Winston’s
Advice Articles On Traveling and Dating in Russia
Dear Reader,
Hello. My name is Winston. I have been in Russia 2 times, spent a total
of 6 months spent there, been to 9 cities, met hundreds of people, and dated
many women there. Based on my first-hand
experiences, lessons, observations, and advice from others along the way, I
would like to share some tips regarding traveling in Russia, its culture, and
dating its women. Keep in mind though,
that none of these rules are absolute, and only meant as general guidelines to
consider. Oftentimes, you still have to
just go with the flow. I hope you find
this information helpful. If you have
any questions or comments, my email is WWu777@aol.com. Thanks and enjoy!
Winston's
How-To Guide for Traveling in Russia
Contents
Crash course in getting
around your first time in Russia
Communicating
Customer service - what to
expect and what not to expect
Hotels
Taxis
Taxis at the airport
Riding the bus or metro
Traveling on long-distance
overnight trains
Arranging accommodations and
transportation through marriage or adoption agencies
Ordering in cafes and
restaurants
Dealing with police or
militia
Carrying cash and other
valuables
Bringing your own medicine
Hospitals
Laundry
Public restrooms
Packing
Showering without hot water
Getting a haircut
Visas
Budget traveling in Moscow
Cultural differences in
spending and saving money
Meeting people
Calling Russia from abroad
(Introducing Winston's
calling card shop!)
Getting used to a new image
and status level
Crash course in getting
around your first time in Russia
The first two words you need to learn in Russian, which you'll be using
the most often, are "Gdeh?" (Where?) and "Skolkah?" (How
much?) If you just know those two simple
words, you will already be in good shape to get around places and buy things or
pay for things.
If this is your first time in Russia and you hardly speak any Russian,
you are apt to be nervous and confused about getting around. Don't worry though, it's easier than you
think, especially when there's always people around, even in small cities, to
ask for help. Here's some tips. Unless you can pronounce your destination
name or address in Russian correctly, you should ask your hotel receptionist,
guide, translator, friend or any English speaking Russian person, to write it
down for you on paper to carry with you.
Or else take the brochure with your destination on it. Also, remember to bring the information of
your return destination too. (Usually,
the hotel entrance card you get after registering in will do the trick, since
it usually has the hotel address on it.)
When you need to find something or are lost, you just ask people around
"Gdeh (name of place)?" (Where is ..... ) or if your destination is
written on a paper or brochure, show it to them after saying "Gdeh?"
and they will point you in the right direction.
Often, it's not enough to just be pointed in one direction because your
destination may require turns, which would be difficult for you to understand
and them to explain. Therefore, a good
idea is to walk a few blocks in the direction you are pointed in, and then stop
and ask someone else so you know whether to continue in the same direction,
make a turn, or walk back to take a turn you missed. If you follow this method, little by little,
you will find where you need to go. It
works very well.
Also, "Skolkah?" (How much?) or "Skolkah stoit?"
(How much is the price?) is the other one you'll always be using as well for
when you pay for things like taxis, buses, metros, hotels, groceries,
souvenirs, and other costs, etc. If you
didn't learn the numbers in Russian before you arrived, just ask the person to
write down the price for you, or give him a pen and notepad. That will do the task.
Finally, after asking people for help or buying something, you should
thank them by saying "Spashiba" (Thank you) or if you're feeling very
pleased, say "Spashiba bolshoy" (Thank you very much).
Communicating
Here is where the skills of those who are resourceful or creative come
in handy. Communicating with people who
don't speak English can be fun sometimes and frustrating at other times. (It's fun when you're trying to get to know
someone you like, but not so fun when you are trying to describe a problem,
solve a dispute, or ask for your money back)
Most people will have a lot of trouble even attempting to communicate
here. Like most people, you will
probably arrive in Russia with some phrasebooks and pocket dictionaries. However, I have found that something helps
you a lot more - electronic translators.
If you get them in the US, they are very expensive of course, but you
can get some cheap efficient ones in Russia at department stores. Look for a section that sells electronics and
ask to see them. They usually start at a
thousand roubles and up depending on their vocabulary size and features. The ones that dictate words through a speaker
though, are much more expensive.
The one I got says "Brilliant 2000" on it and only cost 1100
roubles (about 40 dollars) but works like a charm. It is simple, easy to use, and has a vast
vocabulary range that will do what you need.
In addition, it also has a simple Russian to English translation feature
too, that will allow the person you're talking with to translate what they want
to say back to you. And it's small and
thin enough to put into the inside of your coat jacket. However, since it only translates one word at
a time, you have to be a little creative in finding ways to get across a
meaning. And as you might expect, some
will be better at deducing what you're trying to say than others.
You will find that it also helps a lot to pay attention to facial
expressions, when you can't understand what the person is saying. The facial expressions often give clues, for
example if someone shrugs, has a puzzled look on his face and says "Niez
nayu" you can deduce that he means "I don't know." With practice, you will learn to read these
facial expressions. Also, if you have
trouble getting something across, it often helps if you use analogies or
examples to illustrate your point. It
takes some practice to be good at that, and even then, you can only explain
simpler things, not complex things.
Communication skills are something you have to practice or be
resourceful with so not everyone will be good at it. If it helps you can just hire a translator or
guide, but that would often cost a lot.
Fortunately, I've always been talented in games like Pictionary,
Charades, or Scrabble type games, so I've been able to use that to enhance my
communication skills. For people like
me, translators are often unnecessary.
But for others, they may help a lot in making things more comfortable
and easy to deal with. So if you need it
and can afford it, I'd say go ahead and get a translator. However, I should tell you that the
translators working for marriage agencies tend to be more expensive than
independent ones or city tour guides.
Whatever the case, when speaking English in Russia, do not speak your
normal fluent English, even with English-speaking Russians. Instead, speak slower and more carefully than
you normally do, and avoid slang such as "how come?". Talk as clearly and simply as you would with
a little child.
Customer service - what to
expect and what not to expect
Before you go to Russia, you must first drop the notions you have in
the US of "excellent customer service to please the customer" or
"the customer is always right" type of philosophies. That way is not the norm in Russia, and for
many Americans, this comes as the first culture shock. If you're a Westerner, one of the first
things you'll notice about Russia is that the service seem rude, cold or
apathetic, and don't seem to care to try to please you. The truth is, outside of luxurious 5 star
hotels, customer service in Russia is unlike anything in the states. Russian businesses usually go by the book on
everything, even if it involves small trivial things. Rarely will they go out of their way to do something
extra for you. You usually have to pay
for every little thing, even for butter, ketchup, or sometimes sugar
cubes. Even if the staff wanted to be
generous to you, often they can't because their bosses are very strict and
stingy, and wouldn't allow it. The staff
would be scolded, reprimanded or fired if they didn't do everything that way,
even to please a customer. That's the
mentality most Russian business owners have.
