Почему Вы хотите жить в России?

[Mist]

An I'm-just-wondering thread.

America has always been a symbol of ideal life: low prices, high life quality, wealth, civilization... Almost every second person on Earth wishes he was born in the US. But no place on Earth is a paradise, and there will always be people who long for changes. What don't you like about your country? Why have you chosen Russia as a place to relocate to?

Please, share your motivation!

[Оля]

America has always been a symbol of ideal life

To whom?

low prices

Er... Are you kidding??

Almost every second person on Earth wishes he was born in the US.

Where did you get these statistics?

[Mist]

America has always been a symbol of ideal life

To whom?

To the whole world. At least this is the way the states keep positioning themselves. One gotta be blind not to notice it. In fact the word "symbol" here is more like a synonym of "stereotype".

Er... Are you kidding??

Hey! Waky-waky! Compare fuel prices in USA with those in Russia. There are a lot of things America gets for free. Should I explain the world famous dollar trick? Plus compare American salary and welfare rates with those of Russia.

Where did you get these statistics?

That's just what I hear from people around me. Maybe not every second, but just very many people. The USA is quite a successful country, so I just can't get what there's to escape from. So I'd like to hear from those willing to change America or Europe for Russia. Pretty interesting. I love Russia, but still I used to face the truth: it's not the best country to relocate to - no offence, just my opinion. It's ok if you are born in Russia, but for a European / American it may appear to be a little bit wild.

[Оля]

To the whole world.

Please don't say on behalf of the whole world.

At least this is the way the states keep positioning themselves.

Exactly. I expected the answer to be "to Americans".

Hey! Waky-waky! Compare fuel prices in USA with those in Russia. There are a lot of things America gets for free. Should I explain the world famous dollar trick? Plus compare American salary and welfare rates with those of Russia.

I actually don't think we can find an American who would agree with you about "low prices" in America... But we should better ask Americans. Not everyone in America has a good salary and welfare, and fuel is not everything.

Where did you get these statistics?

That's just what I hear from people around me. Maybe not every second, but just very many people.

Mist, I am very sorry to tell you this and don't want to hurt you, but... if I remember well, you are from Ryazan. A small provincial town, not so far from Moscow, by the way... You know, before I read this thread, I didn't know how big is the difference in thinking in Moscow or Saint Petersburg and that in small towns like Ryazan where people only dream every day to leave for "somewhere". To think that everyone is happy in America, it's so naive. Like living in Ryazan and thinking that if people there wish they were born in America that's how it is on the whole Earth. I assure you, in Moscow or StP people around you do not think that America is the best place in the world, and not every second person at all dreams to be born in the USA. At least, I never met anyone of the kind. America is just another country with its own drawbacks, where beggary exists, too.
Just watch a bit of American movies, at least.

Are things really so bad in Ryazan?

[Matroskin Kot]

An I'm-just-wondering thread.
What don't you like about your country? Why have you chosen Russia as a place to relocate to?

For me there are a lot of reasons, and it isn't so much that I dislike the USA, as that there are many things I like about Russia and Ukraine. First and foremost: they speak Russian! Everybody does, it's great! Also, I really like the people. If I might make a generalization, Americans might have more money, but Russians have more value. Does that make sense?

[sperk]

where are all these people that want to move to Russia? Maybe Chinese and Vietnamese.

[Mist]

Are things really so bad in Ryazan?

As far as job searching is concerned, yes, they really are. I'm looking for a job where I could apply my foreign language abilities, but here in Ryazan there're very few such openings.

Another thing is that one shouldn't compare life in small Russian towns with that in St. Pete and Moscow. Big cities are other Russia, it's just like in any country.

First and foremost: they speak Russian! Everybody does, it's great!

I'd love to move to some English speaking country for the same reason.

Also, I really like the people. If I might make a generalization, Americans might have more money, but Russians have more value.

That's a very laudable motive, but upholding values it is not an easy way to go. I hope you understand what I mean.

[Оля]

Another thing is that one shouldn't compare life in small Russian towns with that in St. Pete and Moscow. Big cities are other Russia, it's just like in any country.

I don't dispute that, but it's just that every second person in Ryazan is not every second person on Earth.

[Leof]

And for me it seems like every person both in Moscow in StP is absolutely not the rest of Russia, needles to say the rest of the world. I presume that most of inhabitans of both American continents excluding Canadians would like to get the citizenship of the United States. Most of the people living in Africa and Eastern Europe try to leave their lands and move to the Western Europe. If the USA were closer all those people would chouse to live there and not in their own homecounries.

Оль, seems like the citizen of Ryazan has more rights to speak for the rest of Russia and even the rest of the World than anyone who lives in Moscow or StP.

[Оля]

Оль, seems like the citizen of Ryazan has more rights to speak for the rest of Russia and even the rest of the World than anyone who lives in Moscow or StP.

Лёва, I think that inhabitants of Ryazan can only speak for Ryazan as well as Muscovites can speak for Moscow and residents of St. Petersburg for St. Petersburg. That's all.

