How I study English

I’ve had almost no formal English education - just a bit at school (a standard non-English one) and a couple of months at university. These can pretty much be discounted. The main ways I studied English were:

Games. I’ve been playing them since I was a kid, and most were in English. Back then, there weren’t many Russian versions, so I just played the English ones - I pressed all the buttons and trying to figure out what they meant from the context. I finished Dune 2 this way, without knowing a word in English.

Later, some games got Russian versions, but they were often buggy, so I kept playing in English with dictionaries. I didn’t intend to learn the language via gaming - it just soaked in naturally. I gradually developed a feel for the language - I didn’t know grammar or tenses, but I could tell when something sounded right or wrong. I’m sure this came from gaming.

YouTube channels and podcasts. I like listening to something in the background while cooking, exercising, driving, or eating. It’s usually YouTube (in MP3) or podcasts. So, when I decided to focus on studying English, I found the topics I enjoy (tech, games, politics, etc) in English and replaced the Russian sources. The list of channels I watch and podcasts I listen to is here.

Movies, TV shows, stand-ups, books. The same here. I watch movies and TV shows with English subtitles. English-speaking stand-ups are way better than Russian, so it’s an obvious choice. Same goes for books - I searched lists of “page turners” and picked the most addictive books only. The idea is the same as with games - get hooked on them and let the book pull me through the story effortlessly.

A note about reading - if I understand the general idea, I don’t care about single unknown words. There is no need to understand 100% of what you read. It’s always better to not slow yourself down and read further. The unknown words will soak in automatically and you will get their meaning with time from the context.

Software. At some point, I also switched my phone, car, and computers to English. I translated all the contacts in my phone to English so I could use Siri commands in English as well. All my software - like Windows, AutoCAD, MS Office, and so on - is set to English. We see hundreds, sometimes thousands, of commands, menus, settings, and phrases on our computers every day.

Job. Eventually, I decided to improve my grammar, tenses, and so on. I went through English Grammar in Use (Murphy) a couple of times. This, along with everything else, helped me get a job at a Moscow-based company with English-speaking management. I worked there for a few years, using English in both speaking and writing. It really helped improve my speaking skills.

As a result, before coming to New Zealand, I scored 89 out of 90 on the PTE-A. But honestly, that doesn’t say much about my actual level. My English is enough to live and work, but I’m still far from where I want to be. I make a lot of mistakes, I have a strong accent, and I don’t always catch every English word.

So I’m still studying English. I pick more text-heavy games, read books, and cut out about 90% of Russian content from what I read and watch - just kept a couple to stay up to date with politics and memes. This channel is also part of how I study English - I train my writing here. I always write in English first, and then translate into Russian.

(Russian)

Video version of the post about gangs in NZ.

MP3 version of the video above

Lorde - Royals

This seems to be the most popular New Zealand song in the world right now - almost a billion views on YouTube. The singer lives here in Auckland, about 10 minutes’ drive from us, in Takapuna.

I really love music. After moving to NZ, I explored the local artists to understand the country and its culture better. NZ has a surprisingly rich music scene. I found lots of artists I like and hope to see live.

Lorde isn’t one of those I love - I prefer more niche genres - but I understand why she’s popular. She definitely has her own sound. Just wanted to share, so you know she’s from NZ too.

(Russian)

Birdland

New Zealand has lots of birds because it was isolated for millions of years without any land predators. Birds were able to get here, live, and evolve without having to worry about their safety.

In the video, you can hear the typical sounds of New Zealand. It’s not just in parks - the same chirping can be heard in Auckland as well. Early in the morning, when I wake up, I hear a similar soundscape from the open window (video here). During the day, it’s less noticeable because of traffic and other noises, but the birds are still everywhere – even in the city centre.

(Russian)

Autumn in Auckland

Tawharanui Marine Reserve. The same beach as in the video above, just at sunset. The waves are massive, so there are always plenty of surfers. It’s the best surfing spot I’ve seen so far - they ride huge waves almost non-stop.

