There on your doorstep :8)

4. Great weather in the summer...

Disadvantages:

1. Cold winters.

2. ????

3. ???

4. Not so easy to find work especially at the moment  :( But what the hell I made it on a £50.00 budget. A positive attitude is all you need.

Not many golf courses!

Who told you that?

My eyes.  the Vyatka area (Kirov)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AKA Luke on January 09, 2016, 01:47:35 PM
Now is the best time for any guys to relocate to Russia for the Russian Dream  :)

http://www.pravdareport.com/society/stories/05-11-2015/132508-russian_dream-0/

Thousands do each and every year but you probably just don't realise it. Forget the American dream, the land of milk and honey is finished. Its time to look East to the Russian Dream.

Advantages:

1. Get away from big brother.

2. Take life easy and stress free.

3. No need to spend thousands on trips searching for women. There on your doorstep :8)

4. Great weather in the summer...

Disadvantages:

1. Cold winters.

2. ????

3. ???

4. Not so easy to find work especially at the moment  :( But what the hell I made it on a £50.00 budget. A positive attitude is all you need.

Not many golf courses!

No but plenty of slender educated girls. Win some lose some!

EDIT: What's is like playing golf in 6inches of snow?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: yankee on January 09, 2016, 01:51:01 PM
according to Wikipedia, one could count the number of courses (and planned courses) without using the 21st finger.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on January 10, 2016, 12:58:07 AM
Great country if you like art of the 19th and early 20th century.

Horrible if you are challenged by Modern & Post War Art.

If you speak Russian wonderful.

If you do not tough.

You MUST like vodka, beets and cabbage (not necessarily in that order)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 10, 2016, 01:07:42 AM
Great country if you like art of the 19th and early 20th century.

Horrible if you are challenged by Modern & Post War Art.

If you speak Russian wonderful.

If you do not tough.

You MUST like vodka, beets and cabbage (not necessarily in that order)

Whats wrong with beets and cabbage ? :chuckle: Its like saying if you want to relocate to the US you must like hamburgers and french fries  :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on January 10, 2016, 02:53:03 AM
Its like saying if you want to relocate to the US you must like hamburgers and french fries  :)


 :sick0012:  UGH!

Forget to mention guys and girls need to learn to take a dumpski squatting.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on January 10, 2016, 02:54:44 AM
according to Wikipedia, one could count the number of courses (and planned courses) without using the 21st finger.

If Donald become president that will change! American Imperialism takes over  :-X

Just don't tell Manny.  :Zzzzsleep:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: redroo on January 10, 2016, 04:18:36 AM
playing golf in snow is great if you use coloured balls, and make a very,very small snow plow of the green to the hole  :biggrin:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: redroo on January 10, 2016, 05:06:15 AM
Come on Steve, you need to be more honest on the disadvantages.....there's plenty more starting with Police you can't trust, courts that can be bought or pressured, drivers who refuse to follow any known rules, workmen who lack any regulation of training/workmanship or customer service, no such thing as customer service...anywhere, face control, hot water being turned off in summer, current import restrictions, Soviet era planes and airlines that employee Russian maintenance workers, alcohol fueled violence, soccer matches unsafe to spectate unless a racist skinhead, gay friends getting beat to a pulp, women who "don't" smoke (but do  :'(), no-one gives a hoot about littering, girlfriends who think if they keeping driving without their seatbelts long enough the warning alarms will become less annoying  :fighting0025: ........etc etc

but having survived living in Ekaterinburg in the recent past, I can agree with you on your advantages 1,3 and 4, , and add plenty more.....

lack of PC "nazis", majority not ruled by "Facebook" minority rule, feminine women, wonderful fresh/flavorsome berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, ability to buy vegies from "granny" on the corner, dacha's, banya's, freedom to camp in forests and besides lakes and streams, freedom to use snow mobiles, being able to free skate, few law suits, low maintenance friends, summer promenades, every "puddle" being a summer sunbathing spot for models in gstrings, real wood bbq's, plenty of slavic foods and salads, few "planning" issues when renovating, no "Ministry of Anti-fun", cheap mobile phone plans, they had "uber" before Uber (gypsy cabs anyone?) .......  :thumbsup:

I enjoyed my years there in the main, but when choosing where to raise my son there was no contest....

back to Oz, with winter holidays spent "summering" a second time back in Russia/Ukraine

 :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: WestCoast on January 10, 2016, 09:58:51 AM
Steveboy you've got to keep up with the news. One of the advantages of living in Russia is NOT getting away from 'Big Brother', #1 on your list. The Russian government monitors the Internet, telephone and social media at least as well as any US government security service and international signals intelligence groups such as the Five Eyes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Eyes).

The legislation that allows the FSB and I'd guess any other Russian security service to monitor Russian citizen's lives is called SORM Система Оперативно-Розыскных Мероприятий, literally "System for Operative Investigative Activities".  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SORM)

Russian internet service providers are required by law to install the necessary tech, at the ISPs cost, to allow the security services to monitor the Internet. I'm sure the ISPs eventually pass on the cost to their customers.

In the end Steveboy, moving to Russia is just exchanging one 'Big Brother' for another 'Big Brother'. Sorry to crush your dream.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 10, 2016, 10:10:10 AM
Steveboy you've got to keep up with the news. One of the advantages of living in Russia is NOT getting away from 'Big Brother', #1 on your list. The Russian government monitors the Internet, telephone and social media at least as well as any US government security service and international signals intelligence groups such as the Five Eyes (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_Eyes).

The legislation that allows the FSB and I'd guess any other Russian security service to monitor Russian citizen's lives is called SORM Система Оперативно-Розыскных Мероприятий, literally "System for Operative Investigative Activities".  (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SORM)

Russian internet service providers are required by law to install the necessary tech, at the ISPs cost, to allow the security services to monitor the Internet. I'm sure the ISPs eventually pass on the cost to their customers.

In the end Steveboy, moving to Russia is just exchanging one 'Big Brother' for another 'Big Brother'. Sorry to crush your dream.

My dream is far from crushed :)  Everything is perfect for me, my only regret is I wish I never left the UK many many years ago. I hear often hear the same story from many others also who managed to escape the shackles of society  :)  Another one of my close friends from the same village in the UK is following my footsteps this year..

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on January 10, 2016, 02:17:27 PM
Don't worry Westcoast, the world is not as you think. As in many other countries this legislation exists but there has been a lot of discussion about this.

The government gave undertakings about the use and purpose of the legislation.

While people might, with reason, not like the legislation it is directly analogous to that seen in,  for example, the UK. The benefit of legislation is that it provides for limits that can be enforced. The US, for example, on the other hand is intrusive but there is little to no way to control the activity of the observers when legislation does not exist because how does one prosecute that which has no controlling legislation.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: WestCoast on January 10, 2016, 05:16:23 PM
Don't worry Westcoast, the world is not as you think.

I doubt any of us understand the behind the scenes machinations of state level politics and how the security services, be they American, European or Russian, truly work. However, as I repeatedly shown I have a far better understanding of the real world than you ever will.

As in many other countries this legislation exists but there has been a lot of discussion about this.

Perhaps there's been discussion, I certainly didn't see much at least in the English language media.

The government gave undertakings about the use and purpose of the legislation.

Since Russia is one of the most corrupt countries in Europe I wouldn't put much trust in any assurances from the Russian government.

While people might, with reason, not like the legislation it is directly analogous to that seen in,  for example, the UK. The benefit of legislation is that it provides for limits that can be enforced.

Do you really believe if Putin ordered a Russian security service to break the law that he would be held accountable by the Russian government because of this or some other legislation?

The US, for example, on the other hand is intrusive but there is little to no way to control the activity of the observers when legislation does not exist because how does one prosecute that which has no controlling legislation.

Exactly. On the Obama thread I've written repeatedly about the FBI, CIA and other US security services breaking the law without anyone being punished. You really should read my posts on the subject, most of them are great reading.   :popcorn:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: NS1 on January 10, 2016, 05:30:42 PM
I could see many advantages living in any part of the FSU.
But and yes there is always a but :) Its not all peaches and creme.
nothing is, anywhere. I see many disadvantages also.
Steve if you really want to educate and help anyone thinking of
moving to Russia, you should state thee as well.
Remember not everyone has the same personality.
Some could not make a living their. ( this would be a big one for many)
So many + & - why not make two lists.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: TomT on January 10, 2016, 06:11:23 PM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 03:55:49 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 03:58:40 AM
I could see many advantages living in any part of the FSU.
But and yes there is always a but :) Its not all peaches and creme.
nothing is, anywhere. I see many disadvantages also.
Steve if you really want to educate and help anyone thinking of
moving to Russia, you should state thee as well.
Remember not everyone has the same personality.
Some could not make a living their. ( this would be a big one for many)
So many + & - why not make two lists.

Its not a matter "Could not make a living" Its a matter of "Im going to do this"  Of course thats if you wanted to do it. The rest is up to you the same for all in life, if you really want something in life as captain kirk would say "Make it happen" :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on January 11, 2016, 04:02:39 AM
Westcoast, I claim no particular expertise,  except to think and learn, sadly you have yet to demonstrate that what you read from the first result on any given Google search translates,  for you, into learning.

I  am always open to a surprise though!

As your Google knowledge did not show you, in Russia there has been public disquiet about some aspects of recent Russian legislation. As a result of that disquiet the government made some clarifications and undertakings specifically to address those concerns.

I am sure that people like you who do not yet know how email works and who do not trouble themselves to learn will not have been satisfied. But then, there's no known cure for idiocy as your most recent carers can attest.

The problem is that there is a genuine issue in respect of understanding what forces of evil are planning and implementing. Some ability to carry out surveillance is essential.

In Russia, fortunately, the government and leadership has huge popular support and thus trust. This makes it possible to undertake activities in a pretty open manner.

None of this matters for unemployed Canadians wedged into  their vulgalour Lazboys.

As is always the case items of choosing where to live, when one chooses to exercise such a choice, is a matter of compromise. Many people have found that the Russian model of relative state  disinterest in the activity of its citizens provides a level of personal freedom not found on the North American continent. On the downside, some aspects of life are less congenial.

As one who has not made such a choice, with knowledge based only upon what you are told to think, there's not really much that you can reasonably contribute to such a discussion apart from amateur level trolling.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: TomT on January 11, 2016, 08:25:29 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

Yes, the moribund old geezers.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 08:35:30 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

Yes, the moribund old geezers.

There could be another problem there is no Coronation Street or Eastenders the UK lot, I know some people cannot survive without the daily soap update:)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Dogsoldier on January 11, 2016, 09:04:30 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

Yes, the moribund old geezers.

There could be another problem there is no Coronation Street or Eastenders the UK lot, I know some people cannot survive without the daily soap update:)
What, no satellite tv in Rossiya?
Moby can sort that out, surely?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 09:20:44 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

Yes, the moribund old geezers.

