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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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 Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:38 pm Post subject: Latino Racism in Russia, especially Moscow. Living in Mosow |
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Hello All,
I am thinking about going to Moscow to live for a few months, maybe a year, from January 2006. My purpose is to learn Russian and try to hire Russian people for a computer project I want to build.
I am a 23 year old 5'7'', 135pound Puerto Rican (Latin) with light tan skin. There have been so many reports on racism, beatings, hate killings, that I am seriously considering not going. I am friendly and pacifist and don't look for any fights, but I like to go out and have a good time at night.
On top of it, I don't know any Russian now, only a few basic words and phrases.
Please be honest, how risky is it for me to go? Will I encounter racism against me to the point where I am in danger? What recommendations do you give for me if I go? What are the safer places to live? |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Short answer: no. |
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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:46 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for your answer... but,
No, don't go!
or
No, don't worry. |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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no, don't worry  |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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or really, no don't go.
It is how you make it out. But I can't imagine that you're gonna let a few odd incidents reported in the media shun you away from a wonderful opportunity to live in Russia. |
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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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That is what I am trying to understand - whether they are a few incidents, or if it is something to be concerned.
Yes, there are incidents like the Peruvian killing that could be over reported
http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2005/07/05/nazi.shtml
But, what about "More than half of Russians are xenophobic"
http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/11/07/xenophobia.shtml
Or embassies talking:
"A number of embassies, however, would find that arguable. “We continuously remind our students that they are under a constant threat,” said a representative of the Indian embassy."
"A representative at the Guinea-Bisau embassy said that the diplomats are also informed about frequent attacks on students, as well as the students themselves. Still, they inform newly arrived students of the danger. “We warn them, give them advice on how to act, not to go out late at night, avoid conflicts,” a source at the embassy said. “But what can a young person do if he is attacked by a whole crowd?”
"
I was in Moscow last year for vacation and didn't see anything wrong, but then again things aren't the way they seem. |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:03 pm Post subject: |
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1. moscow news isn't news. it's a tabloid that thinks it's a newspaper.
2. embassies always advise citizens to be a bit more paranoid. in other words, just be careful
3. if you've been here before in the past few years, and found it fine, then you should be fine. |
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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:06 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks!
How much monthly budget should I have to live a normal life there? I saw flatmates.ru and am definitely thinking about sharing an apartment with someone. It wouldn't be fun to be all alone at first. |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Hmm it really depends how much you want to spend... if you can find good deals on flatmates or a good place to rent for somewhere less than $300-400, then that's often a deciding factor. As a newcomer you might spend a lot initially before you sniff out all the bargains. It is possible to get by on less than $1000 a month, but do keep an 'emergency savings account' in your bank enough for an air ticket and 'breaucracy fees' if something (like visa registration problem or lost passport) didn't work out for some reason. |
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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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| OK, I had in mind about that.. $300 to $400 for rent. In your experience, how close from the center will that get me? |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:36 pm Post subject: |
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| explorer: First of all, remember that you are an American and you're going to Moscow. You won't be treated as a Peruvian student in Voronezh (the 1st article you mentioned). I don't think you will be welcomed in a small town in Alabama either Moscow is a huge city (over 10 mil people). The center is quite cosmopolitan. There are lots of tourists, especially in the summer. And the way you dress (like most Americans or Europeans, I assume), everyone will treat you like a foreign tourist - meaning quite well. Remember that Russia is a huge country where life in small cities is drastically different from how people live and behave in Moscow. You should be fine if you keep your eyes open (i.e., don't go to some creepy remote outskirts of the city late at night alone). Overall, Moscow is a safe city. The only thing - you may be stopped by police on the streets once in a while checking your documents. Once they see the American Passport with appropriate visa and registration, they will say "Thank you" and let you go. |
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mediashark
Moderator
Joined: 04 Nov 2004
Posts: 1599
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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| explorer wrote: | | OK, I had in mind about that.. $300 to $400 for rent. In your experience, how close from the center will that get me? |
For a room, even in the center, you can get a nice room at this price if you're lucky. Hell, I even got a basic 2-room apartment (though not renovated) to myself for $350, 20 min by bus to the center. Something around $600-700 can get you a quite a nice renovated room with good furniture and appliances in a good location. However there is not a very low 'lower limit' for rooms. $200 is about as low as you can get for a room within reasonable distance to metro (though may be far from center).
Actually if I were you I'd live outside the center but close to metro as groceries and the cost of living is cheaper there. Not to mention rent too... |
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explorer
Just Starting
Joined: 11 Nov 2005
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks, I will look into places. Maybe I can get one close to a good University, where I could take Russian lessons and look for computer programmer students |
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Evgenia
Frequent Guest
Joined: 08 Nov 2005
Posts: 12
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2005 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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Hi! Don't be affraid! Moscow is welcome city. We have a lot of people from different countries.  |
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Octavius
Just Starting
Joined: 23 Nov 2005
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Nov 24, 2005 12:42 am Post subject: Hi |
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| From what I see, you intend to start some kind of computer programming project. I am not sure why, of all countries, you chose Russia. Specially if you are from Puerto Rico. Have you ever considered trying the same in any of the South American nations, where there is more in common from a cultural point of view? Personally, I would never see Russia as a viable place for starting a project/business/wathever. Also, you always seemed to have doubts about going to Russia in the first place. So why don't you think about it a bit more deeply? Maybe Brazil, Venezuela, Chile or Mexico offer a similar opportunity for your project, and you would be more at home as well. And much more close from home also |
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