Living the expat life is never very easy. One must learn a new language, figure out local customs, and find a place to live. There are a whole host of “foreign” challenges to overcome.
This was all pretty easy when I lived in Ireland but infinitely more difficult when I moved to Prague.
One of the most challenging locations for an expat to get up and running is Moscow. While decidedly westernized these days, the capital is also uniquely Russian and presents many challenges and rewards for those who tough it out.
With this in mind, The Moscow Times recently published an interview with Marina Somers, a New Yorker who moved to Moscow five years ago. “It’s very difficult to understand how complex it is,” she tells the Times, “and why it is such a challenging place to live in.” She speaks about the “horrific bureaucracy” of running a business and the numerous “barricades” which prevent every-day things from running smoothly.
Life in Moscow is a challenge she admits, but one that is ultimately very rewarding for those who learn the language, love art and culture, and develop strong friendships with the locals.
As perhaps the greatest compliment, she equates the “buzz” of the city with that of New York. I think first time visitors will strongly disagree, but with time and the right mindset, Somers argues, Moscow can indeed be a wonderful place for foreigners to live.