(Russian)

Who are Kiwis?

Back in 1900, New Zealand's population was around 750,000. Now it's 5.3 million – a sevenfold increase. The USA, another melting pot, has experienced its population grow fourfold over the same time.

So, New Zealand is literally a country of immigrants. Here is a good infographic video showing immigration inflow from different countries to New Zealand since 1867.

The result of this immigration is shown in the picture above (wiki). 71% are Kiwis, or people born in New Zealand. Their parents or grandparents might have come from all over the world, but they’re Kiwis.

Because this big influx of immigrants is legal (I talked about it in detail here), New Zealand manages to be a good melting pot - attracting people in demand and filtering out the rest.

(Russian)

A video version of the post about freedom from status.

MP3 version of the video above

Video tour of one of our sites in Auckland.

MP3 version of the video above

Business centre owner

Just took a picture of our business centre owner in his ute. I wrote about this man here and talked about him here.

Would you think that the guy driving this car (he usually wears shorts and a T-shirt) is the owner of a huge Auckland business centre?

Me neither. But he is. He's in his 50s-60s, and he is currently repairing the roof of the business centre together with the workers he hired.

On weekends, he might jump into his Ferrari and head to his villa somewhere on a beach. You never know.

(Russian)

Motherland gave you

On my YouTube channel, when I mention Russia - especially in comparison to NZ - there is always someone who comes up with a comment like, “Motherland gave you everything, you should be grateful.” I’ve also heard the same point from all kinds of people in Russia - young, old, rich or poor. It’s a very popular opinion.

When I asked them about the meaning of the phrase, after a few rounds of discussion, they all usually came to the point that the “motherland” is in fact the government. They believe the government has things and gives them to the people - education, healthcare, and so on. So they feel grateful to the government and want me to be grateful too.

They are completely wrong.

In reality, everything governments have is taken from their citizens. Governments force people to pay taxes. They also inflate currencies, freeze pensions, impose tariffs, and nationalise land and resources. Governments always keep the lion’s share for themselves, and people always receive far less than they were forced to give - even in NZ, let alone in the RF. The only political difference between NZ and Russia is how strong the people's control over their government is. The more control they have, the less the government takes and the more it gives back.

Therefore, not me, but the Russian government should be grateful. Me, my parents, grandparents, and previous generations have been forced to give to all kinds of governments way more than they received from them. Everything that Russia gave me was paid by my parents. Everything that Russia will give to current students and pensioners is paid by me. All paid in advance.

NZ isn’t a charity either - before coming here, I was thoroughly screened - for age, qualifications, health, experience, and so on. NZ selected me, same as other immigrants, ensuring that I will pay more taxes for the rest of my productive years than receive services from the state. The logic is obvious. NZ is the same as any other country, just much more controlled by its citizens and therefore much less greedy.

Perhaps that's why I have never heard the phrase "The Motherland gave you" in NZ. People here freely switch countries and have no idea of being grateful to any of them. It’s obvious to the majority here that everything they have is made with their own hands - even if it’s dispensed by the government hired by them.

The idea that the government works for the people is common here. Of course, that's not entirely accurate, as, like everywhere else, the government forces everyone to pay taxes. It’s not a voluntary choice, but people still have the power to control those in charge and replace them through voting. That’s a major achievement, unavailable in many other countries.

Of course, not all Russians feel “grateful” to the Motherland. But still, I wish more Russians would realise that they’re adults and responsible for their own lives. The government isn’t their father, taking care of them or giving things for free. It’s a service they pay for. And in my view, not understanding this is one of the key differences between Russian society and the West.

