Heading back to Moscow... How should I prepare in the coming months?

[Poldark]

Essentially I plan on heading back out to Moscow in April/May however this time, I'm a bit more hesitant as it won't a primarily sight seeing visit and I want to ensure that I'm putting my best foot forward.

I'm largely hesitant as while the ladies were wonderful, some spoke amazing English and others less so although I can't complain as my Russian is dreadful! One thing I did pick up on was the general feeling of them not wishing to leave Russia which to me is fine however this poses a long term problem of compatibilty and the worries of whether or not the woman would be with me for me or the UK visa?

For context I'm not middle aged, I'm significantly younger although I'm not so young that you'd question WTF am I doing looking to Russia rather than the UK I'm still looking in the UK too, after all, I'm here and thus potential is higher here (at the moment anyway). One could say I'm actually still young enough to move to Moscow for a couple of years however the salary options I've seen thus far pale in comparison to what I'd earn if I went back into public B4 in the UK and I live a lifestyle that really only Dubai can pay me for!

Anyway, I'm twaddling on, aside from the obvious of improving my Russian through Duolingo, Memrise, TV and news is there anything else that I absolutely must focus on that would be beneficial to my future trip? I've read through TRs, I'm figuring out what to do and what not to do despite it being aimed at a slightly older generation to the one I'm in, I used Tinder to great success out there (great success ) however with none of those ladies did I plan anything serious, just dinner and drinks then whatever happens happened

So yes, aside from Russian improvement and getting over my hesitation of visa usage fears (not sure where they cropped up from tbh), what shall I do over the coming months to prepare? If possible I'll go out sooner but only if work permits, all I do know is that if I do meet 'the one' I'll be spliting my vacation time into smaller chunks and doing weekend trips but that is a way off for now!

[msmoby]

Poldark

Sorry, mate - but if it isn't sight-seeing - will there be any business done or are you purely seeking a long-term partner? 

I ask, as without something else to achieve - spending time in a third country - purely looking for a good lady can be interspersed with 'mind-numbingly' boring periods.

You can only do so many touristy things and bars / restaurants

Hopefully, the weather will be good, as when the weather warms up, attractive ladies, emerge from under all that warm clothing



 

[andrewfi]

Build up a small network of people to meet. Not  all women. Don't spend too much time building relationships but build contacts and maybe firm them up shortly before your departure date do that you have some meet ups to occupy your time.

Where are you staying? If an apartment then I'd be getting that lined up in advance so that you can cross that off your list. Don't ask for, or accept, offers of help from any members of your nascent network.

When you have your apartment sorted spend a little time familiarising yourself with the local environment so that you have a rough idea of where your first carton of milk is coming from.

Look up some online Russian tutors who use Skype for tuition sessions.

[Poldark]

Build up a small network of people to meet. Not  all women. Don't spend too much time building relationships but build contacts and maybe firm them up shortly before your departure date do that you have some meet ups to occupy your time.

Where are you staying? If an apartment then I'd be getting that lined up in advance so that you can cross that off your list. Don't ask for, or accept, offers of help from any members of your nascent network.

When you have your apartment sorted spend a little time familiarising yourself with the local environment so that you have a rough idea of where your first carton of milk is coming from.

Look up some online Russian tutors who use Skype for tuition sessions.

How would I build up the network for guys, this seems to be something I would struggle with for Moscow.

I was planning on staying in an apartment this time around, I've been checking Airbnb and I've found a nice flat opposite the Ritz-Carlton which doesn't come with ridiculous demands such as silence between 21:00 - 06:00!

Why wouldn't one accept help if offered? Admittedly I don't intend to actually fill the fridge with food and drink as I intend to find new resturants of which I'll attend with various company as one nevers eats alone, unless it's McDonald's or KFC, but to not accept help if offered?

Russian tutors via Skype is a good shout, I hadn't thought of that option, cheers

[andrewfi]

These days we are lucky, network building is much easier than the times I did so in new countries. We have social networking sites such as Facebook, Vkontakte, ok.ru (formerly odnoklassniki.ru) and even sites such as mamba.ru which has options for people to meet up for coffee and similar.