There could be another problem there is no Coronation Street or Eastenders the UK lot, I know some people cannot survive without the daily soap update:)
What, no satellite tv in Rossiya?
Moby can sort that out, surely?

I have Cable and Netflix but can't find Corrie or Eastenders any where.. not that i want to watch that rubbish anyway :chuckle:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on January 11, 2016, 09:25:48 AM
If you need that stuff then there's torrents to download. The process can be automated to catch the latest episodes as they are uploaded.

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 10:15:13 AM
If you need that stuff then there's torrents to download. The process can be automated to catch the latest episodes as they are uploaded.

I left the Uk to get away from that stuff as well :chuckle: It beats me how when there is a murder in Eastenders the whole of the UK is in watching the nonsense. The streets are deserted :laugh:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Chris on January 11, 2016, 11:00:06 AM
If you need that stuff then there's torrents to download. The process can be automated to catch the latest episodes as they are uploaded.

I left the Uk to get away from that stuff as well :chuckle: It beats me how when there is a murder in Eastenders the whole of the UK is in watching the nonsense. The streets are deserted :laugh:

Not me, I have never watched an episode in my life and have no intention of doing so.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Dogsoldier on January 11, 2016, 11:12:10 AM
If you need that stuff then there's torrents to download. The process can be automated to catch the latest episodes as they are uploaded.

I left the Uk to get away from that stuff as well :chuckle: It beats me how when there is a murder in Eastenders the whole of the UK is in watching the nonsense. The streets are deserted :laugh:

Not me, I have never watched an episode in my life and have no intention of doing so.
Indeed.    :sick0012:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AKA Luke on January 11, 2016, 11:19:06 AM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

Yes, the moribund old geezers.

There could be another problem there is no Coronation Street or Eastenders the UK lot, I know some people cannot survive without the daily soap update:)

Surely they're the kind of people 1 would not want to associate with if you relocated to Russia or anywhere infact (except maybe Benidorm  :hidechair:)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: NS1 on January 11, 2016, 11:21:58 AM
I would think TV would be the least of anyones worries.
But then I don't watch much TV.
I looked at the possibility of retiring in Ukraine once.
But reality is, will never happen. To many better places ( warmer)
One can choose.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Dogsoldier on January 11, 2016, 11:26:47 AM
I would think TV would be the least of anyones worries.
But then I don't watch much TV.
I looked at the possibility of retiring in Ukraine once.
But reality is, will never happen. To many better places ( warmer)
One can choose.
I think there are some people who need their telly fix and would make life choices around the availability or not of their  soap diet.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AKA Luke on January 11, 2016, 11:35:26 AM
I would think TV would be the least of anyones worries.
But then I don't watch much TV.
I looked at the possibility of retiring in Ukraine once.
But reality is, will never happen. To many better places ( warmer)
One can choose.
I think there are some people who need their telly fix and would make life choices around the availability or not of their  soap diet.

They typically choose benidorm, mainly for financial reasons but the soaps being an added bonus.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on January 11, 2016, 11:56:40 AM
Benidorm, great show! I have to catch the latest series. :laugh:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 11, 2016, 12:40:58 PM
The last time I sat down and watched TV was over 6 years ago! Never have time and not really interested, I watch the BBC news once or twice a week unless its the same subject then I give it a rest for a few weeks.
If I happen to be at my parents in the UK visiting I usually have my laptop in my hand anyway so blank the TV.
I watch 2/3 movies a day whilst working and its getting harder to find any good ones now a days, seen them all :chuckle:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: TomT on January 11, 2016, 03:20:21 PM
There could be another problem there is no Coronation Street or Eastenders the UK lot, I know some people cannot survive without the daily soap update:)

In the U.S., the moribund old geezers rot their brains in front of Fox News. (Watching soaps isn't practical because they can't even remember what happened at the beginning of the current episode, much less the previous one.)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on January 11, 2016, 07:07:41 PM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

I trust this is a question you are also addressing to yourself... being a frequent traveller to Russia

PS Thank God for the folk who want to live in another country and watch their home nation's tv - without any pc knowledge..

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on January 15, 2016, 01:48:23 PM
The burning question is whether or not there are enough comfy armchairs in Russia to go around.

 :chuckle: Who for? All the old geezers from the forum?

I wonder, are these the words of Steve or his evil twin, JustMD?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 09, 2016, 10:56:14 AM
One thing I have noticed since I left the Uk is usually I have no idea what day of the week it is.. :laugh:

It doesn't really matter what day it is anymore its "Just another day" I love this freedom and being able to get up in the morning and not really care what day it is ;D

When I was in the UK I only ever worked for some one else for about four years of my life and god I hated every second of it.. I used to just watch the clock every day.. :(
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: bagalia on August 09, 2016, 11:16:25 AM
One thing I have noticed since I left the Uk is usually I have no idea what day of the week it is.. :laugh:

It doesn't really matter what day it is anymore its "Just another day" I love this freedom and being able to get up in the morning and not really care what day it is ;D

When I was in the UK I only ever worked for some one else for about four years of my life and god I hated every second of it.. I used to just watch the clock every day.. :(

Its just another definition for retirement.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 09, 2016, 11:18:27 AM
One thing I have noticed since I left the Uk is usually I have no idea what day of the week it is.. :laugh:

It doesn't really matter what day it is anymore its "Just another day" I love this freedom and being able to get up in the morning and not really care what day it is ;D

When I was in the UK I only ever worked for some one else for about four years of my life and god I hated every second of it.. I used to just watch the clock every day.. :(

Its just another definition for retirement.

I wish!! Unfortunately I have to work 24/7 nearly  :(
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 10, 2016, 02:17:24 AM
There could be a few more cases like this in the not to distant future...  :laugh:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3731430/German-family-travel-Russia-claim-ASYLUM-claiming-country-no-longer-safe-migrant-influx.html
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on August 10, 2016, 06:23:20 AM
There could be a few more cases like this in the not to distant future...  :laugh:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3731430/German-family-travel-Russia-claim-ASYLUM-claiming-country-no-longer-safe-migrant-influx.html

Not sure this is the poster family for immagration.

Quite possibly this family would do well on the Jerry Springer show. The parents seem to have no education and came to Russia not only with there daughters but there young grand children as well.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 10, 2016, 07:29:26 AM
They would probably do well on the jeramy Kyle show..


Well I hope they don't move in next door to me.. :laugh:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Boris on August 10, 2016, 10:26:56 AM
They would probably do well on the jeramy Kyle show..


Well I hope they don't move in next door to me.. :laugh:

Hi Steveboy. You started posting here during one of my sabbaticals. What is your business as in "in the business" under your avatar?

***Nevermind. Found it all in your very first post***
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 10, 2016, 12:32:01 PM
They would probably do well on the jeramy Kyle show..


Well I hope they don't move in next door to me.. :laugh:

Hi Steveboy. You started posting here during one of my sabbaticals. What is your business as in "in the business" under your avatar?

***Nevermind. Found it all in your very first post***

You can find out a little here .. redsquarecupid.com   ;D though still working on some projects..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Manny on August 10, 2016, 01:07:45 PM
redsquarecupid.com

Put a comma after 2009, hyphenate "fast paced" and "multi platform" like so: fast-paced, multi-platform.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 10, 2016, 02:06:18 PM
redsquarecupid.com

Put a comma after 2009, hyphenate "fast paced" and "multi platform" like so: fast-paced, multi-platform.

 :hide chair:  Were making a photo shoot soon to add. Myself the wife and our two developers "Team Cupid" just things are taking longer than planned as usual.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 11, 2016, 04:21:21 AM
Quote
Established in 2009 we are a dynamic fast paced technology company creating interactive multi platform niche dating sites

Established in 2009, we are a dynamic, fast-paced, technology company creating interactive, multi-platform, niche dating sites.

One can never employ too many cliches!
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 11, 2016, 05:05:48 AM
Quote
Established in 2009 we are a dynamic fast paced technology company creating interactive multi platform niche dating sites

Established in 2009, we are a dynamic, fast-paced, technology company creating interactive, multi-platform, niche dating sites.

One can never employ too many cliches!

Its always best to tell the truth  ;D  As time will show..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 11, 2016, 05:28:17 AM
Not suggesting that the words are not true but they are what every university case study group uses in their presentations. :)


https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22dynamic%20fast%20paced%20technology%20company%22

9,940 results for exactly the same text

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22creating+interactive+multi+platform%22

2,120 results for exactly the same text

Worse yet - 534 cases of exactly the same text "dynamic fast paced technology company creating interactive multi platform":
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&rlz=1C1SAVS_enEE543EE545&oq=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&aqs=chrome..69i57.294171j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I bet that you'd also claim your business was unique, yes?
So, your keystone claims also need to be unique.

A potential client or investor seeing your words will take away, possibly incorrectly, the idea that your business is not as unique as you claim when he reads words he has read five times already that morning. :)

Perhaps your copywriter saw this page: http://www.snap-interactive.com/ :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 11, 2016, 05:44:57 AM
Not suggesting that the words are not true but they are what every university case study group uses in their presentations. :)


https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22dynamic%20fast%20paced%20technology%20company%22

9,940 results for exactly the same text

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22creating+interactive+multi+platform%22

2,120 results for exactly the same text

Worse yet - 534 cases of exactly the same text "dynamic fast paced technology company creating interactive multi platform":
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&rlz=1C1SAVS_enEE543EE545&oq=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&aqs=chrome..69i57.294171j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I bet that you'd also claim your business was unique, yes?
So, your keystone claims also need to be unique.

A potential client or investor seeing your words will take away, possibly incorrectly, the idea that your business is not as unique as you claim when he reads words he has read five times already that morning. :)

Perhaps your copywriter saw this page: http://www.snap-interactive.com/ :)

Perhaps your copywriter saw this page:

I do all design and graphics myself. Nearly every every design/internet company uses some ideas from another company.  :hidechair:

What I can tell you for 100% is remember these words "In less than four years time we will have one of the largest global niche dating networks"

But more importantly all our members will have the safest online dating experience possible. Where we will be different is there truly will be NO scammers on any of our sites.. all sites will be protected by "CupidGuard" all coming soon. Im two years behind due to certain things out of my control :(

But were catching up now and very very close to rolling lots of new products out..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 11, 2016, 05:57:27 AM
Not suggesting that the words are not true but they are what every university case study group uses in their presentations. :)


https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22dynamic%20fast%20paced%20technology%20company%22

9,940 results for exactly the same text

https://www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=%22creating+interactive+multi+platform%22

2,120 results for exactly the same text

Worse yet - 534 cases of exactly the same text "dynamic fast paced technology company creating interactive multi platform":
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&rlz=1C1SAVS_enEE543EE545&oq=%22dynamic+fast+paced+technology+company+creating+interactive+multi+platform%22&aqs=chrome..69i57.294171j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

I bet that you'd also claim your business was unique, yes?
So, your keystone claims also need to be unique.

