I Went to Russia After 7 Years in America. Here's the TRUTH

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Hello everyone, my name is Ayra Ash.

[00:00:02]Welcome to my channel. Today guys, we'll discuss comparisoning Russia and America from the perspective of the person who haven't been in Russia for 7 years, but I've been in America for past 7 years and what changed. And I think it's also fair enough to say I've changed and my perspective, my views on life. And I think it's very very confusing from the one side but it's very relieving relief.

[00:00:31]I have so much relief to be honest with you. And I want to share with you what is the difference and we'll discuss a few points today.

[00:00:40]>> Hi.

[00:00:42]>> Hi mama.

[00:00:53]I cannot believe it's finally happening.

[00:00:56]I'm going to Russia. I'm at the New York airport and it's actually very cute. Uh it's 1 hour basically right before I'm flying to Turkey.

[00:01:09]So exciting. Even I'm running on two hours sleep which is I'm very tired but I'm so excited. So, my emotions kind of fighting my sleep. All right, guys. I'll take you to the beautiful journey, God willing, and I'll see you soon.

[00:01:25]>> And I think number one question is always going to be the food, the Russian food. How was that? How's the taste? Is it any different? Those the questions I'm catching from your comment section.

[00:01:37]And it's very important to say. I think it's going to say a lot just from one sentence. Guys, I've eaten there like crazy. And I'll show you some videos about it. And I didn't even gain a pound. I actually lost some weight. And I think, you know, now it's a very popular to say, "Oh, I have like so much cortisol weight, which means like the water is holding into your body and people looks bigger than they are." And I think I actually lost a lot of water from my body. And when I came back, I actually got another a lot of compliments saying, "Hey, you actually look skinny." And I'm like, "Huh, thank you. I've noticed it, too. What about food?" I'm always being saying before when I came to America, for some reason, the tomatoes didn't taste like tomatoes.

[00:02:27]The potato doesn't taste like potato.

[00:02:30]And it's again compare. Right now, seven years later, I still feel the same way.

[00:02:37]For example, in America, I do try to go to the farmers market. I actually went to one um today. And why it's so important for me? Because you see more and more food in America being seedless, seedless watermelons, which is doesn't make any sense to me. And it's only one farmers market around me right here who is selling seeded watermelons. When you go to Russia, well, of course, not for everyone, right? For me, the food tastes really good because it's my culture.

[00:03:08]I've eaten those type of food for all my life and come back to it. It's very nice. Tastes amazing. And I've been like eating and eating and eating and tasting. I try to catch every moment. If it's a bakery, you know, I love my bread and some cakes. I think I've never like for the past seven years I didn't eat so much cakes like I've ate for a past week being in Russia and everything tasted so natural. I don't know how to explain this word taste natural. Maybe it's more like a homemade. Um maybe it's a right word to say, but it's definitely tasted so different from what I've been eating here. And it's just a little comparison.

[00:03:51]Of course, people have different opinions, right? If you go to Russian, you'll be like, "Eh, not my taste." This is fine. This is just my opinion from being here for so long. But it's definitely different taste. Even when I'll show you the video when I went to the McDonald's, how you know uh when every this is the whole situation between Russia and Ukraine happened. uh we lost we I'm saying Russia lost all the type of franchising like McDonald's let's say Zara Apple Adidas all the stores which belongs to America America just like grabbed everything and took it away uh Starbucks but what Russia did is I think it's very smart but it's also been very quick decision to make let's say you have a McDonald's right like you a Russian person who own the McDonald's in Russia and the next day the America comes and say hey you are not allowed to use McDonald's anymore and what the company manager or the CEO is going to do they still have all this employee they have to pay the money they still have all the recipes basically right and they have a buildings you know the McDonald's usually have they all went separate buildings and what they did they literally just changed the name which is right now sound like taste and a dot. It's like it's tasty. Just tasty.

