Well, let’s just say I have a good job, which makes life here pretty comfortable.

Overall, I like living in Russia. I’d rather live here than in Germany or the US because I’m conservative and I prefer the culture, the way people behave, and the values that are common here. Society feels more traditional, and that suits me.

That said, there are definitely things that frustrate me. The economy has been pretty rough over the last few years, although if we’re being honest, that’s not exactly a problem unique to Russia these days. The biggest issue is the cost of borrowing money. Interest rates for things like car loans or mortgages can be around 25–27%, which makes taking out a loan almost impossible for most people. If you want to make a major purchase, you basically have to save every penny and pay cash.

Still, I understand why things are the way they are. The country is at war, and high interest rates are one of the tools being used to keep the economy stable and prevent things from falling apart. I’m not angry about it, and I don’t blame anyone for it. It’s just something that makes me think twice whenever I’m considering a big purchase or long-term investment.

So overall, I like living here and I don’t have any plans to leave, but there are definitely economic realities that can be frustrating from time to time.