Learn Russian

yeah i already have gifts (small ones) for the entire family. But thanks though

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3rd-rated-star.livejournal.com

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ok, yeah i have been told not to speak to anyone, if i am alone, especially police!

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kunaifusu.livejournal.com

You reminded me an old, USSR time joke:
A foreign tourist fell into an open manhole on the Moscow streets. While in hospital he complained to the doctor that the manhole was not marked in anyway so it was basically a trap and nothing like this could ever happen if there was some alert about the hazard. The doctor asks him: "So how do you suppose such an alert should look like?", "Well, I don't know, anything would do, maybe some kind of red flag?", "Oh really? So you are saying when you came here you did not notice a giant red flag at the airport?!".

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kunaifusu.livejournal.com

And since you mentioned you are going to a wedding - don't drink even if people will be telling you are insulting them (you are not, it's just a tease).

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Take it easy. :) And follow normal precautions traveling to a) another continent and b) third world country.

a) wash your hands often; wash fruits and veggies; dring boiled or battled water; know what to do if you get a stomach infection (just in case hands were not properly washed); if you're on any pills in this moment, take them with you; find out about the weather;

b) keep your belongings close, either in the line of sight, or in the physical contact, never leave them to people you don't know; count the change; look for the marked price, don't rely on your hearing; don't keep wallet in the rear pocket of jeans; don't talk to people on the streets - they usually want your money; don't walk in the night alone; don't show off that you're a foreigner too often; keep your passport with you at all times and separate from all valuables; use common sense!

Besides that, keep in mind, that not only the spoken language is different, but mimics is also different. I mainly mean the smile, Russians don't smile when they say "hi", not because they're unfriendly, but the smile simply means something else.

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eternalkaif

Yep, especially afraid of big street bears with balalaikas- dont drink with em

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Sorry, I did not get the joke. Did you mean, that what I said was a stupid cliche?

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eternalkaif

Oooops посмотрел в профиль, ыыы:):):) all right, im gonna to the forest

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eternalkaif

Oh, my another comment had disappeared, i wrote so much. And i use smartphone to write... короче лень спорить

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oiseau-russe.livejournal.com

I think you fiance is the best advice for you! She must know better what is to do and what is not. There are still some general advises, true for nearly any place: keep your belongings in sight, do not drink the tap water even if your fiance's family does e.t.c. If it's your first time in Russia and you do not speak a single Russian word, try not to stay alone in the street, not bekause it's particularily dangerous evereywhere, but because you can get yourself in a trouble without knowing it, just because you do not understant what is written or what is said and people around you must just not thik that you really do not undestant, not just kidding. Perm is not a very tourist city, I do not thik there are lots of foreigners in the streets... So just be cereful, do not forget you are not at home at you do not know the local customs and follow your head and your fiance's advise, Everythig will be ok.

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acuzena.livejournal.com

Ask pmishka for advice. He is from Perm.

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oryx_and_crake

very funny, haha

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oryx_and_crake

I second this. As well, do not pick up anything from the pavement (e.g. other people's wallets) and do not participate in street lotteries (even if a harmless old lady approaches you and piteously pleas to read what her lottery ticket says): that's the con men's favorite ways of dragging you into their scenario.

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oiseau-russe.livejournal.com

ooups... Sorry for typos!

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pzrk.livejournal.com

The only and main advice: ask someone to meet you at the airport.

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gnomobile.livejournal.com

are you kidding? it's just Russia, not Papua New Guinea or gipsy camping-ground

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53miles.livejournal.com

this is so true!
basically, if you agree once, they won't stop asking, and you'll be trashed by the end of the day.

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53miles.livejournal.com

There is a good chance you will be taking public transportation. If you do - make sure you stay quiet - I don't mean that you shouldn't talk, just keep your voice down. Again, not because it's dangerous, but because loud Americans tend to annoy people back home who think they are being rude.
hmm... what else...
Your fiancee's family will probably be feeding you as if you were severely underweight, so be ready for that.
In all honesty, I kinda feel sorry for you - I hate Russian weddings that tend to be terribly long and boring and full of people in different degrees of drunkenness (and I guess it makes it even harder if you don't speak the language and have no clue what's going on). I would do anything to save my American hubby from attending one :))

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That is funny! and mostly true.

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Thank you everyone for your comments. The thing is I do speak very little Russian, however I cannot read it very well at all. Also I travel for a living. I am in a different country almost every week. Everything from South America to South east Asia and back again. So I know the basic rules of not getting in to trouble. I was more looking for how I should greet my future in laws, how to act at the wedding and are there any scams specific to Russia. (i.e. the lottery thing)

Thanks again everyone!

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inkvoltslove.livejournal.com

This has me curious-what does a smile mean?

My friend's father is Russian and teased me about smiling like an American, but didn't elaborate.

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Well, I'm Russian myself, and I do walk at nights alone and talk to strangers. But I won't do it in a country I'm unfamiliar with. I thought these are the basics of safety.

As for others, like counting the change and keeping your cell phone close to your heart :) - believe me, I learned on my own mistakes.

Which things are you disagree with?

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alamar.livejournal.com

I personally think that a) should go something like tenth in the list.

