A Month in Novosibirsk - Winter 2009-2010 - Thoughts

[dogspot]

I ran into Brave Girl while I was there...

[Chicagoguy]

I have a question not only for Dogspot but others in general. He puts some slightly confidential information on his post and I wonder if some of our women are reading what we write.

When my wife and I were dating I had mentioned RWD and then I worried a little and probably thought twice about what I was saying after that. Now that we are married I find out she couldn't care less. She has never read anything.

[Seeker]

I have a question not only for Dogspot but others in general. He puts some slightly confidential information on his post and I wonder if some of our women are reading what we write.

When my wife and I were dating I had mentioned RWD and then I worried a little and probably thought twice about what I was saying after that. Now that we are married I find out she couldn't care less. She has never read anything.

That has always been the trip report dilemma.  And why some have made me uncomfortable when I read them (not this one Dogspot).  I think each has their own idea what is acceptable for themselves and the woman/women they write about.  And they will have to live with that decision should it blow up on them here or at home.  If we think the poster is going too far, we should tell him/her.  Then allow them to correct their actions, or live with the results.

[dogspot]

There is nothing confidential in my posts. All the names are fictitious, my name is not really dogspot and I don't *really* look like Sharakov. And..."Elena" doesn't know about RWD and has very little interest in the internet.

Great idea for a new topic though! Thanks for your thoughts, Chicagoguy.

[myrddin]

Great news about your impending happiness with an unnamed lady in a fictional location, "dogspot"!! 

[Faux Pas]

That has always been the trip report dilemma.  And why some have made me uncomfortable when I read them (not this one Dogspot).  I think each has their own idea what is acceptable for themselves and the woman/women they write about.  And they will have to live with that decision should it blow up on them here or at home.  If we think the poster is going too far, we should tell him/her.  Then allow them to correct their actions, or live with the results.

It is really immaterial as to what you think. If the OP isn't asking for advice, don't offer it as a rule of thumb. I suspect most of us have different ideas as to what moral compass leads us. Taking it a step farther, this is the internet and most have no clue as to the information provided is at all true. FWIW

[Seeker]

It is really immaterial as to what you think. If the OP isn't asking for advice, don't offer it as a rule of thumb. I suspect most of us have different ideas as to what moral compass leads us. Taking it a step farther, this is the internet and most have no clue as to the information provided is at all true. FWIW

If I feel someone might be hurt, I will say something.  From either side of the fence, real people are involved here.  I do not expect anyone to agree.  But I will say what I feel is right.  See my sig below.  No offense meant, and none taken.  I was responding to a question that was asked.

[IAmZon]

Posts like this - and they are very very very rare - make all the nonsense posts tolerable. Thanks for sharing. Despite the cold weather this appears to the the rare fantasy that AM are guilty of believing in ... well done.  Enjoy

[boaterguy]

Dogspot..really enjoying your TR! My wife is from Novosibirsk and I spent over 2 months on the ground there 6 years ago.

From what you have written...I would say the major hint has been dropped! She's telling you it's time to propose! 

[brave girl]

I ran into Brave Girl while I was there...

A nice Russian girl knows her value!!   brave girl

[JR]

A nice Russian girl knows her value!!   brave girl

That would be about two kopecks in your case?

[brave girl]

That would be about two kopecks in your case?

Be calm shallow pockets!!
Cheaper meat awaits your arrival in Tashkent!! :evil:  brave girl

I am looking for info on Tashkent. Any help would be appreciated. I am especially interested in finding a flat for a reasonable rate. Thanks in advance!

[acrzybear]

That was funny

[dogspot]

It's so cool to see familiar place-names. Akadem is my home town and I played a joint gig with a friend's band in Nii Kuda once while visiting there in the later years. 

Cool that you played there, BF! We really enjoyed that place a lot - it seemed a tad classier than most of the small live music clubs/venues we visited. We returned a few nights later to watch a local band called Два + Одна perform. They were a fun band that performed a set of French tunes, followed by 5 or 6 American standards and concluding with a bunch of Russian sing-alongs that had the entire place up and dancing.