A potential client or investor seeing your words will take away, possibly incorrectly, the idea that your business is not as unique as you claim when he reads words he has read five times already that morning. :)

Perhaps your copywriter saw this page: http://www.snap-interactive.com/ :)

For me being unique in the design side of thing really doesn't matter. I could go to any seaside resort and find 20 fish and chip stalls , probably all looking exactly the same. Its very hard to come up with a unique design.

The one that would be most important is the stall that has 90% customer retention and double the sales of any of its competitors just a few yards away , that is what I would call unique. ;D

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 11, 2016, 08:01:18 AM
Is always your choice, however the link I shared with you from Snap-Interactive is also in the same niche as you: interactive online dating. Thing is they have all the good rankings for the terms you share. Your site will always be the second site that people find using the words that you have chosen to share with them. :(

There's loads of fish and chip shops and they are mostly identical. The one that does the best though is the one that stands out from the crowd.

This is not design, it is language, it is words, it is how we search for stuff on the Internets.

I doubt that Snap copied your words. :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 11, 2016, 08:24:05 AM
My friend recently had a new home site designed by a top firm in Chicago , he found most of their text had been taken from other sites. Im not saying that is the thing to do but its pretty normal. VK copied Facebook and Facebook took their idea from another site. Its pretty well the same for many sites. I don't think it is possible to make your site stand out from the crowd so much that it will make a difference.

More important for me is financials, customer retention and reputation. If you have a great reputation on the net it doesn't take long for the word to spread..I want members to sign up and have no reason whatsoever to leave or try anywhere else until they find what they are looking for.  :)

Anyway time will tell..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 16, 2016, 10:31:24 PM
A few more reasons to relocate to Russia.

http://theduran.com/peter-lavelle-10-good-reasons-move-russia/
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Jerash on August 16, 2016, 11:22:45 PM
Thank you. I was still looking for some, just to reassure :) , but I think it's going to happen.


.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Jerash on August 16, 2016, 11:24:22 PM
I've got more than 50 pounds Steve, but it's not like if be going over with a fat bank account or anything.


.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Jerash on August 16, 2016, 11:31:32 PM
Of course you had a girl to come to and she would house you. I don't have anything like that. I'd be going in cold without really m/any contacts other than the RUA Forum. I want to save up for a few months more before taking the plunge. It seems crazy to come over there in January, but that's how the timing looks best.

Seems like a lot of people my age are making changes so it's not just me. It's time to do something different, so yes I'm serious about this.

I was thinking to go to Moscow. It seems the most obvious. Any reasons that I should consider something else?


.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 17, 2016, 04:28:59 PM
Of course you had a girl to come to and she would house you. I don't have anything like that. I'd be going in cold without really m/any contacts other than the RUA Forum. I want to save up for a few months more before taking the plunge. It seems crazy to come over there in January, but that's how the timing looks best.

Seems like a lot of people my age are making changes so it's not just me. It's time to do something different, so yes I'm serious about this.

I was thinking to go to Moscow. It seems the most obvious. Any reasons that I should consider something else?


.

No Moscow is as good as any place as any to start..Every thing in life is there for the taking, if you want something just take it.. As James T Kirk often said when asking Hikaru Sulu to hit the accelerator "Make it happen"

I would advise to have more than £50 in your pocket.. Im sure Moscow is full of nice women who would love a foreign guy to move in with her.. :)

Yes I had a girls house to move into but I spent about 5 years doing Moscow on the cheap and same often in St Petersburg.. £15 London to Riga, £12 bus Riga to St Petersburg  :(  I would of been happy to hitch also. Had to economise so I could afford to go out, its not cheap to party in Russia.

For me wether I left the UK and moved in with my girl didn't really matter. I was leaving the UK anyway, if I left and slept in a tent for 6 months I would of done that! I made many scarifies to be able to leave the UK and Im 100% sure most would never do the same. I also had to suffer much  :)

But Im happy now all payed off. I live pretty comfortably , can do what I want , travel where I want when I want. And more importantly Im answerable to none..





Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 18, 2016, 07:07:31 AM
Is always your choice, however the link I shared with you from Snap-Interactive is also in the same niche as you: interactive online dating. Thing is they have all the good rankings for the terms you share. Your site will always be the second site that people find using the words that you have chosen to share with them. :(

There's loads of fish and chip shops and they are mostly identical. The one that does the best though is the one that stands out from the crowd.

This is not design, it is language, it is words, it is how we search for stuff on the Internets.

I doubt that Snap copied your words. :)


Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 18, 2016, 07:08:18 AM
Is always your choice, however the link I shared with you from Snap-Interactive is also in the same niche as you: interactive online dating. Thing is they have all the good rankings for the terms you share. Your site will always be the second site that people find using the words that you have chosen to share with them. :(

There's loads of fish and chip shops and they are mostly identical. The one that does the best though is the one that stands out from the crowd.

This is not design, it is language, it is words, it is how we search for stuff on the Internets.

I doubt that Snap copied your words. :)


Snap are nothing special.. actually sales are down for them.

http://www.onlinepersonalswatch.com/news/2016/08/snap-q2-results-revenue-down-18-yoy.html

I plan to create websites (These will up and running very very soon) that members "cannot live without" if members "Love" your web site small things don't really matter. There are few if any niche dating sites that do this. Its where I plan to be unique  :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 20, 2016, 01:37:09 AM
Over the years I have received emails from various people asking me questions about relocating. I thought I'd just post "my" answers to the board in a general sense and not address things personally in emails. Should anyone have questions, please feel free to ask them here. I'll start with some basics:

Not everyone is cutout to live in another country. Are you someone who is flexible and can deal with issues that while easy at home, become much more problematic living in another country?

Are you outgoing yet not gullible? Meeting locals will be key to your adjustment period as well as moving forward for any length of time. While networking is always important, I can't overemphasize its importance once you've landed in your new country. Without a good local network you're simply going to have major problems.

Do you think you have all the answers? You don’t!

One of the most overlooked aspects of moving to another country is the person's personality. Living in another country is not for everyone. This is especially true when factoring in another language.

While more and more people are indeed moving to another country, the numbers remain small relatively speaking.

If you are someone who cannot remain flexible, find it hard to deal with situations that would be considered small in your country but much bigger in your "new" country, or you are introverted to the point where you find it hard to get out and meet new people; best to stay home. You should be moving to your new country, not running away from your situation.

It should go without saying that you should have most of your loose ends tied up. This mean emotionally, physically, financially and legally. These suggestions are also not for anyone transferring with your company as much of the hassle of moving will be handled by your company.

Where are you going? Sounds obvious I know, but it's a great big world out there and choosing the right place for you may not be as easy as it sounds. This is why I suggest living in the place of your choice before pulling the trigger. I had been to Moscow half a dozen times and spent about 4 months living "like a local" before deciding to move.

I spent a month and a half in Moscow right before my move, and when I returned to the States spent 2 months tying up any loose end before I made the move.

Money? Even though I had a lot of credit card debt at the time, I also had about $10k in cash from selling a few things in the interim. I have a home in LA and was able to secure about $900 a month positive cash flow from it after renting my place which allowed me to offset my credit card debt and focus my remaining money on my transition.

My suggestion here is to have at least $10k in funds before making the move, ideally without any debt hanging over your head of course. I also put a limit on my time in my new country (1-year) where if things didn't work out I would return home, regroup and continue on with my life.

Unless you already have a steady stream of income, you will go backwards before you move forward (which might happen even with a steady stream of income). To give you an idea, it took me about 1 1/2 years to earn the same amount of money I was spending at the time and start to move forward. YMMV..

I also don't subscribe to the "it will cost you more to live in another country than your own" paradigm. It costs me less to live in Moscow than LA, period. I live the same lifestyle and want for nothing. The main reasons for this is no mortgage (paid for by my tenants), and no car. It is also more expensive to rent an apt. in LA than Moscow, especially now. Mortgages can be optional, but in America, and especially in LA, a car is a necessity; Moscow it is not.

Not having a car saves me close to a grand a month in payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. I have broken down the cost of living metrics many times before between LA and Moscow so save your argument if anyone has one.

Staying in country? One of the biggest hurdles to moving to a FSU country is how to stay in country year round. I always suggest teaching. Why? Well, first of all any school that hires you will provide you with a year round work visa. Simple.

There are other advantages hiring on as a teacher. First, you can still have outside sources of income through the internet, for instance, and teaching won't take you away from that. But, probably the most important thing teaching will provide is the chance to network through all the students you will be meeting, which is invaluable. It will also make your transition much, much easier.

I hired on after a little more than a month living in Moscow and started meeting people by the droves. Not only did it provide me with a wonderful pipeline of locals whom could help me with any situation, the normal culture shock and loneliness of moving to a place where you know no one, and don't speak the language was virtually nonexistent.

You will not make much money at first teaching, but if you're the type of person the meshes well with all types of people and are fairly intelligent, your income can easily afford you a decent lifestyle.

More to come...




Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Omega1982 on August 20, 2016, 07:51:45 PM
Great post Dan.  I wish we had more posts like this.   

What are you doing for health insurance, retirement contributions such as social security and 401k. 

Do you have another job besides teaching? 

It really sounds like you have everything in order.  A good central apartment, a job, good friends, connections, unlimited access to the local dating scene.  Moscow is a great city.  I've been there 3 times and absolutely love it. 

Dorogaya maya stalitsa! 
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 21, 2016, 01:31:41 AM
When I came to Russia I had no health insurance whatsoever never have at any time even when visiting..If anything should happen, well I guess it would be a bed in a Russian hospital with the locals.  :)
Next year I plan to take some kind of medical insurance out for all of us already looking for something at the moment.

I have no retirement contributions, no pension or anything like..probably land up in a state run nursing home for the elderly later... :sick0012:
But we are buying an apartment here at the moment and all going to plan hope to start buying a place every year for the next few years.. I guess that will have to do.

Unless you have some highly paid corporate job or lots of cash in the bank I think short term, pensions, retirement funds and all that are put in the back burner as they say..more important to get your foot in the door..

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 02:36:47 AM
When I came to Russia I had no health insurance whatsoever never have at any time even when visiting..If anything should happen, well I guess it would be a bed in a Russian hospital with the locals.  :)
Next year I plan to take some kind of medical insurance out for all of us already looking for something at the moment.

I have no retirement contributions, no pension or anything like..probably land up in a state run nursing home for the elderly later... :sick0012:
But we are buying an apartment here at the moment and all going to plan hope to start buying a place every year for the next few years.. I guess that will have to do.

