Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2023 10:20:03 GMT -5
or "In Soviet Russia Diplomat Immunizes You."
Soooooooooooooooooooo......
Funny story. A few weeks ago a notice went out seeking a volunteer for someone in Mrs. Notdpb's specialty, but at one rank higher than she currently is, to come serve 2 years in Moscow. She threw her hat in the ring, and we just found out that she got it.
We are not sure when we will be heading there, but it will be as soon as we can get visas, which can be anywhere from 90 days to never.
So yeah, that happened.
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Post by tophb21 on Aug 24, 2023 10:22:25 GMT -5
Oh wow!! That could be super interesting.
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Post by bigdawgs on Aug 24, 2023 10:26:31 GMT -5
Well, just make sure when you fly, you check out that passenger list. Hope to see you Sunday.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2023 10:32:15 GMT -5
Well, just make sure when you fly, you check out that passenger list. Hope to see you Sunday. We won't be gone by Sunday, so we are good there. Where do you want to meet? I think I am coming up by train.
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Post by bigdawgs on Aug 24, 2023 10:42:22 GMT -5
Probably around the KD dock. Boat leaves at 1100. I hope to be in town by 1030 at the latest. I think you have my handi number.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2023 11:00:36 GMT -5
Probably around the KD dock. Boat leaves at 1100. I hope to be in town by 1030 at the latest. I think you have my handi number. Sounds good, and yes, I do. See you on Sunday.
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Post by athens on Aug 24, 2023 15:19:17 GMT -5
I was going to say Hell would be cooler than here right now...don't participate in any uprisings!
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Vespula
Senator
"Panzerkönigin"
Posts: 3,819
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Post by Vespula on Aug 24, 2023 16:23:52 GMT -5
Best not to come back with any souvenirs marked like Zorro was there. Be careful over there.
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Post by CFF on Aug 25, 2023 14:23:19 GMT -5
Don't try to sneak any pot on your flight. You could end up in the WNBA if you did that.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Aug 25, 2023 14:57:34 GMT -5
It wouldn't be my choice, but enjoy what you can.
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Post by dubldeac on Aug 28, 2023 10:41:33 GMT -5
I KNEW you were a freakin’ commie!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2023 12:26:59 GMT -5
Getting some more information in today. Looks like it we are shooting for December, although that could slide 30 days in either direction.
Also, from all reports, outside if work things in the city are basically normal. Grocery stores are well stocked, restaurants are open, and we can move around Moscow freely. The value of the ruble has fallen to 1 cent, so things will be cheap.
We can't travel more than 40km from the Kremlin without permission, but we have been told that requests to go to St. Petersburg are generally granted.
We are very excited, and looking forward to our next adventure.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Aug 28, 2023 12:30:40 GMT -5
Getting some more information in today. Looks like it we are shooting for December, although that could slide 30 days in either direction. Also, from all reports, outside if work things in the city are basically normal. Grocery stores are well stocked, restaurants are open, and we can move around Moscow freely. The value of the ruble has fallen to 1 cent, so things will be cheap. We can't travel more than 40km from the Kremlin without permission, but we have been told that requests to go to St. Petersburg are generally granted. We are very excited, and looking forward to our next adventure. How long would your tour be in Moscow?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2023 12:35:18 GMT -5
Getting some more information in today. Looks like it we are shooting for December, although that could slide 30 days in either direction. Also, from all reports, outside if work things in the city are basically normal. Grocery stores are well stocked, restaurants are open, and we can move around Moscow freely. The value of the ruble has fallen to 1 cent, so things will be cheap. We can't travel more than 40km from the Kremlin without permission, but we have been told that requests to go to St. Petersburg are generally granted. We are very excited, and looking forward to our next adventure. How long would your tour be in Moscow? 2 years, but we may extend it to at least get so that we are leaving in spring/summer. Short version is there are two transfer lists every year- winter and summer. The winter "cycle" has far less available positions, because the vast majority of people move in the summer.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Aug 28, 2023 12:40:20 GMT -5
How long would your tour be in Moscow? 2 years, but we may extend it to at least get so that we are leaving in spring/summer. Short version is there are two transfer lists every year- winter and summer. The winter "cycle" has far less available positions, because the vast majority of people move in the summer. Pack your long Johns.
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Smog
Gladiator
Posts: 124
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Post by Smog on Sept 3, 2023 20:05:16 GMT -5
Good luck with that! Right now you couldn't pay me enough to enter Putin's Russia. Rule of law was always thin there, but now to say it's non-existent is giving them too much credit. I'm not sure diplomatic cover is worth much in a state that seems willing to commit war crimes on a whim. I hope you guys stay safe. You won't be in Kansas anymore.
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Smog
Gladiator
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Post by Smog on Sept 3, 2023 20:06:11 GMT -5
FTR, even Natasha won't enter Russia anymore.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 4, 2023 6:36:23 GMT -5
Good luck with that! Right now you couldn't pay me enough to enter Putin's Russia. Rule of law was always thin there, but now to say it's non-existent is giving them too much credit. I'm not sure diplomatic cover is worth much in a state that seems willing to commit war crimes on a whim. I hope you guys stay safe. You won't be in Kansas anymore. By all accounts it has been safe for USG personnel. Of course, that can always change. Going to be interesting, for sure.
