Quote Originally Posted by maxmixiv View Post
I am afraid these things are not in his plans. Too small problems for such big person. Worse of all is the people are getting used to the fact, their cities, entrances, nature are doomed to be dirt, stinky and inconvenient. Almost got used.
Though we are renovating our flats and dachas vigorously
Well I actually haven't been to Russia in modern times (I was meaning to, in 2011, but I got stuck with visa problems lol - so I ended up staying in Belarus instead — at least they speak Russian...)
I was in Ukraine and Belarus and I lenjoyed both, for different reasons. I realise Russia is quite different. Of course, I am not blind to the problems I saw in Ukraine and Belarus either. Ukraine so big and so much renovation needed. Belarus; how long can they keep their system going the wind of the rest of Europe?

I think all three countries will go their different ways; they have embarked on quite different routes and the people are just not the same (I used to think so, but there is a big difference).

It's sad to hear that there are such big differences between the big towns in Russia, and the countryside.
It's hard to relate to what the difficulties are for people in their everyday lives - I simply can't imagine it because I just don't have enough experience. I see on TV people living in houses that look like you'd freeze to death in the winter and scraping by on $500 /month. I can't even imagine how they manage.

If I lived in Russia I would probably be reasonably comfortable since I have a good job in IT. But who knows what kind of a person I'd be if I'd been through everything that happened in the ex-USSR in the 1990s. I probably wouldn't have had the same opportunities. People who survived those hard times and managed to create a good life one way or another really have my respect.

I'm just very fascinated by the Russian speaking culture, the language and the people. Really can't explain it - it's a bit like people say they are "anglophiles" or "francophile". Well I guess I am a "russophile", lol!

However I am not naive enough to think that it would be a good idea to move to Russia without a very good plan, budget and a solid job offer, and even under such circumstances I'd think twice. There'd have to be a good reason, not just because it seemed cool. It's not for the faint-hearted, I think!