Unless you have some highly paid corporate job or lots of cash in the bank I think short term, pensions, retirement funds and all that are put in the back burner as they say..more important to get your foot in the door..

Be very careful when choosing a health insurance plan, many do NOT cover serious health problems, or just refuse to pay claiming that false info was given at the policies issue.....

I pay for all of the treatment that I have had, I use my various specialists that I have found, and only use private medical facilities/clinics...

Many Russian hospitals/doctors can leave much to be desired....

If you are working in Russia, you should be paying your taxes and social contributions, this will cover many medical situations, and after paying into the pension fund for 7 years (currently, changing to 8 next year Jan), you will be entitled to a Russian pension...

HTH..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 02:44:31 AM
Over the years I have received emails from various people asking me questions about relocating. I thought I'd just post "my" answers to the board in a general sense and not address things personally in emails. Should anyone have questions, please feel free to ask them here. I'll start with some basics:

Not everyone is cutout to live in another country. Are you someone who is flexible and can deal with issues that while easy at home, become much more problematic living in another country?

Are you outgoing yet not gullible? Meeting locals will be key to your adjustment period as well as moving forward for any length of time. While networking is always important, I can't overemphasize its importance once you've landed in your new country. Without a good local network you're simply going to have major problems.

Do you think you have all the answers? You don’t!

One of the most overlooked aspects of moving to another country is the person's personality. Living in another country is not for everyone. This is especially true when factoring in another language.

While more and more people are indeed moving to another country, the numbers remain small relatively speaking.

If you are someone who cannot remain flexible, find it hard to deal with situations that would be considered small in your country but much bigger in your "new" country, or you are introverted to the point where you find it hard to get out and meet new people; best to stay home. You should be moving to your new country, not running away from your situation.

It should go without saying that you should have most of your loose ends tied up. This mean emotionally, physically, financially and legally. These suggestions are also not for anyone transferring with your company as much of the hassle of moving will be handled by your company.

Where are you going? Sounds obvious I know, but it's a great big world out there and choosing the right place for you may not be as easy as it sounds. This is why I suggest living in the place of your choice before pulling the trigger. I had been to Moscow half a dozen times and spent about 4 months living "like a local" before deciding to move.

I spent a month and a half in Moscow right before my move, and when I returned to the States spent 2 months tying up any loose end before I made the move.

Money? Even though I had a lot of credit card debt at the time, I also had about $10k in cash from selling a few things in the interim. I have a home in LA and was able to secure about $900 a month positive cash flow from it after renting my place which allowed me to offset my credit card debt and focus my remaining money on my transition.

My suggestion here is to have at least $10k in funds before making the move, ideally without any debt hanging over your head of course. I also put a limit on my time in my new country (1-year) where if things didn't work out I would return home, regroup and continue on with my life.

Unless you already have a steady stream of income, you will go backwards before you move forward (which might happen even with a steady stream of income). To give you an idea, it took me about 1 1/2 years to earn the same amount of money I was spending at the time and start to move forward. YMMV..

I also don't subscribe to the "it will cost you more to live in another country than your own" paradigm. It costs me less to live in Moscow than LA, period. I live the same lifestyle and want for nothing. The main reasons for this is no mortgage (paid for by my tenants), and no car. It is also more expensive to rent an apt. in LA than Moscow, especially now. Mortgages can be optional, but in America, and especially in LA, a car is a necessity; Moscow it is not.

Not having a car saves me close to a grand a month in payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. I have broken down the cost of living metrics many times before between LA and Moscow so save your argument if anyone has one.

Staying in country? One of the biggest hurdles to moving to a FSU country is how to stay in country year round. I always suggest teaching. Why? Well, first of all any school that hires you will provide you with a year round work visa. Simple.

There are other advantages hiring on as a teacher. First, you can still have outside sources of income through the internet, for instance, and teaching won't take you away from that. But, probably the most important thing teaching will provide is the chance to network through all the students you will be meeting, which is invaluable. It will also make your transition much, much easier.

I hired on after a little more than a month living in Moscow and started meeting people by the droves. Not only did it provide me with a wonderful pipeline of locals whom could help me with any situation, the normal culture shock and loneliness of moving to a place where you know no one, and don't speak the language was virtually nonexistent.

You will not make much money at first teaching, but if you're the type of person the meshes well with all types of people and are fairly intelligent, your income can easily afford you a decent lifestyle.

More to come...

A fairly accurate report, thank you, though I would say that living outside of Moscow, would be much cheaper and therefore less financial "back-up" is required, though one must accept that salaries will also be that much lower.....
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 21, 2016, 02:56:14 AM
When I came to Russia I had no health insurance whatsoever never have at any time even when visiting..If anything should happen, well I guess it would be a bed in a Russian hospital with the locals.  :)
Next year I plan to take some kind of medical insurance out for all of us already looking for something at the moment.

I have no retirement contributions, no pension or anything like..probably land up in a state run nursing home for the elderly later... :sick0012:
But we are buying an apartment here at the moment and all going to plan hope to start buying a place every year for the next few years.. I guess that will have to do.

Unless you have some highly paid corporate job or lots of cash in the bank I think short term, pensions, retirement funds and all that are put in the back burner as they say..more important to get your foot in the door..

Be very careful when choosing a health insurance plan, many do NOT cover serious health problems, or just refuse to pay claiming that false info was given at the policies issue.....

I pay for all of the treatment that I have had, I use my various specialists that I have found, and only use private medical facilities/clinics...

Many Russian hospitals/doctors can leave much to be desired....

If you are working in Russia, you should be paying your taxes and social contributions, this will cover many medical situations, and after paying into the pension fund for 7 years (currently, changing to 8 next year Jan), you will be entitled to a Russian pension...

HTH..

I trust medical insurers as much as I trust financial advisors, estate agents and mobile phone shop assistants thats 0. I also don't trust any pensions/pension funds or any such thing. Bricks and mortar is all thats left to trust in this doggy world.


Im lucky touch wood I have never been to Hospital in my life and never had any problems as of yet. Anyway Im in the Uk now for a couple of weeks so should I get run over or something I can use the NHS  :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 03:45:24 AM
And pray...... ;D
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 21, 2016, 03:50:42 AM
And pray...... ;D

Yes probably right!  :chuckle:

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 21, 2016, 04:08:47 AM
I have had insurance through work off and on, but don't have it now. I do think about it as well, but like Gipsy, pay for most matters myself at the moment. Fortunately, I use prevention as my main source of insurance and yes...pray :P.

As far as investments go, it's all relative to the individual. I have a Roth IRA, rental property in LA, and a few other personal investments and I'm always looking for ways to supplement my salary with some sort of passive income.

I have also qualified for a Russian pension and some of the "benefits" from living and being registered in Moscow. Last Thursday was my 12 year anniversary in Moscow and I have been registered in this city for almost 10 years FWIW.

Another reason to consider a relocate ;D. Here's a video from a friend partying in Odessa last night. Seems it's business as usual as Ibiza:
https://www.facebook.com/vasily.chikinov/videos/10209692949377973/
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 21, 2016, 04:12:20 AM
A fairly accurate report, thank you, though I would say that living outside of Moscow, would be much cheaper and therefore less financial "back-up" is required, though one must accept that salaries will also be that much lower.....
Yes, it's more expensive living in Moscow, but as you mentioned, you make less money living elsewhere; as much as 50-80% less depending.

I also chose Moscow for the "potential" opportunities with regard to money. If you are transferred with a company to anywhere in the FSU, it's moot. But if you're thinking about teaching as I did, you will never even come close to having the same opportunities to work than you do in Moscow.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 21, 2016, 04:22:01 AM
Great post Dan.  I wish we had more posts like this.   

What are you doing for health insurance, retirement contributions such as social security and 401k. 

Do you have another job besides teaching? 

It really sounds like you have everything in order.  A good central apartment, a job, good friends, connections, unlimited access to the local dating scene.  Moscow is a great city.  I've been there 3 times and absolutely love it. 

Dorogaya maya stalitsa!
Yes Omega, my life is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. After 12 years, you better have your "shit" together somewhat.

I have tried a few other things to make money here and there, e.g. import cars and provide certain services to both locals and foreigners, but I have also been able to sell my teaching services to affluent individuals and businesses; that's where the real money is.

Teachers come and go here, and most just don't have the skills, insight, or personality to pull it off, but if you know how to market yourself, and have the "personality" to work well with Russians, you can really live well off teaching income alone.

more to come...

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 04:47:10 AM
A fairly accurate report, thank you, though I would say that living outside of Moscow, would be much cheaper and therefore less financial "back-up" is required, though one must accept that salaries will also be that much lower.....
Yes, it's more expensive living in Moscow, but as you mentioned, you make less money; as much as 50-80% less depending.

I also chose Moscow for the "potential" opportunities with regard to money. If you are transferred with a company to anywhere in the FSU, it's moot. But if you're thinking about teaching as I did, you will never even come close to having the same opportunities to work than you do in Moscow.

That is questionable...
Maybe in the teaching profession, but I know people who have a salary of equal level to similar positions in the big 2 cities...( and the lower level salaries are also pretty much comparable)...
I also know people who manage to survive on about 15k/r/month... Don't ask me how they do it....
Property of course is that much cheaper...and probably do not increase in a similar manner...
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 04:49:20 AM
Great post Dan.  I wish we had more posts like this.   

What are you doing for health insurance, retirement contributions such as social security and 401k. 

Do you have another job besides teaching? 

It really sounds like you have everything in order.  A good central apartment, a job, good friends, connections, unlimited access to the local dating scene.  Moscow is a great city.  I've been there 3 times and absolutely love it. 

Dorogaya maya stalitsa!
Yes Omega, my life is not bad by any stretch of the imagination. After 12 years, you better have your "shit" together somewhat.

I have tried a few other things to make money here and there, e.g. import cars and provide certain services to both locals and foreigners, but I have also been able to sell my teaching services to affluent individuals and businesses; that's where the real money is.

Teachers come and go here, and most just don't have the skills, insight, or personality to pull it off, but if you know how to market yourself, and have the "personality" to work well with Russians, you can really live well off teaching income alone.

more to come...

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 21, 2016, 05:43:48 AM
A fairly accurate report, thank you, though I would say that living outside of Moscow, would be much cheaper and therefore less financial "back-up" is required, though one must accept that salaries will also be that much lower.....
Yes, it's more expensive living in Moscow, but as you mentioned, you make less money; as much as 50-80% less depending.

I also chose Moscow for the "potential" opportunities with regard to money. If you are transferred with a company to anywhere in the FSU, it's moot. But if you're thinking about teaching as I did, you will never even come close to having the same opportunities to work than you do in Moscow.

