Add to favorite
Jack Randall was one of those american managers who believed in a Moscow's eldorado. In his home city in New Jersey a long way to make a good career had been waiting for him. But suddenly he was invited to work in a Moscow bank on a post that would take him about 10 years to reach if he has been working for it in his home city. There was something more to come — luxury apartments in the centre of Moscow and a Lexus car provided by the employer.
He was inspired and came immediately. What did he know about Russia? Vodka, Lenin, mafia, bears and pretty girls — that's all. His american friends who lived in Moscow told him: "You will love this city at first sight or you will hate it".
Jack left Moscow for New Jersey six month later. Despite good salary and only a few hours of working a day, he broke down.
It started with an incident when traffic policeman stopped him and demanded a bribe of $ 200. Jack explained that he had no cash and the policeman proposed him to visit an ATM. With the emergency lights on, the police car escorted him to the bank.
"I remember another weird moment when I felt it was something wrong with this city. One winter night I was walking along Tverskaya street. It was 4 A.M. when I was almost crushed by a horse with a 10 years old girl riding it. There is no doubt she was a daughter of a naughty policeman!".
In summer the city suffers from smog and winter time may surprise you with a two-meter length icicle following down right on your head. Moreover, there are horrible traffic jams, pickpockets, beggars, corrupt police... You can call it a real hell. The last straw to exasperate Jack was a pack of stray dogs that attacked him at a metro station.
According to Jack's words, Moscow is the most inhospitable city in the world and and the most overcrowded by the visitors. According to official data the population of the city is about 11 million people, but in fact more that 18 million people live and work here. People come here from the province and former Soviet republics, from Asia and Africa. Also many people arrive here from Europe and America.
For some people Moscow is a chance for a better life, for others it's an opportunity to earn a lot or to make a career. Western experts who have arrivied here in the wake of economic boom, live in expensive houses in the suburban cottages. Rental prices in such places start from 10 thousand euros, moreover, people take turns to get a house. Native citizens are worried about migration situation.
All Moscow's pros and cons are derived from its increasing size. The capital of Russia attracts and terrifies at the same time. Every minute somebody buys a mobile phone, every minute somebody steals a mobile phone. The number of drug addicts increases every year. Most of them are those who have arrived to Moscow to make their dream come true, believing in an eldorado myth and who had a bad luck.
Like any big city Moscow could fulfill a dream or destroy it in a second. In this city you can find a possibility to realize yourself and at the same time Moscow attracts crowds of competitors, who will do everything to rob from you this opportunity. Jack was looking for a paradise and he found a hell. An old proverb says "There is always free cheese in a mousetrap". So wasn't it better for him to stay in a better place and to work many years to achive a high position instead of seeking an easy way? Any metropolis life looks chaotic and dangerous. This life is only for those people who know how to come to the goal and what to do. You should forget everything about quiet evenings in front of the TV set, good-natured neighbors and easy traffic. This is not a war or a madhouse, this is just a way of life and if you understand it, you probably will get a stroke of luck.