[00:05:19]All right. Today, me and my sister, we are testing Russian McDonald's, which calls Kusn toka, which means it tastes good. And that's it. Something like that. So, I got my favorite French fries. It tastes literally the same like a previous um French fries, but in America, we don't have a cheese sauce, which is also my favorite sauce.

[00:05:49]>> Yeah.

[00:05:49]>> So, she likes it, too. And what's the other thing we don't have when we always had in Russian McDonald's? And it was my favorite item. It's uh shrimps. They were so good. It's going to I'm going to taste it for the first time. And for the comparison, I got for my sister. I'm not a big fan of the burgers, but a burger.

[00:06:13]Um I just going to open it up and kind of like show you the way it looks like.

[00:06:19]Uh it has like a a patty inside a cheese and everything like like normal. But I don't know how it tastes because I don't remember.

[00:06:38]And it tastes awesome. Tastes so good.

[00:06:57]The cheese sauce is just like I remember them. To be honest, you I'm very confused why we don't have it because it's Hinds.

[00:07:06]>> Mhm.

[00:07:08]I tried to find it in America. It just does not exist. But it's literally like a just a cheese sauce.

[00:07:17]Shrimpy.

[00:07:19]>> Mhm.

[00:07:33]That's so good. Literally just like I remember.

[00:07:41]>> So I'm not trying to say America is always bad bad bad bad on food. I'm just trying to compare, right? I also can give you a lot of examples. Whereas the food in America is good and a certain restaurants which is my favorite right now again after 7 years living in America. I love America. I appreciate America. It's definitely giving me all the opportunities which is I couldn't get in Russia and a lot of comments always was saying for a while go back home and leave America you don't belong here and I'm like guys where is home?

[00:08:17]You know, as an immigrant, it's always hard to realize because let's say the Russia is already not home. In America, for some time, it was not home yet. And you're always in this between situation.

[00:08:32]You're like, uh, you don't know where you belong yourself. Of course, you're asking yourself that questions. And it's especially hurt when some people, random people, right? Like, I don't know you. I know you only through the screen. And when some people is like uh always trying to say go home and I'm like where is my home? I think I am home you know and it's like is Russia my home? I wouldn't say so anymore is here is my home at the moment right now it's a what was today? May 2026. I am home and America is my home right now. And I hope I'm welcomed by you Americans, you know, on the comment section who is texting me all the time because I do feel like this is my uh time when I can say, "Oh, I am home. I'm finally home." Uh especially after my visit to Russia, it's definitely gave me more clarity. Where do I feel the most comfortable at the moment? Right. Maybe in a 10 years I'll be I don't know in Australia and saying, "Oh, Australia is my home." You know, back in the day. I don't know if you had it. We had a magazine called Cosmopolitan.

[00:09:48]And if you know the actual world cosmopolitan, it's translated like a person of the world. And it's funny enough, I was a child when my mom was buying cosmopolitan for herself. And I was asking myself a question like what is cosmatopolitan means and my mom is explained it to me. It's considered human of the world like you're just living for the whole entire planet right like you're human on this planet and I was like oh I feel like I'm a cosmopolitan but it was when I was like 7 8 years old and until this days I feel absolutely the same because I can make myself comfortable in any area and every country I was traveling before I definitely felt comfortable and I know for sure I will make it work Maybe some place it wasn't be it couldn't be as comfortable as I'm here. But uh every place where I'm at, I definitely can make it home. And you know what was funny? It's delivery delivery food in Russia. Again, you can say to me, oh, we comparing St. Petersburg, which is like a big city in uh Russia. And I agree with you, but I also live in New Jersey, which is like New York, New Jersey is like one of the biggest area, maybe one of the most populous area in America, right? So I think it's fair enough to compare those places. So those little robots, they always make me smile. Not just me, a lot of people. And I was feeling stupid because people got used to them already. And I was the one who always uh try to record those because they're so cute. those little robots which is driving food. It's a food delivery, right? On one side, I know some people are getting nervous that oh it could take a people's job. I agree on that. But I always love the progress and I believe the progress is making people think and make more opportunities, more jobs or something else because now all these robots needs to be operated somehow and needs to be charged and all of those little things. I think um even if it's taking away jobs, it's definitely bringing more type of more type of jobs. I think I I think this is how I would say um and the tipping culture. Remember back in the day I was saying in Russia it's was no such a thing like a tipping culture which is in America it's expected to be tipped no matter what it's a good service it's a bad service because most Americans they are not getting paid I guess like a fair enough price.

