As many of you have already known or guessed, I live in Russia. The rest of the team (Brian and Rosyna) are in the States. This makes us a true Internet company, I guess, even though we know each other in real life, as well.
Somebody in the comments for the previous blog entry asked why do I live in Russia. Frankly, there are a few reasons, but most of them are pretty... silly, or maybe a bit naive.
First of all, I was born here; most of my family lives here. Lots of my real life friends and people we know also live in Russia. I don't really know any foreign languages, too. ;)
Second reason, I am pretty well established here. I have a great wife and an awesome kid. I own an appartment, a car, and tons of other junk called "property". No, property won't be a real obstacle if I *really* wanted to move, but still...
Third reason, I earn a bit more than most other average Russian people - considering an average programmer working fulltime in an officc here gets around $400 to $800 per month. Makes me feel good. In the other countries, my salary would feel much more average than it is here. ;)
I like to travel though, and sometime on my agenda is getting an appartment in some other, warmer country, where I can stay during the frosts I hate so much.
On the issue of travelling, I wish I could be at MWSF, but oh well, being a Russian citizen also gives some troubles with getting a US entry visa -- US Consulate refused to give me one, because:
- I work in an american company;
- I work in hi-tech/IT;
- I am young.
Sounds pretty absurd, yet the guy explained that in his opinion I am not tied enough to Russia to have a motivation to come back (wife, kid, and property probably just doesn't count), besides since I work in a US company, there's a high possibility I will immigrate. Hah. Makes it sort of unfair - I am not allowed in the country that makes profit off my work. They also gave me a "to-do list" of things i have to achieve for a possibility of gaining a visa:
- Get one more kid;
- Get employed in a Russian company;
- Make the Russian economics be better.
I laughed at the last one, and politely asked, how the guy thinks I can affect that. Of course I got no answer. ;) So all in all, I'll try again to get a visa for WWDC or MacHack. That'll be fun, for sure.
BTW if any of you are planning to visit St.Pete (we will celebrate 300 city anniversary this summer), drop me a note, I'll happily have a glass of your favorite drink with you.
Posted by slava at 04:06 AM
| Comments (16)
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Heh, my fioncee claims I will be at the 300 year jubileum, (she's from st. pete), think it's going to be good?
Posted by: Marcus on January 7, 2003 5:43 AMPersonally *I* think it will be crowded and ugly. =) But it'd be good to meet a Mac blogosphere user, none the less.
Posted by: slava on January 7, 2003 5:49 AMhehe :) I was in st. pete in october, and I think it's a very nice city, even if it's just as cold as Oslo in the winter :p
I guess it'll be nice to see it in the summer, thought I'm trying to convince the gf to go to Italy instead :))
Posted by: Marcus on January 7, 2003 6:15 AMhey salva --
could you send me the pictures and maybe photoshop and I could get something out of them. also, how about a few pictures of life in russia? if no one else, i'd be interested. also, did they ever find out if the government was also behind the spate of 'chechen' apartment bombings? sounds all too similar to cutting the electricity on and off to influence elections . . .
Marsico
Posted by: Mársico on January 9, 2003 3:55 PMTry becoming a citizen of a country that operates under the visa waiver program. You won't have to pay for a visa application then. Alternativly, become a university professor in some really obscure subject (like hacking Mac operating systems). Then you're more likely to get in.
Posted by: on January 10, 2003 4:59 PMhey slava!
long time no speak. dunno if you remember me but i use to help test macamp/macast for ya. how've ya been? seems like your doing pretty good buisness wise..
I have lived in the U.S. most of my life. Now I am looking for a new home. The place that most appeals to me, France, is too expensive for my small fixed income. Can you give me any info on living in Russia. St. Petersburg maybe?
Thanks so much. I have many friends looking for a new home, too, so I'll pass the word on -
Lisa
I've grown up in wisconsin and minnesota. Isn't there an old Russian saying... There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Minneapolis is nice but it isn't as beautiful as old St. Pete. or other old Russian cities and towns and if you have the right stuff (ski, skates, snowmoble, ice fishing, warm fire, cold vodka, good friends, etc...) winter can be fun. America is getting too busy and built up for me, give me the Alti any day and the Russian Rails to travel by.
Posted by: steve on October 20, 2003 4:48 PMI would like to relocate to St. Petersburg. Would an income of $2,000 monthly allow for a good lifestyle? Are automobiles easily purchased through finance programs with financial institutions?
Posted by: Philip Coffman on October 26, 2003 12:23 PMI am interested in relocating to St. Petersburg. Can you tell me how one goes about obtaining the necessary documentation to establish residency in Russia? I wil be marrying a Russian lady.
Posted by: Phil Coffman on November 29, 2003 12:34 PMHey, I'm planning on going to teach english in Russia over the summer and was wondering if I could get your e-mail address so I could ask you a few questions, appreciate the help and the good advice above.
Posted by: levi mcfarland on February 4, 2004 8:21 PMI am looking for some help. My grandfather came from Russia in the 1900's from a small town named Ucherpe or Usceppe. I still have distnat family there. The rest of my paternal family is deceased and there is no one to ask. I heard that the name of the town was changed long ago but can find no reference to it. Does anyone know anything about the town or what it is called now? Our name was changed from Kovoliva to Koval by the US upon his immigration as a youth.
Posted by: Mike Koval on December 26, 2004 8:23 AMI plan to marry a beautiful woman from Russia in her hometown this August. How can I live there? I have a retirement income over $2000 monthly, so there is no problem financialy. Please somebody inform me what I need to do! Thanks!!!Craig
Posted by: Craig on June 4, 2005 3:10 PMHiya Lisa,
My mum is Russian, she's from Moscow. I have been there quite a few times and wanted to tell you-
Russia is GREAT. I have been to St Petersburg one time, I was 7 so I dont remember too much.
Anyway-Moscow is the heart of Russia and there a lot of ppl from Kazahstan, Siberia, and all the ex-Soviet states there. The average salary is about 200-500$ a month. With this you can have a car, a small apartment. To Philip Coffman-you would be rich there. Russian ppl are open, sincere, and ALWAYS enjoy a good round. It is typical that if you came in to drop somehting off, you will be fed dinner and stay until late in the night talking-even if the ppl arenet your good friends. There is a lot of crime in Moscow though as there is a lot of mafia, which means you should be careful.Stay away from dark driveways...It is typical for apartments to have two doors and security. The Russian regime is acceptable but is still readjusting after the Soviet breakdown, and most of the ppl who work in the govt are just, sorry, *sses. The govt often cheats on money, so be careful with your finances. Russian culture is extremely developed, with many great artists, musicians, scientists...etc. Moscow is a beautiful but dangerous city.
I have been helping a friend who now lives in St. Petersburg and I would be interested to know the average monthly salary. Anna on May 30 2006 suggested 200-500USD a month. What sort of person would this be? A secretary for example? I assume with the decline in the value of the dollar it will be more now?
Grateful for any help please.
Edmund
Posted by: Edmund on December 30, 2006 2:18 PMHey Mike,
I do have some info. I have a relative the immigrated from Russia to the us in the early 1900's. He was born in Ucherpe Russia.
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