That is questionable...
Maybe in the teaching profession, but I know people who have a salary of equal level to similar positions in the big 2 cities...( and the lower level salaries are also pretty much comparable)...
I also know people who manage to survive on about 15k/r/month... Don't ask me how they do it....
Property of course is that much cheaper...and probably do not increase in a similar manner...
Yes Gipsy, I'm mostly talking about the teaching profession. But if you look at the average income in Moscow compared to the rest of the country were looking at 61K to about 40K as of the end of 2015. Yes, not 50% (again I was talking primarily about teaching opportunities), but close to 35%.

I have an acquaintance who just returned from Tyumen. His short 4-month stint there (he's a lawyer) was to go and set up a new office in the city and hire a Managing Director. The base salary for that position was 40% less than for the same position in Moscow.

Again, working in Russia without being transferred with an affiliate company leaves few options outside of teaching for the average punter. I had also referred to living in "all" parts of Russia, not just the big 2. :)

If we focus on relocating and the Russian dream a la 2016 and beyond, the days of foreigners transferring to Russia with their companies are all but over, at least until they lift the sanctions. And the vast majority that do come are either based in Moscow, or working in Moscow.

And just for the record, Moscow was not my first choice of places to relocate. I wanted to move to another city, but i quickly realized that the working opportunities for someone moving here without the benefit of an affiliation were really lacking outside of Moscow; and that included St Petersburg as well. 

Again, your average punter is going to have few options for working outside of teaching unless they have an internet based job, even without taking into consideration that 99.9% of them will have no Russian language skills.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 21, 2016, 06:00:07 AM
and quickly just to add, I also refer to opportunities. For example, I have a teaching acquaintance who lives in Kazan and is rather busy all things considered for Kazan. While she charges about 25% less than I do for private individuals, I have triple the clients.

And if we factor in business client potential, well, it's not even close. Opportunities my man, opportunities.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 08:56:02 AM
A fairly accurate report, thank you, though I would say that living outside of Moscow, would be much cheaper and therefore less financial "back-up" is required, though one must accept that salaries will also be that much lower.....
Yes, it's more expensive living in Moscow, but as you mentioned, you make less money; as much as 50-80% less depending.

I also chose Moscow for the "potential" opportunities with regard to money. If you are transferred with a company to anywhere in the FSU, it's moot. But if you're thinking about teaching as I did, you will never even come close to having the same opportunities to work than you do in Moscow.

That is questionable...
Maybe in the teaching profession, but I know people who have a salary of equal level to similar positions in the big 2 cities...( and the lower level salaries are also pretty much comparable)...
I also know people who manage to survive on about 15k/r/month... Don't ask me how they do it....
Property of course is that much cheaper...and probably do not increase in a similar manner...
Yes Gipsy, I'm mostly talking about the teaching profession. But if you look at the average income in Moscow compared to the rest of the country were looking at 61K to about 40K as of the end of 2015. Yes, not 50% (again I was talking primarily about teaching opportunities), but close to 35%.

I have an acquaintance who just returned from Tyumen. His short 4-month stint there (he's a lawyer) was to go and set up a new office in the city and hire a Managing Director. The base salary for that position was 40% less than for the same position in Moscow.

Again, working in Russia without being transferred with an affiliate company leaves few options outside of teaching for the average punter. I had also referred to living in "all" parts of Russia, not just the big 2. :)

If we focus on relocating and the Russian dream a la 2016 and beyond, the days of foreigners transferring to Russia with their companies are all but over, at least until they lift the sanctions. And the vast majority that do come are either based in Moscow, or working in Moscow.

And just for the record, Moscow was not my first choice of places to relocate. I wanted to move to another city, but i quickly realized that the working opportunities for someone moving here without the benefit of an affiliation were really lacking outside of Moscow; and that included St Petersburg as well. 

Again, your average punter is going to have few options for working outside of teaching unless they have an internet based job, even without taking into consideration that 99.9% of them will have no Russian language skills.

No quarrel here...
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 21, 2016, 08:58:14 AM
and quickly just to add, I also refer to opportunities. For example, I have a teaching acquaintance who lives in Kazan and is rather busy all things considered for Kazan. While she charges about 25% less than I do for private individuals, I have triple the clients.

And if we factor in business client potential, well, it's not even close. Opportunities my man, opportunities.

Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 21, 2016, 06:50:29 PM
While it used to be possible for unvisa'd, unqualified, untrained, itinerants to get paid employment in Russia, even in Moscow, is that still true today?

Historically teaching English has been, for the itinerant anglophone in many countries,  the better alternative between a choice of crop picking and transferring the inbuilt mother tongue to those unable to discern differing standards of language ability. Does that still work in a country that is increasingly keen to impose visa regulations previously overlooked and less willing to pay the unschooled to school their students?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 22, 2016, 03:59:13 AM
While it used to be possible for unvisa'd, unqualified, untrained, itinerants to get paid employment in Russia, even in Moscow, is that still true today?


TBAH, Dan is probably the best person to respond to this question...

The un-knowledgeable would probably suggest, that whilst this would be difficult to do in Moscow or St P's these days, the outer, and more far flung places would probably be thrilled to accept anyone who is a natural born English speaker as a teacher, without any relevant qualifications..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 22, 2016, 04:40:02 AM
While it used to be possible for unvisa'd, unqualified, untrained, itinerants to get paid employment in Russia, even in Moscow, is that still true today?


TBAH, Dan is probably the best person to respond to this question...

The un-knowledgeable would probably suggest, that whilst this would be difficult to do in Moscow or St P's these days, the outer, and more far flung places would probably be thrilled to accept anyone who is a natural born English speaker as a teacher, without any relevant qualifications..

Or lover  :chuckle:  I think it would be pretty easy for an English guy to move in with some lady as a toy boy or something , well it would get you a bed and roof over your head , its a start...
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 22, 2016, 04:59:14 AM
I think that Dan is past the itinerant teacher of English stage since, lo, these many years and it was different back then.

But yes,  that's why I asked. We know that the Russians are cracking down on visa infringement and I have read of English teachers getting deported from the regions. Look at how at least one member has recently discovered the virtues of discretion.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 22, 2016, 05:13:40 AM
I think that Dan is past the itinerant teacher of English stage since, lo, these many years and it was different back then.

But yes,  that's why I asked. We know that the Russians are cracking down on visa infringement and I have read of English teachers getting deported from the regions. Look at how at least one member has recently discovered the virtues of discretion.

That is not what I was suggesting....

As he is in Moscow, and a teacher, he would most probably be able to respond to your question with greater accuracy than I could....
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 22, 2016, 06:34:23 AM


Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....

'Sure'

JUST lost another good, smart, intelligent neighbour back to Moscow...

She worked in the RF Sports Ministry .... 

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 22, 2016, 10:24:54 AM
Gipsy, thanks for your comment. I was not being critical of Dan and I realised that it might have seemed that I was being so. This was not my intent. Very few people have done as he has done.

My point,  badly made, was that I am not sure that the route followed by people in the past of building a life based upon informal pedagogy and transitioning to a permanent, formal, status is still viable.
I'd be interested to learn that it is still, to the degree that it is still viable as a general suggestion, the case.

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Manny on August 22, 2016, 10:25:58 AM
Or lover  :chuckle:  I think it would be pretty easy for an English guy to move in with some lady as a toy boy or something , well it would get you a bed and roof over your head , its a start...

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 22, 2016, 10:49:28 AM
Or lover  :chuckle:  I think it would be pretty easy for an English guy to move in with some lady as a toy boy or something , well it would get you a bed and roof over your head , its a start...

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

I have heard of many doing exactly this  :chuckle:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 22, 2016, 10:53:42 AM


Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....

'Sure'

JUST lost another good, smart, intelligent neighbour back to Moscow...

She worked in the RF Sports Ministry ....

Which dept......... doping???   ;D

Wake up to reality man, Sochi has no need for the quantity of staff in the sports ministry as it has in the past, no more Olympics, and little other sport these day..
Annual F1, soon to be Footy, winter skiing, that's about all...
The other fact is that all ministries are getting much more streamlined (Un bureaucratic) and more up-to-date with centralised computer systems, so people are losing their jobs, its normal progress...
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: andrewfi on August 22, 2016, 11:24:08 AM
Or lover  :chuckle:  I think it would be pretty easy for an English guy to move in with some lady as a toy boy or something , well it would get you a bed and roof over your head , its a start...

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

I have heard of many doing exactly this  :chuckle:

And they are all called Alfonse.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Jerash on August 23, 2016, 11:49:19 AM
Over the years I have received emails from various people asking me questions about relocating. I thought I'd just post "my" answers to the board in a general sense and not address things personally in emails. Should anyone have questions, please feel free to ask them here. I'll start with some basics:

Not everyone is cutout to live in another country. Are you someone who is flexible and can deal with issues that while easy at home, become much more problematic living in another country?

Are you outgoing yet not gullible? Meeting locals will be key to your adjustment period as well as moving forward for any length of time. While networking is always important, I can't overemphasize its importance once you've landed in your new country. Without a good local network you're simply going to have major problems.

Do you think you have all the answers? You don’t!

One of the most overlooked aspects of moving to another country is the person's personality. Living in another country is not for everyone. This is especially true when factoring in another language.

While more and more people are indeed moving to another country, the numbers remain small relatively speaking.

If you are someone who cannot remain flexible, find it hard to deal with situations that would be considered small in your country but much bigger in your "new" country, or you are introverted to the point where you find it hard to get out and meet new people; best to stay home. You should be moving to your new country, not running away from your situation.

It should go without saying that you should have most of your loose ends tied up. This mean emotionally, physically, financially and legally. These suggestions are also not for anyone transferring with your company as much of the hassle of moving will be handled by your company.

Where are you going? Sounds obvious I know, but it's a great big world out there and choosing the right place for you may not be as easy as it sounds. This is why I suggest living in the place of your choice before pulling the trigger. I had been to Moscow half a dozen times and spent about 4 months living "like a local" before deciding to move.

I spent a month and a half in Moscow right before my move, and when I returned to the States spent 2 months tying up any loose end before I made the move.

Money? Even though I had a lot of credit card debt at the time, I also had about $10k in cash from selling a few things in the interim. I have a home in LA and was able to secure about $900 a month positive cash flow from it after renting my place which allowed me to offset my credit card debt and focus my remaining money on my transition.

My suggestion here is to have at least $10k in funds before making the move, ideally without any debt hanging over your head of course. I also put a limit on my time in my new country (1-year) where if things didn't work out I would return home, regroup and continue on with my life.

Unless you already have a steady stream of income, you will go backwards before you move forward (which might happen even with a steady stream of income). To give you an idea, it took me about 1 1/2 years to earn the same amount of money I was spending at the time and start to move forward. YMMV..

