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Originally Posted by Hanna
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YouTube - ‪Огласите весь список...‬‏Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
;-)
An old lady just came to my flat with a telegram for me. Could she be a sort of janitor or caretaker? She seemed quite official and wanted a signature etc. But she had no uniform.
I think it's about delivery of my replacement bank card. But it's clear that courier services work differently here, than what I am used to. What normally happens? Do you have to go and collect the thing at a depot...? Or how does it work? Why did they send a telegram?
I will call them, but I am worried that my Russian is not good enough to speak with a customer services person on the phone. If anyone has any advice, I would really appreciate it!
I suppose there are two options; either have to go somewhere, to collect the card (then I have to understand what the address is). Else I have to arrange a time and place to meet with the deliveryman. Both of these will be difficult for me to do over the phone with somebody who speaks fast.Quote:
Originally Posted by БЕЛПОЧТА
Haha, that is from "Shurik". Yes, I will... ! Coming later.Quote:
Originally Posted by Vadim M.
I think this lady was a postman.
And I don't know how service "Экспресскурьер" works. But it seems that they received your documents and sent a telegram by post that they received them and now they are waiting for your call to know what to do with them.
MY PROBLEMS SOLVED, AND INVESTIGATION OF RUSSIAN COURSES IN MINSK
Thanks Dmitry! I have recieved the card now, am very pleased!
"ExpressCourier" is in fact DHL. If they had mentioned that in the telegram, I would have known exactly what to do. I called up and ask for someone who speaks English, and fortunately they had somebody there. They gave me the address to the depot. I have noticed a tendency that things are slightly less crispy new and well maintained outside the city. Many of the apartment buildings look very worn and the pavement could do withsome maintenance. I got a lift back into the city from a super kind guy who drove me all the way to my front door and refused to take any payment.
People here are just so kind, all the time!
Yuri finally came and also was a really nice guy.
Because he didn't check me in to the flat himself as he normally does, there had been some communication problem, otherwise he would have sorted out the Registration a long time ago. For 20 Euro he'll register it for whatever time I want, that's part of the service when renting a flat from their company.
It also turns out that there is cleaning service included in the flat, I had just started to look for some cleaning equipment and realised there is hardly any. So that's nice - no cleaning on my holiday!
Russian Courses for foreigners in Minsk:
I went to the SOL centre, which turns out, is literally across the yard from my building. This is a private establishment. They have no classes, just individual lessons. Not sure what kind of teachers they use - I definitely want somebody professional. The price is 20 EUR per 80 minute lesson. About the same as a driving lesson in the UK... I'll consider it. With this, you can decide the time yourself, and the intensity of the tutoring.
After that I went to the Linguistic Centre at the Belarussian State University. Also very close to where I am staying. It took a while to find the office that I needed. When I got there, a German man was already there, determined to enroll in a 10 month course. He told me the bureacracy was devilish - he had had to have a whole bunch of fairly irrelevant documents translated into Russian (professionally) and he'd just been asked to do an HIV test. But he thought Minsk was the right place to do a Russian course in, he had a very high view of the city and people.
I spoke with the clerk there, and she said I could take a month long Russian course which starts in June, provided I can get a copy of my secondary school leaving certificate. (Why this is relevant, I can't understand!)
My university record was not needed, and the school certificate needs to be translated into Russian. My school leaving grades are rather BAD and unfortunately Sweden has exactly the same 1-5 grading system as the CIS countries, so the bad average score would be immediately obvious to anyone here who saw it. (I got into university in Sweden based on entrance test, not grades because they were so bad...)
I asked her whether it mattered what type of visa I have. She seemed to think it's fine as long as it is registered in Minsk, which it hadn't been.
The course at the state university is more of interest to me - I like that idea better, and then you know you are taught by professional language teachers.
The prices for this course are fantastic - can't remember the exact price, but something like 300 USD for a full month of 20 hour weeks. Not sure if I can commit to as long as a month though, time-wise. Need to think about this...
Either way, I think I'll give my school a ring and ask them to send over my leaving certificate.
I am considering the options now, and there are a few more places to check out.
Any advice or thoughts would be very appreciated. I am not sure what to do.
