Vladivostok, Russia Report of what it's like to live there - 06/01/09
Personal Experiences from Vladivostok, Russia
Background:
1. Was this post your first expatriate experience? If not, what other cities have you lived in as an expat?
Several
2. How long have you lived here?
One Year
3. Travel time and best routes to this city from Europe or the US:
There are pretty much two ways to get to Vlad from the US -- through Seoul or through Moscow.
4. What brought you to this city (e.g. diplomatic mission, business, NGO, military, teaching, retirement, etc.)?
Foreign Service Officer at US Consulate
Housing, Groceries & Food:
1. What is your housing like? What are typical housing sizes, locations, and commute times for expatriates?
Lots of modern housing, though pricey. Many places have a view of the bay.
2. How would you describe the availability and cost of groceries and household supplies relative to your home country?
Practically everything you need is here. If you are into Japanese brands, they are available everywhere. Some things are quite costly, though. There are several large supermarkets.
3. What household or grocery items do you wish you had shipped to post?
Nothing in particular. Almost everything is available.
4. What typical restaurants, food delivery services, and/or takeout options are popular among expatriates?
There are a couple of Russian fast food places. They're okay, but there are no American chains. There are plenty of restaurants -- one great Indian one, several Korean ones that I like, and a few good Japanese ones. Also Italian and Georgian among others. They are all kind of pricey, but overall worth it.
5. Are there any unusual problems with insects or other infestations in housing?
Ticks are a problem because they carry deadly encephalitis. Vaccinations are available against it, though, and ticks are not a problem in the city.
Daily Life:
1. How do you send and receive your letters and package mail? Are local postal facilities adequate?
Diplomatic pouch, though the international express services work fine here.
2. What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
Available, but pricey.
3. What kinds of gyms or other sports/workout facilities are available? Are they expensive?
Yes, there are quite a few.
4. Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
I use them all the time. Never had a problem, but maybe I'm just lucky.
5. What English-language religious services are available locally?
6. English-language newspapers and TV available? Cost?
AFN for the diplomats. Satellite TV from a Russian provider that has a few English channels.
7. How much of the local language do you need for daily living? Are local language classes/tutors available and affordable?
Not too many store clerks speak English, so 'shopping Russian' would be useful to have, though western-style stores are plentiful and talking is not really necessary.
8. Would someone with physical disabilities have difficulties living in this city?
They would have many problems. The sidewalks are a mess. The hills are steep. Buildings are not accessible.
Transportation:
1. Are local buses, trams, trains or taxis safe and affordable?
Available and affordable. Currently 11 rubles per trip.
2. What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
People will say you need 4WD. I don't agree. I have a mini-van and it works just fine. There are PLENTY of potholes, so cars with low clearance should be avoided. In the winter the roads do ice up, so snow tires or studded tires are a must.
Phone & Internet:
1. Is high-speed home Internet access available? How long does it typically take to install it after arrival?
High-speed internet is available but pricey. Most plans limit the number of megs per month, but they are fast. Unlimited-use plans are available, but they're slower.
2. Do you have any recommendations regarding mobile phones? Did you keep your home-country plan or use a local provider?
Not particularly. Both subscription and pay-as-you-go plans are available.
Pets:
1. Are qualified veterinarians and/or good kennel services available? Do animals need to be quarantined upon entry to the country? Are there other considerations regarding pets that are particular to this country?
2. Quality pet care available (vets & kennels)?
Employment & Volunteer Opportunities:
1. What types of jobs do most expatriate spouses/partners have? Locally based or telecommuting? Full-time or part-time? Can you comment on local salary scales?
2. What is the typical dress code at work and in public places? Is formal dress ever required?
People are much less casual here than they are in the States.
Health & Safety:
1. Pollution index (Good, Moderate, Unhealthy, or Very Unhealthy)?
Well, it's not exactly clean, but I've been to plenty of places that are worse.
2. What immunizations are required each year?
Don't know, but getting a tick-borne encephalitis vaccine is a must.
3. Are there personal security concerns to be aware of at this post? Please describe.
Well, petty crime is a problem, but I have not had any acquaintances get robbed. The most dangerous thing in this town is the traffic, in my opinion.