I also don't subscribe to the "it will cost you more to live in another country than your own" paradigm. It costs me less to live in Moscow than LA, period. I live the same lifestyle and want for nothing. The main reasons for this is no mortgage (paid for by my tenants), and no car. It is also more expensive to rent an apt. in LA than Moscow, especially now. Mortgages can be optional, but in America, and especially in LA, a car is a necessity; Moscow it is not.

Not having a car saves me close to a grand a month in payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. I have broken down the cost of living metrics many times before between LA and Moscow so save your argument if anyone has one.

Staying in country? One of the biggest hurdles to moving to a FSU country is how to stay in country year round. I always suggest teaching. Why? Well, first of all any school that hires you will provide you with a year round work visa. Simple.

There are other advantages hiring on as a teacher. First, you can still have outside sources of income through the internet, for instance, and teaching won't take you away from that. But, probably the most important thing teaching will provide is the chance to network through all the students you will be meeting, which is invaluable. It will also make your transition much, much easier.

I hired on after a little more than a month living in Moscow and started meeting people by the droves. Not only did it provide me with a wonderful pipeline of locals whom could help me with any situation, the normal culture shock and loneliness of moving to a place where you know no one, and don't speak the language was virtually nonexistent.

You will not make much money at first teaching, but if you're the type of person the meshes well with all types of people and are fairly intelligent, your income can easily afford you a decent lifestyle.

More to come...

Thanks for this post Danchik. It is very informative and holds a personal interest for me as I have been seriously considering making the move. I am considering Moscow for a multitude of reasons, including city size, public transport, economic vibrance, and wealth concentration (many of the things that you yourself have mentioned on numerous occasions).  And perhaps most importantly, Moscow is an exciting city and I have always enjoyed my time there.

I first visited Russia in 1999. I stayed there 10 weeks. I lived 6 weeks in Moscow and spent the other 4 in other places, including the Trans-Siberian to the Baikal area (and an awesome 8 day hike along Baikal and into the adjoining Taiga). I came into Russia by boat, arriving in Sochi from Turkey (I am sure I would no longer recognize Sochi, but continue to hope that Ресторан сталинская дача is there, as I was a student then and wouldn't have been able to afford it, but would still like to visit).

My love, fascination, and interest for Russia continued, but as my own personal circumstances developed, I ended up moving to Poland instead and lived there for two years.

I didn't make it back to Russia until earlier this year. I spent most of my time in Moscow and experienced a city that was dramatically changed since my last visit 17 years ago. It now has all the trappings and conveniences of any Western city, including designated bike lanes and an effective indoor smoking ban.  Traffic etiquette had dramatically improved, along with many other things, and English language was more widespread (although, in all honesty, I was a little surprised at how limited progress in this area has been, relatively speaking, over the 17 years since 1999).  Still, it was easier to practice my Russian this time around as I perceived that there was more likely to be a "safety net" of English underneath if all else failed. In 1999, some Russian ability was absolutely essential for an independent trip of the duration that I spent in Russia.

As I contemplate the next steps, I expect I’ll have a number of questions.  Danchik, you are on the ground there and your local knowledge is truly indispensable.  And your willingness to dispense it is generous.  I have a few ideas for some things I might like to pursue once I am settled in in Moscow, but I think it will be most prudent to start with an ESL position - as you noted there are a number of significant benefits to this, including visa/work permit support, a source of income waiting for me when I arrive, and a great opportunity to begin developing a network in a large, foreign city.  Funny enough, when relocating on a long term basis with all one’s luggage, there is something to be said as well for the peace of mind in knowing that there is going to be someone to meet you at the airport.  Additionally, I already have experience here, having taught for a year at a decent ESL school in Krakow, as well as some private tutoring, both in Poland and later in Canada. 

Danchik, in another post on another thread you had mentioned Language Link (http://jobs.languagelink.ru) as a reputable school to consider, and also noted that there was the possibility of getting a work permit through them that would still “let you work as you please” (i.e. freelancing).  Do you know if this is still the case, or are you aware of whether or not things have changed there?  I’ve had a look at their website, and from what I can gather the options potentially open to me are a full time teacher (30+/hrs/week) at a posted salary of 35,000ru/mth to start or going through their intern program - an intensive 4 week TESOL training program is provided by them free of charge in exchange for the fulfillment of a 9 month full-time teaching contract from the intern at a posted rate of 25,000ru/mth to start.  I’m wondering if you are aware of any other options, although I appreciate that I may just have to suck it up in the short term and hustle to develop a private clientele outside of the the 30+ hours working for peanuts at the school.

I should mention for the benefit of readers that in addition to the salary, most schools also provide you accommodation in a shared apartment, visa support, funds to offset the cost of your international flight to get to Moscow, basic health insurance (anyone know what this is likely to include?), and income taxes paid.  Schools will also typically give you an extra 18,000ru/mth if you would prefer to find and pay for your own accommodation.

Although I have taught ESL before, it was a while back and I’ve lost whatever cheap ESL certification I had obtained at the time.  I have a BA and MA, but would you recommend some kind of ESL certification in addition to this as being important for getting a foot in the door in Moscow?  Is there one or two that are valued more than others?  CELTA seems to have come up a few times in my research although Language Link provides something else.  BKC-International House apparently provides a CELTA training course.  Have you heard anything good or bad about it?  I think it’s about 1000 pounds.

I still have a couple of more practical questions at this time.  Are there any other good options for obtaining visa support and a work permit in Moscow aside from getting on with one of the local language schools or is that the best/only way to go at this time?

Last question - may seem like a small thing to some, but I am very much interested in gyms in Moscow.  Over the last six months, I’ve been making some positive changes in my life and getting in shape is one of them.  This is really important to me and it is important that I am able to continue this in Moscow.  I’m really just wondering right now what the going rate and price ranges are for gym memberships in Moscow.  Right now I am going to one that also offers group conditioning classes, so it would be great if I could find something similar in Moscow.

Thanks for your posts Danchik - they are immensely helpful for someone who is giving serious consideration to Moscow! 


Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 23, 2016, 12:13:41 PM
Over the years I have received emails from various people asking me questions about relocating. I thought I'd just post "my" answers to the board in a general sense and not address things personally in emails. Should anyone have questions, please feel free to ask them here. I'll start with some basics:

Not everyone is cutout to live in another country. Are you someone who is flexible and can deal with issues that while easy at home, become much more problematic living in another country?

Are you outgoing yet not gullible? Meeting locals will be key to your adjustment period as well as moving forward for any length of time. While networking is always important, I can't overemphasize its importance once you've landed in your new country. Without a good local network you're simply going to have major problems.

Do you think you have all the answers? You don’t!

One of the most overlooked aspects of moving to another country is the person's personality. Living in another country is not for everyone. This is especially true when factoring in another language.

While more and more people are indeed moving to another country, the numbers remain small relatively speaking.

If you are someone who cannot remain flexible, find it hard to deal with situations that would be considered small in your country but much bigger in your "new" country, or you are introverted to the point where you find it hard to get out and meet new people; best to stay home. You should be moving to your new country, not running away from your situation.

It should go without saying that you should have most of your loose ends tied up. This mean emotionally, physically, financially and legally. These suggestions are also not for anyone transferring with your company as much of the hassle of moving will be handled by your company.

Where are you going? Sounds obvious I know, but it's a great big world out there and choosing the right place for you may not be as easy as it sounds. This is why I suggest living in the place of your choice before pulling the trigger. I had been to Moscow half a dozen times and spent about 4 months living "like a local" before deciding to move.

I spent a month and a half in Moscow right before my move, and when I returned to the States spent 2 months tying up any loose end before I made the move.

Money? Even though I had a lot of credit card debt at the time, I also had about $10k in cash from selling a few things in the interim. I have a home in LA and was able to secure about $900 a month positive cash flow from it after renting my place which allowed me to offset my credit card debt and focus my remaining money on my transition.

My suggestion here is to have at least $10k in funds before making the move, ideally without any debt hanging over your head of course. I also put a limit on my time in my new country (1-year) where if things didn't work out I would return home, regroup and continue on with my life.

Unless you already have a steady stream of income, you will go backwards before you move forward (which might happen even with a steady stream of income). To give you an idea, it took me about 1 1/2 years to earn the same amount of money I was spending at the time and start to move forward. YMMV..

I also don't subscribe to the "it will cost you more to live in another country than your own" paradigm. It costs me less to live in Moscow than LA, period. I live the same lifestyle and want for nothing. The main reasons for this is no mortgage (paid for by my tenants), and no car. It is also more expensive to rent an apt. in LA than Moscow, especially now. Mortgages can be optional, but in America, and especially in LA, a car is a necessity; Moscow it is not.

Not having a car saves me close to a grand a month in payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. I have broken down the cost of living metrics many times before between LA and Moscow so save your argument if anyone has one.

Staying in country? One of the biggest hurdles to moving to a FSU country is how to stay in country year round. I always suggest teaching. Why? Well, first of all any school that hires you will provide you with a year round work visa. Simple.

There are other advantages hiring on as a teacher. First, you can still have outside sources of income through the internet, for instance, and teaching won't take you away from that. But, probably the most important thing teaching will provide is the chance to network through all the students you will be meeting, which is invaluable. It will also make your transition much, much easier.

I hired on after a little more than a month living in Moscow and started meeting people by the droves. Not only did it provide me with a wonderful pipeline of locals whom could help me with any situation, the normal culture shock and loneliness of moving to a place where you know no one, and don't speak the language was virtually nonexistent.

You will not make much money at first teaching, but if you're the type of person the meshes well with all types of people and are fairly intelligent, your income can easily afford you a decent lifestyle.

More to come...

Thanks for this post Danchik. It is very informative and holds a personal interest for me as I have been seriously considering making the move. I am considering Moscow for a multitude of reasons, including city size, public transport, economic vibrance, and wealth concentration (many of the things that you yourself have mentioned on numerous occasions).  And perhaps most importantly, Moscow is an exciting city and I have always enjoyed my time there.

I first visited Russia in 1999. I stayed there 10 weeks. I lived 6 weeks in Moscow and spent the other 4 in other places, including the Trans-Siberian to the Baikal area (and an awesome 8 day hike along Baikal and into the adjoining Taiga). I came into Russia by boat, arriving in Sochi from Turkey (I am sure I would no longer recognize Sochi, but continue to hope that Ресторан сталинская дача is there, as I was a student then and wouldn't have been able to afford it, but would still like to visit).

My love, fascination, and interest for Russia continued, but as my own personal circumstances developed, I ended up moving to Poland instead and lived there for two years.