[00:12:34]So the tips is actually making their salary when in Russia it's a little bit different system. The employee is already paying getting paid. Okay. I'm not saying it's a good pay and they just fair pay let's say average like every other normal job would pay. And right now what I've noticed when they are giving you a check in the end of the check it's a QR code which if you would like to tip you can tip. It's not required but the people just writing down like literally writing their names. Let's say Marina who served you food today and they just leaving their name. It has a QR code. If you'd like to tip you tip. Unfortunately, um I I still was giving cash and people was like looking weirdly at me because everything in Russia at the moment is getting so modernized and it was a lot of situation when I felt a little stupid when I went to the store. I tried to buy some groceries. Not I tried I yes I did try to buy some groceries and the lady the cashier she was asking would you like to pay with a smile and I was like what what are you talking about and she was like would you like to pay with a smile and I was very confused because nobody explained it to me what's happening why she wants me to like what's happening um and she was saying she kind of like trying to get to me I'm like, "Oh, no." Like, I'm I said, "I'm sorry. I I don't understand what does mean to pay with a smile." So, it was an option. Basically, you know how usually in America you pay with your phone. This is what I do, right? I pay with my phone because I have my card uh connected to my phone. Um it has my face recognition.

[00:14:32]This is how I pay in America. But funny fact, when I came to America seven years ago in Russia for a while, we was already able to use this function of the phone and I was paying with my phone everywhere, like everywhere. If you're going on a bus, you pay with the phone.

[00:14:49]If you're going to the store, pay with the phone everywhere you go. Uh subway, no matter what. But when I came to America, not in every store was that option yet, which is I noticed and I was like, "Oh, that's weird." because it's actually was Apple Pay, right? I'm like how come the phone which made in America for the people um who made this function of this phone and why in America is not that popular the option to pay with your phone when in Russia already let's say for the past three years which is was 10 years ago right I was able to pay with my phone everywhere I didn't even carry neither cash or my card I didn't even know where my card is when I came to America I had to make a physical card to make sure I can pay somewhere where I'm not able to pay with the phone. So now again in Russia they already for my mom is like yeah for the past few years we're paying like just with your face which is again is it technology is it strange is it weird I'm not sure because some people are still nervous oh they recording us they like know all this our information and I'm like duh for a while I don't think we are I'm I'm always talking about myself right I don't think I'm that important of a person that they need my information they already have it for a while you know uh especially when we guys start doing a passports with also face recognition which all our fingerprints I think all the information is already been taken for so long that now we just have to chill and relax about it because yeah is our information out there absolutely and I'm fine with that you know okay whatever what are you going to do about it um maybe Some people know more about that. Maybe some people are still concerned. Maybe some people who is making like a lots of money. They concerned. I don't know. I don't have anything special about myself. And I think like okay like like just the normal people medusing around you know and trying to live my life trying to just like make it work basically. And that's what was made me a little bit wow like uh I don't know confused maybe a little scared for a second because I felt dumb you know and that's what's made me um a little think okay this is something new I never heard of that um but I had some friends who was traveling let's say to Asia and people were saying this is already for a while even when you're going and registering In the hotel to open your room, you either need to fingerprint or you need your face again, face recognition. And those technologies out there for a while here. I don't hear about that as much yet, but I'm sure we're going to get there. So, the next thing what I'd like to discuss with you, it's the cars. What is wrong or what is weird to me was when I came to Russia, I saw a lot of cars which I'm a car girl.

