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Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. - Travel - Nairaland

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Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by TochiPhotos(m): 8:02am On Nov 17, 2017
Hi guys, welcome to my diary. I’ve always wanted to start a journal/diary of some sort since I arrived in Moscow, but I’ve been too inundated with school, freelance programming jobs and getting used to the city to start, but now I think I’m ready.

I’m a Nigerian student studying at HSE Moscow. I’ll be sharing my life and daily experiences living in Moscow. Hope you guys enjoy my diary.
I’m not good at writing; this is my first attempt, so I apologize in advance for my mistakes and errors. I’m not aiming for perfection but rather just to share my experience and life as an international student in Moscow.

I love documentary photography and I love exploring new cities and meeting people so I’ll also be sharing pictures and stories from Moscow, etc.
Welcome to my World and I hope you guys enjoy and find my diary interesting.
P.s this first post is a bit long because this is the introduction but subsequent posts would be shorter and more interesting, please bear with me.



Chapter 1 – Stranger in Moscow.



My first night in Moscow was terrible; it was a baptism of fire, which I brought upon myself. After spending over an hour at Domodedovo International Airport waiting in line to get my migration card. I took the bus and then uber to my dormitory, checked in and registered my visa with the admin all done seamlessly. I unpacked my luggage and decided to head out to Billa a nearby supermarket to get food. I haven’t had any solid food in the past 20 hours.

I quickly changed into my joggers and jacket, and slipped into my sliders, those comfortable slippers one usually puts on when inside the house (This was where I bleeped up) armed with Google map, I set out to navigate and walk to Billa and buy dinner. I thought putting on my socks before wearing the slip on would make the cold outside more forgiven, it was just a 10 mins walk and I thought I could easily go in my sliders cos I was too lazy to put on my shoes.

I got downstairs and found out for some reason I could not access the internet with the new sim card I had bought from the airport and I was stuck outside and had no idea which direction Billa was, then a guy and his gf were standing not far away and they noticed I was visibly clueless and needed help and the guy could speak a little English and he offered to take me to Billa.
His name is M, I shall tell you guys more about M later cos he was truly a lifesaver.
After we walked for 10 minutes, I felt my legs get so cold, my feet’s tightened and clamped together and I could barely walk. It was -3 that night, and here I was, in my first night in Moscow, in just my socks and sliders instead of putting on shoes like everyone else.
I tried to endure but I couldn’t literary feel my feet anymore and to be honest, I became scared thinking my feet was paralyzed lol. I could not move and just stood still and nearly cried.

I’ve not felt this cold my entire life, I couldn’t literary feel my face or feet, the inside of my body was so cold and vibrating, like I could feel my intestines dancing and vibrating as if my chattering teeth were playing atilogu/ogene for it.
M and his gf noticed I wasn’t’ in great shape and told me to run instead, run as fast as I could till I get into the heaven that is indoors lol. How I got the strength to run was beyond me but finally we got to Billa and everything was well in my feet and world again. My first night out was terrible but I learnt my lesson.
The next day, I took the metro for the first time. I purchased the troika card and headed to the metro all confused cos I could barely understand the Yandex map I had. I was going to Lubyanka, spent over 30 mins wandering inside the metro station till I finally figured it out.
I don’t know if this is crazy but taking the metro is slowly becoming my favorite thing to do in Moscow, It can be chaotic and overwhelming at times, but I love love the beautiful Soviet design; The marbles, the utopian, gilded mosaics. And Strangers staring and trying not to stare for too long at the often only black man in the area.
A lot has happened since that first day, I’m in my 3rd month here in Moscow, and I think I have finally gotten used to Moscow.
I was lucky to have such amazing individuals as classmates and very nice, wonderful and helpful teachers.
Our class feels like one big family and that really made the transition and settling in easier.
Also the guys at the dormitory are all awesome friendly people. The dormitory feels like a community of carefully selected nice individuals from all over the world cos everyone is super nice and good.

I can’t really tell all what happened in the past 8 weeks so I’m going to summarize and properly start this diary in the present day. In the last weeks, I made lots of friends and having such good friends really helped make everything easier for me.
My first weekend in Moscow was really nice, I was slowly getting used to the city, people and things. I have been surviving on snacks and chicken from Billa since I arrived, so I needed to get cooking utensils and start cooking my own food which would save me more money in the long run.
I went to Ashan with Filipe and bought all the necessary cooking things I need and bought foodstuff to make Nigerian jollof rice.
I invited some friends over from class and also invited some friends from the dormitory to have a taste when I was done and they all really loved the food.

Weekends are the only time I get to have some free time so what I do is usually cook all I’ll need for the week and store in the fridge, I cook mostly Nigerian stew and I always invite friends to have a taste and safe to say, they all look forward to eating Nigerian food and that makes me smile.