All my life, I thought this idea came from Soviet times and would die off with the generations infected by communism. But now it seems the same idea has come back to life once again and infected new generations. And, frankly, I’ve lost my faith in positive changes - the people in power can change, but this mindset will still be in place and reproduce the same system once again. Daddy-tsar and his children-citizens. Those who are grateful to the “motherland” will always need a daddy, who will take care of them. And the cycle will continue.

Frankly, it’s one of the main thoughts that led me to leave Russia. And every time I see this comment, it reminds me that I made the right choice.

(Russian)

A video version of my immigration story.

MP3 version of the video above

How to move to NZ

I’m not an advisor, I’m not involved in the immigration business, and I can’t give any professional help with immigration. I’m just an engineer who moved to New Zealand. I know the details of my own case (post, video), but my overall knowledge about immigration is average.

Still, people ask me about it. So I decided to write down everything I know about immigration to NZ to help those people.

Every case is different, so there are two ways to figure out what works best for you:

➖Read all the information available, then ask about tricky outstanding questions online.

➖Pay professionals for the information part, but you'll still handle most paperwork and bear the cost of any mistakes. So, even if you hire advisors, it's best to understand things yourself.

Almost all immigration information is available online for free. And nobody will study your case better than you. If you start asking before reading, your questions will be too general and hard to answer. For example, “how much does immigration to NZ cost?” The only honest answer is anywhere from zero to a few million dollars. Zero, if you get a job offer and the company supports your move, and a few million, if you’re an investor.

Now to the point. Let’s review the main ways of immigration to NZ. I’ll exclude all exotic visas (investors, entrepreneurs, talents, etc.) because I don’t know anything about them. These are the paths most people take:

▪️Find a job in NZ from your home country. Zero cost, low chances, but I’ve seen people succeed. The main places to start are seek.co.nz and linkedin.com. On Seek, add the keyword “accredited” to your search so you’ll only see accredited employers - those who are allowed to hire foreigners.

▪️Come on a tourist visa and try to find a job. Low cost, limited time, employers aren’t usually keen on hiring people without a work visa, low chances - I met one guy from South Africa who managed it, and it was tough. You cannot commence work until you have obtained the appropriate work visa, and you might also have to leave the country and return before you can start work.

▪️Come for language courses and look for a job. Medium cost, more time (around 6 months), better chances - a noticeable number succeed, though definitely not everyone. Trying to bring your family with you may reduce your visa chances.

▪️Study in NZ for 1–1.5 years and then look for a job. High cost, plenty of time, you’ll get a local qualification and a 1–3 year post-study work visa. Your partner gets a work visa, and your kids can go to NZ schools. There’s a good chance of finding a job, but some people still fail to finish their studies or land a job.

▪️Skilled Migrant Visa - a points-based visa where age, education, English level, work experience, job field, etc. earn you points. If your score is above the threshold set by INZ, you can apply and wait to be selected. The wait can be long, but if you’re picked, you become a resident straight away. When I moved, it was hard to qualify without a job offer. I don’t know what it’s like now (there is a statistic published by INZ periodically). You can check the criteria and estimate your chances in an evening - anyone can try it on the INZ website.

*I’m not an advisor and could be wrong on some details, so double-check everything.

So, what should you do if you want to plan your immigration yourself? You should do the following: ...

(Continued in comments)

The future is here

Just got an email saying that soon my videos will be dubbed into other languages. English will probably be the first.

In my case, it's going to be simple - there’s no face in the videos. Just translate my speech and voice it over - that’s it. Some viewers might not even know which language the videos were originally made in. The voice and emotions will still be mine - AI mimics them easily. Can’t wait to hear how it sounds!

Next, I think they'll automatically sync the dubbed voice to the speaker’s lips - it'll be useful for those who talk on camera.

And then YouTube will start doing it in real time. You’ll upload a video, and it’ll instantly be available in any language, fully lip-synced.

Eventually, we’ll get the same kind of instant translation for live conversations.

So, congratulations, everyone! The future is here! And we’re the lucky generation that gets to watch it all happen. There’s never been a better time to be alive.

