Post: #26

(04-19-2013 08:01 AM)Vitriol Wrote:  Check out this article: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...wyer-jobs/

You're probably better off just writing that career option off as a loss if you stay in the U.S.. Try to use your skills to do something else.

(04-19-2013 07:36 AM)Akula Wrote:  Ha ha...I guess the American Dream is dead? As guy who grew up in the US I think in many ways it is, and it's only getting worse - that's part of the reason why I moved to Russia.

Quote:I think it is too. No one really does anything here anymore outside of their responsibilities aside from rotting away in front of a TV or computer. Even when people go out they just sit around pounding away on their phones.

True, and the job situation is worse than the left-leaning, politically correct mainstream media make it out to be. You basically have many white collar jobs either being completely outsourced or so intensely competed for that there's no way to make a career of it. And even if you could would you want to in DC? NYC still rocks, but even there the finance world is much tougher to break into these days. So many people have dropped out of the labor force too, but are ready to come back at a moment's notice if they find a job.

(04-16-2013 10:55 AM)chamele0n Wrote:  As about the women: I understand that the US has 300M people. I have lived in a good few cities, big and small, in the US and kept statistics on the number of mostly humiliating approaches I needed to do to get laid. It doesn't change much throughout the country. I don't know if it's the brainwashing from the TV that tells women every guy is a potential rapist and pervert or what, but that country is just hopeless. I feel I would be disrespecting myself by spending another minute gaming American women. I can't say my experience was much different with Canadian women.

Why do you think video games and pornography are so popular among American men? Putting up with bullshit from American females isn't enjoyable. It's merely something American men tolerate if they want to get laid occasionally... which kind of takes the fun out of the whole process.

Particulary when the ones you have to 'put up with' are demanding, fat and high maintenance career-focused jerks who add little value to your life and in any LTR/marriage scenario are a huge downside what with the divorce laws. It's very dangerous for a successful, wealthy man to get married in the US. And because large age-gap dating is seriously frowned upon there, you lose 2/3 of the dating pool you can have in Russia, EE, Asia, S. America etc.

The more I think about this I just think it's a no-brainer and Chameleon you need to try your luck in Russia. You have a bit of a unique skillset with your Russian language ability and legal/finance background, one that many firms would at least want to check out with an interview I think. Althought this place could get risky fast, the upside is great, and any EM experience you get will be transferable globally I think. You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe. The only other option I might take other than moving here asap is if you got a high-paying job at a major lawfirm or investment bank in NYC. NYC is an awesome place to be, esp in your 30s. London banking is pretty dead right now but that would also be a good gig, and closer to EE ladies, but tougher to get now with the sitaution in the UK and the EU.

Post: #27

(04-19-2013 07:36 AM)Akula Wrote:  "But by the time I got to the end of my law degree I realized what a sex prison country I got myself into and now I just wish I had stayed and studied for a career in Russia instead."

Ha ha...I guess the American Dream is dead? As guy who grew up in the US I think in many ways it is, and it's only getting worse - that's part of the reason why I moved to Russia.

That said, Russia has plenty of problems and you give up many things to come and work/live here. But for me as a single man the upside with women, lower taxes, higher growth etc. were too good to pass up. I'm sure you could levearge your degrees in NYC or Chicago/Boston, but a move to Russia would be quite attractive to me, but it all depends on what sort of job/salary you can get. Finance is pretty much all in Moscow, and it's really expensive to live well here. Then again, so is NYC - take it from me I lived there 12 years.

RE your "Pros" you forgot two big ones. First, if you aren't a US Citizen or resident you don't have to pay US taxes globally. This is a big deal, as the US is one of the only major countries to tax its citizens globally. So if you come here you as a Russian citizen would only pay 13%. If you are making a lot of money that's huge. It SUCKS that I have to pay any US taxes - nobody from Europe, Canada or Australia has to pay anything for income earned abroad (and why should they, frankly?).

Second, you forgot to mention the ladies! Big reason, the US can't compare, even NYC or other places with Russian immigrants - just not the same thing, there are many posts about how they get corrupted fast, feminist influences, etc.

RE 'starting a finance career in Russia' well it's not the greatest time to search, but there are still many opportunities. I say just do it. When I came I did it and didn't speak any Russian, didin't have a job, and only a couple friends and it's the greatest thing I've ever done. Not everyone can do that, but you seem to have a built-in support system so I would seriously consider coming here and my vote is do it.

