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Why do my friends say i'm crazy for visiting Russia next year?
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Posted by: Virginiajoe

I found a web site vacations by plaza that offers airfare and accomadations in Moscow and St Petersburg for a total of 5 days for $1,800 that includes the visa from the USA,does this sound like a good deal?
All my friends say I am crazy for going to a country like this! I have always been interested in Euro,Russian culture,my sole purpose is just not to visit a Russian women,even though I do have a friend in Moscow I would like to see.
I don't understand why the common American thinks Russia is such a dangerous place to visit,they say,go to Hawaii,I have already been to Hawaii and Alaska and had a wonderful time.
Any recommendations on tour packages to Russia?

Posted by: searcher

Welcome to my club... LOL

"The club of doubting friends, etc"

I had the same experiences but I say don't worry.....

It is their stereotypes, etc that prevent them from seeing anything.

I had those who thought "all Russians are poor"

I replied "Well I guess stereotypically all Americans are rich"

It doesn't make sense and isn't logical. They are making judgements based upon stereotypes and exaggerations.

The only regrets we have are the things we didn't do.

Posted by: Pin Boy

joe, don't listen to those yo-yo, rednecks drinking bud long necks and hanging out at big sam's every night in the week

however, to go so far for only 5 nights at that cost....look around, maybe you could do better...those are expensive cities so the cost per day including airfare may be reasonable...but if i were traveling that far, i'd stay much longer if you have the time...5 days will give you just enough time to get used to the time change

pin boy

Posted by: AkMike

Like they said... Go for it. The price seems a bit high IMO. But what the heck.. If you can afford it go for it.
Why wait for next year? This year is still young.
Try to start writing to a lady or 2 in each city. But if you do you might want more than just 5 days.

Posted by: Jill

Americans are just like that sometimes, I guess. I remember my parents' reaction the first time I told them I was moving to Russia

Even still (10 years on), my mother still sends me frantic e-mails everytime she sees something about the FSU on the news. Recently it seems she heard that there was a blood shortage in Ukraine--in her e-mail she begged me to have my blood frozen "just in case." I realize that her intentions are good--just a little misguided. And I think that happens a lot when an American (especially one who has not travelled abroad) hears about someone going to a mysterious, distant country. Don't worry about it--when they see your pictures and hear your exciting stories, they will be envious of your adventure

Posted by: sidney

Yes Jill, relatives can overreact at times. When we had the postal anthrax scare my mother-inlaw, Ukrainian, insisted that I get gas masks for everyone.
Sid

Posted by: Keystone

Never been to Moscow or St. Pete's. But I agree why wait until next year. My favorite is Mariupol, Ukraine the dollor or Euro goes very far there. But if you have a "friend" in Moscow then go to Moscow. I paid 2,000 for my first visit to Ukraine I stayed 8 days and had a translator on hire for every day becasue I spoke very little Russian. Every trip you will learn more and spend less. Or spend the same and stay twice as long. Good luck and don't listen to your friends in Virginia. Go. You will never forget your trip.

Keystone

Posted by: rattlesnake6979

Joe , when I went on my own to meet a lady in Ukraine , my brother in law told me that I would be murdered on the train journey in the Ukraine- he warned me of the danger of the " psychopaths and murderous " russians as well as the corrupt police who would turn a blind eye if any trouble broke out.........

As it happens , news of my death has been greatly exagerrated and although it didnt exactly boost my mental well being being told the above as I was travelling on an overnight sleeper train (!!!!!!) , the only death I suffered was the death of stereotypes and pre conceptions.

Joe , my advice is .......go and travel to the fsu. My other suggestion is try to find less expensive hotel/ apartment accomodation. Monthly salary in Russia is about $ 100 ( outside Moscow ) so if you are being charged $ 80 per night that is pretty expensive.

Rattle

Posted by: ConnerVT

Jill -- you live too far south to have your blood frozen. You need to move closer to Moscow or St. Petersburg -- then you will have your blood frozen every winter!

Posted by: FlashingEyes

My condolences on the passing of Mr. Types and Miss Conception. This is just another example of horrible thuggary in the FSU that all your friends and family warned you about!

(grin)
Flash

Posted by: Vyesna

People who don't travel abroad themselves are absolutely paranoid about it. Notice they mention Hawaii as an alternative other than a Western European country that would be closer to the sort of experience one would be looking for in Russia but supposedly "safer". Maybe they would freak out if you decided to go to France too. At any rate, if you're on a tour, I think you're pretty safe. You'd be pretty safe anyway-- I think foreigners only get in trouble when they wander the streets drunk looking like foreigners.

Posted by: bdoug71

It's funny that everyone should mention Hawaii. It looks like I am being recalled back into the military and one of the chioces that I have is for Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. I have met and talked to people who have served there and most of them state if you are not Pacific Islander or oriental there is a large racial bias against you. I sort of laugh at it but I guess I will soon find out.

