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They perceive their departure differently and see different perspectives for themselves. But there is one thing in common: for each of the young people it was a hasty, sudden, unplanned step. How did they decide on it and how do they cope in the new conditions? Several personal confessions.
«We have earned a crisis manager diploma»
Asya, 23 years old, creative producer, Tbilisi
When the situation is changing so rapidly — plane tickets cost a fortune and run out in a second, flights are canceled, it is almost impossible to find normal housing and financial issues urgently need to be resolved — all emotions are turned off and “robot mode” is turned on.
Before all the events, my young man and I were thinking about living in another country, while there are no children and we are quite mobile. But it was this departure that turned out to be as spontaneous as possible — we thought out a plan in less than a week. We decided to get to Tbilisi by any means and settle down here for a while in order to calm down and make further decisions not from a point of panic.
The days before departure have turned into one endless day where you solve problems that arise every second (buying tickets / and buying again after canceling flights / booking hotels during transfers and apartments / collecting things and documents, drawing up powers of attorney) …
And it’s good if sometimes you get to sleep or remember about food
I’m joking that after all this, we should get a degree in crisis management.
During the departure, the feeling of absolute unrealism of what was happening did not leave me. Everything was like a filmstrip: here you give your beloved dog to your parents; here you are with a mountain of unclosable suitcases, and here you are in a bustle putting your first childhood toy with the smell of your home in your bag. And, of course, at such a moment, a feeling of gratitude overwhelms. When your friends spontaneously come to hug and take you to the airport, when your parents help and support at every step of this difficult journey, you once again realize very clearly that all your loved ones are the most precious thing you have.
Less than two weeks have passed since our arrival in Tbilisi, and we are still in a lot of turbulence — we are looking for an apartment for a long time, until we open an account with a local bank. We have some savings, and both of them still have salaries — it is in rubles, but it’s better than nothing. In the company where I work, all processes have been suspended for the time being, and I am mentally preparing to look for a new job — now, of course, remote work and salary in foreign currency are a priority, but it will be difficult to find this.
So far, emotions are like a roller coaster. There are moments of intense despair, homesickness, anxiety, and even fear.
Separation is the hardest thing to bear. We literally call up our family, friends and even our dog every day. This is probably the first time in my life that I feel a separation on an almost physical level, when all you want to do is hug and be there.
But it does not leave the feeling of an interesting adventure. and the thought that the choice we have made is the right one. I easily get used to the Georgian language, we are fluent in English, we quickly master the city and its features. I love Georgians with all my heart — they are wonderful, warm-hearted people, and in the current situation, every smile of a passerby spreads warmth in the body. We are treated with great understanding, they often offer help and sometimes even switch to Russian on their own. Literally today, a young man’s part broke on his phone, the local master fixed everything in a second and refused to take money for help — how can one not appreciate this?
Still saves the routine. Daily rituals — a morning cup of coffee, a traditional phone call with mom and watching a series together before bed — really help to ground yourself and feel at least a little stability. Well, fortunately, no one has canceled humor — sometimes a friend’s stupid joke saves better than any words of support.
I really want to believe that it will be possible to return. Too many relatives remained in Russia — and the house, in spite of everything, is right there, in Moscow. I try to accept the idea that this is bound to happen someday.
“In a month I will start learning Uzbek”
Daria, 31, film translator, Tashkent
In general, my boyfriend and I had a plan to slowly leave for Yerevan in April. But in the end we flew one day to Uzbekistan. On the evening of March 2, I took the train from St. Petersburg to Moscow. I thought that I was just going to visit my boyfriend (I lived in St. Petersburg, and Igor in Moscow). But then there were rumors of martial law. Igor is of limited use, but it still became scary.
At one in the morning, when I was already on the train, he called and said that we would probably not be able to fly after the 4th. Tickets remained only in Uzbekistan. I saw some finger of fate in this: my maternal ancestors lived in Uzbekistan both in the First World War and in the Second. Like it was my turn. I was born in Leningrad and, thinking about the events of 1941-1944, I always asked myself: would I be smart enough to leave even beyond the Urals, even on dogs, but not fall under the blockade. I always hoped that would be enough.
In general, we left in one day: urgent PCR tests, urgent fees, and so on …
We flew to Namangan via Yekaterinburg. The fact that the first purchased flight to Yekaterinburg was canceled added to my nerves, I had to take another, even earlier. There was a feeling of surrealism and a strong fear: they were afraid that they would not let me out at the border. But we were lucky. Apparently, God decided: “You refused to go to Europe to study, so I will arrange for you the experience of living in another country, otherwise how are you without it.”
Everything is great now. We live in a soulful hostel in Tashkent, the staff welcomes us like family. We are looking for an apartment. It is more convenient for Igor to work remotely here: there is an office of a friendly company, he can go there, and not just sit at home at the computer. Everyone speaks Russian. Nothing to complain about. In general, at the country level Uzbekistan seems to be very happy with the influx of brains and is actively hunting for specialists. In a month I will start learning Uzbek. In general, we want to return, but as long as we are in the mood to wait out the turbulence here for six months, and then look at the situation.
“Hundreds of tasks help to survive the move”
Vladimir, 24 years old, IT developer, and Ekaterina, 30 years old, HR manager, Turkey-Montenegro
Vladimir. I didn’t dream of leaving. I love Russia, I like living in it. And until the last he hoped to stay, was ready to turn on the economy mode, tighten his belt. But then he decided to leave anyway.
