MISTAKES AFRICANS IN THE DIASPORA MAKE WHEN LAUNCHING A BUSINESS IN AFRICA
If you are an African in the diaspora, you might have considered starting a business in your home country or in any country in Africa just because you are being compelled to ‘go make a difference’, ‘give back’ or invest in your country’s economy. But there are a lot of factors to consider. Have you […]
HOW TO LAND WELL-PAYING PROFESSIONAL TECH JOB IN RUSSIA
Guest: Fater Akuhwa (Project Manager at Yandex Go | Founder at Guidetryb) We recently had a live webinar on our Telegram Community for foreigners living in Russia— ‘How to land a good job in tech in Russia’. Here are our top picks from that discussion: 1. Tech is a language everyone should be able […]
JAPA CHRONICLES E3: I WAS WARNED TO BE CAREFUL OF NIGERIANS ABROAD AND THEY DID NOT DISAPPOINT
Because some (Nigerians) are really used to borrowing money all the time, some of them might be envious of you or they may try to set you up or implicate you. The two people I tried to help out fully— after putting aside my decision to not relate with Nigerians in this country— they […]
HOW TO MANAGE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH AS A FOREIGNER IN RUSSIA
Moving to a new country is not always as easy as it seems. Between the cultural shock, climate differences, language barrier, homesickness, acceptance issues, security fears and so on, it’s common for foreigners abroad to feel out of place and suffer consistent mental health problems. Just the thought of being separated from family and friends, […]
RUSSIAN PASSPORT VISA-FREE COUNTRIES 2022
In the light of recent events in Russia and all over the world, citizens of Russia are still worried about countries they are allowed to travel to without restrictions or even without a visa. We’ve compiled a list of countries that allow you to visit without getting a visa ahead of time (especially for short-term […]
JAPA CHRONICLES E2: I DID HARD LABOUR ON A FARM IN RUSSIA FOR 5 DAYS WITHOUT PAYMENT
“We eventually got there around 1pm the next day and it was like we were in the middle of nowhere. They asked us to sleep in one abandoned shed— a mini camp with some bunk beds. So they would wake us up by 2 am to go to the farm…” Please let’s get to […]
MONEY DIARY: I’M A SCHOLARSHIP MEDICAL STUDENT. BUT ON A BUDGET
I am a 22-year-old medical student in Russia. I run a pastry business and also make money from making people’s hair from time to time. I am in my 4th year of medical school and I currently live with my 2 roommates in our school hostel. I don’t really have a lot of expenses and […]
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TEACHING ENGLISH IN RUSSIA
We recently had a live webinar on our Telegram Community for foreigners living in Russia— ‘Everything you need to know about teaching English in Russia’. Here are our top picks from that discussion: Create a profile on the popular freelance platforms in Russia— hh.ru, expats.com, Avito etc. present yourself as an English teacher with a […]
JAPA CHRONICLES E1: I MISSED MY FLIGHT BECAUSE OF MANKA AND EGUSI
“But my agent was not around because he went to get African food- egusi and manka for me. That’s how the team left me in Moscow and went to Turkey and I lost my opportunity to play for the team because I did not understand Russian.” What is your name? ***** Where are you from […]
WHAT TO PACK WHEN GOING ABROAD: JAPA STARTER PACK
Yay! Congratulations on your JAPA achievement. Your excitement has led you here and you’re warmly welcome. Planning for trips and events can be a very daunting chore. If you are someone who does not like stress and just want to be taken care of, having a concise checklist will definitely help. You don’t want to […]
TOP WAYS TO RELOCATE ABROAD FROM AFRICA
In many African countries, Nigeria as a striking example, more and more people are becoming unsatisfied with the living circumstances and would rather find themselves in another country. In fact many people dream about this for months and years on end before it eventually becomes a reality. The truth is not everyone will, can or […]
DATING ABROAD: TOP TIPS FOR YOUR RELATIONSHIP
Living abroad comes with its own ups and downs. As much as you get to see and experience a lot of new things, you can also meet people that can either make or mar your destiny. And that’s the deal with starting relationships in a foreign land… The simple truth is that, with the excitement […]
