I Sold My Father’s Land to Move to Russia, and I’m Still Waiting for the Dream to Start
Let me start this way. When I was back home in Nigeria, even when things were hard, there was always a community and a shared understanding of the struggle. Here, in the middle of winter in Russia this year, the silence is heavier for me than ever. So I moved to Russia for my master’s […]
Valentine Blues as a Single Lady and Foreigner in Russia
It is February 14th in St. Petersburg and my city has transformed into a literal ice box. Another Valentine’s day without anything special has come and gone. I just saw a young man clutching bouquets of roses wrapped in three defensive layers of plastic, and we all know that if those petals touch the -25°C […]
We Ranked Russian Foods That Taste Like Struggle (and the Ones That Slap)
Moving from the land of different types of jollof rice, suya, and mouthwatering soups to a place where “seasoning” often just means a lonely sprinkle of paprika or some “grass” (dill) is a major cultural reset for most Africans in Russia. To be fair, Russian food is not necessarily bad, but with time, you just […]
The Sakharovo Struggle
If you meet anyone currently submitting documents for residency in Moscow, there is a high chance they need a hug and perhaps need to squeeze a little cash into their hand. Sakharovo is the location for the submission of documents, and a lot of people agree, that that place is close to hell. It is […]
DON’T BITE OFF MORE THAN YOU CAN CHEW. OR SHOULD YOU?
I have been seeing this quote everywhere lately, and funny enough, a lot of people seem to believe the exact opposite. This year, I stand strongly with the point that we should take opportunities as they come, even the big ones. While I don’t endorse recklessly overestimating your capabilities, overstretching to the point of breaking, […]
Christmas in the Abroad: Life as a Foreigner in Russia
By now, everyone knows that the Christmas vibe here in Russia is completely different from how we do it back home. If you’ve been here for a while, you already know the feeling. While people back home are entering “Detty December” mode with the heat and the constant parties, we are here facing the snow […]
Interview Series: How I Built My Afro Shop Business as an African in Russia
Hi. Can you tell us a little bit about your journey in Russia and how your business started? I came to Russia to work through the help of one of my aunties back then. When I was starting out, I would say, it was not easy at al. Because when I arrived, I had to […]
“Sweat Equity”: Making Money Legally in Russia with Zero Investment
The year is gradually coming to an end, and many people were able to achieve all that they dreamed of, while some, maybe not. Today’s article is a little something to keep you motivated, prepared, and focused for the next year. If you are a foreigner in Russia, especially someone from Africa, you know the […]
MY EXPERIENCE WITH REGISTRATION ISSUES AS A FOREIGNER IN MOSCOW
Right from time, anything that concerns these immigration authorities and police, I avoid it like a plague. As a foreigner in Russia, I always make sure that everything is alright because I have heard stories of people falling into their hands, and the journey was hell. On this day, I was going to work in […]
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 […]