Way to Russia Talk Lounge

Roxanne · Guest

Due to threat of war and terrorism, my husband and I would like to "blend in" for our adoption trips to Russia soon. Please advise about what to wear and not wear so we don't look like Americans.

Thank you!
Roxanne

Bender · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2003 11:30 am Post subject:

dont be rediculous!

Guest · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2003 8:45 pm Post subject:

Bender · Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2003 11:35 pm Post subject:

sorry i had a few last night.

really i dont think its a problem. dress casual or what ever is comfortable to you. everyone is just as much of a target as americans. terrorists are terrorists they dont descriminate with their hatred.

just dont show up in mickey mouse t-shirts. Rolling Eyes

perun · Guest

But what about the cops in Moscow? I hear they are shaking down foreigners.

UsualSuspect · Guest

Guys,
No matter what, unless you buy Russian clothes you will stick out as a foreigner to most russians. There is also the small matter of the way us non-russians walk. I am not joking about this! If you want to blend a little better, wear plain jeans, ordinary black shoes and a plain jumper. Don't forget your luggage is a giveaway as well and your camera too.
As for Militia shakedowns, I don't think it has stopped! Just make sure your paperwork is in order and try not to jaywalk. If you want to get upset about paying a bribe you can sit through "administrative detention" (3 hours from the time you get to the MVD station) but sign nothing!!!! Oh yeah, at the tourist sites like Red Square and stuff, walk with a group or in a group. You are easier prey if on your own.

Otherwise, just enjoy!!

WayToRussia · Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2003 12:07 pm Post subject: Clothes

Just be yourself. After all, you're not a spy or something to care about disguising yourself.

I don't think that you will experience any problems at all in Moscow, especially if you are a couple.

And all these things about world terrorism and stuff, Russians just don't care (this a part of the national character, sorry about it).

Natalia · Guest

Neveragain · Guest

Katya · Guest

I am Russian myself, and well, I just wanted to say that clothes wont help you to 'blend in', because its the faces that matter and that give foreigners away Smile

No matter what a person wears or how he/she behaves, no matter if he even keeps silent all the time, i can easily make out whether he is a foreigner or a russian. There are Russians who dress like foreigners, but it's VERY seldom that their face expression is foreign. And alas, this is not smth that one can change about himself. Foreigners look content with life and when u look in their faces, say, in the metro, u always get some kind of reponse in their eyes. When u glance at a Russian face, more often than not it feels like looking at the wall. I dont mean to put down Russians, its just an observation.

WayToRussia · Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 11:37 pm Post subject: totally agree

Yes, I totally agree with Katya. I can also easily see if a person is a foreigner or not, by looking into his face, and eyes especially. There's something about the look, that is not Russian. Maybe it's that most Russians are too much inside themselves and a bit restrained, while if you look at a foreigner, he or she is more open to the outside world and there's some kind of sparkle in the eyes.

So, perhaps, if you want to look like a Russian, you will really need to perform a kind of psychological study of Russian faces, and learn to adopt the same kind of expression.

alan · Guest

are you planning on staying in contact via internet with america? have you went as yet? have you researched any further relative to keeping in contact

my wife and i are early in procedure and want to research ourselves... ie should we be learning some fundamentals of language (will it make any difference, etc.)

happy new year and thanks!
al

Randy · Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2004 6:11 pm Post subject:

I agree with our Russian friends on this subject. But I also have a couple of suggestions that may help, that I have learned from my experience of living in Russia. Tourist that visit Russia are never there long enough to acclimate to the Russian culture enough to blend -in, and be mistaken for a Russian. I have lived there for extended periods of time and have been mistaken for being Russian, but the minute I open my mouth it's all over. It is very hard for me to speak Russian and not have my southern accent. One important thing is to never carry a back pack, instead, use a plastic, or old canvas bag. Never put important items in the bag, like passport, money, camera etc. Don't wear expensive jewelry, or watches, they are just targets like the back packs. American tourist do have a persona about them that can't be hidden, so it's best not even to try. The only thing I would suggest is to just try not to do, or wear anything that would make you stand out in a crowd. You don't need to be a Johnny Cash look a like by wearing all black, but wearing subdued colored clothing would help. The best advise I would suggest is to hire one of the many guides there to help you during your visit. The suggestions I offer are not just for Russia, but could apply anywhere. Some post on these boards can make visiting Russia (especially Moscow) sound very scarey with reports of crime, and corruption. Actually, I get more worried about going to New York, or Los Angeles. To me, when traveling outside of my city, or country, it is just common sense to use more caution about my surroundings. I hope your visit to Russia is pleasant, and you have some wonderful memories when you return home.

Guest · Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2004 6:08 am Post subject:

From reading all the posts here, one may surmise that Moscow is such a horrible place. How many of the Russians here that are so self critical have been to ,say, New York. I have been living here for the last 11 years. Everyone wears black, people's faces are covered with grayish residue from polluted air, and if you are riding subway (metro) better dont look at any one, it makes people very angry. I witness people fighting (verbally) on the train almost daily. There are neighborhoods here where you should not go to even in the broad daylight. Yet nobody is asking what one should dress like to blend in among Americans.

Brent · Lounge Lizard Joined: 05 Jul 2003 Posts: 91

Americans/Canadians are made up from cultures all over the world, and styles and colour of clothing are always very different. In Moscow most people look ethnically Russian (for obvious reasons) and style, clothing colour, and facial expressions are unique. If you look different, people stare, and I mean really STARE, which can be uncomfortable. Trying to blend in with the locals just makes things easier, and your trip more enjoyable. You'll know what I'm talking about once you've been to Moscow. Wink