How long are you staying for? If you have found a place that you can afford, is available for as long as you need and suits for location and standard then go for it. Not an option available to me when I was doing this stuff.

Pick your own place for two simple reasons:
1) You know your needs better than anyone you have never met.
2) if you arrange your own accommodation, if you are sensible you are less likely to get ripped off.
BONUS
3) If some female contact arranges your accommodation it will be harder to dispense with her company. A sensible woman seeking a foreign meal ticket will make sure that she controls the rental.

All my suggestions here are good ones, cheers!

[Poldark]

These days we are lucky, network building is much easier than the times I did so in new countries. We have social networking sites such as Facebook, Vkontakte, ok.ru (formerly odnoklassniki.ru) and even sites such as mamba.ru which has options for people to meet up for coffee and similar.

How long are you staying for? If you have found a place that you can afford, is available for as long as you need and suits for location and standard then go for it. Not an option available to me when I was doing this stuff.

Pick your own place for two simple reasons:
1) You know your needs better than anyone you have never met.
2) if you arrange your own accommodation, if you are sensible you are less likely to get ripped off.
BONUS
3) If some female contact arranges your accommodation it will be harder to dispense with her company. A sensible woman seeking a foreign meal ticket will make sure that she controls the rental.

All my suggestions here are good ones, cheers!

I'll check them all out, I actually have a VK profile with one photo and no updates! It's not quite the FB rip off it claims to be although in fairness, I don't use FB as much either.

I was going for a week however it has been pointed out to me that this is the lead up to the world cup, it won't be the same experience and if the last time I was in a WC city was anything to go by, I don't want to be there for the lead up or during the games and I've also been handed the keys to a central Kiev flat rent free for 2 weeks in June and with a ticket being £70/return on UIA, I can't pass it up.

I'll still be following the advice for not accepting help from people I'm just getting to know, even if it's offered to me as I understand I don't want to be ripped off and if I want to ghost someome, it's harder if they set it up for me! Now I need to actually look into what Kiev has to offer, fully as I've not really done so, instead focusing on Moscow and St. Petersburg.

[msmoby]

These days we are lucky, network building is much easier than the times I did so in new countries. We have social networking sites such as Facebook, Vkontakte, ok.ru (formerly odnoklassniki.ru) and even sites such as mamba.ru which has options for people to meet up for coffee and similar.

1/ OK.ru is still odnoklassniki.ru - it's just an abbreviation - it means 'classmates' .. 'from the same class' ..at school/ Uni, etc., A bit like 'friends reunited' in the UK, Poldark 

2/ I wouldn't recommend using any of the above sites for dating purposes, by the way. Lots of ladies on Vk ( virtual contact )  and Ok make their profiles searchable only by friends of friends - as they can get pestered by blokes trying to hit on them

3/ Mamba.ru is shyte for dating - unless you are after quick sexual gratification - that's from the perspective Russian ladies who are still single or have recent experience of dating.....

4/ All of 'em were blocked by order of the Ukrainian govt and one needs a VPN to circumvent from Ukraine - I don't know how many bother.

All my suggestions here are good ones, cheers!

They are decidedly NOT accurate - from a RU OR UA lady's perspective.. in relation to some of the sites you mention.

Some of the best help I've had is from fellow ex-pats who I hardly knew...     

Check out the Trip reports of those who DO go to Ukraine or Russia ... not Baltic States.

[MBS01]

Nice to read about your plans.  Have already done all the 3 cities you mention too.  Generally now we go direct to Denpr. instead of stopping in Kiev though as there is direct air via Vienna.

Previously have enjoyed visiting and staying in Kiev, but not since the civil problems arose.  However it is a great city to visit and experience.  Good Metro and transit for get out and about.  Wonderful underground shopping and walking available in all weather in the city centre.  Generally the central area is closed to traffic on Sundays and offers an easy way to meet and greet, but does make surface transit and/or taxi more difficult to connect to via the city centre.