Before I came to Moscow, I heard some comments about people saying Moscow isn’t a safe place for foreigners especially blacks, I hear them always say Muscovites are unfriendly and grumpy.
To be honest yes most Russian are always grumpy and serious but I think that’s just on the surface cos when you really get close to a Russian, you’ll see beyond the grumpy look that they are very friendly and nice. I’ll be honest everyone I’ve had an opportunity to interact with has been nothing short of nice and always willing to help out. I was told I’d be racially abused but I’ve been here for 8 weeks and I haven’t heard any racists remarks or witnessed any form of racism, I haven’t even been stopped by the police for a min.
I must admit I do get stares from strangers in the metro but most times when I tried to start conversations with people in the terrible Russian Language I’ve picked so far, they all get warm and are nice so the staring is often of curiosity I think.
Personally I think people have the wrong perception of Russians and still judge them based on the past cos the Russians I’m seeing here and the ones I hear about in the media are completely different or maybe I’ve just been lucky. People really need to stop judging people based on hearsay and past experiences. Moscow is a wonderful and beautiful city just that the weather can be unforgiving. I’m fully settled now and gotten used to everything and can’t wait to share more interesting stories with you guys.
Whew! So this first post was like basically the introduction so I’ll jump next to the present day in my next post and tell you guys about my day to day activities here. I’ll also be sharing pictures of Moscow, Moscow itself and the buildings and designs are truly beautiful with the finest and most beautiful architecture and designs and I can’t wait to share all that with you guys.

Off to class right now, see you guys later.
пока, скоро увидимся.


Follow me on snapchat username = Kincito for videos cheesy

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Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by idu1(m): 8:10am On Nov 17, 2017
Which course are you doing there?

1 Like

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 8:30am On Nov 17, 2017
Interesting

Following

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by TochiPhotos(m): 8:51am On Nov 17, 2017
idu1:
Which course are you doing there?
Software engineering and I’m doing an intensive Russian Language program. You can’t really do anything here if you can’t speak Russian Language so most schools offer intensive language programs first. Even if your course is in English, you still need to learn the language if you want to survive here.

75 Likes 4 Shares

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Wisedove(m): 8:56am On Nov 17, 2017
Space booked

2 Likes 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by TochiPhotos(m): 8:57am On Nov 17, 2017
In class right now. I really hate morning classes because the metro is usually crowded in the morning. The Moscow metro is the most beautiful and efficient subway system I’ve seen but, it can be a nightmare in the morning around 8-9am when everyone is trying to go to work.

Living in Russia is hard, jobs are not readily available so you really need to have a backup plan if you are planning to study here. The education system works, Russians are not lazy and they don’t expect less from you, so you have to work really hard and be serious if you want to succeed here. One thing is certain, as long as you really came here with the intention to study, you’re going to get good quality education.

Russians are the most disciplined and hard working people I Know. Nobody waits to be told to do the right thing, you just do the right thing. It’s ironic but ‘I’m sorry’ is seen as impolite here in Russia because people expect you to do the right thing and have nothing to be sorry about in the first place.

I have a combined 6 hours class today so see you guys later.

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Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 10:45am On Nov 17, 2017
Very interesting indeed....
Russia is not on my "bucket list" of places to ever visit....for several reasons.
Praying for your safe keeping and wonderful experiences there.

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Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by klexycole(m): 3:22pm On Nov 17, 2017
Interesting. I love travel diaries. smiley

Let's hope Aunty Pidgin.2 doesn't see or visit this thread. grin

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Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by mendelsmattress: 5:04pm On Nov 17, 2017
Continue angry
Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by mrLj(m): 9:15pm On Nov 17, 2017
How much is ur tuition fee?

3 Likes 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Olarewajub: 10:56pm On Nov 17, 2017
Following...

1 Like

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by davide470(m): 11:38pm On Nov 17, 2017
Justwise,

Can you please move it to the Diaries section, if TochiPhotos would not mind.

Too many unnecessary comments might just spoil the thrill.

7 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 11:46pm On Nov 17, 2017
Addicted

Keep it up Op
Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Emmyblaqie: 2:29am On Nov 18, 2017
Wen wil I travel my own nd write sumtin lyk dis...Naija education taya me... God let my admission work out biko!

7 Likes 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by bayocanny: 9:07am On Nov 18, 2017
Emmyblaqie:
Wen wil I travel my own nd write sumtin lyk dis...Naija education taya me... God let my admission work out biko!
Lol, don't get tired ok..I pray you get admitted

3 Likes 2 Shares

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 9:15am On Nov 18, 2017
We don land cheesy


Drop the pics make man see how the overhyped Moscow look like

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by mofedamijo(m): 12:16pm On Nov 18, 2017
Nice write up,but just be careful,thousands of poeple saying russians a crazy re not been silly,they have a valid point,ure still new,so be calm n dont go to wer the rednecks re...

8 Likes 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by FBS: 2:39pm On Nov 18, 2017
Most disciplined and hard working you say?

1 Like 1 Share

Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Eleniyan15: 5:39pm On Nov 18, 2017
Follow
Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Eleniyan15: 5:39pm On Nov 18, 2017
comradespade:
We don land cheesy


Drop the pics make man see how the overhyped Moscow look like

You again cool
Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 7:59pm On Nov 18, 2017
Eleniyan15:


You again cool


What did I do? embarassed
Re: Diary Of A Nigerian Student living In Moscow, Russia. by Nobody: 6:47am On Nov 19, 2017
Following this thread...

3 Likes 1 Share

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