[00:18:02]I know cars. I know my cars. I'm sorry.

[00:18:06]When I came to America, sorry. When I came to Russia, I was like, "What is that? What is that?" We was just driving straight and I like what car is that?

[00:18:15]Why so many cars which I never seen in my life. So what happened again when the situation happened, Russia, Ukraine and I guess a lot of countries closed their option of selling their cars in Russia. So what the China did really quick, they said, "Oh, hi guys, we are willing to send you all our beautiful cars for cheaper." I guess Russians say, "Okay, no problem." I never seen so many beautiful, unrealistic, very modern and like just gorgeous cars.

[00:18:57]And I was shocked. This definitely was one of the cultural shocks to me. And it was a lot of dealership which is selling those type of cars. And I was thinking to myself, wow, I never even looked at the China car market. They have pretty damn good looking cars. I'm sorry. And why those Chinese cars is so why so many of them on the roads? I going to tell you. All right. So this calls a car sharing, right? Cars which is being shared car sharing.

[00:19:31]Somebody let's say one company, let's say two companies, three compan doesn't matter. Two big companies got a thousands thousands like literally thousands of cars. What they did is very smart. They register all those cars in one app and you can take and those cars is all over the city. They're not in any particular space. They are all over.

[00:19:59]You're going on the app. You're looking for a cars around. Let's say you found the car which is right next to your building. You're going you opening through the app this particular car and you paying in the end when you stopped using it. So you taking this car and you can drive it around the city as much as you need as long as you need and from that place you can leave it in any part you want. For example, I need to go from the house to job, right? I'm looking at the app if it's any available cars around. I found the car. I'm clicking on it. I'm basically like registering like not registering. Um I'm just if I see it's available, I'm booking it, right?

[00:20:49]I'm booked this car. I'm going downstairs. I'm taking this car. I'm driving to job and I'm done with this car, right? I'm just typing on the app.

[00:20:59]Basically, I'm done with the job. They charging me money for this amount. Like, let's say it's 30 minutes.

[00:21:08]>> So, you're opening up, you see the car, uh, and you are swiping.

[00:21:16]You're swiping down in the app. And now the car is open. So, we're basically taking a car. Yep. Some I don't even know what car is that. So, we're just taking this car which let's say other person left behind yesterday or whatever time. Maybe they just got home. Um I don't know. And that's it. We're taking this car >> we are driving. You're pressing drive and this is how the cars is turning on through the app. Literally, you have no keys in it, nothing. Uh and that's it.

[00:21:55]You park in this car anywhere you want.

[00:21:58]It just like a random houses.

[00:22:01]I mean like a random building and that's it. You're taking a picture of this car basically where you left it and you're leaving it and somebody else on my mom's and somebody else is going to take it.

[00:22:16]So, somebody who is also in the app in the same moment can take the same car after you just used it. And it's thousands of those cars. It's just incredible. And I couldn't believe it's actually working. The app automatically is locking the car and this car is appearing on the app again because you just used it. You finished using Okay, the whole concept is so crazy and it's so good. And the next thing is safety because it's a big question from the people and I would love to talk like a little bit about it because I'll be honest with you anywhere I go maybe it's stupid of me right maybe I I before when I was traveling by myself I didn't know enough and I felt safe everywhere I go I just want to talk really quick about safety it's night time clearly It's 12. We just finished with my best friend. We went to the concert, so I'm a woman, obviously, and it's the safest I feel. Feel no pressure. I feel like I can walk normally, no problem. So, yeah, I know it's one of the biggest questions all the time.

