Relocating to Russia?

Question

Hey! I live in San Francisco, California but my husband and I are thinking about moving to his native country of Russia. We have four children, 2 boys aged 14 and 16, and 2 girls who are 12 and 15. I have no immediate family anymore, and his family back in Russia is very large, so I think it would be good to be close to them. However, I have a couple of concerns. His entire family in centered in and around Moscow, would this be a nice place to live and raise a family? Are there any neighborhoods you would suggest? My children were raised speaking Russian with their father and with visiting family from Russia, so they speak it fluently. However, my knowledge of Russian is very limited. Would it be easier for me to learn Russian before leaving California, or once in Russia? How do the people generally feel about foreigners living there? And would my children be accepted by other teenagers? And how much culture shock should we expect? How does the school system work there, and is the education offered of a high standard? What about private schools? My husband and I both work in the medical field, as he is a surgeon and I am an anesthesiologist. Is there much work in this field there? Any more information you could give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Answer 1

Im not fluent, I was raised in an English speaking country, but I'll tell you as much as I know about Russians... Well they dont mind foreigners generally. The fashion for women there now is suits, like 3/4 pants and maching suit jacket...

The kids might find it hatd to adjust to the level of education there. Their maths is is highly advanced and they have compulsory languages I think, and you get less choice than you do here. The food is AMAAAZING! Go into a cake shop! It's just a mile of cakes, so many different cakes, different colours, flavours... It's a cake mosaic... *DROOOOL*.

Learn Russian here and there. Just live there for a month anfter learning it a bit here and you'll pick it up! Trust me! I dont know Russian teens so well... As far as I know, the emo dress style is in... *rolls eyes*.

Russians highly consider medical proffessions. They are variably ahead of their time with medicine over there. They cured me of paralysis of my legs because of a crushed spine when I was a baby. I can walk! They have done many things with medical advancement, such as that Russian that found this apparent cure for asthma 40 years before it reached our shores! Lots of people have been cured. ( It a breathing exercise).

I think Russians would like Americans. You guys might seem new and shiny! Some Russians tend to get jealous. Watch out for that. They can be greedy and rude sometimes. Watch out for that too.

Culture shock... Well, I dont know much, but expect differences. The snow is beauiful. My mom went there last month, and the snow... it wasnt in flakes... It was in balls the size of peaches... And when she came back, her skin had improved. It was glowing, clear and she looked many years younger than she did when she left.

So... yeah. Thats all I know. Hope it all goes well.

Answer 2

I think you really need to look into the political climate over there -- it has been getting worse and worse and is basically a dictatorship and very corrupt.  You will be in for a big culture shock, especially coming from a place like Sam Francisco. Why anyone would want to move from San Francisco, one of the most beautiful cities in the world to the suburbs on Moscow is beyond me.  I think your kids will hate you if do that.