I must say that anyone who can manage to get himself accepted to the Minsk university course is making a very good deal. A top university in a capital city, in a Russian speaking country, for such a small fee! The Linguistic faculty is in a very nice building, everything looks in great shape, this is probably a five star Russian class. Recommended!
Some photos from Minsk, Belarus
My pictures seem a bit unfocused! There is supposed to be auto focus on this camera!
No idea what's wrong but sorry about the poor quality!
Two people who died in the Metro bombing in Minsk, at the Oktyabrskaya metro station:
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3...aap5110086.jpg
Very touching memory wall for victims of the bombing. It is much larger than this:
http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/215...aap5110087.jpg
A famous landmark in Minsk: The Red Church:
http://img861.imageshack.us/img861/3...aaaaaaaaaw.jpg
Government building complex (National Assembly) that was built just after the war, without using any proper tools, just using "communist enthusiasm" according to Andrei, the guide. This building is quite unique in it's kind.
http://img51.imageshack.us/img51/483...artrtrrhsf.jpg
In Belarus they like to HIDE the places where people shop (seriously!), and sometimes also the shops and their content.... LOL - why not! So, underground in central Minsk, with no properly advertised entrance, you can find the city's best "mall" (there is not a lot of competition) with excellent shops. I really liked the decoration and the window (above) to the Lenin Square.
http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/4877/p5110090.jpg
Minsk has an outdoor market called the Kamarovskiy Rinok. I actually liked the market in Gomel better - that was awesome. But this one was cool too. Here is a part of the meat market, covered:
http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/6...ffasdfadsg.jpg
MORE LATER!!!
We had 1-5 grading system, but now we are using 0-10 grading system, so your marks will look a bit better :)
State University of Minsk? May be it is Belarussian State University?
Government building is The National Assembly (parliament).
Thanks! I changed the name of the university in my post and add the Parliament building's name!
Maybe you can answer this?
When I was calling the number 2781108 from my Velcom mobile, it did not work.
I tried putting o in front but that did not work either. Then I went to the post office to ask what to do, and the woman dialled something else on my mobile. It is registered as #2781108 in the log. What should I have done when I tried to call that number?
MINSK PHOTOS CONTINUED:
This Circus building is really elegant and what a pretty statue!
I really want to see a show!
http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/7672/aaaaacircus.jpg
Behind the circus is a park, called the Children's park. It is quite big. The first thing you notice is this building, for a football team "Minsk Youth"
http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/6...adgsdhfgjg.jpg
Close to the Ferris wheel in the park, are the graves of two people who I am guessing are some kind of youth heroes from the war. The writing is in Belarussian. I don't understand it but I took the photo out of respect for these people.
http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/71/nvncbncnmcnm.jpg
In the ex-Soviet area there are little amusement parks everywhere. As someone who comes from a country with 3 amusment parks in total, I just can't resist these!
This is a very big Ferris wheel. I took a ride in it:
http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/1172/aaaferris.jpg
http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/8687/p5190101.jpg
Leaving the youth park.
Note the women walking in front of me. Both are wearing incredibly high heels. Very common in the ex USSR countries. Personally I wouldn't walk around the block in heels that high. Some women in Minsk dress very stylishly according to me but many are very keen to show all they've got... Anyway, many are on a tight budget and are doing a fantastic job at looking stylish. So many women here sew - the fabric and haberdashery section of the TSUM department store is awesome. I like sewing too, but i almost never have time.
http://img864.imageshack.us/img864/2172/p5190112.jpg
War memorial obelisk close to the apartment I am renting. There is an eternal flame in front of it, and also an mock eternal flame (sounds terrible, but it looks cool, in a 50s style) in the underground passage underneath. There is a lot of the Soviet Union still around in Belarus, many signs and emblems remain and are well looked after.
http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/6416/p5190091.jpg
When you are calling by mobile phone, you can use only the same operator's numbers without prefixes. When you are calling to other operators or city numbers you should use complete phone number +375(Belarus international code) xx(city/operator prefix) yyyyyyy(phone number).