I mean, come on, it's not India, water and foods are generally okay. Of course, wash your veggies and fruits, but I don't see how that would come advice #1.

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1. There was a discussion (http://community.livejournal.com/learn_russian/721879.html) in this community not long ago.
2. I made a post (http://crimeanelf.livejournal.com/16923.html) on this topic not long ago.

Basically, when Russians smile, we mean *only* the messages "I feel good"/"It is funny"/"I'm happy".

Most of the time smiles in Russia don't carry any social significance, like in USA they carry messages "Hi"/"Good to see you" (even if it's not good :) well, same "Hi")/"I'm friendly"/"Nice working with you", etc.

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> water and foods are generally okay

That is true! The thing is that (according to what doctors say) every place has it's unique bacterial background. And locals are adjusted to it. And on different continents the background could be dramatically different and your stomach takes a few months to adjust.

I would give the same advice to a Russian going to USA. :)

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alamar.livejournal.com

Oh, maybe that's right. I did never leave my home continent.

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>are there any scams specific to Russia

1. Someone asks you on the street something. While you're answering and you take a few steps together, he/she finds a wallet or a moneybag on the ground. He offers you to split it since you found it together. For that, he offers you to get to the nearest lonely place, like behind one of the buildings or something. Just when you reach there, a second person appears and claims the money is his. He counts it and says there was much more. The first person shows him all from top to bottom, and he does not have any money at all. Then they both turn to you.

2. Gypsy women. Too many tricks to list, just *don't start talking to them*. The ones that start talking to you, are likely to be scam experts.

3. Rush hour in a transport. Sometimes you wonder: "hm, I was on this bus yesterday at the same time, and people were not THAT packed..." - in a packed bus, and especially when you leave it, you're less likely to notice one little push of a robber. Sometimes the "crowd" around you is artificial.

4. A little girl asks for your cell phone to call to her mama. While she holds it, someone runs by and grabs it from her hands. The girl is innocent, and the phone is gone.

5. A policeman stops you on the street and explains how many laws did you violate and that you'll be imprisoned right away unless you have a little bit $$$$ on you... know your rights and make sure everything is legal. Don't trust him immediately, call your friends or your consulate.

6. Sometimes ATM have a fake keyboard and a little attachment to a card slot. For example, check this (http://www.snopes.com/fraud/atm/atmcamera.asp) out.

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Sorry, this is off-topic but that picture of the cat with a lime peel on his head is sooooo cute. :)

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Hi! I also went to Russia to visit my Russian boyfriend's (at the time) family and ended up staying for a total of five years. :)

Be sure to register your passport when you arrive and bring it with you everywhere... The militsia can stop you for your passport on the street anytime they want.

You'll be just fine and the wedding will be a lot of fun! They last for days... ;)

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You stayed for 5 years.. thats awesome!

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devitor.livejournal.com

You'll be just fine and the wedding will be a lot of fun! They last for days... ;)

Traditionally, for two days :) Usually, saturday and sunday are used. Second day is much more calm and less official than first.

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Was it recent? If yes, how do you register, when you live in your friend's place? I'm going to go to Russia with my boyfriend and he will need the registration. I've heard the owner should go somewhere with you and stand huge lines, is this true? Is there an easier way to do it, like via tourist agency? There's no way I gonna make my old granma sit in all these lines. :(

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as far as i know to register you just go to the police station. I guess i will find out in a few days.

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Thanks - Yes, it was... And with its share of ups and downs, but I have no regrets!! :)

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Yes, days! Or maybe it only seems like days... ;)

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I never had to stand in a line to register. My friend from Germany and my brother from the States visited me in Russia and also never had to stand in line. We registered at a hotel, with the agency, etc.

I think the registration laws have changed a bit though, lately, so you'll want to check with the Russian Consulate/Embassy before going.

I doubt you or your grandma will have to sit in lines... We hever had to and it sounds like the process is even faster, now.

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tchr.livejournal.com

Personally, i think Perm is very calm city. Because it is Syberia ^__^

http://prm.ru/ - city's portal.

I can give you small advice -- many Russian NOT SO BIG AS MOSCOW city very similar, and, in contrary, don't resemble Our Capital City very much.

So, be peacefull and patient, have some cash in small banknote (2 or 3 thosusand rubley) and not mind about scams, robbery or anything unpleasant. There is no big risk in company of russian friends to get into some terrible accidents, if you yoursef not finding it.

To make some pleasant time in street-cafe (choose by looking inside -- must be clean and fashionable) you can spent from 500 to 2-3 thousand rubley on person.
Cinema - 100-150 rubley, taxi - from 70-100 rubley for first 3 km (in my state nearly from Moscow) and so on.
Personally you mustn't fear militia or other traditionally speaking horror story about Russia. Foreigners, if they are'nt from China, Vietnam or another third world country, or somehow terrible beggar-looking, usually treatened as honorary guest and even some fearlooking thugs or group of steet punks (so called "gopniki") will help you, if you speak them politely.

It is my humble opinion. And sorry for my poor english.

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cassandraclue.livejournal.com

i think now you're supposed to register at the post office.

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