Note from 2023: the situation in Minsk may appear different now. However, I will keep this as the inaugural post on my blog, as a memento of better days. Those times weren’t exactly peaceful and serene; I dealt with numerous situations I hadn’t encountered before; my present company was quasi-startup with a lack of processes and personnel; I had to occupy several roles besides the one I was comfortable with as a project manager. Ultimately, the war seemed a distant reality, and many people were joyful, smiling, and alive.

Let me say one crucial thing right away – if you aren’t associated with the IT world, it might be best not to continue reading this post, as it is written from the perspective of an IT professional.

I grew up in an era when one could still see Leonid Ilyich live on blue screens, though his speech became progressively mumbled and placating. Andropov and Chernenko, his quick successors, made no difference in that world. Gorbachev attempted to improve that far-off grand nation, Yeltsin squandered what remained, Shushkevich recorded the altered world order. An independent Belarus emerged. I began my career.

Much time has passed since then. Hyperinflation, deficits, shuttles, hauls, lump sums have faded into obscurity. Hypermarkets featuring extensive assortments accessible to everyone have sprung up, negating the need for Polish Schengen “shopping” for non-border residents. On entering the Crown Castle on Pobediteley Avenue, one can happily spend half a day, drawing parallels with the Acropolis. Many new buildings and satellite city programs have materialized. Coming into Minsk from Brest, Moscow, or Grodno, it could be mistaken for a different city. Despite all of this, Minsk continues to be a clean and welcoming city for its visitors, with helpful locals ready to assist even without a customary smile.

Our city has a charming feature only noticeable after visiting other places. It’s small. Even during peak hours, a cross-city commute takes only an hour and a half, whether by private vehicle, public transport, or bicycle (summer and winter :). For a quicker commute, a motor scooter is an option – a friend tried it and approves! The only things missing might be helipads and river transport. By the way, have you tried UberBlack yet?

Being an IT professional presents appealing possibilities, the most significant being remote or “flexi-hours” work, avoiding traffic during rush hour. A bit of searching can uncover desired items in local online stores, often cheaper than, say, Amazon. Lastly, IT salaries remain attractive.

Indeed, every situation has pros and cons. We still have a long way to go to move up the Quality of Living ranking from 189th place, where we were in 2014, at least another 10 spots. Conversely, there are another 2.5 million cities worldwide - our rank still matters. Lastly, Minsk made it to the top 10 cheapest cities globally.

Wait. I’ve talked a lot about life, but not the work itself. Nevertheless, the Kuwaiti imam shared a good message about work – I have nothing else to add.

Have a nice day!

The original content has been translated by an AI tool.