03-05-2009, 06:41 PM
Al-muell Wrote:This may work in Russia. But in the rest of the eastern Europe (I have heard Hungary is an exception, but I don't know for sure) timetable is not somethig train drivers and (to even greater extent) bus drivers pay much attention to.
My only experiences are with Russia. Also, I may have forgot to mention I am a fluent speaker who looks more Russian than tourist.
As per the bribery, I agree to never bring it up. I have had more friends arrested for asking "can we make this go away" than for the original crime they committed.
And I am not insinuating anything by this (so please don't take offense to this, it is a true fact), but your skin color will make you a target. If you are more Italian or Hispanic, often times you can be mistaken for a Georgian or Chechen and they will give you a hard time. Cooperation is key and most of the time, they will just give you a smug look and tell you to go about your business. Be wary of cops/police that try to tell you your documents are not in order. The corrupt ones, especially in Moscow, will try to rob you blind by threatening to arrest you. The advice I gave to the people I took on a tour through Moscow was to always tell them you want to go to the embassy before the station. Usually, they will just leave you alone or, in the worst case, take you to the embassy where they will prove your documents are correct.
Never insult their country and be able to laugh at yourself (if they make fun of you...because they will if you look like a tourist or sound like it).
No idea on Eastern Euro countries...only met a few Ukrainians so no idea what it's like.
One more thing, the comment about drinking from Al. Be extremely careful. These guys drink gasoline. Now, I am a college student. I can hold my own with beer and drinking and all that jazz. The things they drink that taste "good"...wow. Homemade wine = God only knows what went into it. Vodka is the only safe bet and make sure you know when you're done. Sip the vodka or be prepared to drink into a coma. I destroyed my liver while I was living over there. The worst part is I outdrank the native Russians (I like to say I am a transplanted Russian...since I am 3rd generation American). While I earned their respect and earned the nickname "alcoholic" (that literally was what they referred to me as), I would often black out and wake up in some unknown area. I rolled the dice and got lucky 7's every time. I do not suggest doing the same.
And one thing I noticed...the first few days I was working in Moscow, a co-worker offered me a smoke. Now I had never smoked before...but I decided eh, why not. Well I had that one smoke, but he and I talked for a while and I guess word got around, but soon everyone was inviting me to do things with them. Go play hockey, go out for lunch, go shopping, go clubbing, etc. etc. Moral of the story, in Russia...don't be shy. If you're not interested in the activity, don't be afraid to try something new or to at least hang out and talk to people (obviously use good judgement and common sense...I mean if they guy is shady, then yeah...and I don't mean random people on the street either...funny story there...for another time, another day). I learned a lot about myself and about their culture from just trying new things with people. But then again, I worked there for a while so...I had more time to bond with people.
Yeah...so. Have fun!
