Rachel South rose in Watford not far from London. Even at school, she became interested in Russian culture, entered the University of Nottingham for the Russian Studies program, and in 2017 he came to St. Petersburg under the exchange program. Here Rachel met the future husband and eventually decided to finally move.
British tells how in Russia for the first time I tried to collect mushrooms and walk on ice, for which I loved the techno-parties and the Russian men differ from the British.
Age: 25 years
Business: Copywriter
In St. Petersburg: 4 years
- In St. Petersburg, I found myself under the program "Year abroad" University of Nottingham in 2017. I started to study Russian history yet in school - I always wanted to do something like everything. Everyone was taught French, but France did not fascinate me, I wanted something new, interesting, unique, and eventually I entered Russian Studies.
When, in the penultimate course, I went to Peter on the exchange program, then fell in love with the city and his architecture. Move was very afraid, scared the stereotype that in Russia it is dangerous that unfriendly, evil people will be bad to treat me, as I am a foreigner. But my family supported me and pushed me, just saying - "Drive". They traveled, were in Russia, they really liked it here. Like my close friends, they believe that Peter is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. And local people eventually turned out to be very kind and open.
Study Russian in England and to be in Russia in reality - completely different things. There I was engaged in Russian four hours a week, in Russia - 15 hours a week in classes and everything else is out of study. At the university, I coped well with the tasks, handed over the grammar tests, read well and thought that everything would be wonderful, but having arrived here - I could not speak. It's all about the structure of Russian proposals - they are very different from the English. And even if I know the words you want to pronounce, I'm not sure that I will correctly put them together.
In Russia, I almost immediately met the future husband - in the application for language training. There you need to specify your native language and the one you want to learn, - then the application itself selects your interlocutors, such a kind of Tinder for foreigners. We met, talked, fell in love and began to meet. And at the end of my last year they played a wedding. It was a difficult period: exams, dissertation, organization of the wedding and the final decision to move to Russia.
Between guys in Russia and in England a big difference. Russians are more straightforward: they say what they mean. In England, guys often play "games", you can't understand what they want. We were all simple: "Let's meet? Come on! " Yes, and in general, the guys are more polite, it is better to take care of: buying you flowers, support and open the doors, they throw the plaid if it's cold. Guys in England do not do that.
I was very worried about how my family will react to the wedding - if in Russia to marry in Russia for 20 years, then in England married after 30. But my mother, dad, grandpa and grandfather accepted [my husband] and loved. Meetings with your husband's family, as it turned out, I was afraid even more: how would they react to the fact that I am a foreigner? But again I was wrong.
The collection of documents was very complex in Russia. In England, you follow the rules, make requests and get them. Here - and this is most disturbing me - the mood of the employee play a huge role, who gives you a document, his sympathy or antipathy to you. And even if the mood is good, the documents in Russia are still very difficult. I do not know why you love these papers so much: sign here, bring from there, make a copy, sign again. In England, most of these cases take place online. In addition, I sometimes fear to talk to people, I am afraid that I will not understand me, so you have to memorize the text that I will vote.
Now I work as a copywriter: I write texts in English and leading your blog. I am happy to live in St. Petersburg. Every day I discover a new place for myself, and it turns out to be so inspiring that he delays me and hesitate. Beautiful architecture, permanent exhibitions, lectures.
If I stayed in England, I would wait for a completely different life - stable work from 9 to 18 from Monday to Friday. Here I have more opportunities to take projects, work on them and the rest of the time to be free. For many, Russia is the most closed and strict country with limited freedom, but for me it is not.
What did Russia taught you?Russia teaches me patience and tolerance: do not give up after the first unsuccessful attempt. And still be open and talk directly what I think. In England, we are too polite, we say little in the face, we play, hint and manipulate, and there is no.
Moving to Russia, I thought that the worst thing that could be - evil, closed and alienated people, and did not expect how friendly they would be. In Russia, more and more open. Constantly sing, emotional - I really like it.
The worst was the ice! I am amazed by the Russians: you grew here and as if you know how to walk on ice, you know the secrets. We recently walked on ice in Kronstadt - it was so scary (I was enough for a few minutes), I kept my husband and was very afraid to let him go.
This year I first collected mushrooms - it was amazing! In England, we do not do anything like. As a result, we have gathered a large basket, houses cleaned the mushrooms and cooked patties from them. I was under great impression.
And I love Russian music. Recently, a joke and my husband and I began to listen to the Morgenstern. In the end, we liked ... and now it's not a joke. In England, I loved Drum & Bass and often went to parties, but in St. Petersburg could not find anything like it. But my husband showed me a "dance floor" on a big stable and techno. That was great! In Russia, people are much thinner on the parties to alcohol. In England, absolutely everyone drinks until it becomes bad. Here people drink, but the main thing for them is to spend good time, talk, dance.
Who played an important role for you?My husband, he helps me in everything. Last year I left home for several weeks, but because of a pandemic remained there for 10 months. All this time we were at a distance, it was very hard, but he did everything to return back. Especially supported with documents.
What would you like to postpone from your country to Russia?I miss cheese "Cheddar." The one that is sold here is, I will say in secret, not at all "Cheddar." And water - in London you can drink it from under the tap, and here (especially in Kolomna) it is some yellowish color.
- Kolomny I live Kolomna, I like it insanely. Her channels, symbiosis of the historic and industrial heritage - it is beautiful. The best place for walking.
- Creative spaces "Bertgold-Center", earlier "Golitsyn". I was very upset when he closed. We often walked there with my husband.
- "Teremok" in St. Petersburg so many restaurants, but my heart belongs only to him. I do not know why, but I adore pancakes.
- Ekateringofprecred park. He is beautiful at any time of the year.
- Finnish Zayulprich anywhere and at any time.
I feel that I live here truly. Every day I inspires me and motivates, I do not feel anything like in England. There I like to stagnate, I do the same from year to year, nothing changes - and it kills me. Here I live, and in England - exist. When I returned here after a pandemic, the first thought was about God, my life was finally started. I waited for this for so long!
The interview was conducted in English, the translation was published.
"Paper" regularly publishes stories about foreigners. What Petersburg attracts and repels visitors what Russia teaches and why come to an unfamiliar city - businessmen, students, scientists and restaurateurs from different countries talk about their experience and views on Petersburg life. All texts are reading here.