(Russian)

Socialisation

I’ve never liked parties. Birthdays, weddings, corporate functions, barbecues - I never enjoyed them. At these gatherings I usually watched the people around me - they got drunk fast, turned on music, danced, behaved wildly and looked happy. At the same time I felt completely out of place, probably because I’m not much of a drinker. I never needed more than a couple of glasses of wine.

When I tried to keep up with them it was even worse - still no fun, just alcohol poisoning and a hangover the next morning. Instead of drinking I’ve always preferred talking, having long one-on-one discussions with a drink or two.

As a result, I usually skipped parties and stayed at home spending time with my family, gaming, watching shows, reading, or working out. I still went to some parties, but just to maintain some social connection with friends and colleagues.

Eventually, I decided that I’m an introvert. And to some extent, that’s probably true - I can easily live for weeks or months alone. Aside from my family, I don’t really need many people around.

That seemed perfect for immigration. I didn’t need parties or society, and I wouldn’t miss them. I could keep in touch with relatives and close friends online - long conversations wouldn’t suffer.

With that in mind, I moved to NZ. And it turned out I was completely wrong.

First - Kiwi parties are different. No heavy drinking, no sitting at a long table, no toasts, no wild stuff. People just eat and drink a little, move around with their plates and glasses, and talk. Yes, talk. They meet to talk. Exactly as I’ve always liked. Just their parties are usually short - two, maybe three hours max. I’d prefer them to last longer, but it’s fine. Still good.

Then, the music at NZ parties is perfect for me - Pink Floyd, Deep Purple (proof), Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, etc. For Kiwis, it’s probably like Soviet classics are for Russians - everyone knows the major songs.

After my first few parties here, I immediately knew I’d go to all of them. I actually enjoy them.

Now, about Russian parties. At first I avoided Russian parties. I assumed I’d dislike them, and I didn’t want to get stuck in an immigrant bubble.

But once, my wife made me go to one - there was something she found interesting, so I had no choice. And… I actually liked it! Russian parties here are not just good, they’re even better than Kiwi ones. The best of both cultures: little alcohol, plenty of talking, and they to late into the night. We talk, play board games, joke, and sometimes play music.

So, for the first time in my life, I felt comfortable at a Russian party - here in New Zealand.

Here’s why I think that is:

Firstly, not all Russians want to move to the West, only those who like, or at least have nothing against, Western values. For instance - we’ve never even discussed Russian politics with Russians here because there is just no point. We have very close views on Russia and its politics. Some of my friends were even political activists, and I really respect that.

Secondly, not all Russians can move to the West - it’s quite hard to accomplish. Everyone here usually has an interesting background. They’ve all achieved something. They are professionals. They have a lot of information to share.

Thirdly, they are living in New Zealand - so they all have hobbies, just like anyone else in the country. Tennis, surfing, squash, swimming, hiking, jogging, football, climbing, etc. We discuss and try out each other’s hobbies and it creates more reasons to meet.

So, as a result, Kiwis, Russians, and others are always dragging me out. Every weekend something new comes up. I just wanted to come to NZ, sit at my computer and play games. Turns out, that’s easier said than done in such a socially active environment. I’m not sure if I like it or not yet. We’ll see. But yes, that’s just how it is - I’m not an introvert now.

PS Maybe it's just my immigrant bubble. I can't guarantee you'll meet the same kind of people. But this has been my honest experience.

(Russian)

Kiwano (horned melon)

Bought this for $6 at the grocery. It's a fruit. The texture is like that of big cucumbers grown for seed - soft, with lots of seeds in a jelly-like mass. The green jelly inside, including the seeds, is all edible. The orange part is edible too, but it's just fibre with no flavour. The green jelly tastes like a mix of cucumber and kiwi - watery, sour, and a little aromatic, but not much.

Interesting fruit, but I wouldn’t buy it every day.

(Russian)