Doug

Posted by: Vyesna

Quote:

Originally posted by bdoug71
It's funny that everyone should mention Hawaii. It looks like I am being recalled back into the military and one of the chioces that I have is for Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. I have met and talked to people who have served there and most of them state if you are not Pacific Islander or oriental there is a large racial bias against you. I sort of laugh at it but I guess I will soon find out.

Doug

Even if that's true (which I'm inclined to doubt) why would it matter if you're on a base? You're not going to be competing with anyone for a job and it's not like anyone can keep you out of any stores or restaurants. People make statements like that without really thinking about what they really mean.

Posted by: bdoug71

Yes you are right but I was trying to state that even here in the US there is racial bais.. As we know between black and white. But I was saying that this is not the only one here and alot of people do not realize this. Also in the military you do not stay 100% of the time on base. When you are first in and married they may not have base houseing available at first so one may have to find an apartment. Also my spouse may not be military so she WOULD need to find a job. But even staying in the US does not mean that it is always better. Also it is different when you live somewhere and when you just visit on vacation. But I was not trying to say that Hawaii was bad but there there is racial tension there as well. No where is Rosey, all we have to do is turn on the blinders and let it roll off the back.

Doug

Posted by: Vyesna

Ah-- but saying there's racial tension is different than saying "YOU WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST" like it's Jim Crow reverse. Sure, you might come against some people who judge you unfairly for what you are... that happens everywhere. Even on this forum ; ).

Posted by: Jutman

Well, I would take the approach as a challenge. Porve your buddies to be wrong by having a fantastic trip.

I would personally only choose 1 city, when its just 5 days.

The price depends on the level of airticket/airline and hotel standard. Its possible to to find it a little lower, and if the target its 1800$, I would personallu choose a one-star lss and have more days at the site.

but anyway, just go and have a smashing time there.

Posted by: bdoug71

Ah-- but saying there's racial tension is different than saying "YOU WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST" like it's Jim Crow reverse. Sure, you might come against some people who judge you unfairly for what you are... that happens everywhere. Even on this forum ; ).

But I never did say you will be I said that there is one but not that everyone will be. I never meant to imply that it will always happen. People are different everywhere you go and every personality is different so where one person is prejudeced against another does not always mean that it is always that way. That is just one person. I was only relating what I heard.. Not what I believed.

Doug

Posted by: FlashingEyes

Could it be that it is because they are the type of people who use offensive terms like "oriental" to describe Asian people that they perceive hostility towards them? It's not "racial" bias if it's only directed at ignorant and offensive outsiders.

And there is absolutely no reason for you ever to leave post, except in the performance of official military business, including travel. It is not necessary for your civilian wife to live with you; she can remain in the continental United States. Ruck up, maggot! You are the property of the U.S. government now! Send your complaints to file 13 and get to marching! If it ain't rainin' you ain't trainin'!

Flash

Quote:

�� bdoug71
I have met and talked to people who have served there and most of them state if you are not Pacific Islander or oriental there is a large racial bias against you.

Doug

Posted by: Vyesna

Quote:

Originally posted by bdoug71
Ah-- but saying there's racial tension is different than saying "YOU WILL BE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST" like it's Jim Crow reverse. Sure, you might come against some people who judge you unfairly for what you are... that happens everywhere. Even on this forum ; ).

But I never did say you will be I said that there is one but not that everyone will be. I never meant to imply that it will always happen. People are different everywhere you go and every personality is different so where one person is prejudeced against another does not always mean that it is always that way. That is just one person. I was only relating what I heard.. Not what I believed.

Doug

I didn't think you believed it. I was just trying to say I wouldn't worry about it-- to the extent it's true, it probably won't affect you much.

Posted by: bdoug71

Sigh, I am not worried about it and Flashing for your information my wife is Chinesse. I was just trying AHHHH Forget it... I give up

Doug

Posted by: Vyesna

Okay, I get it. Let me relate one personal prejudice story from someone from Hawaii I used to know. He was the son of Japanese parents from the WWII generation who moved to Hawaii in the 60s. His father was a very successful executive with a Japanese company. He definitely had some ingrained prejudice towards Chinese and even more, towards Southeast Asians like the Vietnamese inherited from his parents. He actually married a RW, through an agency. His wife now posts on RWA and once she said something along the lines that his parents told him that he should only marry Japanese girls or if that didn't work out, then "European" girls (whatever that means-- I guess all whites, maybe really only girls from Europe), but never any other kind of Asian. He also said some things about Chinese and Southeast Asians that were at the very least very snobbish if not down right racist. Now he's working in Moscow, which I have a hard time picturing since he was one of the most inflexible people I've ever met. But hey, who knows, maybe he loves it.

Posted by: Pawel_PL.USA

Joe, it's not only the common American that will tell you Russia is a dangerous place. Almost everyone in Poland will tell you the same thing. In my family alone there are many different socio-political orientations but when I told them I might take a trip to Russia and Moscow some day all of them warned against such an idea, claiming that it is an extremely dangerous country.

And I am quite sure that people who say that are probably right ... but then I am young so I obviously think I'm invincible and nothing bad can possibly happen to me.