How I’m Dealing with a Chronic Disease Abroad
“I am not trying to start a pity party or anything like that. I just want to shed more light on an aspect of life that a lot of people don’t get to experience or even have an idea of. My diagnosis didn’t come as a shock to me. I’ve always been that sick child, […]
A Debtor’s POV: I Want to Pay Back, But I Just Can’t
Never in a thousand years did I imagine that I was ever going to be in debt. Looking back now, I am immensely grateful for getting through that period. I went through some personal issues and needed urgent cash. Initially, I was sure that I was going to pay back, but I didn’t understand how […]
I Left Him, and I Regretted It—But Only for a While
“I’ve never really had money issues, partly because my parents supported me every step of the way. Then I met my now ex-boyfriend, who spoiled me, and money was simply never a concern. I was living comfortably and seriously considering settling down with him until I started noticing things I simply couldn’t keep up with. […]
CHOOSING PASSION OVER MONEY?
When people make this statement, I really want to know what is on their mind. There is a difference between chasing your passion and suffering, and I definitely disagree with the school of thought that passion should be pursued even at the detriment of your well-being. I always loved the sciences right from the time […]
Ranking the Best Cities in Russia: From the Perspective of One African in Russia
Some people found themselves in some cities by chance while others intentionally chose them before they came to Russia or even after living here for some time. When an African in Russia is choosing a city to live in, it depends on so many factors such as school rankings, university life, cost of living, job/business […]
JJC in Moscow: A Hard-Earned Word on How to Survive This City
I arrived in Moscow roughly a year and a half ago. Let me tell you, those first few months were a string of embarrassing and confusing occurrences. I was the very definition of JJC (‘Johnny Just Come’). One look at me back then, and you probably could have guessed I was new in town. I […]
AURA FOR AURA: How to Guard from Unsolicited Advice and Nosy Questions
My eyes have seen plenty things for this life o. I completed my master’s program in Russia three months ago and since then, I have come to understand that a lot of people don’t understand the word ‘privacy.’ Some questions just should not be asked, especially if you’re not close enough to that person. The […]
NO ONE WANTS TO TALK ABOUT THIS: The Temptation of Illegal Jobs in Russia
Listen up. We actually need to talk about something serious. And this is something that people don’t really want to discuss, especially among the foreigners here. So back in the day, when I first landed in Russia, things were pretty tough for foreigners. In fact, finding a decent job was almost impossible, and I myself […]
BACK TO SCHOOL: EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR THE DAY…
Summer is over. That statement is a huge blow to some people hehe. As the first of September is upon us, the beginning of a new academic session brings a host of responsibilities, particularly for foreign students. In fact, this academic year starting on a Monday is no joke at all so you just have […]
REMINISCING ON MY ‘DIABOLICAL’ WORK BACK IN AFRICA: ENTRY 017
“Recently, I was going through a post on TikTok and it strongly reminded me of an experience I had when I was still working back in my country. The truth is that many Africans are very very diabolical and some people will think it is only a joke. When I tell my Russian workmates now […]
RENTING AN APARTMENT IN MOSCOW IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE
Anyone that has stayed in Moscow long enough knows there’s the narrative that it is difficult to find good apartments in Moscow. That’s why we are here for you today. The thing about finding a place as a foreigner in Moscow is that you need to be very patient and wise. Renting an apartment comes […]
‘BUT CAN YOU COOK?’ – I WALKED OUT ON MY FIRST DATE WITH A NIGERIAN MAN
I used to use dating apps a lot, and recently, I had a terrible experience that I just need to share. This particular guy and I started talking. I checked his profile. It was cool, and he was cute. We decided to meet at a restaurant one nice evening. The conversation was flowing, the food […]
MY CR*ZY EXPERIENCE WITH A SCAMMER IN RUSSIA
I have been hearing about scammers and how the number of internet fraud has soared recently. It is still a mystery to me how these scammers get numbers and personal details but that is a story for another time. On this day I received a phone call, the person started with my full name, date […]
LOVE COST ME MY SCHOOL FEES
“This story I am about to share might sound juicy or unbelievable. Some of you might even think I was foolish. But me? I really thought I was never going to survive the hurt and pain I went through that period of my life. I was in my first year of university, and as a […]
IN EVERYTHING YOU DO THIS SUMMER…
We hope your summer is going great and your plans are working out. Summer is the perfect time to take on extra jobs, travel, sightsee, learn a skill or two, attend festivals and parties. In all your ‘summering’, we’ve outlined a number of things you should pay attention to as a foreigner in Russia to […]
“THE INNOCENT CHILD THEY SENT ABROAD IS NOT WHO THEY WILL TO RECEIVE”
I think, aside from the changes that have clearly occurred back home over the years, I am scared of the changes I have also undergone while being very far from home. Today’s article is from a 23-year-old who has had a rough journey in Russia. He has something to tell us concerning friendship and the […]
IF YOU HAVE A GOOD LANDLORD, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU
Hmm, if you have a landlord or landlady who isn’t a threat to your mental health, you should be thanking God! I arrived in Russia in 2017, and until last year, I had been living in my school’s hostel. After graduation, I decided to move into an apartment. Friends, I found a fairly nice place, […]
QUALIFIED, EXAGGERATED OR LIES?
This past week, my Twitter feed was full of posts about people lying on their resumes and landing jobs they weren’t qualified for. It immediately brought back a memory that, for a while, felt pretty bitter. During the COVID lockdown, I was desperately job hunting, applying to all the big companies in Russia. The pressure […]
“MY FIRST MONTH IN RUSSIA WAS TERRIBLE”
We interviewed a final year student on her experience upon getting to Russia and her perception of the country. This interview is sure worth reading. When did you first know you wanted to leave Nigeria? I had a cousin that was studying here already. I think she was in her final year that year. My […]
WHY YOUR MONEY DISAPPEARS (NO, IT’S NOT JUST INFLATION)
Let’s be honest. Living in Russia can feel like trying to hold water in your hands. One minute your wallet is full, and the next, you’re checking your bank app, asking yourself if you really spent all that money. Sure, inflation is real and your salary doesn’t just increase overnight. Surprisingly, there are other culprits […]
Simplified Residence Permit Process for Foreign Specialists in Russia (2025 Update)
The Russian government has introduced significant changes to the immigration process for foreign professionals seeking a residence permit (RP/ ВНЖ). The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection has approved a new List of Professions (Order No. 172n, dated April 3, 2025) that allows qualified foreign workers to obtain an RP without first securing a temporary […]
IF IT SOUNDS TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE- RUN!
We don come again o, ladies and gentlemen, and today’s sermon is “Thou shalt not give thy life savings to suspicious investment apps or platforms. On a more serious note, just recently we saw some sad stories concerning another scheme people fell for- CBEX. A lot of people joke about it and some can even […]
DATING MARRIED MEN: MOSCOW BIG BOY EDITION
I always considered myself a good girl, I was well brought up and very in tune with what was considered good and bad. I particularly hated the topic of dating married men because of what it did to my parent’s marriage. I was one of those people who swore never to date a married man. […]
THE BATTLE BETWEEN MY WALLET AND SUPERMARKETS
I was looking at my cart and was wondering how I got here. I had bought so many things that I now needed to order a taxi. This was not the plan at all because I planned on buying just a few things and now I can barely even carry my purchases in one hand. […]