Edit: re-read your post. You said you are 30 and have lived in the US for 10 years...then I'd say get out now!!!! Also I know a lot of lawyers here who have English Law experience and that's in high demand here for sure. English Law is typically used by international firms here nobody uses US law really.

nice reasoning. +1 rep from me

Post: #28

(04-19-2013 09:52 AM)Akula Wrote:  

(04-19-2013 08:01 AM)Vitriol Wrote:  Check out this article: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...wyer-jobs/

You're probably better off just writing that career option off as a loss if you stay in the U.S.. Try to use your skills to do something else.

(04-19-2013 07:36 AM)Akula Wrote:  Ha ha...I guess the American Dream is dead? As guy who grew up in the US I think in many ways it is, and it's only getting worse - that's part of the reason why I moved to Russia.

Quote:I think it is too. No one really does anything here anymore outside of their responsibilities aside from rotting away in front of a TV or computer. Even when people go out they just sit around pounding away on their phones.

True, and the job situation is worse than the left-leaning, politically correct mainstream media make it out to be. You basically have many white collar jobs either being completely outsourced or so intensely competed for that there's no way to make a career of it. And even if you could would you want to in DC? NYC still rocks, but even there the finance world is much tougher to break into these days. So many people have dropped out of the labor force too, but are ready to come back at a moment's notice if they find a job.

(04-16-2013 10:55 AM)chamele0n Wrote:  As about the women: I understand that the US has 300M people. I have lived in a good few cities, big and small, in the US and kept statistics on the number of mostly humiliating approaches I needed to do to get laid. It doesn't change much throughout the country. I don't know if it's the brainwashing from the TV that tells women every guy is a potential rapist and pervert or what, but that country is just hopeless. I feel I would be disrespecting myself by spending another minute gaming American women. I can't say my experience was much different with Canadian women.

Why do you think video games and pornography are so popular among American men? Putting up with bullshit from American females isn't enjoyable. It's merely something American men tolerate if they want to get laid occasionally... which kind of takes the fun out of the whole process.

Particulary when the ones you have to 'put up with' are demanding, fat and high maintenance career-focused jerks who add little value to your life and in any LTR/marriage scenario are a huge downside what with the divorce laws. It's very dangerous for a successful, wealthy man to get married in the US. And because large age-gap dating is seriously frowned upon there, you lose 2/3 of the dating pool you can have in Russia, EE, Asia, S. America etc.

The more I think about this I just think it's a no-brainer and Chameleon you need to try your luck in Russia. You have a bit of a unique skillset with your Russian language ability and legal/finance background, one that many firms would at least want to check out with an interview I think. Althought this place could get risky fast, the upside is great, and any EM experience you get will be transferable globally I think. You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe. The only other option I might take other than moving here asap is if you got a high-paying job at a major lawfirm or investment bank in NYC. NYC is an awesome place to be, esp in your 30s. London banking is pretty dead right now but that would also be a good gig, and closer to EE ladies, but tougher to get now with the sitaution in the UK and the EU.

I agree with you. I am a bit sick of everyone assuming anyone graduating from law school is graduating from Harvard or Yale or a T-14 at the worst. I graduated from a tier 3 law school. Not that my legal skillset is lacking in any respect, but I doubt I would have any white-shoe NY law firms at my doorstep trying to hire me. Not that I couldn't make it in the US legal market, I would not be waiting around for a job offer, I would make my own way in the legal market, but I don't see the point of starting out a career that would likely start me out at $40K - $50K. Maybe $10K higher than what I would get in say Moscow for my skillset. Would $10K/year really be worth me being miserable the entire year? I don't think so.

Of course I don't think the same situation would apply to most Americans trying the same route. Without knowledge of Russian, Russian citizenship, some understanding of staying safe in Russia (which has a culture of power rather than popularity, unlike the US) and a support network it would be a much more difficult undertaking.

Quote:You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe.

I can't really think of any US conveniences that are lacking even in 3rd or 4th tier Russia if you can afford them. The beer perhaps, the local beer gives me the worst hangovers, I can only get by on imported German or Czech beer at $5/bottle, which has been my biggest budget buster so far

Post: #29

Go to Russia. Unfortunately, in this economy, getting a big law job from a T3 law school is going to be extremely difficult unless you're like cum laude, Order of the Coif, and law review.

