Travelling to, and briefly living in Russia alone: what does /trv/ think?

I know the country's problems are greatly exaggerated in Western media, I know the crime rate probably isn't as bad as its made out to be, I know I won't really be treated like a disease by (all of) the locals... but I'm rather scared, to be honest. I've happily ventured to Poland and Latvia with little anxiety, but I'm finding the prospect of 6 months in Saint Petersburg very fucking intimidating.