I spent the summer in St Petersburg and I thought the entire atmosphere there was great. Some Russians I met said that "here is not the real Russia," speaking of the ochin European vibe around St Petersburg. Just stayed local the whole trip besides a few day trips out to the surrounding burbs. Talking to Russians to about prices in Piter vs. Moscow they said it was cheaper but not much. That said, I made due on less than 1000r (~$15) a day (except for some date-related exceptions).
The women there were great, my Russian was crap but they were all patient. I was able to meet women who knew I was there temporarily (albeit a while, but still) and had no problems having short little flings - they were compassionate, romantic, caring, kind. Some I still talk to. No online game whatsoever only face to face type interactions. Met girls asking directions to the metro, starting a conversation and then closing with, "Show me you favorite place in St Petersburg tomorrow," getting the number and calling the next day. I'll repeat, my Russian was crap. It's endearing for them to see you try I think. Imagine yourself talking to a foreign girl who can barely get the language out - you give em soft ball questions and assume the best right? If they spoke English that was an obvious asset but I hung out with girls long after we both ran out of things we knew how to say to each other. Total sweethearts all of them. There's some gold digger culture sure, those chicks are in the US too and it's the same bag of tricks - I just didn't associate with women like that, I met artists and students. The girls there answer political questions like beauty queens, it's fucking adorable, ask any of them about politics and it's all "world peace" this, "enough food" that.
I had one guy on a metro ask me a question, hear my accent, and make some shitty comment about Americans but then he sauntered off. I was unabashedly American while I was there. On several occasions I got super rowdy with some big Russian motherfuckers. Yelled back and forth about "fuck politics, we're all friends" type fraternal shit. Never felt unsafe once. I'm big enough yeah, but against 3 guys, come on if they were going to fuck with me they could have.
The women there were great, my Russian was crap but they were all patient. I was able to meet women who knew I was there temporarily (albeit a while, but still) and had no problems having short little flings - they were compassionate, romantic, caring, kind. Some I still talk to. No online game whatsoever only face to face type interactions. Met girls asking directions to the metro, starting a conversation and then closing with, "Show me you favorite place in St Petersburg tomorrow," getting the number and calling the next day. I'll repeat, my Russian was crap. It's endearing for them to see you try I think. Imagine yourself talking to a foreign girl who can barely get the language out - you give em soft ball questions and assume the best right? If they spoke English that was an obvious asset but I hung out with girls long after we both ran out of things we knew how to say to each other. Total sweethearts all of them. There's some gold digger culture sure, those chicks are in the US too and it's the same bag of tricks - I just didn't associate with women like that, I met artists and students. The girls there answer political questions like beauty queens, it's fucking adorable, ask any of them about politics and it's all "world peace" this, "enough food" that.
I had one guy on a metro ask me a question, hear my accent, and make some shitty comment about Americans but then he sauntered off. I was unabashedly American while I was there. On several occasions I got super rowdy with some big Russian motherfuckers. Yelled back and forth about "fuck politics, we're all friends" type fraternal shit. Never felt unsafe once. I'm big enough yeah, but against 3 guys, come on if they were going to fuck with me they could have.