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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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 Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject: |
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| vitalsigns wrote: | | I was trying to figure out what you disagree on with MrSpice |
Well, if you can only live here if you speak Russian, then those of us that didn't speak Russian would never have come, would we ? You have to start somewhere, and that's exactly what Casey's doing. |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, deleted.
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 4:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Intourist
Talk Show Host
Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 245
Location: Moscow
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| vitalsigns wrote: | | I am wondering why you've been in Russia for 12 years. |
I enjoy it. My career's here (for the time being), I have family here, friends, interesting experiences, I'm next to Europe, I get to speak Russian day in/day out (which I enjoy), and I see no immediate reason to go home. That's it in a nutshell. |
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Xela
VIP
Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Posts: 781
Location: Shanghai
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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Vitalsigns,
Of course Caucasians have a strong sense of identity, they come from the most beautiful part of the world, are the TRUE fathers of Europe, and modern Russia has EVERYTHING to thank them for(see Cossacks)
However, Caucasians do not, and will not, ever take any nonsense from anybody. Fear is simply not a word in either their minds nor vocabulary.
I'm sure you can piece the rest together from this..
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The reason people are afraid of Chechens is because their moral standards are way off of anything other people know.
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Take a look at what Russian conscripts, who could potentially be no different to you, do in Chechnya once they have a round of ammo at their disposal.
They steal from innocent Caucasian families, sexually assualt Caucasus women, destroy houses and kill or maim known innocent people, all the while backstabbing each other and fighting alongside the Chechens..
And of course there are all those things that go on in Russia itself. Like trading children, slaving women, rampant alchololism, the global monopoly in scams and deception, and fat policemen convinced they are the second line in the Grozny takeover.
So don't try telling me about moral standards, and certainly don't start pretending Russians have any. |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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To one of WTR's favourite sons.... congrats on your upcoming adventure!  Here are some w.o.w. for you:
1. Russians like salty food--so take everything with a pinch of salt! Keep conversations 'Spice'd up! 
2. A significant number of expats do get away with not learning to speak Russian. But please, do your homework anyway. It helps a lot.
3. Do things the Russian way whenever possible. Eat local food, buy local products etc. or you're gonna run up quite a bill
4. The metro is your lifeline.
5. Discover Russia yourself. Don't get into any expat cliques or groups too soon. They'll wrap your sense of reality. |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:32 pm Post subject: |
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vacationing...
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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Alice was the kid-mod who abandoned WTR and shoved this baby-sitting job to me, Rick and Camrade.
What can I say, today happens to be a humourless day for me and I'm suffering from a bad case of trigger-happy 'mouse finger'.  |
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MrSpice
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 14 Jul 2003
Posts: 3431
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| El Casey - don't forget about ladies, that's what Russia is really famous for, and especially moscow. This is Russia's Hollywood, so the best ones gather there :) |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:48 pm Post subject: |
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Thing is you slipped up pleny before and with having to keep Winston at the door and other nasty newcomers (just other Winston logins?) at that time I was being jittery. Well I guess it's fun to watch sometimes. I guess if it wasn't for VS's good rapport with you I would have pushed the red button by now.
BTW who is Zemanova? Seriously don't recall such a person... |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 6:51 pm Post subject: |
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| p.s. dr fauste/atomcat/paul holmes/ lives in canada and is of scottish decent. |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject: |
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vacationing...
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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vitalsigns
Lounge Wizard
Joined: 25 Dec 2004
Posts: 2784
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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vacationing...
Last edited by vitalsigns on Wed Nov 09, 2005 8:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Anya
Lounge Lizard
Joined: 19 Feb 2004
Posts: 157
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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| vitalsigns wrote: | | Anya wrote: | | BTW who is Zemanova? Seriously don't recall such a person... |
It's either Zemanova or Zhemanova. She was a very smart person. I mean a well-read, educated russian lady living in the UK. But at the same time a pretty neurotic lady who had an in-your-face attitude almost all the time. I think she was either banned or left on her own. |
Thank goodness it had probably been the pre-mediashark/Anya days. Once we thought we would never be able to make Winston leave on his own... but it still givees me the creeps to think that he would try to return, thinking that the majority of the sleazeballs are still around to feed his trolling and self-centered posts. |
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greg222
VIP
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 599
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 7:28 pm Post subject: |
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Advice:
1. Don't take shit from cops. Choose your tactic - either play dumb or challenge them. They'll either get bored or back down. Tickets to the Bolshoi are a last resort only.
2. There is no need to buy Russian clothes unless you actually want to (ie. if you particularly like ultra-tight jeans and T-shirts). You'll blend in just fine with standard western clothes. Russians will initially be able to spot that you're a foreigner by your eyes but you'll pick up the Russian facial expression before long.
3. Moscow is not dangerous. Shout English at the top of your lungs while drunk, carrying thousands of dollars worth of goods and traveling on a late-night prigorodnaya elektrichka if you want. I have, and had no trouble apart from a few disapproving looks.
4. It is incredibly easy for a native speaker of English to find work here. If you have spare time you should do part-time English teaching or write for some of the local English-language media.
This is not an overly scary or strange place. It's just a very frustrating place. If you can handle poor service and rudeness you'll have no problems. You're also very lucky to be living in a dormitory - you'll meet a lot of people very quickly. Students, especially female ones, are very receptive to foreigners.
Finally, in my experience, Chechens aren't especially tough. Twice I've had confrontations with them and both times nothing has come of it. But they do like to tell you that they're Chechen and expect you to be scared. I seriously doubt that would frighten even a Russian, but to an Australian it's completely meaningless. |
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init6
WayToRussified
Joined: 01 Jun 2005
Posts: 363
Location: Москва, Россия
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| Posted: Wed Aug 10, 2005 9:30 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, everyone, for all the advice. This thread is almost non-WTR in its topicality and positive messages (thanks, Xela, for dragging it off-topic so I knew I was on the right forum ).
With regards to cliques, etc. I take the same line that The eXile does: I hate expats.  Understand what I mean, though. From the extensive reading I've done (granted, most of it from Ames' point of view) it seems there are plenty of Western idiots who still harbor this stupid idea of turning Russia into yet another bland "Western democracy." I have enough faith in Russians to know this will never happen, though.
Xela, if you want to talk about Chechens, please make another thread. I'd join in, but let's PLEASE try to keep this one on topic.
As an aside, though, everyone take a good long look at my avatar (which is me in my best Lenin pose) and tell me if I look Caucasian? I'm pretty sure I don't, but I want to make sure before I wonder why the cops are constantly stopping me. I'll admit that I'm scared shitless of Chechens. I've seen too many videos of them cutting things off of Russians to not be!
But thanks again, everyone, for the well-wishing and the advice. I feel like I'm saying goodbye here, but I will still be on WTR. I can't wait to "have my money where my mouth is" and start posting from Moscow!  |
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