Therefore, don't expect that customer service people will bend any rules
to please you. It happens occasionally,
but most of the time, it won't.
Also, in disputes, the customer is not always right like in the
states. In fact, the customer is almost
always wrong. Even if the staff or
business messes up on something, they will not take any losses for it. Instead, you would have to take the loss for
it. And if both of you are at fault,
such as due to miscommunication, then you most definitely would have to take
the loss, not them. Often, it is not
worth it to argue with them about it, unless it has to do with a great sum of
money.
Therefore, when these kind of things happen, try not to take it
personally or get offended. It's not
happening because they don't like you, nor are they trying to give you a bad
time. It's just how they do business
over there. And that's nothing
personal. In fact, many of these workers
are much more friendly, lively, and free-spirited once they are off work. (It
is a cultural quirk that is inverse to the states, where people are friendlier
at work when they are paid to be than off work when they don't have to be)
Remember that this is not America, and that Russians do not have the
same concept of fairness and justice that we do. In fact, besides this issue, many of the pros
and cons you are used to in America are reversed in Russia. There are way too many for me to list, of
course, but finding these things out is one of the fascinations of being there,
because you learn something new everyday.
So even in the bad times, try to see the positive in it. (And if you
think they have it bad there, just remember that they don't have to deal with
health insurance, car insurance, or mortgages like we do, which makes them a
lot more stress-free and less likely to "lose it". I told you the pros and cons were reversed
:))
In addition, things in general are just not as efficient as in America,
so don't expect them to be. When
something goes wrong, people there usually just shrug or laugh and say
"It's Russia" because they are so used to such bureacracies and
inefficiencies that they have learned to not take things too seriously
anymore. That's the mentality there,
and part of what makes people so free-spirited and playful over there.
Hotels
In almost any Russian hotel, there is a tight security system as
follows. Each floor has a concierge
lady, dressed like a maid, who guards and manages her assigned floor. After paying for your room, she takes your
receipt and hands you the key to your room.
When you are leaving, you are supposed to leave her the key, while she
gives you a hotel pass for you to carry on you.
This pass lets the doorman know that you are a resident there before
letting you up again. All this may seem
like control-tight security to a first time Westerner in Russia, since our
hotels are not so closely guarded and controlled. But it has its advantages in keeping you
safe.
Regarding the floor concierges, they usually have 24 hour shifts, and
not only take and give you your key, but also changes your sheets, bring you
hot boiling water for your coffee or instant noodles, and may do your laundry
for a negotiated price. Keep in mind
though, that in the cheaper hotels, the concierge ladies may be much more
grouchy and unpleasant, giving you dirty looks and looking for excuses to scold
you all the time. But don't take that
personally, as they are way overworked and underpaid, especially in the cheap
hotels. And furthermore, I hear their
bosses treat them like crap too.
As in any big city, the further from city center you go, the less
expensive the hotels are. (Sometimes, 10
- 15 minutes further down can mean the difference between hundreds of dollars!) This is true, of course in Moscow as
well. If you look at the metro map of
Moscow, you will see many metro lines crossed by a circle line around the
center (known as brown line # 5). The
hotels within that circle are SUPER expensive, and can start at 200 dollars or
more. (The only exception I know of is the Rossia, the biggest hotel in all of
Russia, located right next to the Kremlin Red Square. They sometimes have rooms for 50
dollars.) Outside of that ring, the
prices go down to as low as 50 - 30 dollars.
Or if you don't mind dorm style accommodations, you can also opt for
youth hostels. There are plenty of them
in Moscow and St. Petersburg (email me for a list of them if you need
them).
A nice inexpensive hotel complex in Moscow that I know of is called
"Izmailovsky". It is a complex
of about 5 hotels situated in a plaza, located right off metro station
"Izmailovsky Park" (on the dark blue line in the northeast corner of
the metro map). I recommend it because
it has some features and advantages.
First of all, you can usually get a suite for two for about 30 dollars. Second, since there are 5 hotels in the
complex, you can almost always get a room somewhere. Third, it has complete amenities and services.
Now here's another secret. There
are also what are called "hidden hotels" in Moscow that only Russians
know about and go to, which don't seem to advertise to foreigners (don't ask me
why) though you can stay in them. They
can vary in quality, but are fairly inexpensive even if located near city
center. Here's one I know that is close
to city center. I don't know the name of
it, but it's situated in the same building as the famous Traveler's Guest House
youth hostel, located near metro stations Prospect Mira and Rizansky Prospect.
(see www.hostels.com for exact address or email me for directions) In fact, almost all the youth hostels in
Moscow are situated inside these unknown hidden hotels because they rent floors
from them. Therefore, if the staff of
the hidden hotel don't speak English, you can always get the receptionist of
the youth hostel (they are required to speak very good English to work there)
to help you. Anyway, this hotel is
fairly close to city center, but get this.
The rooms you rent there are actually two rooms adjacent to each other
by your own private bathroom hallway!
One is a bedroom, and the other a living room. However, the couch in the living room folds
out into a bed. This means that it can
accommodate up to four people, for the price of a single room! And at 30 dollars, that's a steal!
This would also be a good option if you are staying with a woman you're
seeing who is not comfortable or ready to sleep in the same room with you yet,
as it saves you from having to pay for two separate hotel rooms.
If you are bringing a guest or woman to your room who isn't registered
to stay there, that person has to sign in with the doorman security. Usually, there is a curfew at which time they
must leave. Otherwise, the guest can
stay longer if a fee is given to the doorman.
Now for something a little shady.
It's something to do if your girl dumps you, or you are feeling
depressed or bored, and you want to do something besides drink the blues
away. Almost every hotel in Russia or
Ukraine has "call girl" services.
You can ask the doorman for it, or if you walk around the hotel lobby
for a while looking bored, they will usually offer it to you. How it works is that the security doorman
will ask you to go to your room, then he makes a phone call. In a short while, there will be a knock on
your door and you will have several women in a line-up for you to choose from
(kind of like it is in the Nevada cathouses).
I don't know where these girls come from exactly, some might live in the
hotel while others have a driver who shuttles them over. After choosing the girl you want, another
girl usually takes the fee, which is usually only between 500-700 roubles
(about $15-20) per hour if you're not in Moscow or St. Petersburg (otherwise,
it's considerably higher in those cities) and leaves, giving the hotel its
cut. Discounted rates for all-night are
also available. Usually, safe sex is a
requirement and the girl will have condoms for you to use. When your time is up, one of her colleagues
will knock at the door or call your room.
All of this is perfectly legal though, so don't worry about getting in
trouble with law enforcement.
You can find information for hotels in any Russian city online. However, the ones that advertise online are
usually the most expensive ones. To find
less expensive ones, you would have to rely on word-of-mouth, local people, or
asking the taxi drivers there.
