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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:55 pm    Post subject: Bit of a problem... Reply with quote

Hello all.. I plan to visit Russia soon (next week) and I have a bit of a problem. I'm 25 and traveling there alone and personally, I am not really worried about it. I am meeting my girl who I met while she was here in the States over the summer. I know her well and kept in touch constantly while she has been home and now plan on visiting her where she lives in Yekaterinburg for 10 days while she's on break from university. I love this girl and trust her completly.

The problem lies with the fact that my parents are beyond worried about me going there and think very badly of Russia from what they have been told by people, and by Russian people here in the States as well.. so now they think it's highly dangerous for me (being an American) to go there. They are trying to scare me into thinking I might not come back and all this crazy talk that I am ashamed to discuss here. They don't believe me that it's not so bad...

My girl told me it's fine, especially because I'll be with her and she says Yekaterinburg is not bad at all, and assures me everything will be fine, but I don't know how to convince my parents.

I'm definetly going... but just want to know what you all think about it and for any suggestions as to what I can tell my parents to ease their nerves a little bit. They are flipping out about it... it's bad.
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bunker6
Frequent Guest


Joined: 31 Jul 2008
Posts: 37
Location: Princeton, NJ / St. Petes, Russia

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You will be safe. Actually you will be more safe than in the US.

Is there something particular you are afraid of? Crime? There's almost no street crime in Russia compared to the US.

They won't put you to Gulag (US currently holds times more prisoners than USSR in worst Stalin's years).

Actually the worst thing you come across in Russia is a complete lack of attention. You're American? Who cares?

What then?
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:17 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks man... I'm really not worried one bit accually... but my parents are extremely worried because of bullshit stories they here. It's pretty crazy. My girl says Russians don't particularly like Americans, but they won't do anything to me and since I'm with her, they will be open minded.

My parents have seen too many movies with the Russian Mafia in it and are now brainwashed that Russia is a terribly unsafe place to be. It's quite sad accually. It doesn't help that Russian people living here are telling them bad things. Kinda messed up. I'm going and I'm excited to see Russia. No worries from me... just don't like that my parents will be in such worry while I am gone.

That's one bad thing about still living at home with your parents at this age... they act like your still 12 years old sometimes.
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Ender
WayToRussified


Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 485
Location: Urals

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:28 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

munroe25 wrote:
Thanks man... I'm really not worried one bit accually... but my parents are extremely worried because of bullshit stories they here. It's pretty crazy.

If they'll offer you a gun for your safety refuse politely. Guns aren't allowed on Russian streets. Very Happy
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:35 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ender wrote:
munroe25 wrote:
Thanks man... I'm really not worried one bit accually... but my parents are extremely worried because of bullshit stories they here. It's pretty crazy.

If they'll offer you a gun for your safety refuse politely. Guns aren't allowed on Russian streets. Very Happy


Haha.. really? I thought everyone had a gun in Russia strictly for robbing foreigners... haha jk of course. The Ural mountains is where I am visiting. If you see someone next week that looks completely American... that's me.

I am really only worried about one thing... The food. I hope it's tasty... I'm sure they have imported beers and what not, but also want to try some Russian brew and cigarettes..
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bunker6
Frequent Guest


Joined: 31 Jul 2008
Posts: 37
Location: Princeton, NJ / St. Petes, Russia

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 1:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You will find most familiar brands there. Local food is great too.
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Ender
WayToRussified


Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 485
Location: Urals

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:02 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

munroe25 wrote:
Haha.. really? I thought everyone had a gun in Russia strictly for robbing foreigners... haha jk of course. The Ural mountains is where I am visiting. If you see someone next week that looks completely American... that's me.

Unfortunately it is very unlikely. I live 200km southern.
munroe25 wrote:
I am really only worried about one thing... The food. I hope it's tasty... I'm sure they have imported beers and what not, but also want to try some Russian brew and cigarettes..

Just don't drink cheap low quality vodka or cognac. If you buy armenian cognac make sure it at least 10 years old or it'll be too "rough". I suggest cognac from Dagestan (8 years or older, and 5 stars of course) - it is milder, cheaper and fragrantier.
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, thank you for the fine advice... I'm not a big vodka fan... I'm a whiskey guy. But of course, I must drink vodka a few times while in Russia or my stay will not be complete!
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Ender
WayToRussified


Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 485
Location: Urals

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 2:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

munroe25 wrote:
Well, thank you for the fine advice... I'm not a big vodka fan... I'm a whiskey guy.