Do go and enjoy.

[Markje]

These days we are lucky, network building is much easier than the times I did so in new countries. We have social networking sites such as Facebook, Vkontakte, ok.ru (formerly odnoklassniki.ru) and even sites such as mamba.ru which has options for people to meet up for coffee and similar.

1/ OK.ru is still odnoklassniki.ru - it's just an abbreviation - it means 'classmates' .. 'from the same class' ..at school/ Uni, etc., A bit like 'friends reunited' in the UK, Poldark 

http://www.odnoklassniki.ru ,
please click the link and admit you are wrong.

[andrewfi]

moby, ask your love target for some more pocket money so that you can afford to step away from your tablet or her phone. Why is it that almost every time that you try to score points your lack of attention to detail, lack of honesty and lack of knowledge shine through in living colour You are truly a special person.

1) Of course you can still use the old odnoklassniki.ru domain, that's for the millions of people who use bookmarks to access the site and probably APIs used externally.
2) Yes, Odnoklassniki translated roughly as 'old classmates' but if you use the site these days you will see that the site is now, no longer, about old classmates. The site is now a normal social site.
3) The ok.ru re-branding is a reflection of that change in the direction of the site away from its declining previous audience and purpose.

Ask your current target to help you navigate the site and see the emphasis upon the use of OK as branding and theme through the site. I am sure that she is literate enough to be able to read and show you that which is obvious to normal people.

Moby, here's a word of advice, advice that I know will be ignored because you are incapable of taking it onboard: Realise and understand that you are almost never the smartest man in the room, no matter what your mummy might have told you as a kid. Use that insight to start to realise that you need to learn and to check before making yourself look even more dishonest and even more stupid.

This has been a public service announcement.

[Ste]

I thought 'Odno' meant 'one' similar to 'odnu minutku' - 'one minute' - ie now!

Better half tells me 'odno/odnu' means 'same' in compound words.....

So 'odnoklassniki' would be 'same classmates'.

Edited: Learnt something....

[rosco]

These days we are lucky, network building is much easier than the times I did so in new countries. We have social networking sites such as Facebook, Vkontakte, ok.ru (formerly odnoklassniki.ru) and even sites such as mamba.ru which has options for people to meet up for coffee and similar.

1/ OK.ru is still odnoklassniki.ru - it's just an abbreviation - it means 'classmates' .. 'from the same class' ..at school/ Uni, etc., A bit like 'friends reunited' in the UK, Poldark 

http://www.odnoklassniki.ru ,
please click the link and admit you are wrong.

Admit he’s wrong? Even when it’s clear, the bloke isn’t big enough to do so.

[msmoby]

Sighs..

1/ diy.com takes one to B and Q and
2/ DVLA.org.uk takes you to Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority
3/ F1.com takes one to Formula 1

What DOES the logo say when you go to the site ?



Now, if either Markje or Rosco which to discuss this is Russian ...

[msmoby]

In Russian..  'Pozhaluista' ...

[msmoby]

I thought 'Odno' meant 'one' similar to 'odnu minutku' - 'one minute' - ie now!

Better half tells me 'odno/odnu' means 'same' in compound words.....

So 'odnoklassniki' would be 'same classmates'.

Edited: Learnt something....

Well, you'd be the feck'n Oirish specialist, now...   

I'd not try and lecture Markje or AvHdB on Dutch Grammar...

[msmoby]

moby, ask your love target for some more pocket money so that you can afford to step away from your tablet or her phone. Why is it that almost every time that you try to score points your lack of attention to detail, lack of honesty and lack of knowledge shine through in living colour You are truly a special person.

1) Of course you can still use the old odnoklassniki.ru domain, that's for the millions of people who use bookmarks to access the site and probably APIs used externally.

Well, you see andrew, dear - you clearly don't listen to Ruskies discussing the site and how they call it ..  nor read that the original  name is as prominent as 'OK' ..  The rest was more andrew petulance - as I am quite certain your Russian sucks FAR more than mine and then we had the 'who supports who'  bollox - once more . ...    I genuinely feel you need to examine you own navel - if you can see it ...