I work for an international IT company. At the end of February, the management offered me and other Russian employees to move to Montenegro. So we plan to move from Istanbul to Tivat.
Catherine. Peter’s anxiety grew. At some point, I felt that I was afraid to go outside. I did not understand what could be tomorrow. Every day something happens: sanctions, deactivation of maps, closure of websites and Internet applications… It seems that the situation is changing dramatically. Departure was seen as the most logical way out of this situation.
Vladimir. I have never been to other countries (except for the CIS), for me everything here is new, everything needs to be sorted out. There is a lot of momentary stress, up to the simplest questions at the checkout: knowing English, I do not immediately understand what they ask me. Every second you need to cope with challenges — navigate in an unfamiliar city, communicate with strangers.
The biggest source of discomfort is that I am taken out of my familiar environment. In St. Petersburg, I knew for sure: wherever I find myself without things and money, in winter in a T-shirt, without a phone, I will not get lost, I will not disappear, nothing will happen to me. And here, if the phone dies, it will be incredibly difficult for me to navigate and get to the apartment, which I rented for a short time.
It’s an eerie feeling to know that you don’t have a home, that in 10 days you will be evicted.
I have never lived in rented apartments, in hostels. And I have nothing and no one but work and Katya. It feels like I, like a plant, was uprooted and in a hurry from my native land and transplanted into a pot with an artificial mixture.
Ekaterina. This is a little easier for me. I already had a jump into the unknown, I know the experience of losing and building a life from scratch when I moved from my native Volgograd to St. Petersburg. Then there was a lot of stress. It’s easier now. And I, unlike Volodya, had time to say goodbye to my friends, take a walk around my favorite places, go to my favorite shops. Now that the anxiety of leaving has passed, I perceive it as an adventure, as an opportunity to live in a different culture, to look at the life and customs of another country, unfamiliar speech seems curious. I like the prospect of living in Montenegro — this is a good interesting experience that will help you understand: where do I really feel better? Which place is closer to my heart?
Vladimir. I do not notice the aggression of local residents and neglect towards myself. Rather, I feel supported. But what saves more is that there is no free minute to sit down and feel sorry for yourself, mourn. Too many momentary questions: withdraw cash, move from one apartment to another, buy tickets to Tivat. It is depressing that the future is foggy.
The ideal situation for me is the opportunity to return in six months or a year. I do not see and have never seen myself in another country. And still no desire to be somewhere else. I love my country, I love my home, my friends who stayed there. But for now, a residence permit in Montenegro and permanent residence there are more realistic.
«I am supported by faith in my own strength»
Alina, 30 years old, project manager, Yerevan-Tbilisi
My partner and I have been thinking about moving from Russia for a long time, but no action has been taken. And then it turned out such a strong kick in the ass. Everything happened quickly: on February 24 they decided, and on March 5 they flew away. First to Yerevan, because I want to get an Armenian passport, since I am an ethnic Armenian. And then we moved to Tbilisi for a while, because it is still much cheaper to live here than in Yerevan.
We left with a heavy feeling. I’m afraid for myself, for my financial situation. For now I work remotely, as a project manager at a public speaking school, but now I will actively look for work in Europe or America. In general, we feel good. Apparently, I have not yet caught up with the realization that we are far from home.
It is difficult because the city is unfamiliar, there are no established ties. While almost constantly sitting in a hotel
I want to return to my usual routine, where there were meetings with friends, going to the movies and theaters, shopping and hanging out in coffee shops. And it is also difficult from longing. I miss my sister, my mother, my dog. What can you deal with? With work. With money conversion. With the maintenance of order in the head.
Here are kind and smiling people. Haven’t seen any negatives yet. Maybe because I’m Armenian and my boyfriend is dark. I think many here understand us. Social networks and cigarettes help to relax. Smoke, unfortunately. So far, I feel a lack of communication. But friends are slowly pulling themselves together — I think that in April there will already be “its own party” here. It helps a lot to believe in myself that I can handle everything.
«Hope I don’t regret coming back»
Daniil, lawyer, 25 years old, Samarkand
The departure was as spontaneous as possible, everything was done on the run. I had already planned a vacation in Russia these dates. I just changed direction and two days before departure I took a ticket to Samarkand: it was in this direction that the most affordable tickets were for the next few days. In addition, I knew that my friends were staying there for a while.
I left with the feeling that I didn’t want to go for a long time at all, but that this was the right decision, from which I at least did not lose anything. After all, I’m on vacation. I didn’t lose my job, I’m just protecting myself from some risks for a while.
I have been living in Samarkand for ten days now. It’s good, calm, tasty, inexpensive food and housing
A taxi ride costs 60 rubles. And I like everything, except for some everyday moments. First of all, bad internet. Many sites are blocked in Uzbekistan, and VPN works worse, it is very annoying. As well as the fact that there is no opportunity to see those who remained. But I don’t feel lonely. When I feel like it, I meet with friends, when I don’t feel like it, I go out alone or work. But I talk a lot with my family and friends.
The local population is very friendly, almost everyone speaks Russian. Adaptation helps and a large number of other Russians. Few of them have a clear plan. Almost everyone wants to return. In conversations, April-May are most often heard. I plan ahead. I like my job and I want to live in my native country. Hope I don’t regret coming back.