[00:23:38]How is it at night? you know how's the safety nets but living here in St. in Petersburg for a while and for the past couple days um and haven't been in Russia for 7 years nothing changed nothing changed and it's a it's a good thing and I'm always very surprised how parents just let the kids go on their own go to school like my sister going to school on her own like what well and back in the day my mom is like you also was going to school on your when I'm like, "Okay, yeah, that makes sense." I start going to school myself by myself since I was six and I was fine. You know, it's like a pretty normal practice. So, and now my sister doing the same thing.

[00:24:32]Is it Turkey, Spain, any other countries, Greece, um America? Right before I start living here, I felt safe everywhere.

[00:24:44]One last question probably. You know how everyone says the Russians are angry? So are people friendly over there? To be honest with you, I always been saying that the customer service in Russia, it's very good. It's kind of like trained good in a way. We wherever you go is it salon salon I mean like a hairdresser salon or if you're going to buy a car or if you are going just to the restaurants it's very good as a service right are they actually people friendly I was like I don't know because I never had a problem again in any country people always if you going with them being nice or if you have any questions everyone is always helping me out either Russia, America, China. I've been in China the other not the other day, like back in the day.

[00:25:42]People always being people and probably most of the people are actually nice.

[00:25:47]Yes, it's absolutely normal. I guess we all have this faces and people thinking the Russians are rude or angry at something. Maybe I can see that happening. But sometimes even here in America people say to me that I have some face which is I don't believe in it. But I guess it just says on my face like don't touch me, don't come to me, don't talk to me. I don't know. But other than that, I consider myself is very friendly. And if anyone needs help, no matter which country or which point on the planet I am, I'm always going to trying to be helpful or send people somewhere where they can get help. So I never had a problems with that. And maybe maybe people like in the buses, you're looking at the people, they don't look friendly. But again, we don't smile just like that, you know? We don't smile to the random people. It it's okay. Let me give you an example. We definitely don't say hi to each other in the elevator, right? And I felt weird because it's already my habit and I'm saying hi to all my neighbors or I'm saying hi to the people in the store.

[00:26:57]This is probably the difference. U people in Russia just don't they're not being nice to each other just because. Maybe that's the difference. All right. And the last and probably the biggest biggest question, does Russia feels like home?

[00:27:17]I needed a little bit of time to think about it. And I'll tell you that Russia is always going to be in my heart and it's always going to be the country which teach me a lot. My parents, my grandparents, everyone is there, right?

[00:27:33]It's my home base. But does it feel like home at the moment?

[00:27:39]I would say no. I felt like home in America for a while and it's at the moment. Here's my home. I'm in America.

[00:27:48]I live in New Jersey. I love it here.

[00:27:51]And this is my home.

[00:27:54]Maybe later, like I said, maybe I move somewhere right to the other place and I will consider another place my home. So, but at the moment I feel very comfortable and I love people here. I found the food I love in America. I found all my favorite stores and I feel very comfortable. I'm happy I'm speaking English. I think America gave me so much and I'm so appreciative and I think this is what I can call home at the moment.

[00:28:26]And Russia is not my home anymore, but it's always going to be the warmest feelings. And I always would love to go back, would love to see my parents, would love to see my grandparents and my sister right now. And it's always going to be the home-cooked meal, which is going to going to be connecting me with Russia and my roots, you know, and I'm Russian. on my channels was calling Russian uh before with the name as Russian you know and that's it I think I answered my own question and the people's question because for a while I did have maybe concerns maybe confusions maybe um I needed to probably explain myself that first and after to answer that question because people asking a lot And as an immigrant, it's a very very hard question and I don't wish it to anyone to be honest with you to be in that position to asking where's your home, right? But I think where you feeling comfortable the most at the moment this is your home. Uh sometimes home is a people, right? Like sometimes you feeling home next to some people or my dog my dogs my dogs is making my home home and my routine is making my home home my home-cooked meal making my home home and that's a tough question but this is how I'm going to answer on it. All right, guys. If you want to hear and see more stories about Russia, let me know in the comment section what other questions you would like to ask me and we'll go from there.

[00:30:10]Thank you so much for watching. I appreciate you guys a