Every now and again I am contacted by people thinking of / planning to move to Moscow. The questions these people ask are varied and often surprising, but I always try and answer them honestly whilst at the same time being positive about their forthcoming adventure.
Russia is, you see, something of an unknown quantity for most people in 'western' countries. They don't know much about it, and what they do know is often not very encouraging. So almost the first thing I write in my response is something along the lines of 'Congratulations on your forthcoming move' - because I'm fairly certain they won't have heard that from many people back home.
Then I touch on schools (lighten up - especially if you're coming from the UK), traffic (it's hell), bureaucracy (don't ask 'why', just ask 'how'), learning Russian (even a few words will help), and prioritising the family commute over the working partner's travel (something of a bugbear with me since all the families I've known who've left early have been those where the kids have had a 2 hour drive to school whilst the dad - and yes, it IS always the dad in this situation - has a 15 minute journey).
Recently however, I've found myself wanting to include a quote from one of my sons' favourite movies, The Polar Express in these letters. (Can you tell I've been subjected to too much kids tv over the last few years?). I can't, of course - how trite would that sound? - but here, on the blog, I can say what I please so I'm going to use it...
I'm paraphrasing, but after the children's adventures are just about finished and our Hero arrives back outside his home, the Conductor's final words to him (apart from 'Merry Christmas!' obviously) are something like "That's the thing about trains; it doesn't matter where they're going. What matters is deciding to get on..."
That, for me, sums up a successful attitude to coming to live in Moscow. Who knows where the ride will take you? It may be where you're expecting - and equally, it may not. But wherever you end up, if you sign on for the experience with an open mind you will be surprised, entertained, rarely bored and you may just find strengths and skills that you never knew you possessed.
So. In the Conductor's words; 'Well. Are you coming?'