Taxis
In Russia, there are two types of taxis. The official ones are unmistakable, and then there's
unmarked "gypsy" ones, which can be private taxis or just drivers
deciding to stop on a whim to make some extra money. If you are new to Russia, you may be tempted
to fear the unmarked cabs because you were always taught never to get into a
car with a stranger like that. However,
understand that using them is normal and considered basically safe in this
country. The unmarked gypsy cabs also
tend to give you lower prices (they don't have overhead and middlemen costs
like the official ones do) and are more open to bargaining. Just make sure that the driver is alone. It is recommended by most travel guides that
if you are alone, do not get into an unmarked cab that has two or more people
inside, or else your safety could be jeopardized. Also, using unmarked cabs is especially more
risky for women, as they are a more likely target for predators, so they may
consider opting out of this option if they are alone and don't feel confident.
Here is the standard way to hail a cab in Russia. Just stand on a street with moving traffic,
and hold your arm out about waist length with your open palm facing down. If you're looking for a gypsy cab, just do
this until one stops. If you only want
an official cab, just wait until you see one before hailing it. If you're staying in a hotel, you can ask the
receptionist to call a cab for you, but it will be more expensive than if you
hail one on the street. (they will tell you that their cab services are safer
though, since they have a vested interest in doing so)
In most cities outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, they are very
inexpensive, costing between 50 and 70 roubles per ride. You can expect this far to be consistent
there. However, in Moscow (and St.
Petersburg is getting up there too) the taxis can cost anywhere between 70
roubles and 1000 roubles or more, depending on the distance of your
destination, the traffic, what the driver feels like quoting you, how greedy he
is, etc. Therefore, taxi rates in Moscow
are VERY variable and unpredictable.
That is why it requires bargaining skills to ride taxis in Moscow. It's simply a must, unless you are so rich
that it's not an issue for you.
Normally, it's best to take the metro, since it's cheap and doesn't
always take longer than a taxi (the reason is because the heavy traffic in
Moscow sometimes slows the taxis down to being not much faster than the
metro). And you'll find that it's the
case in Moscow, that getting anywhere takes a long time. It's inescapable and something you have to
accept when you're there.
But if you find yourself in a situation where you have to take a taxi
there (such as if the metro is closed after midnight, your legs are too tired
to walk, you're with a girl wearing high heels, you have heavy luggage with
you, etc.), here is what you need to do.
After hailing a cab, if you can't pronounce your destination and street
name in Russian, have someone write it on a piece of paper for you, or show
them the card/brochure with your destination on it, and then ask the driver
"skolkah" (how much) or "skolkah stoit" (how much is the
price). Seeing that you are a foreigner,
the driver will usually give a higher than normal price, such as 500 roubles.
(Most of them know how to quote prices in English) Then you counter with a low price and offer
100 roubles. Usually they will say no
way. So you work your way up and offer
200 roubles next, and so forth. Usually,
they will cut it down a bit for you. If
not, then just say thank you "spashiba" and then close the door, and
hail another one. Usually, within three
tries, you will find one that is decently priced. If not, then perhaps your destination is far
away enough that it requires a higher fare.
Oh and if he can't quote prices in English or you in Russian, just use a
notepad and pen to write the numbers to show each other.
Also, when getting off a train station, avoid the hustling taxi drivers
trying to offer you a ride. They are
usually very shady and attempt to quote you prices way above the standard,
hoping that you don't know any better.
Many have quoted me 20 dollars at first, for a 3 minute ride, hoping
that I didn't know it was only 3 minutes away, to which I laughed in
response. Be warned though, they are
very insistent, but don't give in.
Instead, if you need a taxi, go to the street and hail one down. Or, if you're like me, avoid the hassle and
try to use the metro or bus if it's convenient for you and your luggage is
light. Outside of Moscow and St.
Petersburg though, taxis are relatively inexpensive, so you can use them more
often.
Now here is where the dilemma comes in.
If you are with a Russian woman, it looks bad to her, even if she is a
nice good person, to be bargaining with the taxi driver in front of her. Not only do men need to appear generous in
front of a Russian lady, but they need to appear not concerned about money,
regardless of whether they are rich or poor.
And it embarrasses some Russian ladies to be next to a guy who is
bargaining. Therefore, if a driver
attempts to scam you, then you are caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, the driver is giving you an
inflated price because you are a foreigner with extra cash to spare for
them. But you can't defend yourself
against it because it looks bad to the Russian lady with you. So what do you? It's not an easy dilemma to resolve. But here's what I would try. Don't have the Russian lady talk to the
driver first (although it's tempting to just let her tell him the
destination). Instead, you tell or show
the driver your destination, asking your woman's help if needed, and then
negotiate from there, but be quick about it.
If you don't take too long, it won't look as bad to her. That's all I can say.
Oh and one more thing. Most
Russian women are accustomed to walking and have strong feet (some even have
blisters and veins on their feet to show for it :)). They are accustomed to taking buses, trolley,
minivan buses, or metros and therefore won't have a problem with it. But there are a few though, who are too lazy
to walk, ride buses or take the metro, and think they are princesses who
deserve the high class treatment of riding taxis. In this case, you will have to make a
decision as to whether you want to pay the price of keeping her, and if she's worth
it. Normally, it's best to use both
forms of transportation. For example,
using buses and metros in the day when there's time to walk and sightsee, and
using taxis at night after a long day when both of you are tired. However, there are some women who will ONLY
ride taxis, and they are usually the same ones who like to order wine all the
time too. That's when you have to make a
judgment call about whether you want to expend the resources to keep someone
like that or not. If you're not on a
budget and are only there for a week or two, then it may not matter to
you. Otherwise, it's another story.
Taxis at the airport
Most people who fly to Russia are probably either arriving at the
airport in Moscow or St. Petersburg. If
you land there, keep something in mind.
The taxi drivers outside who are waiting to hound you, are not standard
taxis. They are monopolized by some
company or mafia group, and will charge you at least 40 dollars and up to get
you somewhere. You will also find them
incredibly pushy and aggressive in getting you to ride with them. My advice is not to take them because they
will rip you off (and in worse ways than the ones at the train station). Instead, you can easily take a bus into town
that will get you to a metro station that will get you to where you need to go
(and if not, you can just take a regular taxi from there the rest of the
way). However, the problem comes when
you arrive at the airport at 11pm or midnight, because that's about when the
city bus service from the airport stops.
In that case, you could be forced to take one of those rip-off taxis or
sleep in the airport waiting area until morning, neither of which are nice
prospects. Therefore, if you know your
flight will arrive after 11pm, it's best to arrange some kind of pickup on your
own. If no one you know is able to pick
you up, many hotels and even youth hostels have airport pickup services that
will cost about 20 or 25 dollars.