4. Are there any particular health concerns? What is the quality of available medical care? What medical conditions typically require medical evacuation?
My biggest 'health concern' is surviving as a pedestrian. The sidewalks are very iffy (when there are sidewalks). Many places don't even have them. The town is very pedestrian-unfriendly. I don't know much about medical care here, since we didn't really need to use it much. I know MRIs and bloodwork are available.
5. What is the overall climate: is it extremely hot or cold, wet or dry, at any time of year, for example?
Winters are quite cold, summers are very hot, and spring and autumn are really nice. I would say that it roughly resembles New England weather. There is snow in the winter, and it definitely gets below freezing, but it's a more coastal climate, and it is definitely not as drastic as in Siberia. For really cold weather you need to go to Yakutsk.
Schools & Children:
1. What is the availability of international schools? What has been your general experience with them, if any?
There are not really many good options for older kids. There's one private English-language school, and one public school that teaches half in English, half in Russian. My kids already spoke a bit of Russian, so we sent them to a Russian-language private school, which, we came to notice, wasn't so strong academically. Schooling here for younger kids is okay, but for older kids the options are extremely limited.
2. What accommodations do schools make for special-needs kids?
I don't know, but probably very few.
3. Are preschools available? Day care? Are these expensive? What has been your experience with them, if any? Do the schools provide before- and/or after-school care?
I hear there are plenty of nannies available, but they are a bit pricey and likely do not speak English.
4. Are local sports classes and/or activities available for kids?
Not that I know of.
Expat Life:
1. What is the relative size of the expatriate community? How would you describe overall morale among expatriates?
Very small.
2. Morale among expats:
Seems pretty good to me. I like it here, and most of the people I talk to seem to, as well.
3. What are some typical ways to socialize, either with local people or with other expatriates? Are there groups or clubs that you can recommend?
Can't say I have much of one, so I can't comment. People here seem eager to meet foreigners, so it seems like it should be easy.
4. Is this a good city for single people? For couples? For families? Why or why not?
Single people seem to get out and about. It's okay for couples with young children. People with older children might need to look into alternative schooling plans (more below).
5. Is this a good city for LGBT expatriates? Why or why not?
6. Are there problems with ethnic, race/racial minorities or religious prejudices? Gender equality?
I have not heard of too much, though I am sure things do happen occasionally. What I can say, though, is that people out here in the East are much more tolerant than people in Moscow.
7. What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Winter is fun for skiing at a place just out of town. It's not the Alps, but it's good to keep in practice. There is one year-round skating rink and several outdoor ones in the winter. There's a beach area just outside of town. There are professional basketball and soccer matches.
8. Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?
In town you can get all the typical Russian stuff -- matroshkas, laquerware, etc. If you make it to other areas in the region, like Yakutsk, Sakhalin, or Kamchatka, there are plenty of cool traditional things made by indigenous people.
9. Can you save money?
The place is not especially cheap, so it might be harder to save money here than in some other places. Also, airfare out of here is expensive.
Words of Wisdom:
1. Knowing what you know now, would you still move to this city?
Sure would. I like it.
2. If you move here, you can leave behind your:
expectations of road trips or frequent travel around the region (more on that below in comments section).
3. But don't forget your:
snow tires, skis and skates.
4. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
5. Do you recommend any books or movies about this city/country for those who are interested in learning more?
6. Recommended movies/DVDs related to this city:
7. Do you have any other comments?
When you look at a map, Vladivostok appears quite close to China, Koera, and Japan. Geographically they are close, but getting to those places is very expensive. The cheapest international flight is to Harbin in China and it costs about 15,000 rubles for a round trip. Seoul currently costs 22,000. There are ferries to Korea and Japan, but they are not much cheaper, and diplomats are not allowed to travel on them without special permission. Domestic flights are expensive, as well, so trips to places worth traveling to will entail significant cost (21,000 for Kamchatka, for example). Note: USD=31 rubles. Private vehicles are not allowed to cross the border with China, so road trips there, though close, are impossible. There are a few nice places within a few hours' drive from Vlad, but trips further afield would be dangerous and take a while.