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Post by bigdawgs on Sept 4, 2023 10:34:14 GMT -5
I have heard Belarus is making some veiled threats to Poland. I would caution them that they would likely get their asses handed to them in a big way.
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Post by 75tranzam on Sept 5, 2023 14:18:59 GMT -5
or "In Soviet Russia Diplomat Immunizes You." Soooooooooooooooooooo...... Funny story. A few weeks ago a notice went out seeking a volunteer for someone in Mrs. Notdpb's specialty, but at one rank higher than she currently is, to come serve 2 years in Moscow. She threw her hat in the ring, and we just found out that she got it. We are not sure when we will be heading there, but it will be as soon as we can get visas, which can be anywhere from 90 days to never. So yeah, that happened. I loved the Yakov Smirnoff humor at the beginning Daniel, hope you get what you want but to echo others I wouldn't go! I've always wanted to tour Russia and suggested it to my wife but she was a firm "are you crazy?"
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Sept 5, 2023 17:30:39 GMT -5
I don't have any desire to visit Russia. Especially at my age.
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Post by tophb21 on Sept 6, 2023 7:37:33 GMT -5
Well, I don’t think my travels will be me taking me to the Kremlin any time soon, so probably no impromptu SCM meetups for us.
Always thought Russia would be a cool place to visit, but like others under the current regime I’d be a bit leery. Actually beyond the regime, the weather is way to freaking cold in the winters there. I guess as long as you have AFN, you’ll be fine.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 6, 2023 7:51:03 GMT -5
Well, I don’t think my travels will be me taking me to the Kremlin any time soon, so probably no impromptu SCM meetups for us. Always thought Russia would be a cool place to visit, but like others under the current regime I’d be a bit leery. Actually beyond the regime, the weather is way to freaking cold in the winters there. I guess as long as you have AFN, you’ll be fine. Or a Smart TV which thinks that it is in Los Angeles, which is actually what we have now. I just write the AFN Games of the week because a) tradition from when this first started way back in Ethiopia, and b) because I have to limit it somehow. Between having ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, FS1, ESPN, ESPN 2, ESPN U, B1G Network, ACC Network, SCC Network, NESN, and who knows what else, there is no way I could possibly preview all of them. But yeah, it's gonna be cold.
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Smog
Gladiator
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Post by Smog on Sept 10, 2023 15:52:04 GMT -5
We can't travel more than 40km from the Kremlin without permission... I goofed on that once. I what been staying in a place in the Izmaylovskiy part of Moscow, but took off to visit Natasha's parents in Yoshkar-Ola (16 hours away by train -- just a wee bit beyond the 40 km limit) and was there for a week before coming back to Izmaylovskiy. When I stopped by the front desk the woman asked me where I had been, so I told her. Things took a turn that I hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, it was the 90s and you could hire a body guard/driver/interpreter dirt cheap (I think it was about $9/day). Alexei saw what was happening and moved me across the lobby while he intervened. After some animated discussion he came back to me and asked if I had $50, which I did and gave it to him. He went back to the lady and gave it to her, returned to me and with a gesture like he was dusting something off his hands said, "It's taken care of". Naive me thought there had been a fine and he'd paid it with the $50. It wasn't until I was in the middle of conducting my umpteenth FCPA training for folks at Bridgestone and started describing "red flags" that it hit me. Through Alexei I had bribed this woman. The travel violation isn't covered by a simple fine, it requires your reporting to a police station. What happens at the police station I'd rather never find out.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Sept 11, 2023 5:56:13 GMT -5
We can't travel more than 40km from the Kremlin without permission... I goofed on that once. I what been staying in a place in the Izmaylovskiy part of Moscow, but took off to visit Natasha's parents in Yoshkar-Ola (16 hours away by train -- just a wee bit beyond the 40 km limit) and was there for a week before coming back to Izmaylovskiy. When I stopped by the front desk the woman asked me where I had been, so I told her. Things took a turn that I hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, it was the 90s and you could hire a body guard/driver/interpreter dirt cheap (I think it was about $9/day). Alexei saw what was happening and moved me across the lobby while he intervened. After some animated discussion he came back to me and asked if I had $50, which I did and gave it to him. He went back to the lady and gave it to her, returned to me and with a gesture like he was dusting something off his hands said, "It's taken care of". Naive me thought there had been a fine and he'd paid it with the $50. It wasn't until I was in the middle of conducting my umpteenth FCPA training for folks at Bridgestone and started describing "red flags" that it hit me. Through Alexei I had bribed this woman. The travel violation isn't covered by a simple fine, it requires your reporting to a police station. What happens at the police station I'd rather never find out. Yeah, for us I suspect that we would just get PNGed on the spot, and no one wants that.
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Post by geauxtigerfan on Sept 11, 2023 11:09:19 GMT -5
Do you get a pay adjustment for serving in Russia?
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