Riding the bus or metro
If you're on a budget like me, you may find yourself taking buses and
metros. They are much cheaper than
taxis, very inexpensive, and sure beats walking. In almost any Russian decent sized city, the
bus system is very comprehensive and frequent, and will get you to near almost
any place. The fare is usually between 5
and 7 roubles per way, and students with a pass get on for free. During commute hours, you may find yourself
packed tightly with too many people and no breathing space.
If you are new to Russia, here are some tips for learning to get around
on buses. Again, as in the suggestion
for riding taxis, have your destination name or bus stop name written down on a
piece of paper or brochure. There are
two ways you can do this. One is to show
your destination to the bus driver, and then use some pantomime signals (by
either pointing to your ear or mouth) to tell him to alert you when they reach
your stop. Not all drivers will be able
to understand you, but the ones that do are usually very reliable in
remembering to alert you for your stop.
The other more easier way is to ask a person on the bus to alert you
when your stop approaches. Or they can
tell you how many stops it will be before you get off. It's best to approach a younger person for
help with this, since they are more likely to know some English. Then thank them by saying "Spashiba
bolshoy". If you find that you just
missed your stop, go up to the bus driver and say to him "Astanovka
pajalst" (stop please or next stop please).
When you get on the bus, a ticket taker lady will usually approach you
to collect the fare and issue you a thin paper ticket. On some buses though, there is no ticket
taker and they use the honor system to collect your fares. You are expected to go to the front of the
bus and give the driver the fare. But of
course, many do not do that and simply enter and exit from the back of the
bus. Also, during commute hours when
buses are so packed that you can't move around, the ticket lady may not come to
you to collect the fare. In that case,
you can just get off without paying, cause there will be no way for you to do
so. But be warned though, in some cities
(such as Novgorod) they have a rule that if you forget to pay the ticket lady,
she is allowed to fine you for 50 roubles as a late penalty fee. Sometimes, they may purposely not collect
from you at first so that they can have an excuse to fine you, especially if
you are a foreigner, in order to squeeze some extra cash from you.
In Moscow and St. Petersburg, you can take the metro subway system,
which will get you to within walking distance of most places and main streets,
though sometimes you may have to take a transfer bus from the station to your
destination. The last time I was there,
the fare was 7 roubles per way, but if you buy them in bulk quantity (with
credits on a metro card in Moscow and tokens in St. Petersburg) the price goes
down. For example, if you buy 10 credits
at once, the price drops to 5 roubles per way, or 50 roubles total. When you're at the ticket window to buy the
credits to the metro, you can just use your fingers to indicate how many
credits you want to buy and put the cash under the window. She will give you your change and the metro
card or tokens. It's best to learn how
to say numbers in Russian though, in case you are buying more than ten
credits. I would suggest buying at least
ten credits each time though, since they are so cheap and it saves time to not
have to stand in line each time you ride the metro.
At first glance of the metro map, especially at the one of Moscow, it
can look intimidating and you may fear getting lost in a maze. But don't worry, it's easier than it
looks. The Moscow metro, in fact, is
claimed to be the most efficient system in the world. Your hotel or travel guide may have a metro
map for you. If not, it is best to get a
wallet sized copy of it to have ready, which is easily obtainable in stores
around the area. Or, you can just print
one out at these online links.
Moscow metro map:
http://www.hotels-moscow.ru/metro.html
St. Petersburg metro map:
http://www.hotels-moscow.ru/spb/metro.html
When you need to, you can pull it out and ask people for help by
pointing to your destination station.
The beauty of the metro is that there is never a shortage of people
around to ask for help. And again, try
asking a young person because they are more likely to know some English.
(It is best to be get acquainted with the Russian alphabet first, so
you can read the metro signs in Russian.
You can get acquainted with the whole Russian alphabet in two hours by
going here:
http://langintro.com/rintro/null.htm
The lessons you go through there acquaint you almost effortlessly.)
With the metro, use a similar strategy to riding the bus. When you descend the long escalator into the
metro station, you will first have to decide whether to take the train on the
left or right. Look at the signs
above. They list the names of the stops
in both directions in Russian. Look for
your destination station name on your piece of paper or brochure, and find the
matching one on the signs to know which train to take. If you're lucky, it will be on the same
line. If not, you will have to transfer
lines to get to it. If you don't already
know the station you're at, look at your metro map card to find it, then your
destination station, and then plot a course using a transfer route to get
there. If you need to transfer lines,
focus on the transfer station between the line you're on and the line you need
to transfer to. (Note: Although your metro map may have the names of
the stations also written in English and Russian, the metro signs will only
have them written in Russian, sorry :))
Then follow the arrows on the signs and take the train heading in that
direction.
Onboard the train, you will usually find a copy of the metro map along
the wall. Stay near that map, and count
the number of stops to your destination or station. Pay attention each time the train stops, so
you will know how much further it is to go.
At this point, if you learned the Russian alphabet, it will come in
handy because you can listen to the intercom which announces each station as it
stops, to gauge where you're at on the map.
Listen for these words at each stop "Stanzai ....... (station name
at this stop). Sleduchei stanzai (Next
station is......)" If you get
confused or lose track of which station you're at, ask someone nearby. Point to the station currently outside, and
then the map and say "Gdeh?" (where?) or "Stanzai zavut?"
(station name?)
By the way, if you're boarding or leaving a train, and you hear the
words "Asteroznah divi zakravaitsa" then hurry up because it is
cautioning you that the doors are about to close! If you hear this and you're still outside the
train, you may start pushing the crowd in front of you a little to hurry up and
get in. It is common practice in Russian
metros for people to push their way in before the doors close, as long as they
do it gently and firmly. Otherwise, the
doors could close in on your body, which can be unpleasant. Believe me, it's happened to me before.
If you arrive at your transfer station, you will now need to look for
which direction to walk in to get to your transfer line. You can do that by looking for the color of
your transfer line, however that may be a bit tricky in Moscow because the
color shades of the metro lines are not consistent and may confuse you. In the St. Petersburg metro though, the metro
line colors are more consistent.
Therefore, I would suggest looking for the metro line number instead,
which is much more reliable. You will
see the line numbers on your metro map.
For instance, the brown ring line that goes around the center of the
Moscow Metro is labeled as line # 5. The
signs above will show you the colors and numbers of the various transfer lines
you can go to. Follow the arrow to your
transfer line. Be prepared for a long
walk through tunnels and stairs. And if
you get lost, just ask people around for help, especially a young person. When you get to the other line, follow the
same strategy as before to find the direction of the train that you should
take.
This might all seem a bit tedious at first, but don't worry, it gets a
lot easier with practice. You don't need
to be brilliant to figure it out, you just have to pay attention. And when in doubt, it's best to ask someone
near you for help, otherwise you could waste a lot of time being lost. Even if they don't speak English, they will
try their best to help you. Remember
that in Russia, people are not so individualistic or stuck on privacy like in
the West, so it is ok to directly approach a stranger for help. So don't be shy or too proud to ask for
help.