2) Yes, Odnoklassniki translated roughly as 'old classmates'

Hmm, who told you THAT ... ? You might like to consult Ste's missus' - if not me ))

but if you use the site these days you will see that the site is now, no longer, about old classmates. The site is now a normal social site.

Having been a member for 9 years - and never having had attended a Soviet School - you might have have finally realised what most of us knew .. but it is still known by long-term members by the longer name..

3) The ok.ru re-branding is a reflection of that change in the direction of the site away from its declining previous audience and purpose.

It has an older audience than VK and many of 'em now have FB profiles..   

Ask your current target to help you navigate the site and see the emphasis upon the use of OK as branding and theme through the site. I am sure that she is literate enough to be able to read and show you that which is obvious to normal people.

No need to bother her, as I pointed out - I am a long-term member and I note you are dwelling on ONE issue - one that you weren't even correct about - rather than dealing with the other points I raised - re your clear lack of knowledge about things Russia and Russian sites.. Yup.. it is you that needs to call a - Russian - friend - not a Russian speaker from a Baltic country..many of whom have never BEEN to Russia....

a) it - odnoklassniki - is still a lousy place to try to hit on someone - although it is the site where I finally tracked down SC - her not having logged onto the dating site profiles

b) the other sites you mentioned are shyte for those seeking serious relationships - and you didn't 'dispute' my pointing out your clear lack of research

Moby, here's a word of advice

Like I need 'advice' from someone who needs to repeatedly make up stuff about a poster responding - specifically - to your bollox 'research' / knowledge of Russian - rather than dealing with the specifics of your howlers...

[Poldark]

So I've been practising my Russian although I know it's Ukraine and they all speak Ukrainian, I understand that in Kiev the speak Russian so I've carried on regardless!

I was talking to my friend who is letting me use his flat, I can actually visit anytime I wish and I'll have access to it which is a huge bonus so I'm thinking of heading out during December for 3-4 days (UIA hand baggage only is cheap as chips), I do also have the option of using my friend's BMW X1 (much prefer a Merc!) however we haven't a clue how insurance and driving licences work in Ukraine.

As I understand from Google, Ukraine have aligned themselves with international protocols so my UK licence should be sufficient however what about insurance, do I arrange my own insurance on my friend's vechicle as a temp thing or do they just give me permission/arrange it themselves?

[msmoby]

As I understand from Google, Ukraine have aligned themselves with international protocols so my UK licence should be sufficient however what about insurance, do I arrange my own insurance on my friend's vechicle as a temp thing or do they just give me permission/arrange it themselves?

1/ The UK's AA do not concur : https://www.theaa.com/driving-advice/driving-abroad/idp-country-list  SAys Ukraine DOES want you to have a IDP....  Only £5.50 - worth it

2/ Insurance ?  Pass ... in Russia I had to be added as a named driver to a RU reg'd car with Comprehensive Cover

[Markje]

Sighs..

1/ diy.com takes one to B and Q and
2/ DVLA.org.uk takes you to Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority
3/ F1.com takes one to Formula 1

What DOES the logo say when you go to the site ?

http://Https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4491/37155938034_ca8c64e646_m.jpg

Now, if either Markje or Rosco which to discuss this is Russian ...

Wow. You wont even admit youre wrong and dug up the old logo and hosted it on flickr.

I didnt think you'd go that low

The new logo is 'ok' just like the url ok.ru

[msmoby]

Sighs..

1/ diy.com takes one to B and Q and
2/ DVLA.org.uk takes you to Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority
3/ F1.com takes one to Formula 1

What DOES the logo say when you go to the site ?


Now, if either Markje or Rosco which to discuss this is Russian ...

Wow. You wont even admit youre wrong and dug up the old logo and hosted it on flickr.

I didnt think you'd go that low

The new logo is 'ok' just like the url ok.ru

'Sure', it is .... 

