 |
The Russian Meeting Place: A place to meet people and talk about all things Russian...
International Discussions about Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Travel, Music, Russian News, Ukrainian culture, Belarusian Dating, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Kiev and other intelligent topics about life in the former Soviet Union. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Russian bride seekers. Many of these are problem cases by definition, so one who undertakes to serve this crowd should not complain too much or too seriously when some of their crap rubs off on you. As a group they are moved by often intense emotions, and my problems with them (a couple ended up in my Black List) inevitably arose out of my following their desperate "act right away or the world will end" plea. The key to successfully working with Russian bride seekers is ability to do nothing, no matter how desperate the plea, till a pre-payment is made or some demonstration of their commitment is received. I think I've sort of learned working with them. OK for the dead season but I look forward to cutting them off at the first opportunity. |
|
Yes I'm prejudiced / my pet peeves Please note that the this list in not carved in stone. People sometimes do change for the better. The human quality of my American clients went up considerably after I aired my beefs. I've learned working with others, such as Italians, whose request I politely disregard till I hear they are on their way, and even then I will send someone else to the airport because chances are high these descendants of Rome will just walk past my little sign with their name.
This page is part of my philosophy of business transparency. Given the highly personalized nature of my services, a welcomed smile for everyone may not be the best approach.
The British are presently at the top of my "we reserve the right to deny service" list. Not only they are irritatingly polite. I could I suppoose live with their annoying habit of sending 500+ mb pictures of themselves, their bikes, cats, kids, and favourite cactuses. Without being asked. Without the slightest need. Not a good thing at all anywhere but here, in the world of 9.6bps and 10 cents/min connections, this amounts to nothing less than sabotage. But no, that's just an excuse on my part. There is something more subtle that make them uncomfortable to me. A certain superiority just oozes out of every pore of good many of them, absurdly mixed with confusion and fear. Ironically, expressed with little regard to even formal grammar. OK, being uncouth in itself is not enough to get me annoyed. I could mention their ingrained need to fit in, eg. showing up at the airport in felt boots and floppy-eared hats to driving around like maniacs in jeeps with shaded windows, the "New Russian" style. Still, this is not **really** it. Some of the Brits suggested that my rates, especially for horse riding, are way out of proportion compared with costs - evidence of an attitude that's beyond me to put into words. I also observe reactions of different people to this little document. Polite Europeans just don't seem to notice this. Americans, by and large, take it in good humour. The Brits, however, get offended, no exception. [Examples of typically British behavious pattern] are coming up.
Americans rejoice. You lost your number one place on my ugly list.. It's been a while since my last 5am "Do you speak English" call. Still happens 2-3 times a year, still from Americans only, but somehow this calling patterns doesn't seem to represent the group. At the same time contributions beyond the call of duty nearly always come from Americans. Not just Americans, but Americans from the southern and desert states and/or the Bible Belt.. Americans are a highly diverse group that generates both the best, the worst, and the silliest, thus defying generalizations. So Americans relax, most of you are welcomed. I especially value your ability to communicate. You write proper, informative, yet concise inquiries. You make you needs clear. If you are not happy, you say so and often suggest an easy solution.
The French. These I try to avoid. A typical French inquiry is "what can you offer?" or "what's your best deal?" or "please propose an itinerary". Lots of correspondence. An awful habit of making multiple reservations. Complaints, especially(!) from the backpacker crowd. Yes, $25/night/pair backpackers have been known to leave ugly noticed on travel boards when offered a room of equal value one mile away from the one they were expecting. Requests like "hold the apartment for me for a week, and then I'll make my final decision" is 100% French. No problem with most of the above. Even complaints don't bother me because I believe most travellers know what a French word is worth. BTW my first encounter with French travellers was in Dublin. At that time I thought of them as the carriers of European culture so seeing a drunken fight using a telephone torn from the wall as a weapon was kind of shocking. No problem with their multiple reservation because I from the French I require a deposit. No exception. But I still don't know how to react to "Tell me more on travelling from Moscow to St. Petersburg by car. Period."
Belgians are considered "French".
|
|
North Europeans, I confess, get on my nerves with their "boiled fish" manners but there is nothing specifically wrong with them. Same applies to Canadians. Still, with them, and the Brits especially, I am left with the feeling that I'm hearing pre-recorded polite phrases, or communicating through two inches of glass. The British are discouraged from being my homestay guests or visiting my dacha. Inhabitants of the British or European north are welcomed however.