No point living here making $50K/year when you can likely do the same in Russia.

Post: #30

(04-19-2013 01:54 PM)chamele0n Wrote:  

(04-19-2013 09:52 AM)Akula Wrote:  

(04-19-2013 08:01 AM)Vitriol Wrote:  Check out this article: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...wyer-jobs/

You're probably better off just writing that career option off as a loss if you stay in the U.S.. Try to use your skills to do something else.

(04-19-2013 07:36 AM)Akula Wrote:  Ha ha...I guess the American Dream is dead? As guy who grew up in the US I think in many ways it is, and it's only getting worse - that's part of the reason why I moved to Russia.

Quote:I think it is too. No one really does anything here anymore outside of their responsibilities aside from rotting away in front of a TV or computer. Even when people go out they just sit around pounding away on their phones.

True, and the job situation is worse than the left-leaning, politically correct mainstream media make it out to be. You basically have many white collar jobs either being completely outsourced or so intensely competed for that there's no way to make a career of it. And even if you could would you want to in DC? NYC still rocks, but even there the finance world is much tougher to break into these days. So many people have dropped out of the labor force too, but are ready to come back at a moment's notice if they find a job.

(04-16-2013 10:55 AM)chamele0n Wrote:  As about the women: I understand that the US has 300M people. I have lived in a good few cities, big and small, in the US and kept statistics on the number of mostly humiliating approaches I needed to do to get laid. It doesn't change much throughout the country. I don't know if it's the brainwashing from the TV that tells women every guy is a potential rapist and pervert or what, but that country is just hopeless. I feel I would be disrespecting myself by spending another minute gaming American women. I can't say my experience was much different with Canadian women.

Why do you think video games and pornography are so popular among American men? Putting up with bullshit from American females isn't enjoyable. It's merely something American men tolerate if they want to get laid occasionally... which kind of takes the fun out of the whole process.

Particulary when the ones you have to 'put up with' are demanding, fat and high maintenance career-focused jerks who add little value to your life and in any LTR/marriage scenario are a huge downside what with the divorce laws. It's very dangerous for a successful, wealthy man to get married in the US. And because large age-gap dating is seriously frowned upon there, you lose 2/3 of the dating pool you can have in Russia, EE, Asia, S. America etc.

The more I think about this I just think it's a no-brainer and Chameleon you need to try your luck in Russia. You have a bit of a unique skillset with your Russian language ability and legal/finance background, one that many firms would at least want to check out with an interview I think. Althought this place could get risky fast, the upside is great, and any EM experience you get will be transferable globally I think. You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe. The only other option I might take other than moving here asap is if you got a high-paying job at a major lawfirm or investment bank in NYC. NYC is an awesome place to be, esp in your 30s. London banking is pretty dead right now but that would also be a good gig, and closer to EE ladies, but tougher to get now with the sitaution in the UK and the EU.

I agree with you. I am a bit sick of everyone assuming anyone graduating from law school is graduating from Harvard or Yale or a T-14 at the worst. I graduated from a tier 3 law school. Not that my legal skillset is lacking in any respect, but I doubt I would have any white-shoe NY law firms at my doorstep trying to hire me. Not that I couldn't make it in the US legal market, I would not be waiting around for a job offer, I would make my own way in the legal market, but I don't see the point of starting out a career that would likely start me out at $40K - $50K. Maybe $10K higher than what I would get in say Moscow for my skillset. Would $10K/year really be worth me being miserable the entire year? I don't think so.

Of course I don't think the same situation would apply to most Americans trying the same route. Without knowledge of Russian, Russian citizenship, some understanding of staying safe in Russia (which has a culture of power rather than popularity, unlike the US) and a support network it would be a much more difficult undertaking.

Quote:You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe.

I can't really think of any US conveniences that are lacking even in 3rd or 4th tier Russia if you can afford them. The beer perhaps, the local beer gives me the worst hangovers, I can only get by on imported German or Czech beer at $5/bottle, which has been my biggest budget buster so far

Yeah, their beer is pretty bad compared to Czech, German, and other EU countries. Still better than Miller or Bud, but not by much.

