Moscow, Russia -- Your thoughts? (how much, employment, standard of living)

[Beliy Plashik]

When I am probably in my mid-late twenties I would love to move to Moscow, Russia with my Masters Degree in International Business. Would it be a probable cause to move from America to Russia and have a flourishing career?

I myself have never been to Moscow, but my friends, family are from Moscow. (I am from Ukraine) Moscow is full of culture, while most people prefer Paris or London.

Moscow is the biggest city in Europe with a huge amount of architecture. Which in my opinion seems to surpass Paris. (That is what I have heard) Especially Moscow is a lot more modern from the last 15 years. Of course it is expensive though!!

I heard the stories about how expensive it is.

[ducksburg]

Is it safe?
Moscow is not rich but freaking expensive.

[Beliy Plashik]

Originally Posted by ducksburg

Is it safe?
Moscow is not rich but freaking expensive.

Moscow Safe?? I can kind of be "iffy" about that, the same can be said is Moscow a rich city? I can kind of say "maybe/maybe not"

But I heard the dollar to ruble ratio. A starbucks drink costs about 8-9 dollars there. Because that is how they judge, how much a person makes in Moscow. That is how they can tell if a city is expensive or not. By the ratio.

I know that Russia and United States are not at its "best" right know. Does that impact its business opportunities though? For example jobs that require you traveling to another country?

[Ulysses61]

I certainly wouldn't move to Moscow without spending a considerable amount of time there, especially in the winter. That's just common sense. Never uproot yourself at great expense without knowing the city to which you're moving.

I've never lived in Moscow (nor been there in the winter), but I have spent time there in the summer. I found it very sterile, very few amenities by American standards and just chilly. I don't mean the outside temperature, I just meant the ambiance of the city. I like the Russian people immensely but I would imagine you would suffer extreme culture shock moving to Moscow. It's not like moving to London, Munich or Rome, where you would adapt fairly quickly.

I felt Moscow still had many remnants of living behind the Iron Curtain and the standard of living there was low in comparison to America. And that's putting it mildly. But again, the Russian people are fabulous!

[wastina]

I've never lived in Moscow, but have worked in and around the former Soviet Union for the past 15 years. Moscow was always too big and scary for me: their politics and their business practices are rather frightening alone. If you can find your niche you can have a fabulous experience, although I'm not sure how the employment situation will work out for you. You might find yourself halfway between nowhere, with the language and enough of the cultural background, but not the legal standing ro contacts to really pull it together.

I'm currently in Tbilisi and thinks you might want to give that consideration. The size is better, the prices are better, and there is tremendous need here (if not cultural arrogance) that you can probably land on your feet fairly well. Effors to learn Georgian will be appreciated, but Russian is a fine backstop (it's what I use, and people are happier to speak Russian here than in the Baltics). Lots of culture, architecture, history, lots happening.... you might want to consider Georgia as another option.

[Beliy Plashik]

Originally Posted by wastina

I've never lived in Moscow, but have worked in and around the former Soviet Union for the past 15 years. Moscow was always too big and scary for me: their politics and their business practices are rather frightening alone. If you can find your niche you can have a fabulous experience, although I'm not sure how the employment situation will work out for you. You might find yourself halfway between nowhere, with the language and enough of the cultural background, but not the legal standing ro contacts to really pull it together.

I'm currently in Tbilisi and thinks you might want to give that consideration. The size is better, the prices are better, and there is tremendous need here (if not cultural arrogance) that you can probably land on your feet fairly well. Effors to learn Georgian will be appreciated, but Russian is a fine backstop (it's what I use, and people are happier to speak Russian here than in the Baltics). Lots of culture, architecture, history, lots happening.... you might want to consider Georgia as another option.

This is interesting, I have heard that Moscow has that issue especially with standards of living that is a whole issue on another level.

What about Ukraine? Is there demand for workers there knowing how much Kiev the capital has Grown.. What do you think? Just as a personal opinion.

[internat]

Do you speak Ukrainian or Russian? I assume you do.

[Beliy Plashik]

Originally Posted by internat

Do you speak Ukrainian or Russian? I assume you do.

I speak Russian and Ukranian

[Ulysses61]

Regarding Moscow standard of living. This is based on spending 5 weeks there in the summer of 2006 and spending weeks there in previous years.

I just found the lack of goods almost unbelievable. And the few things you could find were ludicrously expensive. For instance, try to find batteries in Moscow. I went all over the place and found countless stores with bare shelves. Finally I found *one* battery (not even in a package) and they wanted the equivalent of $9.00 for it. Little items like band-aids, dental floss, shoestrings... things you don't think about but that are necessities. They are just about impossible to find in Moscow in my experience.

The most rundown, out-of-the-way shop in America in the middle of nowhere still has more goods on its shelf than most Moscow dept. stores. They offer plenty of clothes, but that's about it.

[wastina]

If you haven't already stumbled on the development track, you might want to check it out. USAID (US government) and other governments have large development budgets for the FSU, including the Ukraine. Your language is an advantage. As is your business degree. There is no end to projects looking for people who can help channel development money in to legitimate businesses in the FSU/SNG. The problem moreover is at the receiving end: there aren't (still) many businesses who know how to properly apply for or absorb the money.

If you're interested in working in this part of the world, you will have to lower your expectations about how business is done, and start researching who's got the grants/contracts. Check out USAID's website (www.usaid.gov) and then hit the independent organizations receiving their money for the countries in question. Organizations which come to mind which you may want to hit are AED, Chemonics, IESC, Abt Associates, Millenium Fund, UNDP. You can go to http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/res.nsf/doc212?OpenForm for general development jobs, but that is hit or miss.

Unless you want to do your thing locally, through family ties and hit-or-miss (what I call a "do it yourself Peace Corps experience with a safety net", you might want to try applying to international development organizations. There's a huge world out here, and a mixed bag of skills. Your language will get you part of the way, and will certainly help you, but as a diaspora, you will find that you are neither fish nor fowl (and likely won't want to be either). Find your stream, get your experience, and climb the ladder horizontally and vertically. Governments are throwing money at these states to keep them friendly, and that means business for people. You've just got to get in at the right place, and then start differentiating. Proposals (and funding) are won on experience, but experience doesn't necessarily mean that half the people out here are any good. Development is an industry like any other. You can find your place (and live well and have a good time) once you learn the game (and the difference between good and evil out here). Hopefully you will, and you'll do good. God knows, these countries need it!!!