MONEY DIARY: EXCHANGE RATE TIMELINE ($~₽)
In light of the recent exchange rate flunctuations, we had a poll on our Telegram channel to see how many people in our community were able to convert money when $1 was around 120₽. For those that were able to change, we say “Congratulations!”, and for those who were waiting and waiting until it came […]
JOBS YOU CAN DO AS A FOREIGNER IN RUSSIA
Are you an African in Russia looking for job opportunities to work and earn money legally? More and more Africans are coming into Russia and there’s just a growing need for high-income jobs to be able to cater for themselves and their family members. If you haven’t read it already, check out the first part […]
HOW TO ACQUIRE RUSSIAN CITIZENSHIP
Many Africans in Russia are constantly looking for opportunities to stay in Russia long term- whether by acquiring a permanent residency or by going for full citizenship. Getting permanent residency is, however, a good first step if you’re planning to become a Russian citizen in the future. Some people might even choose to remain permanent […]
INTERVIEW: ADEVERSAL (ENJOY LOUNGE)
What is your full name? (Brief introduction) My name is Adewunmi Adeyanju Abdulfatai from Lagos, Nigeria. I am basically into entertainment, but I studied Banking and Finance at the University of Lagos. I then came to Russia as a student at the University of Management in Saint Petersburg. You own ‘Enjoy Lounge’. Please tell us […]
MONEY DIARY: SOUTHERN AFRICAN MONEY TRANSFERS
International students in Russia face challenges in several areas- from academics, discrimination and languages barriers to mental health stress and inadequate finances. Lethabo, our fictional character from Botswana, is a first-year private medical student in the People’s Friendship University of Russia. When he was coming to Russia, his parents tried to raise his fees and […]
AFRICANS IN RUSSIA: ITOHAN ORHUE
Can you please introduce yourself briefly? My name is Itohan Orhue. I’m from Benin City in Nigeria but I currently live in Moscow. I studied mass communication at the University of Benin I came to Russia in 2014 when my big sister brought me. Where are you from and what do you love about it? […]
7 MUST-HAVE APPS FOR ANY FOREIGNER IN RUSSIA
If you’ve been in Russia for a while, you’ll agree for the next few minutes that these apps are holy-grail in Russia- whether it’s for translation, ordering food, shopping, getting a train, bus or taxi, etc. And maybe you’ll also get to discover the ones you’ve been missing out on: Yandex Metro (Maps, Google Maps, […]
FINDING A LIVING SPACE IN RUSSIA
If you’re new in Russia or you’ve been here for a while, you’ll understand that finding a place to live, especially in big cities like Moscow and as a foreigner, is a big deal. This is simply because there are simply a lot of things to consider; Cost– How much can you afford to pay? […]
THINGS TO DO IN SPRING – GETTING AFRICAN VIBES IN RUSSIA
Winter is over and spring is finally here! Unlike these unnecessarily cold cities like Moscow, Kazan, St. Petersburg etc., most cities have really settled into the new weather that’s getting even warmer as summer is approaching. But have you actually wondered how you can get the most fun out of this season — especially by […]
AFRICANS IN RUSSIA: WADA SOULSTRESS
What is your full name? (Brief introduction) My name is Wada Amantle Lesego Mapiki. I’m from Botswana but I currently live in Moscow. Nice! What do you think a random person might find interesting about Botswana? I’d say the Safaris are something you wouldn’t want to pass up on. Our love for meat (beef) is […]
FAQs ABOUT BANK CARDS, MONEY TRANSFER, ETC (08.03.2022)
What cards will work in Russia? Your Visa and Mastercards issued in Russia will keep on working as usual. You can withdraw from the ATM, pay online, pay by POS etc. within Russia. What cards will work abroad? All Visa and MasterCards issued in Russia will completely stop working abroad. Payments online on foreign websites […]
NEW CENTRAL BANK TEMPORARY ORDER ON WITHDRAWAL OF CASH FX IN RUSSIA- 09.03.2022
What is this new temporary order on withdrawal of hard currencies from my Russian bank accounts? From 9th of March to 9th of September, Central Bank of Russia has established the following temporary rules for withdrawal of hard currencies. You can withdraw a maximum amount of $10,000 (it doesn’t matter if your account is in […]