Russian Customer Service

[slim 1,525]

I was walking down the street in Moscow after a long night of drinking with a group of new friends and had to take a leak. So, I turned to the nearest building, whipped it out and let it flow. They started cheering!

OK? So I made pee pee. That's great. What's the big deal?

I was peeing on the Duma.

[Rob_Lesya 4]

That's what it's all about, the story!

So many good stories from over there. And when I say good, I mean interesting, not pleasant or heart-warming. More of a "WooooW! That really happened?" type story than anything.

Oh, after traveling to Russia and the FSU for over 20 years I could literally write VOLUMES!! Hmmm... about peeing (on the Metro platform ) about gypsy kids (again on the Metro ) and about soooo many other topics.

Some day we'll have to have a VJ "get together" and share the stories that can't be told on the VJ forum!

Teaser -- the Hungry Duck might still exist... but it's just not the same....

But what you're alluding to is the fact that it takes a certain kind of attitude to be able to happily travel there. To be able to laugh at the situation, to go with the flow, to consider whatever happens as simply being part of the adventure. I always tell everyone... if you're the kind of person who demands a certain level of comfort, a certain level of service, or for things to be on a definite schedule.... don't travel to that part of the world because you'll be miserable.

Makes me think of the lady I saw once in one of the cafes at the Rossiya. She was middle-aged, obviously American (from the upper mid-west), and was arguing with the waitress that this Russian dish she had ordered wasn't prepared correctly because she had "read in a guidebook that this dish should contain blah blah blah.... and the dish they gave her didn't contain blah, blah, blah so obviously these Russians didn't know how to prepare this Russian national dish".

It made me embarrased to be an American!

[Brad and Vika 129]

That's what it's all about, the story!

So many good stories from over there. And when I say good, I mean interesting, not pleasant or heart-warming. More of a "WooooW! That really happened?" type story than anything.

Oh, after traveling to Russia and the FSU for over 20 years I could literally write VOLUMES!! Hmmm... about peeing (on the Metro platform ) about gypsy kids (again on the Metro ) and about soooo many other topics.

Some day we'll have to have a VJ "get together" and share the stories that can't be told on the VJ forum!

Teaser -- the Hungry Duck might still exist... but it's just not the same....

But what you're alluding to is the fact that it takes a certain kind of attitude to be able to happily travel there. To be able to laugh at the situation, to go with the flow, to consider whatever happens as simply being part of the adventure. I always tell everyone... if you're the kind of person who demands a certain level of comfort, a certain level of service, or for things to be on a definite schedule.... don't travel to that part of the world because you'll be miserable.

Makes me think of the lady I saw once in one of the cafes at the Rossiya. She was middle-aged, obviously American (from the upper mid-west), and was arguing with the waitress that this Russian dish she had ordered wasn't prepared correctly because she had "read in a guidebook that this dish should contain blah blah blah.... and the dish they gave her didn't contain blah, blah, blah so obviously these Russians didn't know how to prepare this Russian national dish".

It made me embarrased to be an American!

The first time I visited Minsk on business, I traveled with a group of four Americans, one of whom was a guy from my company. He had never been out of the US before, and was definitely in over his head. Belarus is one of the few places I have been where you can easily find yourself in a place where no one (not even a kid) speaks English. This guy would speak in English, and when the Belarussian listener obviously didn't understand he would gradually raise his voice. If that didn't work he tried sign language. He also tended to say fairly rude things around the people (notably women) who did speak English, usually before he was aware of it. Although this behavior can be entertaining at times to watch, it can also make me uncomfortable to be from the same country as the speaker. I learned while traveling with my family as a teen that you should always assume that everyone around you speaks whatever language you are speaking. It keeps you out of trouble.

[mox 298]

I learned while traveling with my family as a teen that you should always assume that everyone around you speaks whatever language you are speaking. It keeps you out of trouble.

My Ukrainian friend told me a story about being in a night club here in the states, and she and her girl friend were both speaking Russian about a guy right next to them. I guess they were talking pretty dirty, and the guy was obviously an American and had been talking in English with his friends the whole time. Then after awhile he turned to the girls, and in perfect Russian explained to them that he thought their conversation was very interesting, but he would never want anything to do with such women who speak like filthy whores. She said she was so shocked that she forgot to be a Russian woman and slap him.

[Brad and Vika 129]

I learned while traveling with my family as a teen that you should always assume that everyone around you speaks whatever language you are speaking. It keeps you out of trouble.

My Ukrainian friend told me a story about being in a night club here in the states, and she and her girl friend were both speaking Russian about a guy right next to them. I guess they were talking pretty dirty, and the guy was obviously an American and had been talking in English with his friends the whole time. Then after awhile he turned to the girls, and in perfect Russian explained to them that he thought their conversation was very interesting, but he would never want anything to do with such women who speak like filthy whores. She said she was so shocked that she forgot to be a Russian woman and slap him.

The question this begs is.... did she apologize at all? If I were a bettin' man.....

[mox 298]

The question this begs is.... did she apologize at all? If I were a bettin' man.....

I don't think so...I think she said they were so embarrassed that they just left the club.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The question this begs is.... did she apologize at all? If I were a bettin' man.....

I don't think so...I think she said they were so embarrassed that they just left the club.

Next best thing to an apology I guess. The guy no doubt had some satisfaction watching them flee the scene. I can only guess what the response of two similarly placed American girls would have been. Maybe giggles and a coy comment about it being a compliment?

[mox 298]

Next best thing to an apology I guess. The guy no doubt had some satisfaction watching them flee the scene. I can only guess what the response of two similarly placed American girls would have been. Maybe giggles and a coy comment about it being a compliment?

American girls only speak one language, so my guess is that their reaction would be "like, ohmigod I had no idea you spoke Val!""D

[slim 1,525]

The question this begs is.... did she apologize at all? If I were a bettin' man.....

I don't think so...I think she said they were so embarrassed that they just left the club.

I think I would've been leaving the club with two filthy whores.

[Brad and Vika 129]

The question this begs is.... did she apologize at all? If I were a bettin' man.....

I don't think so...I think she said they were so embarrassed that they just left the club.

I think I would've been leaving the club with two filthy whores.

Or hear "you so stupid man think because I say you dirty words in Russian I wanna you just because you understand?"

[slim 1,525]

Or hear "you so stupid man think because I say you dirty words in Russian I wanna you just because you understand?"

Of the few times that I've understood Russian women at a club here in the U.S., they've been very impressed, to say the least.

[mox 298]

I think I would've been leaving the club with two filthy whores.

I know, right? If this guy's got enough tang that he can insult a couple saucy little numbers like that, ####### is he doing hanging out at a club with a bunch of other guys? That's what bars are for, not night clubs.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Or hear "you so stupid man think because I say you dirty words in Russian I wanna you just because you understand?"

Of the few times that I've understood Russian women at a club here in the U.S., they've been very impressed, to say the least.

I'll take your word for it, as we have had this discussion before. Clubbin' isn't a favorite activity of mine, and never has been - but if you can pick up women by calling them filthy whores, you da man.

[slim 1,525]

- but if you can pick up women by calling them filthy whores, you da man.

Yeah, they usually like that sort of thing. (Still trying to get mox's "visitors" fired up....)

[K1researcher 0]

on a movie note again...

i have noticed most Russian Blu-Rays have English subs! and are region ABC playing in american players...

just fyi