Ildy is in the Hot Seat

[Judge]

Let's get the hot seat up and running...
Ildy has been kind enough to keep the hot seat warm..

Ildy, few easy questions to begin with..

Which is the best country you have visited and the worst,why?
Favourite film, why?
Have you ever been on TV?
What was your first impression of Russia?

[ezik]

Ildy in the hot seat...

I like it when newbies just dive in. Must be because he is a serial expat.

Ildy, here some questions:
- What was your previous location?
- What is your next?
- For how long will you be here?
- Did you choose Moscow or was it just the company throwing in a good offer?
- Best impressions so far of the city?
- Worst impressions?
- Did you learn some Russian yet?
- How's the family?

Thanks for joining the Hot Seat! Welcome to Moscow and to the Forum!

[Ildy]

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for the hot seat, I like my bottom toasty

OK, here we go...

Which is the best country you have visited and the worst, why?
I loved Mozambique, beautiful, unspoiled and people were extremely friendly. Worst place must have been DRC (Congo). Extremely poor, ugly, didn't feel safe for a minute.

Favorite film, why?
Bucket list. If you have seen it I don't need to explain. Great story and amazing actors! I am still planning to write mine...

Have you ever been on TV?
Yes, couple of years ago dues to work, I had the honor to teach the Hungarians about some new features in the mobile world. (I think it was MMS...)

What was your first impression of Russia?
Much less leopard print than I expected. But still too much for my liking....

ezik: just to make it clear, I am a she

What was your previous location?
My previous expat posting was in Kiev

What is your next?
Nobody knows... I am open for any interesting adventure.

For how long will you be here?
My plan is for about 2-3 years, but you never know. There were places where I went for a year and stayed 5 and some I planned for 3 and stayed only one. The future is unpredictable, but I like it that way!

Did you choose Moscow or was it just the company throwing in a good offer?
It wasn't my first choice, but the offer was good so I agreed to it.

Best impressions so far of the city?
Quite few parks in the city center, some smaller, some bigger but it's surprising in a big city.

Worst impressions?
This time of the year the weather is really miserable, counting the days to spring...

Did you learn some Russian yet?
I studied some when I was still in school and forgot it all. Then again I took some lesson when I was living in Kiev, so I can manage the basics, but there is plenty of room for improvement.

How's the family?
They are good so far, enjoying the change of scenery. Will take them a few weeks before they get bored of the flat and the neighborhood!

Ildy

[MickeyTong]

Hi Ildy

Imagine you meet yourself, Ildy, aged 94.

What does she tell you to stop doing?
What does she praise you for?
What does she tell you to stop worrying about, because it doesn't really matter?
Does she like you?

[Ildy]

Imagine you meet yourself, Ildy, aged 94.

What does she tell you to stop doing?
Stop eating cakes and sweets

What does she praise you for?
She will be happy I saved enough for the retirement, now she can enjoy it!


What does she tell you to stop worrying about, because it doesn't really matter?
She will tell me to stop worrying about being a good mother, my son turned out to be fine.

Does she like you?
I am very down to earth, practical, thinking with head. Don't beleive anything I can't see. So to start with I would have a huge argument with her about she being me... But after a while we would be best friends.

[sashadidi]

will you travel around Russia in the coming summer, if so where do you think you might go?

[Matt24]

What is the worst thing you ever did/allowed to be done to your hair, where, when, and how did you recover the situation?

[Ildy]

Interesting question!
Well, I have long and naturally curly hair, guys usually go crazy about it.

Once in my madness I had it cut short. My boyfriend at that time dumped me he was so disappointed…  He said he has fallen in love with my hair!!! I guess it was good riddance, but learned my lesson and will never have short hair again. As for recovery, I just had to wait for it to grow.

[Ildy]

will you travel around Russia in the coming summer, if so where do you think you might go?

Yes, planning to see the country a bit but not extensively. Most of the time just around Moscow (2-3 hours drive) for the weekend. The only bigger trip I plan is to St Petersburg. But if opportunity arises, we might see more places than these...

[Gardenia]

Ildy, what is the best way to reduce stress?

[Ildy]

Hmmm, should I dare to admit that a drink does wonders...?
or watch some tv. What doesn't work for me at all is: gym! I just get annoyed how unfit I am :S

[ezik]

St. Pete is best to do by train, although the drive ain't too bad.

Which places have you seen around Moscow?
Were they in or out of the Moscow Region?
What were your impressions?
Did you like the places?

Yes, planning to see the country a bit but not extensively. Most of the time just around Moscow (2-3 hours drive) for the weekend. The only bigger trip I plan is to St Petersburg. But if opportunity arises, we might see more places than these...

[Ildy]

St. Pete is best to do by train, although the drive ain't too bad.

Which places have you seen around Moscow?
Were they in or out of the Moscow Region?
What were your impressions?
Did you like the places?

I have to admit I haven't seen much yet, only been here for a little over a month and weather hasn't been too kind yet... We checked out the Red Square and surroundings, that's about it. Oh, and Arbat.
Haven't left Moscow yet, unless you count Sheremetevo...
My first impressions are: It's like any big city, with some Soviet influence, but after living in Kiev it wasn't too weird. So far so good, I hope now that the snow melts I will get to see much more!

[robertmf]

My first impressions are: It's like any big city, with some Soviet influence, but after living in Kiev it wasn't too weird. So far so good, I hope now that the snow melts I will get to see much more!

Welcome and привет to expat.ru, Ilidy Is the Kiev funicular operating okay

[Ildy]

Thanks Robert! Last time I checked the funicular was fine, but it was just over a year ago, things might have changed since... If you need to know for sure, I can pull a few strings and have it checked