ESL teacher hopefuls. I regularly receive inquiries about teaching English in Russia. In 3/4 of cases these are in substandard English. I usually reply by humbly suggesting that letters from ESL teaching candidates should be written at least as well as those from the seekers of cheap lodging. In 2/3 of cases I receive something to the effect that I'm an *******, and learn a new word or two once in a while. As my mean-hearted little revenge I may even make a dedicated page with e-mails I get from these characters. Don't worry, I'll withhold your names. But not your essence. But yes, once in a while I need people able to do intense conversation practice and if you think you can do that, and if you are already in Moscow, please do manifest your existence.
|
although he can't help himself right at the end!!| Russians. My compatriots tend to be colleagues/competitors than clients. As clients they are often exemplary. As colleagues/competitors they are are kind of weird. I got a few angry calls from service providers to who I had links from my sites: "But who gave you permission to link to my resource?!". A comment on that would be appreciated. Again, as clients the Russians as a group are almost as easy to work with as the Americans except that, as house guests or renters they tend to leave more of a pigsty behind.. |
|
Oct. 8, 2005 I am no longer able to serve by "Russian brides" clients. Please consider all arrangements null and void. At least for a while. I and several of my colleagues had a remarkable succession of clients from hell from among Russian women seekers. |
|
i have red thr rules to rent your Loft or sudio...ohhhh com on is it a millitary camp or what ..all what i can say..hill with u and your rent...even no tv in the appt...and all these ****ing rules....**** uuuuuuuuuuuuu Dr.Adel Aly |
|
At the bottom of this page, Pasha proclaims: "THANK ME, RECOMMEND ME, GET BACK AT ME, WARN OTHERS..." With the exception of getting back at him, I'd like to do all of the above. I'll start by warning others: if you think Pasha is most likely a kind, considerate, thoughtful human being who's cleverly manufactured a harsh, brusque and cynical cyber-demeanor, then this probably won't be the last miscalculation you'll make while in Russia. If you need the banter of a friendly tour guide, better avail yourself of Olesya's services. Now for the thanks and recommendations. Due to a lack of adequate planning time for this trip, Pasha proceeded to perform two near-miracles on my behalf. After outwitting Sheremetyevo's notorious customs officials in a caper that could've come straight outta Hollywood, he then put me in touch with a family eight time zones away who ended up being absolutely instrumental to my documentary film. So if you're looking for brains and connections, Pasha could well be your man... if you can just keep all those annoying unnecessary comments to yourself! M.S. from the US. |
|
A word of warning to those who meet Pasha in the flesh: talkative Americans drive him batty. We got along quite well, since I'm comfortable with long periods of silence and am not opposed to buying the benefactor a nice cold beer and sparing a few cigarettes. With those in hand, I even got Pasha to smile for a few moments! Best of luck to fellow travelers. Pasha will definitely give you the straight answer to vexing problems, and expound upon his great love of humanity if you allow him to. (ha ha) Steve Kaufman, Washington |
Invest into us - Buy a piece of us - Take over a sub-project - strategic developments |
Methos of payment
|
but it would have been an interesting educational experience.
Warning: may bite or scratch if handled roughly. His bites are probably safe because he bit, with no ill consequences, just about everyone at the Children's Shelter of the City of Staritsa. I wheedled the beast from the kids as a gratitude for directing charitable support their way. Don't like rats? Rodent removal service is available. For $2.98 That's all it take to have Lunch locked for a day/night in a storage room outside the apartment.|
Originally Posted by Jason
Pasha is certainly a character, but he is a good guy nonetheless. I particularly like his concept of misery tourism.
Speaking of which, he saved my a$$ once by driving me from Moscow to Tver in the middle of winter in a snowstorm. Along the way he pointed out an area where a bunch of prostitutes were gathered by the highway and asked if I wanted to to have a closer look. I declined, of course but it would have been an interesting educational experience. |
|
Originally Posted by Keith In Kodiak
If my understanding is correct, his family moved to Canada when he was a kid. Apparently, he just couldn't be miserable enough there, so he moved back to Russia as an adult.
Now he's happy, I mean miserable, I mean happy to be miserable. or something... |
|
Originally Posted by Cheburashka
He is like the weird, mystical Uncle in the Nutcracker. He'll give you the best gift...
|
Russian Meeting Place Copyright ©2000 - 2008,
www.russianmeetingplace.com and Khahsyar and Lena.
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
.gif){kind=small}
