[nickpp]

As someone who lived in the Eastern Block (not USSR though), I can tell you: struggle and no hope.

Struggle to get the basics for life: heat, food, clothing, books, disposables. It all took queues, friends, relatives, and black markets.

No hope for the future: no matter what you did, how hard you tried, there was no way to improve your lot in life. It was all outside your influence, all controlled by The Party.

The only dream we had was to somehow escape to the Free West. It was dangerous and you could lose your (or your loved one's) life in the process, but for many it was worth it.