And I actually think that many people in "the rest of Russia" wish to be born in Moscow. As said, we do not have statistics of that.

[Leof]

I agree.
But eventually Ryazan is much more like the rest of Russia. That why I thought the view from Ryazan is more objective.

It's like to say that the inhabitans of your house can speak only for your house and not for the rest of StP.
Рязанцы и россияне ближе к тождеству чем москвичи и россияне. Россия начинается где-то за МКАДой.

[SAn]

Во-первых, сам факт наличия жизни за МКАД-ой ещё не доказан.

And the second, nobody want to live in Russia except Russians.

[Оля]

And the second, nobody wants to live in Russia except Russians.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=15701

[Leof]

I'd say exept some Russians.
I was trying to find for myself the answer for the original question and get some ideas.

The main reason why the Americans (or elseone) could want to live in Russia is very because the reasons which Mist named above. What I mean is that there is the sort of people which always look for changes and adventures or even for неприятностей на свою ass. Like Feodor Koniuhov. People which are thirsty to свершений, событий and испытаний на hardness. Some go to the polar expedition, others take the full circle trip or climb the mountains. Some start to learn Japanese or work as the Medics withour boarders and risk to catch Abola or HIV or to be killed by some separatists in Combogia. And some move to Russia. They do not want all what Mist listed.

I am sure that the ones whom Mist was asking are so rare and unique people that I am not astonished there are some.
But many people move to Russia because they can earn here lots of money. Some specialists are very wanted, not to say the stereotypes which are in our blood make all foreigners look higher and more clever that they are.

An American, a man in a nice suit and white shirt, nicely parfumed, with a strong accent and American name can somehow give ten points to the Russian man which looks the same. Why? Because since the Peter the Great we are acustomed to learn from the European samples.

So, Mist, everything you noticed works like the advantage for everyone who come in Russia from America.

[SAn]

Some go to the polar expedition, others take the full circle trip or climb the mountains. Some start to learn Japanese or work as the Medics withour boarders and risk to catch Abola or HIV or to be killed by some separatists in Combogia. And some move to Russia...

Excellent

— I live in Russia.
— You live in Russia?!
— Yep.
— Cool!
— If this is so cool, then may be you want to go here too?
— No, thank you. I will not survive.

[Dreams]

I'm from America, and would like to live in Russia someday. But, I'm the type who has wanderlust. I'm fascinated with foreign language and culture, and wherever it takes me, I will go. Seems to me that every country has its benefits and problems - some which may not be evident at first. I love America, but there are many social problems I would rather do without... however, the push for freedom in all areas of life is the factor behind this. So I suppose I'd rather have those freedoms, despite what they may bring, when there are other countries in the world living in oppression, etc.

But I think that's a bit off topic. Anyway, I enjoy reading people's posts about Russia here, because I won't truly be able to judge or experience the country until I live/visit there. In the same way America's greatness may be overexaggerated, I feel the stereotypes of Russia that I've grown up with are probably overexaggerated as well.

[SAn]

I think this report will be very interesting to read: http://web.archive.org/web/200706202354 ... 05_HDI.pdf . It compares different countries. The report is from this site: http://hdrstats.undp.org/countries/coun ... s_RUS.html

Also you may be interested how the toilets looks like in Russia before visiting this country:
http://img-2004-02.photosight.ru/09/407428.jpg
http://taiyo-vostok.ru/images/toilet.jpg
http://img-2006-01.photosight.ru/13/1221926.jpg

[Оля]

Also you may be interested how some toilets looks like in Russia before visiting this country

Я вот не понимаю, в чем удовольствие и смысл поливать собственную страну, передергивать, выдирая самые неприглядные кадры и умалчивая о том, что ты нашел именно такие картинки специально. На последней картинке - это вообще не туалет, это бывший и неработающий туалет. Зачем пытаться убедить инстранцев, что у нас ВСЕ туалеты такие? Боишься, что они все сюда приедут и тебе места не хватит?

[Mist]

2 SAn

В любом поселке любой страны таких toilets навалом.

[SAn]

Блин, я ведь не серьёзно. Это была шутка. А отчёт, ссылку на который я дал, всё же рекомендую почитать. Много интересного.

Но не стоит отрицать, что в России плотность таких туалетов на душу населения явно выше, чем в США. Советую зайти в общественные туалеты в вокзалах, школах, и других государственных организациях.

В моём блоке общаги, когда я только поселился, унитаз был чёрный от грязи, смыв не работал, на пол лилась канализация из пробитой трубы, и в ней копошились черви. Мне пришлось голой спиной лежать в этой канализации и червях, чтобы заделать трубу эпоксидкой, и замотать бинтом, перемешанным со шпатлёвкой (труба была под унитазом, иначе как лёжа к ней не подберёшься).