Oh. Russian malls are full of whiskey of all sorts. I've tried recently White Horse and Chivas Regal. IMHO, second much better.
munroe25 wrote:
But of course, I must drink vodka a few times while in Russia or my stay will not be complete!

Small advice. Have vodka with a lobule of a lemon. It will help you stay longer. Smile
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:49 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ender wrote:
Small advice. Have vodka with a lobule of a lemon. It will help you stay longer. Smile


Ah! I've never tried that. Will do! thanks again.
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 0

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ender wrote:
munroe25 wrote:
Well, thank you for the fine advice... I'm not a big vodka fan... I'm a whiskey guy.

Oh. Russian malls are full of whiskey of all sorts. I've tried recently White Horse and Chivas Regal. IMHO, second much better.
munroe25 wrote:
But of course, I must drink vodka a few times while in Russia or my stay will not be complete!

Small advice. Have vodka with a lobule of a lemon. It will help you stay longer. Smile


You all just need a good old bottle of Eastern Kentucky White Lightening or some Ky straight whiskey. Be careful you will wanna fight and when the old women start to look like fashion models then it is time for you to go home. Very Happy
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Ender
WayToRussified


Joined: 23 Aug 2006
Posts: 485
Location: Urals

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

jo jo 7 wrote:
You all just need a good old bottle of Eastern Kentucky White Lightening or some Ky straight whiskey. Be careful you will wanna fight and when the old women start to look like fashion models then it is time for you to go home. Very Happy

I guess it is universal for all kinds of alcoholic drinks. I remember I had to do some work with one designer. She was absolutely not in my taste. In addition we had some complaints one against another and frequent clashes in a office. We were near to deadline and decided to discuss some aspects of work during a lunch. So we went to a nearest cafe for a lunch. I ordered a beer and she ordered a wine. In the end of lunch I found myself making compliments and silly jokes and she was smiling and laughing. In the end it wasn't romantic relationship but it fixed our business relations. Smile
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:22 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Yes... the magic of alcoholic beverages... it's a beautiful thing sometimes. Yet sometimes... it can bring disaster.

Never tried White Lightning... I have heard of it before though. I usually drink Jameson or maybe some Canadian Club... lot's of stuff out there is pretty harsh.
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jo-jo-7
Just Starting


Joined: 16 Mar 2010
Posts: 0

PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

munroe25 wrote:
Yes... the magic of alcoholic beverages... it's a beautiful thing sometimes. Yet sometimes... it can bring disaster.

Never tried White Lightning... I have heard of it before though. I usually drink Jameson or maybe some Canadian Club... lot's of stuff out there is pretty harsh.


I like a good Italian Merlot or Bolla Wines, if I should drink something stronger it is KY bourbon which has a very smooth taste. I only drink something when I am out to dinner or over a friends house. I will have a few glasses of wine or 1 shot of bourbon. I have drank vodka, not the good kind and got very sick for 2 days...

White Lightening is about 200+ proof. If you are looking to get messed up drunk, that is your poison. It can have a sweet fruity taste which is bad because you want to keep drinking it...hahaha! If you should ever come across Ky WL make sure you are on vacation when you drink it because if you have to work the next day then you might as well forget it. WL started in KY which started Nascar. Kentuckians had to make a car fast enough to bootleg WL across the county lines so they invented a super fuel engine that ran on WL for their cars which would out run the police. Fuel you drink and run your cars on....Really crazy.

Something funny to read:

www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Bootleg-turn

jojo
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munroe25
Frequent Guest


Joined: 03 Jan 2009
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 5:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow man.. I'm a bit of a nascar fan myself, and I've never heard of that before! Very cool. White lighting apparently is a cure for many horse ailments as well. Now that is a drink! haha.. the bootleg turn.. I used to do those in high school with some friends in my old beater car, but never knew where the move was first invented. I did the e-brake technique, it was an automatic. Good times...
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