Finally, here's some warnings to keep in mind. Beware of pick pocketers in the metro
station. They tend to lurk where it is
most crowded. For example, in St.
Petersburg, at the transfer station from the red line to Nevsky Prospect
station, which is at the heart of the city center, there is a train door where
tourists commonly pass through. The pick
pocketers know this and hang out there, hoping to catch foreigners with cash
and valuables on them. I had my bags
unzipped there before, and paper pulled out my back pocket as well. So it's best to have your cash and valuables
either in your front pockets, secure pockets, or passport protection belts
tucked inside your shirt (see the section on Carry cash and other
valuables). Avoid putting your wallet or
cash in your back pocket.
Although the St. Petersburg metro entrance gates utilize a nice round
carousel structure that you just push and turn, the Moscow ones are quite
different. There, you have to slide in
your metro card, take it out, wait for the green light to appear, and then walk
through. Now here's what to watch out
for. If you forget to take out your
metro card when it pops up and try to walk through the gate, the barrier gates
imbedded in side slots will spring out in front of you. Many new people to Moscow, both Russians as
well as foreigners, make the mistake of forgetting to take their card back out. Remember that you always have to take the
card back out, even if you've just finished the last credit on it, to activate
the green light that lets you go through.
It is not like the subway system in San Francisco, for example, that
eats up your last ticket if there's no more money left on it. People can easily confuse that kind of system
with the Moscow one.
Now, if the barrier gates spring out in front of you, all you will get
is a little shock or surprise. However,
if you're walking too fast through it, it can actually nab you in the sides. Ouch!
Some guys at my hostel have told me that when they were nabbed by these
gates, that it seemed that it was aimed at their crotch area, which was very
unpleasant. (I guess the powers that run
the Moscow metro system like to use fear to condition people to obey
laws?) Fortunately, I haven't
experienced that, only the shock of having them spring in front of me when I
was new. The point is, it's best to walk
through those gates at a normal pace, so that even if you do everything
correctly, if there's some case of malfunction, you don't get nabbed in the
sides by these barrier gates. I've
noticed two types of barrier gates. One
type looks like old plastic or wooden boards that spring out firmly, but
wouldn't hurt as much if you got caught between them. The other kind though, which are made of
crude metal and spring out in a triangle shape, are the ones that can hurt if
you get nabbed in the body by them.
Traveling on long-distance
overnight trains
Unless you're rich enough to be taking planes everywhere, trains are
one of the joys of traveling in Russia.
They are both cheap and efficient.
They are reliable and timely, and unlike Amtrak, they are extremely
inexpensive. An overnight trip that goes
for 10 hours usually costs about 10 dollars or 300 roubles for the
"placard" class wagons which have open door bunks sections. The higher class "kupei" wagons on
the other hand, have closed sliding door bunk sections and can cost up to
double in price. If you can, get the
kupei class wagons, especially for longer rides. There are several advantages to them. They have cleaner living quarters and
hallways, more comfortable beds, cleaner bathrooms that are NOT locked up
during sanitation stop zones (a huge inconvenience in the placard wagon if you
really have to go!), food service carts that are wheeled to you, and close
proximity to the restaurant wagon (about one or two wagons away, whereas if you
are in placard, you may have to cross up to 9 or 10 wagons to get to it!)
The kupei wagon is usually several hundred roubles more in price. However, it is well worth it. The ticket lady at the train station will
usually quote you one price for placard and another for kupei. But sometimes, if you ask, you can get a
lower price kupei seat at the same quality as the standard price. I don't know how they do it. But the ticket lady seems to have the power
to fudge the prices a little if you ask her to. (But again, don't do it if
you're with a Russian lady you're trying to impress :))
Regarding purchasing train tickets at the station, here are some
tips. First of all, check with your
hotel because sometimes they will have a ticket office for the train. There may have a little fee for booking
through there, but it's well worth it because it saves you the hassle of going
all the way to the station and back, which can take up to a few hours with the
long walks and lines.
Otherwise, if you can't speak Russian or aren't going to the station
ticket office with a Russian person, have someone write the name of your
destination city on a piece of paper, the train class you want, and the day you
want to depart. After showing this
information to the lady, she will usually write the price in roubles for you on
a piece of paper. When you pay, she will
then print out a beige colored ticket with information on it. If this is new to you, you will need to bring
this ticket to an English speaking Russian person to explain what each of the
numbers on the ticket mean. Once you get
familiar with that, you will be able to read it yourself. On the other hand, if you didn't go prepared
and have to wing it, here is what I suggest.
Try your best to pronounce the name of the city you're going to (If it's
Moscow or St. Petersburg, you should have no problem :)) or write it on a piece
of paper. Then write the date you want
to leave (remember to write the date in their format of day/month/year, and not
in ours!) and then say either "placard" or "kupei" class,
followed by "skolkah stoit?" (how much is the price?)
If after you do these things, you still have trouble, then don't
worry. At the ticket lines, there are
likely to be many people in line. The
odds are extremely high that someone there speaks English. Just ask for help, and don't be shy about
it. Remember that Russians are not hung
up on privacy and space from strangers like we are in the West. People will not be defensive if you approach
them directly. Walk around and ask who
speaks English or say "Vi gavarite pa angliski?" or if you want
something simpler to remember "Pa Angliski?" Even if they only speak a little English,
they can help you still. It's best
though, if you bring along either a map of Russia so you can show your
destination, or have a travel guide book such as Lonely Planet with maps inside
the pages.
Finally, remember to leave for the train station early, especially if
you're in Moscow or St. Petersburg. In
those big cities, getting places often takes longer than you expect, and you
need a good margin of error in case you run late, because the trains there
leave exactly on time. If you're rolling
luggage around the metro to the station, it will slow you down
considerably. Or if you're in a taxi to
the station, you may hit heavy traffic that will slow you down, causing the
driver to rush and risk getting into an accident. So leave extra early! Or else you could regret it and get into a
frenzied rush.
Arranging accommodations and
transportation through marriage or adoption agencies
If you dealt with Russian marriage/dating agencies or adoption agencies
before coming to Russia, no doubt you would consider having the agency arrange
the trip for you, providing accommodations and transportation. (By the way,
adopting a child in Russian is getting to be more common now among Western
parents because the wait time and bureaucracy is much shorter and simpler, and
the biological mother can't take the child back later if she changes her mind,
unlike here in the West) Generally, the
accommodations and transportation that they arrange are going to be much higher
in price than if you arranged it yourself.
After all, they get commissions off their referrals or profit from
service charges, and of course the higher end hotels are the ones that can
afford to give the agency commissions.