For example: Calling to Minsk city number 2781108 (17 - is city prefix) +375172781108. But you can call to local city number using prefix #. For example if you are in Minsk using #2781108 you will call Minsk city number 2781108. When you are in other city it will call to that city number 2781108. (But there are no more cities in Belarus that have 7 digits phone numbers :))
Translation of grave's description is:
Воин Советской Армии
Иванков Герасим Андреевич
Погиб в бою с немецко-фашисткими захватчиками
14 июля 1944 года
Soviet Army Warrior
Ivankov Gerasim Andreevich
Killed in the battle against the German fascist invaders
July 14, 1944
He was usual soldier, but they all were heroes.
Thanks for explaining about the mobile phone numbers. I could never have guessed that!
About Belarussian; I am sure it's easy to understand for someone who already speaks Russian... But for me, it's really confusing. It's not used a lot though, so not a big problem. Biggest issue is with street names.
And LOL the metro station names in Minsk!!! There is one name on the map, another in the metro itself, and a third being used in announcements inside the metro.... Kupalinskaya/Lenina station is the worst example I think! I kept thinking I somehow got off at the wrong station.
For my Russian lessons.... I am thinking, perhaps I could find someone who is a Russian teacher for foreigners, who'd give me lessons for 10-15 USD /hour instead. Does that sound like a reasonable price or am I just being stingy? It seems to me it should be a good fee for the teacher, and it is much more affordable for me.
I think the SOL Centre is asking for a price which would be OK in England but is rather inflated for Belarus and I don't care to give money to the owner of that place, I'd much rather my money went to the actual teacher.
But how to find a teacher...? Maybe there is some forum or something... I'll check if there is an expat forum.
And does anyone know precisely how to get to МИНСКОЕ МОРЕ with public transport?
I think there is a train or something, but where can I by tickets, how long does it take to get there etc?
In my mind, $10 per 60 minuts is a very low price. I take more. Maybe in Belorussia it's OK, but in Moscow you cannot find a teacher for such a low price.
Yeah, you are right, I meant Euro anyway, so that's would make it 20-25 USD. I never use USD so I forget the value.
The thing is I have to be careful with my money because I am not working right now...
But for Belarus, think about the State university INDIVIDUAL course (one student, one university level tutor, at the top university). 560 USD per month for 20 hours, a week.
That's under 6 USD per hour. And that is the fee that you pay to the university. The teacher probably doesn't get all of that.
Additionally, that is a VERY good university, no doubt about it.
I got a very good impression of it.
You can understand why that German guy was so keen on getting accepted.
Yes, you see, Hanna, how convenient is to study Russian. An average Belorussian or Russian cannot go to a European country and take courses there.
Kupalinskaya/Lenina station? You are wrong.
may be Oktabrskaya/Kupalovskaya? It is station, where metro lines cross, so station at one line is Oktabrskaya, and at second - Kupalovskaya.
About Belarussian names - it is government policy to save Belarussian language, because very few amount of people uses it.
Yes, I take your point. :oops: It's completely true and I would want for anyone in Russia or Belarus to be able to save up like I have done, and go on a trip like this, to any part of Europe that interests them, and study any language they want. Or work anywhere in Europe that they want. To be honest I just don't understand what level of income and expenditure normal people here have. I don't think the information from the guidebook can be true though.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus
The visa policies going both ways should be changed. It should not be hard to travel East or West. We are all Europeans and have so much in common, there should not be any restrictions in travelling or working between our countries. Also, Europe should not try to tell Russia or Belarus how to run their countries.
The economic difference between different countries in Europe is not something I feel responsible for, but I am aware that the differences are sadly there at present, and I hope they will disappear as soon as possible. I should clarify that I personally have a reasonably well paid job in IT management and not a lot of financial responsibilities. That's why I was able to save up.
As you have probably noticed I am not a big fan of globalism or unbridled capitalism but since we are stuck in this type of society I will take advantage of what opportunities are there.
Hope you don't think I am a terrible person because of that. I have reflected on these matters quite a bit.
How hard would it be for you to get a 3 month Schengen visa and travel around a bit in Europe and stop in Germany (for example) to take a langauge course?
If in the future, any of my friends from the forum needs a sponsor or any kind of paperwork or other nonsense for a Schengen visa, just let me know I don't mind helping out with that at all. Send me a pm.
