Thread: St. Petersburg Questions

I'm going to be studying in St Petersburg this fall, and I have a few questions inspired by the stories/advice I have recieved from people:

-Should I be concerned about the mafia? (I've been warned four times by four separate people)

-Are American jeans (like Levis, etc.) still worth their weight in gold, so to speak?

-Is there anything special I should know?


Thanks.

No, lived there a year and didn't have any troubles
No, jeans are worth their weight in cloth
No, just have fun and don't forget to visit the Russian Museum!

Originally Posted by bigz2k

-Should I be concerned about the mafia? (I've been warned four times by four separate people)

Sure, you should. Especially if you are planning to sell drugs and going to study to be a killer.

-Are American jeans (like Levis, etc.) still worth their weight in gold, so to speak?

No, much higher, they are worth now like their weight in vodka.

-Is there anything special I should know?

More or less the same things about surviving in a big city.

-Should I be concerned about the mafia? (I've been warned four times by four separate people)

No.

Are American jeans (like Levis, etc.) still worth their weight in gold, so to speak?

Levi's, etc. are sold at every corner and are dirt cheap. Moreover, they seem to be going out of fashion. (Temporarily, of course, like all things connected with fashion)

Is there anything special I should know?

Apply your common sense. An Englishman I know got mugged twice - in London, never in St Pete. Can one get mugged in St Pete? Sure. Just like any other big city on the planet.

No.
No.
On Nevsky Prospekt (the main drag) watch out for a crowd of dirty little kids - they will surround you and try to swipe stuff out of your backpack. I had that experience twice in otherwise wonderful! SPb in spring of ought three.

Otherwise, dress down, wear dark clothing, look like a native, and blend in. This won't work if your skin is really dark.

Definitely go to the Hermitage. A dozen times if you'll be there a year. Take the hydrofoil boat up to Peterhof. Go visit the Summer Palace in Pushkin, it will blow your mind. Take the tour up to the roof of St. Isaak's Cathedral.

Blending in will never work no matter how dark your clothes are and how white the skin. Your earflaps will immediately betray your foreign extraction (for the only people who wear earflaps in Russia are foreigners - they think it helps them blend in, LOL) That story about kids prying into your backpack is not true. Doesn't happen here.

VM, seeing that I acutally DO have personal experience on this, you are totally and utterly incorrect about kids prying into backpacks. It does happen, has happened and will happen!

Anyway they are not usually called dirty little children, but gypsy children.

Keep away from gypsies if you can. They are evil. If you absolutely have to pass close by them, watch carefully that they are not trying to steal something from you. Never talk with them. Their dirty and poor look is only a disguise, they are very skillful and expirienced in different kinds of pulling money and other valuable things out of people. And they sell drugs.
It is a good idea not to hold valuable things in the backpack (and in any other place that you cannot observe). It is especially important if you use public transport.

Lots of nonsense here. Just use common sense, which you should apply in every big city.

Don't walk dark alleys at night, for example, and watch out for muggers...

Originally Posted by kalinka_vinnie

I acutally DO have personal experience on this, you are totally and utterly incorrect about kids prying into backpacks. It does happen, has happened and will happen!

Wishful thinking. Russian children will never steal.

Tell that to every Russian teenager whose had their cell phone snagged.

Originally Posted by JB

Tell that to every Russian teenager whose had their cell phone snagged.

Oh yeah? You know what reply I'd get? "<expletive deleted> azeris!" No, thanks, JB, I get enough racist talk here, I don't want to have anything to do with our teenagers who are probably the greatest racists you'll ever find. Thanks, JB, but no thanks.

Russian children do not steal. Neither do those who they call "azeris" and other bad names. What happens is that they "steal" their own cell phones. That's right, they do it so to claim their insurance. Russian children may be sneaky, conniving little brats but they aren't thieves.

Originally Posted by VendingMachine

Originally Posted by JB

Tell that to every Russian teenager whose had their cell phone snagged.

Oh yeah? You know what reply I'd get? "<expletive deleted> azeris!" No, thanks, JB, I get enough racist talk here, I don't want to have anything to do with our teenagers who are probably the greatest racists you'll ever find. Thanks, JB, but no thanks.

Russian children do not steal. Neither do those who they call "azeris" and other bad names. What happens is that they "steal" their own cell phones. That's right, they do it so to claim their insurance. Russian children may be sneaky, conniving little brats but they aren't thieves.

Maybe you and Mordan should join some group therapy about living in denial

Cellphone insurance?