Now, if you have a lot of money to spare and prefer the peace of mind
of having it all arranged, then by all means let the agency handle it for
you. But if you're on a budget like me,
then I should let you know that it's not really necessary to have the agency
arrange these things for you. It is very
easy and often fun, to do the legwork and arrange it yourself. You can try to arrange accommodations over
the internet, but keep in mind that usually the higher end hotels are the ones
that can afford to advertise on the internet and take reservations. I'd suggest getting a Lonely Planet travel
guide of Russia to take with you. They
usually have a list of addresses and contact information for hotels from the
low end to the high end for you to choose from.
But keep in mind that the guide does NOT contain all the hotels that
exist in each city, and that the prices in it are often outdated as prices
often change in Russia. You can also ask
people in the city you arrive in, as to which hotels they recommend at the
price range you're looking for. And in
regards to train tickets, you can get them yourself using the methods I
described in an earlier section above.
Ordering in cafes and
restaurants
In cafes and restaurants, it can often be frustrating to be dealt with
menus in Russian. Most places do not
have English menus, so you will encounter this very often. One way to avoid this is to find the
cafeteria type cafes which serve food in lines where you pick what you want and
put it on your tray. Those work well and
since food usually tastes the way it looks (if you have some experience in
eating it before) you can tell what to get.
Some cities have many of these cafeteria type cafes, while others have
very few of them.
Another way is to have a set idea of what you want beforehand, have
someone write it down on paper for you, and show it to the waitress. She will tell you if it's available or
not. Remember to be as specific in the
description as possible, or else you may not get something you like!
Still, if you have to deal with a Russian menu, it's best to be with
someone who can explain it to you. If
you are with an English speaking Russian, then here's a good way to do it. First, if you have an idea of what you want,
then say it and have your companion look for it on the menu. Otherwise, it would be too long and tedious
for someone to translate every item on the menu to you. Instead, ask them to name the various
category sections on the menu, such as "salads, soups, meat dishes, fish
dishes, desserts, etc." Then, pick
a category, such as soups for instance, and have them translate each item in
that section for you until you find something you want.
Tipping is not the custom in most Russian cafes and restaurants, except
for the higher end ones in Moscow and St. Petersburg. As a general rule, if you feel pleased with
the service, then tip what you want.
Dealing with police or
militia
If you are stopped by the police or militiamen there to check your
documents, remember not to be defensive or argumentive with them. That only makes it worse. Instead, act cool and lighthearted. Joke around with them a bit too. Russian men tend to be easily amused and are
eager to kid around with you. If you can
get on their light side, they are much more likely to let you off without any
hassle. They are not required to do
things by the book, and often make judgment calls. And if you give them a good impression, they
will often make the call in your favor.
Remember that in Russia (and many other countries as well for that
matter) when you deal with a cop, it is not like dealing with an enforcer of
the law who does things by the book like it would be in the US. Rather, it is like dealing with someone on a
personal level in an informal setting.
Just have a conversation with him as an ordinary person in a polite
respectful manner. Use your
interpersonal skills, casual communication, etc. to get on his good side. Talk to him as though you were talking to a
good friend.
It seems to me though, (and I've heard this from others as well) that
if you have an American passport, they will often let you get away with things
(such as registration problems) more easily than if you have a passport from a
different country. I don't know
why. There might be political or social
reasons behind that.
However, if the officer seems very harsh and grumpy, just act like an
innocent tourist. I don't necessarily
recommend this, but if he asks you something in a harsh tone, just shrug and
say "Ya ni panimayu" (I don't understand) and repeat it for
everything he says. Oftentimes, rather
than try to communicate with someone who can't understand them, they will just
let you go. But like I said, this may
not always be a good strategy depending on the situation. You will have to make a judgment call
here. Go with the flow. If he is asking something you understand and
can easily show evidence to satisfy him, then go ahead and do it. But if you don't get what he's saying, just
shrug and keep saying "Ya ni panimayu". Most of the time, they'll give up and let you
go.
Finally, I've noticed that when you are in the company of a Russian
woman, it seems that they rarely stop you to check your passport (perhaps
because they don't wish to bother the lady).
Therefore, if you're out walking by yourself (especially in Moscow) and
you see a suspicious policeman or militiaman in your path, look around for the
nearest female pedestrian and try to walk beside her for a while as though you
two are together until you pass the view of the cop. (and yes, that may be a
good way to meet someone new too :)) It'll
greatly minimize your chances of being stopped.
Carrying cash and other
valuables
One of the exciting things about Russia is that anything can happen,
from the best to the worst. The country
and environment is unstable and in a constant flux of change (perhaps this is
why unstable people and misfits in American tend to fit like a glove in Russia?
lol Just kidding). This also means that you could be mugged or
cleverly scammed before you know it.
Therefore, don't carry too much cash with you. I would suggest carrying several hundred
dollars at a time, using your ATM debit card to withdraw money from the cash
machines there (which they call "bankomat") each time you need to
replenish your supply. And many will
advise you to divide your cash among different pockets of your clothing to help
protect yourself.
But remember this very important thing though. Carry a hidden money belt under your shirt
wrapped around your torso, or a necklace money belt. I know it feels hokey and nerdy to wear it at
first, but I can't stress enough how important it is to have it. Inside the money belt, put your passport and
ATM debit card (they are the most important and essential items you need!),
along with some spare cash, credit cards (at least some of them), and any other
important documents (such as train tickets).
This money belt inside your shirt virtually eliminates pick
pocketing. I can't tell you how many
times I've met other tourists at the hostels I stayed at, who didn't have this
money belt, and lost their passport or had it stolen. If you lose your passport, you could end up
having a hellish time trying to get a temporary passport and visa from your
Embassy to stay here or leave the country!
I've heard many terrible accounts of this happening, so be warned. And if you lose your ATM debit card, you
would be toast as well since you couldn't withdraw cash anymore except with
your credit card. (not recommended)
Also, if you are in Moscow or St. Petersburg, put your wallet in your
front pocket, not your back pocket. In
crowded areas there, such as the metro, there are pick pocketers lurking and
they know how to spot foreigners. In
regards to traveler's checks, I wouldn't bother with them because most places
don't take them, and to convert them to cash in a bank, the department which
handles that is often not open, even when the bank is.
Bringing your own medicine
Bring a supply of the medications or medical supplies that work best
for you. This one is especially true if
you're going to Russia in the winter or cold season. Since our body's antibodies and white blood
cells are mostly adjusted to the cold/flu viruses in our own country, they will
often be unaccustomed and defenseless against the cold/flu viruses in the air
of foreign countries like Russia.
Therefore, you are likely to get sick very easily, especially if you
hang around crowded areas or ride in closed train compartments. When this happens, if you don't have your
medications with you, you will deeply regret it because the tablets and syrups
you get in Russian pharmacies (called Apteka) are nowhere near as effective,
and some don't work at all. Therefore,
you would suffer horrendously without any effective treatment. And that could easily ruin or impair your
trip. At that time, you'll be kicking
yourself for not bring that Robitussin or Tylenol Cold that worked for you so
well back home. So don't forget this!