Yes, I see that I am wrong about the Ploschad Lenina station, I just looked at a map and there is a station which is clearly marked with that name and nothing else. For some reason I thought it was called something else too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk
I had trouble with this in Kiev too, and indeed got confused by the Kupalovskaya station in Minsk.
The station that am staying at, is called Ploschad Pobedy. But on the metro map, it is Ploschad Peramori.
In Kiev, I stayed a a station called Dvorets Sporty / Palats Sporty - did not realise it was the same at first, until I counted the stations on the map and realised it had to be.
You know, when you speak a language POORLY like I do, then everything is really complicated and you can't really ask people around you for help either....
I understand. "Peramoga" is "pobeda" in Belarussian.
Can people in general speak Belarussian? Do you learn it in school, or what is the arrangement?
I can guarantee you that I would love it, and really support it if it wasn't for the reason that I am trying to learn Russian. That's the only reason I am commenting on it
I am really falling in love with Belarus - it is such a nice country with fantastic people. I will definitely advise friends and family to visit here. About the politics I will say nothing, because frankly I can't really understand it. My aunt, for example would LOVE it - so safe, so clean, so many beautiful churches and nice nature and park. Lots of historical sights which she loves.
This is NOT a "little brother" of Russia, it is much, much more and I think it's different from Russia. It IS more European, yet it is Russian and it's got a unique character too.
Walking around, I feel like it's 20% any random Northern European country, 10% nice and modern version of the USSR, 50% unique and cool modern country unlike any other, 10% reminds me (in a good way) of my childhood in Sweden for lots & lots of different reasons.
Belarussian is learned at schools at the same level as Russian, when I was in school I spoked both languages at the same level, but after 5 years without practice it became hard. Also there are Belarussian schools, where all subjects are studied in Belarussian (Math, Physics etc). I don't know situation now, but 5 years ago in cities main schools where Russian-language with small amount Belarussian-language, and there were some Belarussian-language classes at Russian-language schools. Village schools were mainly Belarussian-language because in villages people speaks some dialects, Belarussian-Ukranian for South parts of country and Belarussian-Russian at Eastern.
By the way Belarussian language is young language, it was officially formed at the end of XIX - start of XX. And there are 4 main cultural regions of Belarus where Belarussian has some difference. Also there where latin and cyrillic versions of writing. Influences of Ukranian, Russian, Polish and Lithuanian. All is complicated. :)
To know problem of Belarussian language you should know history of the country, and it is hard to tell because of my poor language.
Dmitri, are you in Minsk? Would you like to meet up for a coffee or a glass of wine? Let me know!
PM me if you have the time! No worries if you don't...
I'm in Minsk, but I'm finishing my university this year. And I should introduce my diploma work this Tuesday.
Also I don't drink neither coffee, not wine :) Also I'm very boring and asocial person, so I don't think it is a good idea :)
I haven't tried yet. In general, it's not easy in comparison with other countries (we have a lot of visa free regims). It depends upon the country: the UK has strict policy, while Finland has not. I've heard people could easily get long visa to Italy. My brother has had a big journey across Europe.Quote:
How hard would it be for you to get a 3 month Schengen visa and travel around a bit in Europe and stop in Germany (for example) to take a langauge course?
But visa is one problem, another one (much more important) is money. Getting average Belorussian salary, one will never be able to travel to Germany and take some courses. Even good Moscow salary (1500 euros) is not enough.
Looking at Moscow, it's a very expensive town to visit as a tourist. I have never been there and I am not sure if I am going to include it in this trip, assuming I can get a Russian visa here in Minsk. And the more Moscow becomes some kind of luxury shopping & partying town, the less different and interesting it is for me to visit. I am interested in the things that are unique about Moscow and Russia, not the stuff you can get in London or Paris. I actually want to visit places in Siberia...! St Petersburg I have been in twice before although a very long time back, but I am not massively interested in going there as a priority. Like everyone in Scandinavia, I am a bit fascinated by Murmansk. From reading here in on this forum, I have got interested in Tatarstan and Kazan too. There are a couple of forum members in Moscow that I really like though, and I'd love to meet with them.
