Best Cocktail Bars in Russia: Trans Siberian Edition
Hello, your girl did not go all the way across on the Trans Siberian and not try every single cocktail bar she could edge her way into. Cultural and natural sights were dutifully attended to during the…
Practical Trans Siberian Tips
I had never dreamed of this trip, wasn’t even considering it when I first moved to Moscow, but a few months in the seeds had been planted — sliding through Russia on the Trans Siberian train, one…
My Lost Year as a Moscow Expat
I think a lot about the ‘right way’ to be an expat. If I were to construct the picture of a ‘good expat,’ they would be someone who speaks the language, has relationships with local businesses, gets…
Alternative Places to Learn Russian
After my long rant about why people should stop asking about learning Russian in Kyiv and instead just make their plans to go to the Motherland, you might find it odd that I’m encouraging you to think…
The Best Cocktail Bars in Saint Petersburg, Russia
Listen, it wasn’t my plan to make it a boozy weekend in Saint Petersburg. I booked my train tickets with two intentions—One, to see Firebird at the Mariinsky Theatre because this girl loves a weird-o ballet. And…
Is It Safe to Travel Dagestan? Or Stupid?
Every time I told a new person that I planned to travel Dagestan during our school holidays, I had to digest their expression and ask myself, again, “What’s the difference between being stupid and being brave?” It…
How to Get a Russian Work Visa for US Citizens
Getting a work visa for any country is (not without justification) an exercise in jumping through hoops, as is getting a Russian visa in general. So when I decided to apply for jobs in Moscow, I was…
The Only Thing I’ve Learned This Year
It’s my expat anniversary! Three years ago, I boarded a plane headed for Tokyo, where I’d spend a night before going on to Singapore. I don’t remember which airline I flew, though it was definitely not United…
How to Choose Your Next Expat Home
The snow pants were presenting a problem. As was my Little Red Riding Hood pea coat, my cozy and fluffy sweater shawl, and my snow boots. Leaving Kyiv and moving to Tbilisi in the middle of winter meant…
30 Countries in 30 Years
There are birthdays and then there are BIRTHDAYS. And I’ve had some good birthdays. There was the year we threw an international spy themed party and I wore a fascinator. There was the year Boyfriend took me…