I didn't make it back to Russia until earlier this year. I spent most of my time in Moscow and experienced a city that was dramatically changed since my last visit 17 years ago. It now has all the trappings and conveniences of any Western city, including designated bike lanes and an effective indoor smoking ban.  Traffic etiquette had dramatically improved, along with many other things, and English language was more widespread (although, in all honesty, I was a little surprised at how limited progress in this area has been, relatively speaking, over the 17 years since 1999).  Still, it was easier to practice my Russian this time around as I perceived that there was more likely to be a "safety net" of English underneath if all else failed. In 1999, some Russian ability was absolutely essential for an independent trip of the duration that I spent in Russia.

As I contemplate the next steps, I expect I’ll have a number of questions.  Danchik, you are on the ground there and your local knowledge is truly indispensable.  And your willingness to dispense it is generous.  I have a few ideas for some things I might like to pursue once I am settled in in Moscow, but I think it will be most prudent to start with an ESL position - as you noted there are a number of significant benefits to this, including visa/work permit support, a source of income waiting for me when I arrive, and a great opportunity to begin developing a network in a large, foreign city.  Funny enough, when relocating on a long term basis with all one’s luggage, there is something to be said as well for the peace of mind in knowing that there is going to be someone to meet you at the airport.  Additionally, I already have experience here, having taught for a year at a decent ESL school in Krakow, as well as some private tutoring, both in Poland and later in Canada. 

Danchik, in another post on another thread you had mentioned Language Link (http://jobs.languagelink.ru) as a reputable school to consider, and also noted that there was the possibility of getting a work permit through them that would still “let you work as you please” (i.e. freelancing).  Do you know if this is still the case, or are you aware of whether or not things have changed there?  I’ve had a look at their website, and from what I can gather the options potentially open to me are a full time teacher (30+/hrs/week) at a posted salary of 35,000ru/mth to start or going through their intern program - an intensive 4 week TESOL training program is provided by them free of charge in exchange for the fulfillment of a 9 month full-time teaching contract from the intern at a posted rate of 25,000ru/mth to start.  I’m wondering if you are aware of any other options, although I appreciate that I may just have to suck it up in the short term and hustle to develop a private clientele outside of the the 30+ hours working for peanuts at the school.

I should mention for the benefit of readers that in addition to the salary, most schools also provide you accommodation in a shared apartment, visa support, funds to offset the cost of your international flight to get to Moscow, basic health insurance (anyone know what this is likely to include?), and income taxes paid.  Schools will also typically give you an extra 18,000ru/mth if you would prefer to find and pay for your own accommodation.

Although I have taught ESL before, it was a while back and I’ve lost whatever cheap ESL certification I had obtained at the time.  I have a BA and MA, but would you recommend some kind of ESL certification in addition to this as being important for getting a foot in the door in Moscow?  Is there one or two that are valued more than others?  CELTA seems to have come up a few times in my research although Language Link provides something else.  BKC-International House apparently provides a CELTA training course.  Have you heard anything good or bad about it?  I think it’s about 1000 pounds.

I still have a couple of more practical questions at this time.  Are there any other good options for obtaining visa support and a work permit in Moscow aside from getting on with one of the local language schools or is that the best/only way to go at this time?

Last question - may seem like a small thing to some, but I am very much interested in gyms in Moscow.  Over the last six months, I’ve been making some positive changes in my life and getting in shape is one of them.  This is really important to me and it is important that I am able to continue this in Moscow.  I’m really just wondering right now what the going rate and price ranges are for gym memberships in Moscow.  Right now I am going to one that also offers group conditioning classes, so it would be great if I could find something similar in Moscow.

Thanks for your posts Danchik - they are immensely helpful for someone who is giving serious consideration to Moscow!

If you need some help or info on work permits / visa and that type of thing you can always contact Vadim Ryabakov at Liga Consulting  - office@rusvisa.org

They are in Moscow and seems lots of people use this guy for assistance or advice :)
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 25, 2016, 04:34:59 AM


Which dept......... doping???   ;D

Wake up to reality man, Sochi has no need for the quantity of staff in the sports ministry as it has in the past, no more Olympics, and little other sport these day..
Annual F1, soon to be Footy, winter skiing, that's about all...
The other fact is that all ministries are getting much more streamlined (Un bureaucratic) and more up-to-date with centralised computer systems, so people are losing their jobs, its normal progress...

Gypo,

'reality'?

The reality is the redundancies were 6 months ago ..   lack of money .. cut backs - BEFORE the doping scandal - and she's been looking for a replacement job here ever since

The marketing manager of the f1 circuit married his fiancee and she can't get a job commensurate to her abilities and they're off to Moscow, too :(

Reality is this is a resort town which Putin tried to make an international events meeting place.... spending Billions that is great fro Sochi - in terms of infrastructure -  then he chose going into Ukraine and it's all falling apart.

Folks came here hoping to be part of the 'boom' and it's just failing :(


You claim to not watch tv  - so you must be missing all the international conferences that meet in Sochi - the most recent major one being the Russian - Asean -[ SE Asia trading BLOCK - a bit like the EU]





Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 25, 2016, 04:43:44 AM

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

Care to be specific as to who you might be alluding ... ?   :chuckle:



Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Manny on August 25, 2016, 08:51:32 AM

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

Care to be specific as to who you might be alluding ... ?   :chuckle:

If you find that cap fits, feel free to wear it.  tiphat
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 25, 2016, 10:16:13 AM


Which dept......... doping???   ;D

Wake up to reality man, Sochi has no need for the quantity of staff in the sports ministry as it has in the past, no more Olympics, and little other sport these day..
Annual F1, soon to be Footy, winter skiing, that's about all...
The other fact is that all ministries are getting much more streamlined (Un bureaucratic) and more up-to-date with centralised computer systems, so people are losing their jobs, its normal progress...

Gypo,

'reality'?

The reality is the redundancies were 6 months ago ..   lack of money .. cut backs - BEFORE the doping scandal - and she's been looking for a replacement job here ever since

The marketing manager of the f1 circuit married his fiancee and she can't get a job commensurate to her abilities and they're off to Moscow, too :(

Reality is this is a resort town which Putin tried to make an international events meeting place.... spending Billions that is great fro Sochi - in terms of infrastructure -  then he chose going into Ukraine and it's all falling apart.

Folks came here hoping to be part of the 'boom' and it's just failing :(


You claim to not watch tv  - so you must be missing all the international conferences that meet in Sochi - the most recent major one being the Russian - Asean -[ SE Asia trading BLOCK - a bit like the EU]

The reality is that ALL the ministries were over staffed, and workers were only doing a few hours real work each day, they were totally inefficient..
For the last 18 months, these ministries have been going through efficiency analysis by foreign experts, and various recommendations were made, which included unfortunately, the loss of many people at all levels..
Its a little sad for those who lost out, but progress had to be made, its been the same in all other sectors, the railways, oil industries, manufacturing....
Investment in new modern systems/technologies/databases, have resulted in efficiency gains, even the dreaded FMS lost nearly 60% of its people...
Stop crying for others and start thinking about yourself....
I know about the conferences from my own experience, don't need a tv....
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 25, 2016, 10:17:23 AM

Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

Care to be specific as to who you might be alluding ... ?   :chuckle:

If you find that cap fits, feel free to wear it.  tiphat

Or a PINK ducky bow tie..   :ROFL:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Markje on August 25, 2016, 10:23:45 AM
There are so much new things in Evpat. I have trouble doing it all this vacation. Maybe some cities understand tourism better than others.

Dolfinarium
Dino park
Fountain show (free)
New beaches opened.
New restaurants.
...

Not all is good though. But overall things are improving. The city is vibrating and ready to welcome tourists
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 25, 2016, 10:46:33 AM


Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

Care to be specific as to who you might be alluding ... ?   :chuckle:


If you find that cap fits, feel free to wear it.  tiphat

You walked right on to this - I posted what your comment would be as an email to myself   :chuckle:

You aren't normally backward in coming forward -perhaps you are being careful ? )))))
 
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 25, 2016, 10:56:59 AM


The reality is that ALL the ministries were over staffed, and workers were only doing a few hours real work each day, they were totally inefficient..
For the last 18 months, these ministries have been going through efficiency analysis by foreign experts, and various recommendations were made, which included unfortunately, the loss of many people at all levels..
Its a little sad for those who lost out, but progress had to be made, its been the same in all other sectors, the railways, oil industries, manufacturing....
Investment in new modern systems/technologies/databases, have resulted in efficiency gains, even the dreaded FMS lost nearly 60% of its people...
Stop crying for others and start thinking about yourself....
I know about the conferences from my own experience, don't need a tv....

Gypo,

Whilst I applaud your noting the over-manning and inefficiencies of certain govt depts I can assure you the  redundancy in the case with the sports ministry case was economy related. Why try to spin it ? Did you speak with the lass ?

I do not wish for Sochi to be a one-trick pony town and smart, educated people leaving isn't a good thing.

Thanks for the 'advice' about worrying about myself ....

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Manny on August 25, 2016, 11:05:46 AM


Like our forum sofa surfing itinerant?

Care to be specific as to who you might be alluding ... ?   :chuckle:


If you find that cap fits, feel free to wear it.  tiphat

You walked right on to this - I posted what your comment would be as an email to myself   :chuckle:

You aren't normally backward in coming forward -perhaps you are being careful ? )))))

Perhaps I simply dont have the spare time to spend hours and e-ink bickering with you.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 26, 2016, 06:17:13 AM
Sorry, very busy week and haven't had the time o post. I will try to catch up on some things as they appear, but let's start here:

and quickly just to add, I also refer to opportunities. For example, I have a teaching acquaintance who lives in Kazan and is rather busy all things considered for Kazan. While she charges about 25% less than I do for private individuals, I have triple the clients.

And if we factor in business client potential, well, it's not even close. Opportunities my man, opportunities.

Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....
OK, but 99% of the people who come to Russia will not have many options. 

We're talking about people who will not be transferred with a company and will have few if any contacts.

If you know of any wonderful opportunities for people that remove all the obstacles involved please tell them, because believe me, there are more people interested in doing this that lurk or don't post much on this forum and that is our focus here. Honestly, I don't see many other options considering. We are also talking about people who will not speak the language to any degree.

Teaching might be your or anyone's cup of tea, but it will be the only job the above described person will have that provides the best of all worlds; having steady income, gives one a visa to stay year round, and offers one the ability to meet people who will share a common language and expedite their transition. No other option will afford one this, which is kinda the point of my posts.

It wasn't my cup of tea, but TBH, it has far exceeded what I thought it would be, and I mean far exceeded. I can't tell you how many influential people I have met, not to mention all the other great people I have come in contact with through teaching. Never in my wildest dreams did I think what has happened would happen.

Part of the problem is that people have no idea of all the dynamics of teaching, and have a big misconception of all the possibilities teaching offers. I read it here all the time.

