During the years I was brought up in the new world, Russia changed and grew as well as I did. Eight years later I was back.

Modern technologies, like internet and telephone, did their part and kept me in touch with people I cared about and people who cared about me, and when I went to see my old country. I dont really know what expected after all there years, but it was certainly not what I saw.

The streets of St. Petersburg are filled with expensive cars painted in all colors of the rainbow, people are always in a hurry, all dressed for business, high-heels and ties everywhere you turn.

I was surprised at how well all my friends are doing, have gone to a good school everyone I know are involved in some kind of business. Trying to make time for each other was devastating; everyone is just so busy!

One of my very good friends kept receiving phone calls about car orders (her company buys and sells cars from foreign vendors) every ten minutes, even those she was technically off the clock.

At age 22-25 most of my friends have some kind of business, or trying to start one. St. Petersburg and Moscow are becoming Russias capitalistms hot spots. Along with a superior location, right next to Europe, St. Petersburg is a gem of Russian architecture.

The government is finally flaunting the beauty of the city, with restoring old buildings, and what is even more exciting, building beautiful new ones. It is swarming with tourists, there is something for everyone. The streets are a lot cleaner.

Most of conversations I had with my friends started with standard questions... so how is the family...?, but ended with...So how much is a Toyota (apartment, iPhone, a pair of jeans, bottle of Pepsi..) in USA? When they would hear the answer that would be shocked at how cheap it was, and followed with questions how much would it be to send the item there through UPS.

The companies are always looking for young and ambitious and the streets are filled with them. The bottom line is - if you want to make money, you will.

Russians are very technology savvy and fashion oriented. They jump on everything that is new and hip, anything that drives, downloads, activates faster.

I have never seen so many designers, writers, software builders, gamers, hackers. Everyone seems to be especially interested in what is new and hip in the West.

As soon as I appeared in the company I was swarmed with questions, technology is something that is embraced and appreciated, and there is never a lack of people willing to try things, take chances. Everyone is so career/business oriented it definitely rubbed off on me. St. Petersburg left me energized and ready for action.