From Ajaccio, Corsica to St.Petersburg, Russia

From Ajaccio, Corsica to St.Petersburg, Russia

Christoph Kosior is a 55-year-old student who recently resettled in St. Petersburg. With a background in luxury hospitality and fashion and fluency in several European languages, he came to Russia out of a long-standing interest in the culture and the city’s architecture. As he works through residency procedures and continues learning Russian, he is exploring how to build a new professional routine in his new home.

What brought you to Russia in the first place?

I’ve felt drawn to Russian culture for most of my life—and I wanted to learn the language. I’m also passionate about architecture and ancient civilizations, and St. Petersburg always stood out to me as something exceptional. Even before I arrived, I watched countless videos and thought: this city might be the most beautiful in Europe.

Was it a “specialist” interest—writers, composers, famous architects?

Not really in an academic sense. I can’t claim I grew up reading Tolstoy or Solzhenitsyn, and I’m not the person who can list Russian architects by name. My attraction is more intuitive: atmosphere, history, aesthetics, and the feeling of the place. I’m also interested in spirituality and esoteric subjects, which led me into the world of ancient civilizations—and that naturally connects to archaeology and architecture. Beauty matters a lot to me, and St. Petersburg seemed like the ultimate city for that.

How did you prepare and get reliable information about moving?

Mostly through personal research. I watched a lot of YouTubers—French, English-speaking, and Italian—people who had already relocated or were planning to. It helped to see real experiences and practical advice from foreigners who had been in Russia for years.
I also followed the news about the Russian shared values visa that appeared widely in media around September 2024. Once that route became visible, I started collecting information more systematically. I contacted agencies and lawyers in Moscow, and of course I checked official government sources as well.

So—first impressions: did St. Petersburg meet expectations?

It did, and honestly it exceeded them. I’ve lived in Rome, Paris, London, and Milan. For me, St. Petersburg is on another level. You can study it online for years, but when you stand in the city center, it’s overwhelming. Every day you discover a new palace, a new church, a new detail. I’ve never seen anything like it.

What surprised you most—positively and negatively?

The biggest negative is the shock of scale and pace. I lived in Ajaccio, Corsica for the last four years—very small compared to this. Going from a town atmosphere to a city of around five million is intense. The weather is also difficult: I came from mild temperatures, and now it’s close to zero or below. And like any major city, there’s noise and air pollution. A more personal issue for me is electromagnetic pollution—antennas, devices, 5G. Many people don’t think about it, but I’m sensitive to it.

On the positive side: the beauty is beyond words. And I’ve been impressed by people’s everyday behavior. Yes, you can meet a small percentage of rough people—like anywhere—but most have been kind, helpful, and surprisingly attentive. I noticed a strong sense of civic responsibility. For example, in the metro my backpack was open and two different men tried to warn me. That tells you something about the culture of daily life.

Where do you see yourself living in Russia longer term?

For the first year, St. Petersburg. But I’m a nature person, so later I might prefer somewhere calmer—possibly closer to the Black Sea.

And work—what’s your plan?

Right now I’m focused on visa and residency procedures. If I’m accepted through the shared-values visa route, the timeline could be about six months. My background includes languages, luxury hotels, fashion, cosmetics, and music. I speak French, English, and Italian, understand Spanish, and I’m learning Russian. I’d like to work in a field where languages and international experience matter—hospitality, luxury, fashion, something along those lines.

How is Russian going so far?

Hard—very hard. New alphabet, complex grammar, cases, unfamiliar sounds, and even letters that look like Latin or Greek but mean something else. I’m 55, so it’s a challenge. But with lessons, movies, subtitles, and daily immersion, I believe it will improve—ask me again in three months.