Hospitals
Most hospitals in Russia use crude methods of treatment (don't even
ask) but are so cheap that you can just stand in line in a waiting room and pay
a few dollars to get a visit. However, I
have recently found information about medical centers that give Western-style
medical care, but they are mostly in the big cities. You can find information about these centers
at this site of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia below:
http://www.amcham.ru/page.php?pageid=129077032227631
It's a good idea to print out the information on that page before going
to Russia, in case you need it.
Laundry
Unfortunately, there aren't really any coin-operated public laundromats
over there. So the only way to do
laundry is to either use the hotel services, wash them yourself by hand, or use
someone's laundry machine in their home.
Most hotels will have laundry services if you ask, and even if they
don't, the concierge or maid on each floor is usually willing to wash them for
you (either by hand or with the machines used for washing bed sheets) for a
negotiated price. You can also wash them
by hand with soap or detergent, but I would avoid this since it's very tedious,
difficult, and often doesn't clean your clothes very well (though it's ok with
socks and underwear) But it's a useful
skill to learn because sometimes during traveling, you may have no choice. You can also ask someone you know to let you
use their laundry machines, but make sure you know this person well, and if
not, then offer them a little money in exchange. However, most people's laundry machines are
small and not designed for big loads.
Public restrooms
I don't like discussing this topic, but some things need to be said
about it. In Russia and other Former
Soviet Union countries, most public restrooms are not free. A collector at the entrance takes a fee of
between 5 and 10 roubles. Now here's
what you should remember. Some of these
public restrooms have NO toilet paper inside them! The thing is, you have to ask for it from the
fee taker before you go in. Otherwise,
if it happens to be the case, and you don't know about it, you may find
yourself in a situation where you need it and it's not there. At that point, it is tedious and inconvenient
to have to go out and ask for it.
Therefore, before going in, ask the fee collector if there is paper in
there or if she has to give some to you.
Just point to the restroom and ask her in an inquisitive tone
"Knega?" (paper) In any case
though, it's best to bring along your own supply of toilet paper tissue, in
case the restrooms don't have any tissue at all. After all, this is Russia and you can't
expect the same efficient quality control methods you are used to in the West.
Packing
Americans tend to have a habit for over-packing and preparing for every
situation. Russians, however, tend to
pack lightly and economically, so they see this American habit as strange. If you're on an extended trip or are going to
many cities though, I would recommend dropping this American habit. The problem is that even if you are taking
taxis or cars, you will often be dragging your luggage across distances,
crowds, walkways, etc. and by then, you will wish you had lighter luggage. And on trains, the corridors are narrow so
large luggage may be difficult to drag through and put in the storage bins
under the seats. It is best to have
either a large backpacker's backpack or one luggage cart with wheels to roll
on. Also have a small backpack or
handbag available for souvenirs or gifts you accumulate. For long trips, pack about 5 changes of
clothes. My suggestion would be to just
bring the bare essentials of what you know you will need, but with things you
may or may not need, if it's something you can probably get there too, then
don't bring it along just to be prepared.
Otherwise, you may regret it later when you find that it is a pain in
the butt to be dragging around things you don't even end up using and not
having room to put your new souvenirs or gifts into.
Showering without hot water
One of the inconveniences of Russia is that during the summer, the
cities often shut down the hot water lines to fix the pipes so that they'll be
operational when winter comes. This
shutoff can last anywhere between a few days or a few weeks, and can be an
inconvenience. Here are some ways I've
dealt with this problem.
First of all, if you're renting an apartment in the area, ask if you
can get one with a "kolonka" in it.
A "kolonka" is a gas heater tank placed in the shower bathtub
that when lit, heats the water going through.
It's simple to operate with matches and levers, and you can ask the
owner or caretaker to show you how to use it.
Sometimes, part of the city will be without hot water, while another
part will continue to have it. If
convenient and economical, you can phone another hotel or hostel in the area
and ask if their hot water is working.
Otherwise, if you're in an apartment without a "kolonka" tank,
you will have to resort to the old fashioned way of boiling the hot water. Simply find a clean pot or bucket, boil
several kettles of hot water, pouring them into the pot/bucket, and then mixing
it with cold water just enough. Then use
a cup or saucepan to shower yourself with the warm water.
If, on the other hand, you're stuck in a hotel or hostel and can't boil
hot water to shower with, then don't worry.
There is still a way to shower without going directly under the cold
water directly (ouch!). Unless you don't
mind taking a cold shower directly, get into the shower with the cold water
running, but don't go under the running cold water. Instead, stand just far enough in front of it
to be out of the water stream. Then, cup
your hands to scoop some of the cold water, and slowly rub every part of your
body with it, to gradually adjust your body to the cold water. When you're done, do the same with the soap,
rubbing yourself all over with the foam lather.
Finally, rinse off the soap with the cupping water by hand method
again. Next, shampoo your hair by just
leaning your head into the cold water stream without putting your whole body
under it. That's it. It's that simple.
Getting a haircut
If you think it's practically impossible to get a good haircut from
someone who can't speak your language, well I've got good news for you. You're wrong :) I thought at first that it would be impossible
too, but there is an easy way to do it.
It's similar to the techniques you used to find your way around
Russia. First, you write down in English
on a piece of paper the instructions for how you want your hair cut, being as
specific and descriptive as possible, including details such as clipper length
numbers, sideburn trimmings, etc. Then,
take those instructions and have your hotel receptionist, guide, or any English
speaking Russian person translate them into Russia for you on a piece of
paper. Put that translated note into
your pocket, wallet, or somewhere you can easily remember to find it. Whenever you need a haircut, just pull out
that note, show it to the barber or stylist, and ask “Panimayish?” Usually, they'll nod their head and do a good
job. That's it! You can keep that note and use it whenever
you need it again. I used the same
translated note for 5 months of haircuts, in fact.
Oh and many hair styling places, even in Moscow and St. Petersburg, are
dirt cheap and do a good job too. You
can get a basic haircut in most places for 100 to 150 roubles. Just ask around for one.
Visas
You can easily get a one month tourist visa to Russia by applying
directly at the Russian Embassy nearest you.
However, to save yourself the legwork, you can have an internet travel
agency do it for you. It will cost a bit
more because of their fees, but not by much.
One that I and many other would recommend is Go To Russia.net
(www.gotorussia.net). They have a good
solid reliable reputation and are most often used by Americans going to
Russia. On their site above, there is
also a toll free number you can call if you have any questions. Their staff have always been courteous,
friendly, and efficient, in my experience.
While the one month tourist visa is easy to obtain, anything longer,
such as the longer visas such as the 3 month business visa, 6 month business
visa, 1 year business visa, homestay visa, etc. require more paperwork and
document hassle. For those, it is best
to have an internet travel agency or the inviting institution apply for those
for you.
A tricky issue that sometimes comes up is the problem of whether it is
possible to extend your visa if you need to.
