Диссертация (1148221), страница 44

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I couldn’t order food. There were a few times in shopswhere I had to mime what I actually wanted to buy. It was also quite difficult to find my way around. Igot a lost on quite a few occasions to begin with.Интервьюер: How did you like Saint-Petersburg from the first view?Информант: Well, I liked it208Интервьюер: What was your first impression of people in this city? Of Russians in general?Информант: Not the friendliest people. Not rude, but more cold – emotionally closed.

That said it isquite typical in big, international cities to encounter this. 90 per cent positive and 10 per cent somegrumpy persons. But I can say people here are a little different from EuropeansИнтервьюер: What do you think was their impression of you?Информант: General indifference.Интервьюер: What were your feelings? (fear or discomfort, etc.)\Информант: My first feeling was a mix of excitement and loneliness (heightened by the fact that Icouldn’t speak any Russian). The lack of Russian also makes you feel a little vulnerable andheightened by sense of caution.Интервьюер: Did you go to the public places? Clubs, theatres, restaurants? How often?Информант: I did quite a bit of sightseeing to begin with – the Hermitage, Palace Square, somecathedrals, the markets.

I also went to nightclubs, bars and restaurants with work colleague and otherexpats I had been introduced to.Интервьюер: How did you feel yourself in public places? (café, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, shops)?Информант: Fine. At some nightclubs and bars you did get some attention, but generally you wereleft alone.Интервьюер: Did you know anything about culture centers for migrants from you country?Информант: NoИнтервьюер: If you knew, would you go there?Информант: Probably notИнтервьюер: Do you think such centers help people to feel themselves more comfortable?Информант: They can, however, the biggest problem for expats when they arrive is that they are atarget – including for other expats. There are a lot of desperate and lonely expats here.

Also, fromexperience, Russia attracts some quite strange expats – people that you would not ordinarily be friendswith/want to associate with. Because of that, I tried to avoid those artificial situations and take mytime to make friends with people who I shared something in common with.Интервьюер: How do you evaluate your communication with Russians and the level of theirsociability?Информант: Although I still don’t really speak Russian, I do interact well with Russians and findthem on the whole to be sociable; albeit initially quite guarded.

I find it takes most Russian people alittle bit of time to warm, open up.Интервьюер: What was your first social circle? Your first friends here in Saint-Petersburg?209Информант: An Australian expat and an English expat who had arrived in Saint-Petersburg, than Ihave met some Russians.Интервьюер: Tell about yourself in present days. What is Your life now comparing to the past?Информант: I am still living in Saint-Petersburg and I am very settled and happy to still be here.Интервьюер: Do you have Your own family?Информант: No, but I am getting married this year to a very lovely girl from St Petersburg.Интервьюер: Where do you work?Информант: Still as a lawyer in Saint-Petersburg.Интервьюер: Do you communicate with Russians at home or at work? Or may be your friends?Информант: Yes.

I communicate with my fiancé at home and with my Russian colleagues at work. Ialso have Russian friends who I regularly catch up with for dinner and drinks.Интервьюер: How have you assimilated in Saint-Petersburg society? Quickly or not?Информант: I don’t know if I have assimilated. Without knowing the language I think I will remainon the outside.

However, I have a great group of friends and feel very settled in my life in SPb.Интервьюер: How do you spend your spare time?Информант: Generally with my fiancé. Because of work, we generally have quiet nights in, but if wedo go out, we go to dinner and bars with our friends. On the weekends we also go to the markets andregularly travel to Moscow.Интервьюер: Do you visit public places? What places for example?Информант: As above – restaurants, bars, art galleries, the ballet.Интервьюер: Do you visit cultural centers now?Информант: No, and I’m ok with it (смеется – автор. примеч.)Интервьюер: Has your social circle changed?Информант: Yes. Being an expat you see a lot of expats come and go.

Normally it is a 3-5 yearcycle. However, I have a core group of Russian friends, so this is less of a problem for me. Once youbecome settled, you become more selective with the friends you make.Интервьюер: How do you feel yourself now? Don’t you feel yourself uncomfortable?Информант: I feel very comfortable, although I occasionally get exasperated by day-to-day life.Although, I think a lot of Russians feel the same way.Интервьюер: Has your attitude to the city and its people changed? What in particular? Is it now betteror worth?Информант: I still like this city. I find it a fun and exciting city.

I am very happy to still be here.However, my view of the Russian people has not changed. Again, not rude, but more cold –emotionally closed. However, I think a lot would change if I learnt Russian.210Интервьюер: Do you communicate with representatives of your culture?Информант: Of course. Family members and friends living in Germany. However, I have limitedcontact with German people in SPb.Интервьюер: Do you now consider yourself as a part of the Russian culture?Информант: No. I embrace certain parts of the culture, but I don’t think I would ever consider myselfpart of the Russian culture.Интервьюер: How often do you visit your homeland?Информант: Not very often.

Once every few years. We travel more regularly to Dusseldorf.Интервьюер: How often do you communicate with friends and relatives?Информант: On a weekly, monthly basis.Интервьюер: What has changed in this communication since your arrival to Saint-Petersburg/Moscow?Информант: Perhaps the regularity of contact. When I first arrived I had more frequent contact withfriends/family.

Because I was in a new place, very different to what I was used to, regular contacthelped with the transition, especially when I was quite lonely at the start. I needed this emotionalsupport. However, now that I am very settled and happy here, such contact is far less.Интервьюер: What plans do you have for future?Информант: My plans for the future are to marry my fiancé and start a family in the next few years.Buying an apartment/house is part of the plan also.Интервьюер:DoyouplantoleavefromSaint-Petersburg?Whyorwhynot?What keeps you here or makes you leave Saint-Petersburg?Информант: I think we will eventually leave Petersburg and relocate to the UK – however, I thinkwe will be here for another 5 years or so. My reasons for staying longer are because of careeropportunities, my wife to be and also because I am still enjoying it here.

The main reason foreventually leaving is lifestyle and also for our future children. We believe that the UK offers a betterand better environment for raising children.Интервьюер: At least, what is your general impression of Russia? Russian culture? Saint-Petersburg?Информант: My general impression of Russia, its culture and Saint-Petersburg is positive. It is agreat country, with such a rich history and culture and with so much future potential. However, I feelalso a disappointed that this country and its people are not fully appreciated on globally and may notever fully realize its potential because of the choices that have been made.

However, I remain everhopeful..

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