Tag Archives: russian world

The Realities of Expat Living in Moscow 2016

The main thing about living anywhere in the world is your attitude.

How easily you can adapt to living outside your “comfort” zone, to how willing you are in accepting a new reality.

There are advantages and disadvantages to living anywhere. I think this goes without saying, but I obviously have to say it to put things into perspective for some.

I have often said that you cannot compare Russia to the established Western world. One has emerged from 75 years of Communism, not to mention a whole host of tragic historical and cultural norms, to a meshing of free market policies and a new world order in the 21st century.… Click here to continue reading this article

What Next After the Neocon Rape of Ukraine?

Since its divestment from the Soviet Union, Ukraine has been something of a schizophrenic nation with conflicting allegiances in the West and East of the country. In recent years, a neocon agenda has stoked up this internal strife to incendiary levels.

The people in the East speak Russian and incline towards Russia, while those in western Ukraine march to a different drum: they speak Ukrainian and foster fond hopes of becoming real Europeans. In Crimea, the majority converse in Russian and their hearts have always beaten patriotically for the motherland. Crimea, after all, was part of Russia from 1784 until 1954, at which juncture Nikita Khrushchev, a native of Ukraine incidentally, made what some consider a major blunder: the Soviet leader gift-wrapped the peninsula and handed it over to the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

… Click here to continue reading this article

More on Russia, The Rouble, Sanctions & Gas.

The western media likes to howl about how sanctions are affecting Russia. But who do they really effect?

The effect of US trade sanctions on Russia and vice versa is minute as their total annual trade value was about $5-6 billion. If this halved to $3 billion neither the US or Russia would notice. That is pocket change…

The effect of trade sanctions on Europe is much more severe. Putin has always said that trade sanctions cuts both ways. It appears that these trade sanctions are now tipping continental Europe into a “triple dip” recession.… Click here to continue reading this article

Russia blocks alcohol imports from Ukraine

Russia suspends alcohol imports from Ukraine – consumer rights watchdog

Russia has decided to suspend alcohol imports from Ukraine on August 15. On Wednesday the consumer rights watchdog Rospotrebnadzor said there had been a number of breaches in consumer legislation.

The restrictions apply to beer produced by Obolon and SUN Inbev Ukraine, and alcohol from the Ukrainian Distribution Company.

“When scrutinizing imports of vodka, beer and other beverages from Ukraine a number of breaches in consumer protection legislation were discovered,” the watchdog’s statement said.

Rospotrebnadzor said Ukrainian beer doesn’t meet the nutritional value written on the bottles, and its branding broke the rules as it doesn’t have the right alcohol content.… Click here to continue reading this article

Russia’s Cunning Plan on Sanctions, Europe and the US.

The Russian President Vladimir Putin has implemented a cunning plan in relation to Europe and their sanctions on Russia.

I call it “Right back at ya – watch this!”

“Russia is finished! Sanctions from Obama and the European Union will finish the Russian economy and now it will become the poorest country in the world! Russia can not do anything to answer the West! They will all die”

So love to scream those in the west who do not know about Putin’s cunning plan and underestimate Russia.

Europeans believed that Russia does not respond to sanctions; but Russia has.… Click here to continue reading this article

What is the real story with Ukraine, Russia, the EU and America?

What is the real story with Ukraine, Russia, the EU and America? 

Anyone who reads Western media might feel that they have a handle on what is going on in Ukraine.

You have been misled by the Western media to hold one, and only one view: There is ‘terrorism’ perpetrated by ‘pro-Russian separatists’, armed by Russia, and Vladimir Putin is the main culprit. Especially with flight MH17.

End of story. Anyone who believes differently is a Russian propaganda merchant.

Vladimir Putin is the evil bogeyman (white cat optional). America wants to spread democracy across the world.… Click here to continue reading this article

2013 Musings from Togliatti, Russia: Cost of Living, Money and Finances

Note: Values are in £ Sterling. There are 100 pence (p) in £1. Those who think in Dollars must multiply by 1.5 to get a Dollar figure. Thus, £100 is $150, 30p is 45c, etc. You get the idea…

My wife is fond of telling me “people” earn £200 a month in Russia. I don’t know why she says this, as I never met anyone I supposed was on £200 a month for a long, long time. I since pointed out that she hasn’t lived there full time since 2005 and things may have changed.… Click here to continue reading this article

2013 Musings from Togliatti: Taxis and getting around in Russia.

The general theme of this small series of articles is to show how a provincial town in central Russia is slowly modernising over the years. I first went there in 2005, which gives me a good point of comparison when visiting in 2013 to observe changes.

Today I am going to discuss taxis and getting around.

Getting around. 

When I first went to Togliatti, when you wanted a taxi, you just stood by the road with your hand out and someone would stop. Negotiate a price before you get in and job done.… Click here to continue reading this article

2013 Musings from Togliatti: Russia is Changing.

I have just returned from a visit to Togliatti, so I thought I would make a few notes about the changes I see in this lesser visited part of Russia as an occasional visitor.

Readers may wish to comment, disagree, discuss, ask questions or whatever.

First impressions after a three year absence. 

Usually when you get on the road, you get the gargling paraffin taste in your throat that is the pollution. It is normally so bad that I need some antibiotics after a few days to quell my swollen throat.… Click here to continue reading this article

Samara KUF Russia Passport Control Problems

Samara Passport Control

I always found Moscow a bit of a pain to connect internally through (although I gather it has improved since I last went through there), and the flight is shorter from the UK to Frankfurt and from there to Samara. Plus the FRA-KUF route is served by Lufthansa and not Yuri Air so is usually on time and half decent. And being a German airline, the luggage usually arrives at the same time as me. Added to which, the UK to Frankfurt and then Samara is almost a straight line on the map.… Click here to continue reading this article

от чего американцы предпочитают лечиться у себя, в Америке, а не в России, например?

Мне всегда было любопытно выяснить, отчего американцы предпочитают лечиться у себя, в Америке, а не в России, например?

Или не в Китае , или в Мексике. Или где-бы -то ни было еще. Спрашивала я тут разный народ, и пришла к выводу, что большинство людей имущих (кто может позволить себе путешествие в тур за здоровьем в другую страну) свято верят, что в Америке самая- пресамая медицина. Ну, а те, у кого дженег на путешествия нет.. у тех денег ни на что нет и они “вынуждены есть то, что дают”.

Во-первых, – по собственному опыту, – стоматология и косметология здесь оставляют желать лучшего.… Click here to continue reading this article