Когда я попросил у соседей удлинитель, чтобы включить фен, чтобы прогреть эпоксидку, чтобы лучше держалась, они сказали, что сейчас «гамают» (играют на компьютере), и удлинитель поэтому занят. А то, что я хочу починить унитаз — так «это моя проблема, и я не должен со своими проблемами лезть к ним и мешать гамать». В нашей общаге треть унитазов выглядят так, как показано но последней фотке (только не разбиты). Общежитие Московского Физико-Технического Института, ведущего технического ВУЗа страны.

[Mist]

Но не стоит отрицать, что в России плотность таких туалетов на душу населения явно выше, чем в США.

Yess... Acknowledged!

[Leof]

Ну, про туалеты. В американском кино очень часто показывают именно такие туалеты в школах с неблагополучным климатом. И уж точно, что во всех фильмах в жанре "Поворот не туда" показывают именно такие вот туалеты.
А! Это! Хотел сказать, что многие российские телеканалы грешат именно такими вот сортирными взглядами на российскую действительность. НТВ например. Ситуация такая, что миллионам людей впихивают это в башку.
То есть, это в рамках нормального, пугать иностранцев, если уж нас самих стараются напугать.

[iriroma]

Ну, про туалеты. В американском кино очень часто показывают именно такие туалеты в школах с неблагополучным климатом. И уж точно, что во всех фильмах в жанре "Поворот не туда" показывают именно такие вот туалеты.
А! Это! Хотел сказать, что многие российские телеканалы грешат именно такими вот сортирными взглядами на российскую действительность. НТВ например. Ситуация такая, что миллионам людей впихивают это в башку.
То есть, это в рамках нормального, пугать иностранцев, если уж нас самих стараются напугать.

+1 Эт точно! Мне один иностранный гражданин как-то раз сказал: " А вы, оказывается, нормальные! А мы у себя в стране думаем, что у вас медведи по улицам ходят!"

[Freegman]

America has always been a symbol of ideal life: low prices, high life quality, wealth, civilization... Almost every second person on Earth wishes he was born in the US.

This vision of an "American dream" is nothing but Hollywood propaganda. What you see in American movies and television isn't like real life. Most Americans don't live like the "kids" in Beverly Hills 90210 :p That's not to say America is a terrible country, but amongst developed nations, it doesn't even rank near the top in living standards. And even the countries that do are only there because of raw statistics, which removes the human aspect from it all.

Some American cities are even comparable to third world countries, with murder and aids rates similar to what you'd find in Africa (like Washington for example). On the other hand, some Russian cities (like Moscow and St. Pete) are comparable to the developed world, and much more safe and clean that those worst places in America. Those particular cities don't represent the countries as a whole of course, and neither does San's hometown in Russia and his terrible experiences with toilets represent the entire country as a whole. Every city and town is different, some are better, some worse. One cannot judge the living standards of an entire country on personal experiences alone unless they themselves have lived in every region and experienced it all, especially countries as huge and diverse as Russia and America. And by the sounds of things, you've never even been to America!

As a Canadian myself, I can think of many reasons why someone from the western world would want to live in Russia (or at least visit for an extended period of time). If I were given the opportunity, I'd jump at it in a second. Going beyond the reasons stated by others above, all you would need to do is observe how the average person here spends an average day. You would see just how empty, dumb, depressed and morally bankrupt we are as a society.

Here's an interesting fact: Antidepressants are the most prescribed drug in America, with 1 in 10 women over 18 taking them. It's just as bad here in Canada. Do they need those drugs because they live happy, fulfilling lives?

[Scholes]

Well that's pretty easy. First of all my girlfriend is Russian. Besides that, I have lived in Russia for 5 months and I loved it. Why? I don't know. It's hard to say, but something attracts me. Oh and once you managed to find a nice apartment, the rest is all super cheap. That's what it is, compared to the Netherlands. Enough reasons for me.

[FedorV]

Here's an interesting fact: Antidepressants are the most prescribed drug in America, with 1 in 10 women over 18 taking them. It's just as bad here in Canada. Do they need those drugs because they live happy, fulfilling lives?

yes... and you know why? i think it happen because live in america is much easily than in russia, in our case we have no time for the Antidepressants and psychologist, in addition we can't pay for that, it's for rich people... we even don't think about it...
and every time when life come to normal way, a government do something... to make our life more extremal...
concerning prices, yes, our prices is lower than yours, but and our real wages is more lower, for example wages in my city about 5000-40000 rub in month ~150-1250usd... how you like that? 40000 is very gooood for my place (no one of my friend have it) (not for the moscow)!
Who want talk about it - PM to me, i have much more to say.

sorry for my english.

[delog]

Antidepressants in Russia are replaced with vodka

[FedorV]

))) 100%
and bears )

[josmo]

hey misty... it may takes a little 'latent' way of thinking that would answers a lot of your question and worries

[NuBoseTHX]

Random Fact, homes in view from my Window start around
$1,250,000
or 37,536,413.66959 RUB

low prices my ass...
and thats for a family house.

I dont like living in America, I want to move back to Europe [Netherlands, or Russia]