Getting back to our personal conversation, the average Russian worker makes about 25-40K rubles a month. You can bump that up to 50-60K in Moscow. I, as a teacher, make 3-4 times the Moscow cap on average. Can you suggest another job to people interested in relocating to Russia (FSU) where one can make this kind of money and secure a year round visa without having any contacts, or even with contacts and be able to meet like minded people who share your mother tongue?

I also pointed out how Moscow affords someone more opportunities for business as opposed to other cities as I make 80% more than people doing the same thing in other cities. 

Now I'm not trying to be a twit, just realistic. My posts are to give the average punter an idea what he can expect and what the best possibilities are, our situations notwithstanding.

Keep in mind we're talking about people with very little experience living here. Things can and will change after time and then a person can find other outlets to help him achieve his goals, but initially, his options will be very limited.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 26, 2016, 06:22:49 AM
While it used to be possible for unvisa'd, unqualified, untrained, itinerants to get paid employment in Russia, even in Moscow, is that still true today?


TBAH, Dan is probably the best person to respond to this question...

The un-knowledgeable would probably suggest, that whilst this would be difficult to do in Moscow or St P's these days, the outer, and more far flung places would probably be thrilled to accept anyone who is a natural born English speaker as a teacher, without any relevant qualifications..
I imagine in the far reaches of Russia, simply being a native will suffice.

The landscape has changed over the years from its heyday (2005-09) when it seemed like a new language school was popping up on every corner and teachers were in big demand and schools would bend on the qualifications.

Really, though, most schools require a university degree at least, but that can be overlooked if a person has other qualities that are consistent with the job.

The last 2 recessions have taken a toll not only of the amount of schools available, but the number of teachers available as well. Many school have closed shop, and many teachers have left town.

I think it's a good time because the demand for English is still strong, yet the supply of teachers has dwindled considerably.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 26, 2016, 06:31:05 AM
While it used to be possible for unvisa'd, unqualified, untrained, itinerants to get paid employment in Russia, even in Moscow, is that still true today?


TBAH, Dan is probably the best person to respond to this question...

The un-knowledgeable would probably suggest, that whilst this would be difficult to do in Moscow or St P's these days, the outer, and more far flung places would probably be thrilled to accept anyone who is a natural born English speaker as a teacher, without any relevant qualifications..

Or lover  :chuckle:  I think it would be pretty easy for an English guy to move in with some lady as a toy boy or something , well it would get you a bed and roof over your head , its a start...
Not as easy as you say, but possible.

I can say that I have met my fair share of RW with an apt (and car), but not until I started teaching.

That being said, you will need to offer these girls more than just companionship and a stiff one though that's for sure.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 26, 2016, 06:31:28 AM
Sorry, very busy week and haven't had the time o post. I will try to catch up on some things as they appear, but let's start here:

and quickly just to add, I also refer to opportunities. For example, I have a teaching acquaintance who lives in Kazan and is rather busy all things considered for Kazan. While she charges about 25% less than I do for private individuals, I have triple the clients.

And if we factor in business client potential, well, it's not even close. Opportunities my man, opportunities.

Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....
OK, but 99% of the people who come to Russia will not have many options. 

We're talking about people who will not be transferred with a company and will have few if any contacts.

If you know of any wonderful opportunities for people that remove all the obstacles involved please tell them, because believe me, there are more people interested in doing this that lurk or don't post much on this forum and that is our focus here. Honestly, I don't see many other options considering. We are also talking about people who will not speak the language to any degree.

Teaching might be your or anyone's cup of tea, but it will be the only job the above described person will have that provides the best of all worlds; having steady income, gives one a visa to stay year round, and offers one the ability to meet people who will share a common language and expedite their transition. No other option will afford one this, which is kinda the point of my posts.

It wasn't my cup of tea, but TBH, it has far exceeded what I thought it would be, and I mean far exceeded. I can't tell you how many influential people I have met, not to mention all the other great people I have come in contact with through teaching. Never in my wildest dreams did I think what has happened would happen.

Part of the problem is that people have no idea of all the dynamics of teaching, and have a big misconception of all the possibilities teaching offers. I read it here all the time.

Getting back to our personal conversation, the average Russian worker makes about 25-40K rubles a month. You can bump that up to 50-60K in Moscow. I, as a teacher, make 3-4 times the Moscow on average. Can you suggest another job to people interested in relocating to Russia (FSU) where one can make this kind of money and secure a year round visa without having any contacts, or even with contacts and be able to meet like minded people who share your mother tongue?

I also pointed out how Moscow affords someone more opportunities for business as opposed to other cities as I make 80% more than people doing the same thing in other cities. 

Now I'm not trying to be a twit, just realistic. My posts are to give the average punter an idea what he can expect and what the best possibilities are, our situations notwithstanding.

Keep in mind we're talking about people with very little experience living here. Things can and will change after time and then a person can find other outlets to help him achieve his goals, but initially, his options will be very limited.

Im just being nosey here, you know the British are always nosey  :) So thats about 150/200,000 roubles a month?

I have no idea what any other foreigners earn in Russia...
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on August 26, 2016, 06:34:28 AM

Im just being nosey here, you know the British are always nosey  :)

No, they're not ..YOU are..

The British are reserved..  Are you sure you aren't Irish ?  :chuckle:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 26, 2016, 06:36:47 AM
a nosey Brit aye?  :chuckle: nose around your inbox and be respectful to my request.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on August 26, 2016, 06:41:19 AM
a nosey Brit aye?  :chuckle: nose around your inbox and be respectful to my request.

Everyone is nosey in the UK , you should try living in a small English village with a population of 1500!!  :laugh:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Danchik on August 26, 2016, 07:16:46 AM
Gipsy, thanks for your comment. I was not being critical of Dan and I realised that it might have seemed that I was being so. This was not my intent. Very few people have done as he has done.
No offense taken and you're right, few have done or will do what I have done, but people are looking for different things in life.

No one has to do what I have done to be successful here, as others might find more success in other ways. One thing Russia has taught me is to not always look only for what's in for me or think in material terms. A serious flaw in many Americans these days and in days gone by.

 
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 26, 2016, 09:59:33 AM
Sorry, very busy week and haven't had the time o post. I will try to catch up on some things as they appear, but let's start here:

and quickly just to add, I also refer to opportunities. For example, I have a teaching acquaintance who lives in Kazan and is rather busy all things considered for Kazan. While she charges about 25% less than I do for private individuals, I have triple the clients.

And if we factor in business client potential, well, it's not even close. Opportunities my man, opportunities.

Opportunities are abundant in Russia, that's for sure...

Teaching though, is not my cuppa....
OK, but 99% of the people who come to Russia will not have many options. 

We're talking about people who will not be transferred with a company and will have few if any contacts.

If you know of any wonderful opportunities for people that remove all the obstacles involved please tell them, because believe me, there are more people interested in doing this that lurk or don't post much on this forum and that is our focus here. Honestly, I don't see many other options considering. We are also talking about people who will not speak the language to any degree.

Teaching might be your or anyone's cup of tea, but it will be the only job the above described person will have that provides the best of all worlds; having steady income, gives one a visa to stay year round, and offers one the ability to meet people who will share a common language and expedite their transition. No other option will afford one this, which is kinda the point of my posts.

It wasn't my cup of tea, but TBH, it has far exceeded what I thought it would be, and I mean far exceeded. I can't tell you how many influential people I have met, not to mention all the other great people I have come in contact with through teaching. Never in my wildest dreams did I think what has happened would happen.

Part of the problem is that people have no idea of all the dynamics of teaching, and have a big misconception of all the possibilities teaching offers. I read it here all the time.

Getting back to our personal conversation, the average Russian worker makes about 25-40K rubles a month. You can bump that up to 50-60K in Moscow. I, as a teacher, make 3-4 times the Moscow cap on average. Can you suggest another job to people interested in relocating to Russia (FSU) where one can make this kind of money and secure a year round visa without having any contacts, or even with contacts and be able to meet like minded people who share your mother tongue?

I also pointed out how Moscow affords someone more opportunities for business as opposed to other cities as I make 80% more than people doing the same thing in other cities. 

Now I'm not trying to be a twit, just realistic. My posts are to give the average punter an idea what he can expect and what the best possibilities are, our situations notwithstanding.

Keep in mind we're talking about people with very little experience living here. Things can and will change after time and then a person can find other outlets to help him achieve his goals, but initially, his options will be very limited.

Dan, I was not disagreeing with you whatsoever....

Everything you wrote is just about right on.....
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Gipsy on August 26, 2016, 10:01:38 AM
a nosey Brit aye?  :chuckle: nose around your inbox and be respectful to my request.

Me??
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: AvHdB on August 30, 2016, 07:33:01 PM
One thing Russia has taught me is to not always look only for what's in for me or think in material terms. A serious flaw in many Americans these days and in days gone by.

This was not always the reality, but sadly today America is a seriously flawed society in the above.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on September 09, 2016, 09:26:19 AM
An interesting article for expats returning home, where ever home is..I thought home is where the heart is :)

I know for 100% I shall never return to the Uk to live..

http://theweek.com/articles/637911/lived-korea-5-years-heres-what-happened-when-came-home-nebraska
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on January 12, 2017, 12:11:27 PM
A job vacancy  :)

http://getrussia.com/news/dream_job_in_russia/?utm_source=getrusfb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=best.-job.-ever.
Title: Re: The Russian Dream Job....
Post by: Contrarian on January 12, 2017, 12:21:41 PM
A job vacancy  :)

http://getrussia.com/news/dream_job_in_russia/?utm_source=getrusfb&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=best.-job.-ever.

Wow! That is very cool.  Thanks for sharing Steveboy!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Contrarian on January 12, 2017, 12:39:13 PM
The Beauty of Russia in 50 excellent photos. 

http://www.pxleyes.com/blog/2011/11/the-beauty-of-russia-in-50-stunning-photos/
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Steveboy on May 03, 2017, 09:52:43 AM
Russia will be a dream for everyone soon! Its easy to see why...

https://www.rt.com/uk/386825-transgender-mp-election-labour/

Who wants to live in a communist country run by Transgenders ? Of course I have nothing against transgenders and I don't give a shit what people do, for all I care people can do what they want. But soon enough the minority will be dictating to the majority..
Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: msmoby on May 03, 2017, 10:39:46 AM
Last time I checked the uK  still had a right of centre govt.....

Title: Re: The Russian Dream..
Post by: Contrarian on May 03, 2017, 12:11:54 PM
Russia will be a dream for everyone soon! Its easy to see why...

https://www.rt.com/uk/386825-transgender-mp-election-labour/

Who wants to live in a communist country run by Transgenders ? Of course I have nothing against transgenders and I don't give a shit what people do, for all I care people can do what they want. But soon enough the minority will be dictating to the majority..

The part I bolded is the problem and it's been happening over here for the past couple of decades. Majority rules is the best way, aliens can move to Mars.  ;D