[Ste]

So I've been practising my Russian although I know it's Ukraine and they all speak Ukrainian, I understand that in Kiev the speak Russian so I've carried on regardless!

I was talking to my friend who is letting me use his flat, I can actually visit anytime I wish and I'll have access to it which is a huge bonus so I'm thinking of heading out during December for 3-4 days (UIA hand baggage only is cheap as chips), I do also have the option of using my friend's BMW X1 (much prefer a Merc!) however we haven't a clue how insurance and driving licences work in Ukraine.

As I understand from Google, Ukraine have aligned themselves with international protocols so my UK licence should be sufficient however what about insurance, do I arrange my own insurance on my friend's vechicle as a temp thing or do they just give me permission/arrange it themselves?

Its interesting wrt car registration plates in Europe and EU as both the UK and Ukraine wanted UK.

In the end the powers that be gave it to neither, Ukraine got UA and UK got GB, leaving Northern Ireland out in the cold, since it’s not part of Great Britain.

As a consequence they can’t have any country identifiers on their registration plates, apart from GB which is wrong.


.

[rosco]

So I've been practising my Russian although I know it's Ukraine and they all speak Ukrainian, I understand that in Kiev the speak Russian so I've carried on regardless!

I was talking to my friend who is letting me use his flat, I can actually visit anytime I wish and I'll have access to it which is a huge bonus so I'm thinking of heading out during December for 3-4 days (UIA hand baggage only is cheap as chips), I do also have the option of using my friend's BMW X1 (much prefer a Merc!) however we haven't a clue how insurance and driving licences work in Ukraine.

As I understand from Google, Ukraine have aligned themselves with international protocols so my UK licence should be sufficient however what about insurance, do I arrange my own insurance on my friend's vechicle as a temp thing or do they just give me permission/arrange it themselves?

Its interesting wrt car registration plates in Europe and EU as both the UK and Ukraine wanted UK.

In the end the powers that be gave it to neither, Ukraine got UA and UK got GB, leaving Northern Ireland out in the cold, since it’s not part of Great Britain.

As a consequence they can’t have any country identifiers on their registration plates, apart from GB which is wrong.


.

That’s true except the plates in Northern Ireland have a format whereby you know instantly, the vehicle is from there.

Also FYI, you’ll be lucky to see any plates in Scotland with GB on them. I’ve never gone out of my way to ask not to have it and it’s never been on any of my vehicles.

Storm in a tea cup.

[msmoby]

That’s true except the plates in Northern Ireland have a format whereby you know instantly, the vehicle is from there.

Also FYI, you’ll be lucky to see any plates in Scotland with GB on them. I’ve never gone out of my way to ask not to have it and it’s never been on any of my vehicles.

Storm in a tea cup.

All Scots registered cars using the new reg number ( licence plate) format since 2001 begin with a 'S' ....

When travelling abroad - many nations INSIST on the country identifier being present - with many folks from Scotland, in France, using Ecosse and Norn' Irn drivers - as Ste pointed out - feeling disenfranchised - using N.I 

As an aside.. it's amusing that GB drivers choose N.I plates to 'posh up' their cars - or cover up how old they really are...  I had VIJ 53 on my Jag XJS ( older man's Ford Capri ) - bought it for £50 off a written off Ford Escort XR3i in Bangor, Co.Down .... and sold it for more than the Jag !

[Manny]

As I understand from Google, Ukraine have aligned themselves with international protocols so my UK licence should be sufficient however what about insurance, do I arrange my own insurance on my friend's vechicle as a temp thing or do they just give me permission/arrange it themselves?

If it's like Russia there is a permission card thing they can use. Locals know all about it.

I wouldn't sweat about the licence, a 10 Euro bill will probably solve any issues with traffic cops. Plod out there are all bent as a nine bob note. We have aged topics on this subject. 

[Manny]

When travelling abroad - many nations INSIST on the country identifier being present -

Like who?

All the countries in Europe I have driven all kinds of cars in and this has never cropped up. Including driving a Mustang to Estonia and back on North Carolina plates.