Wines that are available are good and cheap, I like the Moldovan Pinot Noir(pinot franc) and the Crimean sweet wines, maybe something from Georgia but those are often pricier.

Regarding difficulty of moving, its not that hard. I feel like people are too afraid of living without their comforts and conveniences. All a man really needs to live is food, shelter, and pussy.

Post: #31

I can't see any point in living in a culture you don't enjoy living in!

Post: #32

(04-19-2013 02:02 PM)Menace Wrote:  Go to Russia. ... unless you're like cum laude, Order of the Coif, and law review.

No point living here making $50K/year when you can likely do the same in Russia.

Good point. I recommended exhausting all domestic options because a U.S. law degree has little value in a foreign legal system. But law degrees have little value here, so he wouldn't give up much.

It would really help to have a better idea of your career options in the U.S. versus Russia. Are you eager and able to get a lucrative big law job in the U.S.? Or are you realistically looking at a crappy $50K job that you would hate? What are your reasonable options in Russia? Is there a flexible way to explore this? Can you explore while deferring your student loans?

Post: #33

Quote:

Quote:I can't really think of any US conveniences that are lacking even in 3rd or 4th tier Russia if you can afford them. The beer perhaps, the local beer gives me the worst hangovers, I can only get by on imported German or Czech beer at $5/bottle, which has been my biggest budget buster so far

Yeah, their beer is pretty bad compared to Czech, German, and other EU countries. Still better than Miller or Bud, but not by much.

Wines that are available are good and cheap, I like the Moldovan Pinot Noir(pinot franc) and the Crimean sweet wines, maybe something from Georgia but those are often pricier.

Regarding difficulty of moving, its not that hard. I feel like people are too afraid of living without their comforts and conveniences. All a man really needs to live is food, shelter, and pussy.

I've read online that Russian laws don't even refer to most Russian beer as "beer" in the legal sense, they are called "beer drinks" (pivnoy napitok) lol. Beer is meant to have water, malt, and humulus, and maybe yeast, according to Russian lawmakers. If you look at the ingredients in Russian "beer" - most are far from those ingredients, substituting them with crappy chemicals that produce a similar cheap result which you have to pay for with a hangover.

I've yet to find some Hungarian Tokaj wines that I enjoyed in Budapest in Russia. I couldn't see them anywhere in the US or SEA. Hopefully there are some in Russia.

Post: #34

(04-19-2013 01:54 PM)chamele0n Wrote:  

(04-19-2013 09:52 AM)Akula Wrote:  

(04-19-2013 08:01 AM)Vitriol Wrote:  Check out this article: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/0...wyer-jobs/

You're probably better off just writing that career option off as a loss if you stay in the U.S.. Try to use your skills to do something else.

(04-19-2013 07:36 AM)Akula Wrote:  Ha ha...I guess the American Dream is dead? As guy who grew up in the US I think in many ways it is, and it's only getting worse - that's part of the reason why I moved to Russia.

Quote:I think it is too. No one really does anything here anymore outside of their responsibilities aside from rotting away in front of a TV or computer. Even when people go out they just sit around pounding away on their phones.

True, and the job situation is worse than the left-leaning, politically correct mainstream media make it out to be. You basically have many white collar jobs either being completely outsourced or so intensely competed for that there's no way to make a career of it. And even if you could would you want to in DC? NYC still rocks, but even there the finance world is much tougher to break into these days. So many people have dropped out of the labor force too, but are ready to come back at a moment's notice if they find a job.

(04-16-2013 10:55 AM)chamele0n Wrote:  As about the women: I understand that the US has 300M people. I have lived in a good few cities, big and small, in the US and kept statistics on the number of mostly humiliating approaches I needed to do to get laid. It doesn't change much throughout the country. I don't know if it's the brainwashing from the TV that tells women every guy is a potential rapist and pervert or what, but that country is just hopeless. I feel I would be disrespecting myself by spending another minute gaming American women. I can't say my experience was much different with Canadian women.

Why do you think video games and pornography are so popular among American men? Putting up with bullshit from American females isn't enjoyable. It's merely something American men tolerate if they want to get laid occasionally... which kind of takes the fun out of the whole process.

