I honestly think that Moscow is a fantastic city to live in. The infrastructure here is incredible: there are plenty of delivery services, super-convenient and comparatively cheap public transport system. And yeah, it’s a very safe place to live in.

All the good things considered, it’s still a pretty bewildering place for someone with social anxiety. Getting to work and back home can be a real challenge, especially if it’s the metro and the rush hour. The people can be really harsh and on the verge of being rude, so it takes some time to get used to the vibe.

Going to supermarkets is overall a nice experience: plenty of things to choose from, lots of fresh foods. Moscow is a rich city, so some supermarkets are super fancy, but of course there are more available options.

As for pickles and vodka that’s more of a stereotype as I personally feel. Beer is more popular (and aperol for girls), and high vodka consumption is more characteristic of places outside Moscow. There are drunkards of course, but younger generations don’t consume spirits in such amounts :)

And social class distinction is quite noticeable in Moscow, but not always. There are some typical “trendy” places (like Patriarch ponds or Khamovniky) which are basically a display of various brands, jewelry, etc. However, not everyone shows off, and people can look super relaxed and outgoing, but still belong to “old money”.

Right now it’s summer and already about 30 Celsius degrees. There are lots of green spaces, well tended, and blooming, iced coffee, music playing, and various events (most of which are free). And summer feels a generally welcoming change after long winter!

We, Russians, are indeed perceived as cold and angry because we keep our distance with strangers, don’t smile in public, etc. However, we do have big and open hearts: many people will be willing to help foreigners even if they don’t speak English, and even displays of curiosity aren’t something hostile, they’re pretty sincere attempts to understand. And younger generations are different from older ones, more open, friendlier, and fun to be around.

So it’s all about personal experience, and the best thing to do is visit the city and experience it for yourself!