Moscow - Post Report Question and Answers
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The work at the embassy in incredibly meaningful and impactful and living and working in Moscow is simply GREAT! I wasn't sure what to expect before I came here, but my Moscow experience has been much much much better than I could have or did expect. Enjoy it! - Nov 2018
This is a great post. For some reason it gets a bad rap and not as many bidders as there should be. But the money is good and the work is exciting. - Sep 2016
Don't be afraid of Russia. It's an incredible experience and there are a lot of opportunities to experience Russia while you are posted here. - Jun 2015
I know many people who love Moscow, others who are ambivalent, and others who dislike it. It is important to be honest with yourself about what you're looking for out of the expat experience here and whether your personality will jive with the local culture. - Jul 2013
Russia is not for the faint of heart, but it's a fascinating country. - Jul 2013
This is a hardship post. It is a challenging, difficult place to live but there is also a lot of good here. The people at work have been great, the sights are beautiful, and it is unlike anywhere else. I feel very lucky I had the chance to live here for a short while. - Jan 2013
Russia is unique; while its relations with the west (including the US) are much improved, it is NOT Europe --- understanding this point is key to adapting here. Learn from the locals, and they will teach one what is needed to adapt and survive here. - Jan 2011
Moscow exhibits all the best and worst tendencies of a big city and multiplies them by a factor of ten. If you enjoy going out, big-city attractions, and the allure of the bright lights, you can have a wonderful time. Those looking for something quieter or calmer should look elsewhere. Even so, the culture, attitudes, and behavior of Muscovites can be wearing on the most party-hardy of souls. Caveat emptor. - Jul 2010
I don't want to influence anyone away from Moscow. We had a very tough time there, but a great deal of it was associated to living at Rosinka. It increases the difficulty of living here when transportation is so difficult. - May 2010
It is hard for a single female with next to no language experience, but I did it because I made great friends there and kept busy with a semi-social life. Beware though, a LOT of people leave their tours here as heavy drinkers, because vodka, beer, and wine are so cheap and abundant and considered part of the culture. - May 2010
Living in Moscow is a challenge, and a puzzle to be solved. Once you work it all out and figure out how to live, where to shop, where to go, what to do, etc, it can be a grand adventure and a pleasant place to live. - Feb 2010
Moscow, though ostensibly a European city, offers many more challenges to the foreigner than most European cities. The dearth of affordable hotels, restaurants and bars, and the extreme language barrier are just a few. Added to this is that Muscovites don't smile in public and all seem to be simmering with deep resentment towards life, coupled with a long, hard winter, make some expats get a bit blue. But there is a lot to love in this city, from its amazingly rich cultural life to its heady, top-shelf style. It's definitely not for everyone, and it demands a lot of adapting from those who would live here and enjoy it. - Jan 2010
Once you get past the hard exterior, the Russians are usually pretty chocolate-y inside. - Oct 2009
I think if you go in with a good understanding of Russian history you will appreciate the opportunity to live in Moscow and what a neat experience it can be. - Aug 2009