At least, you're a quite honest person which is so rare nowadays... :-PQuote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk
No worries at all! I am just so grateful for all your super helpful advice here.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk
And Eric is right (for a change, lol!!!) it's cool to be honest.
Just one more local knowledge question if you don't mind ;-)
Do you know how to get to the Minskoe More area by train? I mean, where in the station to buy the ticket etc?
Sorry, I don't know, I have never been there.
Firstly, try something like The Grand Central, I'm almost sure that's gonna do for you.Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Oh, I just have to tell Marcus something; When I arrived in the UK, I had £800, a job offer for a junior job, and nowhere to stay. There has not been a lot of inflation since then, it's pretty much the same amount of money nowadays as it was then. Thanks to my country, I had a rather good & free education behind me (although not in the area I was going to work), and thanks to the EU I needed no work permit. But the rest is my own doing. I learnt IT because I enjoyed it and because I had to.. and now I am a manager. I left Sweden because of some complicated personal stuff which I won't bore anyone with here.
I guess you did alright. Just for an account, would you like then to go to some Eastern European country and stay there? Like the one you're staying in now? You see, your impressions as a tourist may be as good as they ever could, but what about living there? By the way, have you come across anything like shortages of anything in stores there? I heard they started running out of some food supplies, because the people are trying to get rid of their local currency in whatever ways they can, having stopped believing in it... (they've been buying up food, clothes, almost everything that is sold for the local currency)Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Yes, on holiday I think you see things through "rose-tinted specs"
I am aware of this.
I can imagine that everyday life in this country can be extremely frustrating for people at times. Lots of bureacracy, political situation creates problems for some and many have financial difficulties.
Yes, I'd live in Eastern Europe, but I wouldn't want to live somewhere where I don't speak the language, so anywhere but the Russian speaking countries are out of the question.
I'd definitely consider Russia if the right circumstances arose.
For some personal (health) reason, I need to have a certain level of income, but I don't think it would be any problem at all to reach that in Russia.
For me, as a Scandinavian, Russia is like an extreme, bigger, cooler version of everything that we have: the nature, the climate, the culture and some other stuff..... And I really like Russian people - they have cool souls... and they are fun and smart - not to mention that the guys are gentlemen. So yeah, I'd live there if there was some good reason to.
No I have not come across any shortages or anything at all like what you are describing.Quote:
By the way, have you come across anything like shortages of anything in stores there? I heard they started running out of some food supplies, because the people are trying to get rid of their local currency in whatever ways they can, having stopped believing in it... (they've been buying up food, clothes, almost everything that is sold for the local currency)
Sounds like disinformation to me. Where did you hear that?
Everything is completely normal here.
I think that the effect will be that imported things are slightly more expensive, particularly products from Western countries.
What was your profession, Hanna? I mean, на кого вы учились?
I don't doubt. I said in general. An average person from Sweden, for example, can go to Belorussia and study Russian there. But an Belorussian, who gets 500 euros cannot afford such things.Quote:
But the rest is my own doing.
I'm learning Irish now. There is a man who writes very good lessons, checks tasks and answers questions for free! And I thought I would hardly be able to go to Ireland.
Wait, didn't you write something like your Russian still left much to be desired?Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Hmm, I wouldn't be so sure about that... unless you have some friends from Rublevka who would help you out with getting a job. :-PQuote:
Originally Posted by Hanna
Marcus, an average Belarusian does NOT earn 500 Euros a month (that's what you meant, right? (month) ) ! And never has. Salaries of 500,000 - 600,000 a month in their local currency are pretty much common there (and by the new rates, it's under $100!)...Quote:
Originally Posted by Marcus
Eric, where did you get this numbers?
My friends, working at factories get 400-600$, and working at IT get 1000-1500$.
Visit Moscow, you will find many interesting things.
I got some acquaintances there...Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk
So, can you confirm my words or prove me wrong?
I know that salaries in Moscow are much more higher.
I'd agree on the IT crowd (oh can you believe I just said "the IT crowd" :-P) salaries. But as for people from factories earning $400 - 600... that sounds like a myth (unless they're managers or something...)Quote:
Originally Posted by Dmitry Khomitchuk
Assembly line worker gets 400$, electric lines engineer just ended university 600$