People and organizations will often tell you conflicting things about
this issue. Some are sure you can extend
your visa without leaving Russia and others are sure you can't. I'm still not clear on the dynamics of this
issue, but here's what I've gathered so far.
It seems that it depends on the organization that issued your invitation
letter. Some organizations, if they have
certain roots or connections, have the means to extend your visa by up to two
weeks without you having to leave the country.
Others don't have this power.
(One exception though, is if you become hospitalized or injured to the
point where you can't move or board a plane, in that case the government will
automatically extend your visa.) So if
this might be an issue for you, it's best to speak to the organization who
provided you with your invitation letter about it, or the travel agency that
you used to apply for the visa.
In any case, if you find yourself needing to extend your visa and can't
do it without leaving the country, you can just ride the train or bus to a
neighboring country that you do not need a visa to enter into, such as Latvia,
Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, etc. From there,
you can stay in a hotel or hostel for a while, and use almost any travel agency
there to apply for a new visa back to Russia.
The travel agencies there will always have English speaking staff, and
depending on what you pay, the new visa could take anywhere from a few days to
a week to process. Just to let you know
though, Estonia and Lithuania are generally cheaper places to reside in while
you do this, than Latvia or Finland.
Budget traveling in Moscow
If you're a budget traveler like me (except when out on dates with
girls I want to impress of course :)) you may find Moscow a bit expensive for
your tastes, especially if you stick with the touristy areas, so here's a site
with a lot of useful tips and recommendations.
http://www.cheap-moscow.com/
Cultural differences in
spending and saving money
One of the biggest causes of conflict and misunderstanding between
Russians and Americans is the issue of spending money, especially since many
Russians mistakenly think that all Americans as filthy rich with a bottomless
supply of cash, thanks to the image Hollywood gave them. Americans are taught to spend money wisely
and efficiently, and saving it for future long term use. Russians, however, live for the day and are
more likely to spend their surplus cash without regard for efficiency or
savings. Most of them don't have enough
to save up anyway. And they can better
afford to splurge too, because they don't have the kind of bills and payments
that Americans are used to, so they have no understanding of the pressures
Americans have either! Therefore, both
sides do not understand each other in this area. It is difficult, therefore, for both sides to
respect and understand each other on this issue because of their different
mentalities and conditions.
One thing you need to keep in mind is that no matter what you say, many
Russians see you as rich and always having filthy amounts of spare cash. Therefore, if they see that you are
budgeting, or reserving money aside for tomorrow's expenditures, etc. it looks
like you are stingy or greedy to them. (It should also be noted that the
Russian definition of "greedy" is different than the Western
definition. By Western standards, a
greedy person is someone who has an insatiable desire to acquire wealth, power
or material assets, while by Russian standards, it refers to people who are
economical and who try to withhold spending their money.) Even if you claim that you aren't rich or
that you have limited resources, they still won't believe you. In their minds, if you have money to travel
and visit their country, then you must have plenty of cash to spare at all
times for all situations and all people.
And it doesn't matter if you've already spent a lot of money the day
before or if you will have to spend a lot tomorrow on something else or someone
else, because that's never a factor to them in what you will spend now.
The reasons for this, as far as I've been able to gather, are
several. It's not that they are dumb
about money matters. Their mentality of
it is different from ours because of their environmental and societal
conditions. Many Russians are unable to
comprehend saving or budgeting because they've never made enough money to
utilize those concepts themselves, so they have a hard time relating to your
concept of it, especially when they see you as being a millionaire with lots of
extra cash on you at all times. Also, on
a more abstract metaphysical note, I have been told that it also has to do with
the nature of the Russian soul. I
haven't been able to fully understand that yet, but here is what I surmise in
theory. Russians do not see money in
terms of numbers that are added and subtracted from your wallet or a balance in
your bank account, like we do in the West.
They don't see spending money as losing money. Instead, they see spending as releasing
pockets of energy that are not lost, but just converted into another form or bounce
back to you. In essence, you could say
it's a higher view of reality that takes into account your friends and loved
ones, rather than the individual. The
collective interconnected energy of their group, to them is what it's all
about, rather than just individuals fighting for their own needs. So if this situation arises, try to be
understanding about it and remember that they didn't grow up in the same
conditions as you.
This can create a theoretical dilemma.
On the one hand, you can't be economical or efficient with money without
the risk of appearing stingy or greedy.
On the other hand, since scarcity is real and money is not unlimited,
you also cannot behave as though money is never an issue and is unlimited,
(unless you are super wealthy) or else you will soon lose a lot more than you
planned, or even all of it. Such a
dangerous reckless habit or mentality could bankrupt you easily, as it would
only be a matter of time before reality caught up with you. So the question is, how do you balance the
two? Where do you draw the line? It's not an easy question to answer, and you
will have to make some judgment calls based on the situation. But as I discussed in an above section,
generally if someone treats you like you ought to spend freely, or like you
have an unlimited supply of cash, that is a bad sign. A nice self-respecting person who cares about
you would never do that, regardless of how rich they think you are. So if you are constantly pressured to spend
more than you want to, that is not a good sign about the company you are
in.
The most logical and safe solution I think, is to take a middle ground
rather than one extreme or the other. Be
a little more generous and less economical than you usually are, but not so
much that it gets out of control. Of
course, in reality things are not always so cut and dry, and sometimes the line
between frugality and stinginess will not be clear, nor will it be drawn in the
same place by everyone. In that case,
you will have to rely on your sense of judgment and gut feeling. If you mess up, just learn from your
mistakes, and remember that those who truly care about you will forgive you,
while those who don't aren't worth your time anyway.
If in the presence of Russians, you don't wish to spend your money on
something, don't try to justify it to them by saying that you can't afford it,
or explaining anything about budgeting or saving money. Just simply say you don't want to, and leave
it at that. It's the safest and cleanest
way to do it. Most Russians will not ask
why or pressure you for a reason.
Instead, they will usually just let it go and accept that you have your
own reasons.
Finally, if you find yourself in a situation where you are pressured to
spend money that you don't want to spend, here's a trick you can try. Don't put all your cash in your wallet. As mentioned in the section on carrying cash,
divide your cash up into different locations on yourself so no one knows where
and how much reserve cash you have. Keep
a small amount of cash in your wallet.
Then, if you need to, pretend that you don't have enough cash on you by
taking out your wallet and showing the person that you don't have enough cash
for the situation that he/she is pressuring you to spend for. However, if you find you are constantly in
this kind of situation, you either are hanging out with the wrong people or too
stingy for your own good.
Meeting people
If you're shy or don't know anyone in Russia, don't worry. It's easier to meet people there than you can imagine, except for maybe Moscow. Meeting people in Russia is a whole different dimension than it is in the USA. In America, strangers are strangers and people don't like to meet you unless it's through an organization like work, school, clubs, friends, church, etc. and even then, it's not al