Particulary when the ones you have to 'put up with' are demanding, fat and high maintenance career-focused jerks who add little value to your life and in any LTR/marriage scenario are a huge downside what with the divorce laws. It's very dangerous for a successful, wealthy man to get married in the US. And because large age-gap dating is seriously frowned upon there, you lose 2/3 of the dating pool you can have in Russia, EE, Asia, S. America etc.

The more I think about this I just think it's a no-brainer and Chameleon you need to try your luck in Russia. You have a bit of a unique skillset with your Russian language ability and legal/finance background, one that many firms would at least want to check out with an interview I think. Althought this place could get risky fast, the upside is great, and any EM experience you get will be transferable globally I think. You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe. The only other option I might take other than moving here asap is if you got a high-paying job at a major lawfirm or investment bank in NYC. NYC is an awesome place to be, esp in your 30s. London banking is pretty dead right now but that would also be a good gig, and closer to EE ladies, but tougher to get now with the sitaution in the UK and the EU.

I agree with you. I am a bit sick of everyone assuming anyone graduating from law school is graduating from Harvard or Yale or a T-14 at the worst. I graduated from a tier 3 law school. Not that my legal skillset is lacking in any respect, but I doubt I would have any white-shoe NY law firms at my doorstep trying to hire me. Not that I couldn't make it in the US legal market, I would not be waiting around for a job offer, I would make my own way in the legal market, but I don't see the point of starting out a career that would likely start me out at $40K - $50K. Maybe $10K higher than what I would get in say Moscow for my skillset. Would $10K/year really be worth me being miserable the entire year? I don't think so.

Of course I don't think the same situation would apply to most Americans trying the same route. Without knowledge of Russian, Russian citizenship, some understanding of staying safe in Russia (which has a culture of power rather than popularity, unlike the US) and a support network it would be a much more difficult undertaking.

Quote:You will pay less in taxes which should help even out the high costs, and the situation with the ladies will greatly increase your quality of life, even if you don't have every little convenience you have in the US or Western Europe.

I can't really think of any US conveniences that are lacking even in 3rd or 4th tier Russia if you can afford them. The beer perhaps, the local beer gives me the worst hangovers, I can only get by on imported German or Czech beer at $5/bottle, which has been my biggest budget buster so far

Yeah, the bottled beer can suck, usually licensed and produced here so to me doesn't taste the same, even the big imported brands. BUT you can buy cheap, fresh raslivnoi piva in the grocery stores like Ashan and Metro which is pretty good. That's the best bet. I think Stary Melnik Myakki and Sibirskaya Corona are also decent and cheap Russian bottled beers.

Quote: can't really think of any US conveniences that are lacking even in 3rd or 4th tier Russia if you can afford them.

RE this, actually I can think of a lot of stuff I miss from back home. Whole Foods, Chipotle and lots of other restaurants, Costco, all sorts of pharmaceutical and drug store stuff. Another example is the salad dressing selection -it SUCKS here IMO. And imported wines are crazy expensive, even mores in restaurants. The selection is nowhere near what you can get in London or the US typically, or it's 2-3x as expensive back home. I really realized how good and cheap the US distribution chain is when I moved here.

Many times even if you can find it here it's just so expensive I wait until I go home to bring it back. Things we get year round in the US like blueberries and strawberries can be up to 3-4x more expensive here. I always buy pistachios and almonds back home bc they are a lot cheaper in the US than here.

I also miss all the TV channels, but that can somewhat be mitigated by watching things online, and you can download pretty much anything for free here on the Russian pirate sites.

Anyway, thanks for the rep, wondering when you will decide, Way I figure it even if you come here for a few months and it doesn't work out you can always go back to the US. It took me over a year to find the right job, but I found a consulting gig only 2 months into moving here.

Post: #35

I miss sales on clothing. You can get a good pair of leather shoes for 30-35 USD when on sale. Europe has expensive shoes/ clothing....or really cheap crap that falls apart fast.

I've seen the Hungarian tokaj wines in specialty wine stores all over provincial FSU, not too expensive.Tokaj goes well with dessert for a nice treat. I'll usually just get a 4 or 5 USD Moldovan wine for dinner. Fairly sweet and girls like it.

Post: #36

Just checking in..where do you stand on this Chameleon? Have you decided yet on which career path you're taking?

Post: #37

Training at NYC firm for 2 years followed by transfer to Moscow office