Here are some photos from both nights.

[dogspot]

My flight was delayed leaving Los Angeles for Moscow - 3 hours in the terminal and 2 hours sitting on the runway. So it goes. I was concerned because I had given myself a 5 hour cushion to make my connection, as I always do when connecting through Sheremetyevo. Needless to say, upon arriving in Moscow I had missed my connection to Novosibirsk.

During the flight the people sitting a row and front of me, an older American guy and older Russian woman, were engaged in friendly conversation that seemed constant. I thought they were hitting it off quite well and they both seemed not only well educated, but very interesting people. She was quite attractive and her personality made her seem to me to be the ideal lady. I felt he should ask for her number or something as the chemistry between the two was trmendous. Anyway, I kept to myself throughout the duration of the flight.

After we landed I assisted this same woman with her bags from the overhead compartment. She then engaged me in conversation and when she discovered I was traveling to Novosibirsk, she introduced me to her new friend (I think his name was ED but I forget) who was also traveling to Novosibirsk.

Since Ed and I had both missed our flight, we decided to stick together to try to make the last flight of the night at 2:30am.

It turns out Ed and I were traveling to Novosib for the same reason: He has a girlfriend there, as well. Ed was the nicest guy and so very helpful to me. I tried calling Elena from the airport but my SIM card had expired from non use and there were no kiosks open at that hour to purchase as new one. He offered to have his lady contact Elena to let her know what flight we would be arriving on. She did and this saved me a lot of headache. (Ed, if you ever find your way to this board and read this, please contact me..I would love to stay connected).

While waiting in the the queues to transfer to the later flight, we met a young lady from here in Huntington Beach who was traveling to Novosibirsk to stay with her boyfriend for a few months. Her boyfriend is an American guy who plays on the Novosibirsk professional volleyball team. It was her first trip to Russia and she was your typical Orange County beach chick. I thought it was funny when we were waiting for the bus to Sheremetyevo 3 and the temperature was about 25F..she asked "Do you think it will be colder than this in Novosibirsk?"

So this young lady (I forgot her name so I'll call her Susan) invited us to attend the professional volleyball match two nights later and both Ed and I told her we would try to make it. Ed and I chatted about our experiences in Russia and gave her a few tips on what to expect, etc. We made the late flight to Novosib without issue.

(By the way, I connected through the new terminal at Sheremetyevo on both flights through Moscow and it's so much nicer than the other domestic terminal (what isn't?) - so clean with real restaurants and shops. I hope I never step foot in terminal 2 ever again.)

[Chicagoguy]

Amen about SVO 2

[dogspot]

Elena and I decided it would be exciting to attend the volleyball match. She had never attended a professional sporting event and I had yet to see a professional indoor volleyball match, despite playing competitive volleyball as a teenager.

We arrived at the arena and I was surprised to see so many people in attendance. It seems Russians have a greater appreciation for indoor volleyball than us Americans (Do we have a professional indoor league?) They had devout fans, a cheering section, a small band like at a college or high school basketball game, a mascot, and cheerleaders. Besides the crowd being much smaller than most professional sporting events in America, this was just as exciting and every bit as fun as most events I have been to on American soil.

The game itself was very exciting and the Novosibirsk team swept the Ekaterinburg team 3-0. I noticed the rules were somewhat different than when I played but much of it was the same (whatever happened to sideout? Are international rules different?)Most of the players were Russian but there were 3 players on the Novosibirsk team from The States, one being the boyfriend of the Susan, the American gal I met at the Moscow airport a few nights prior.

I searched for them but I never saw neither Ed nor Susan. I wondered if Susan was experiencing a little jet lag or culture shock (I know the jetlag was still killing me at this point) and I figured Ed was probably making the most of every minute with his young lady elsewhere.

We departed from the arena feeling glad that we had attended. Elena thanked me for the idea and seemed like she had broadened her horizons a bit. I was happy that I could expose her to a small part of my life (volleyball) while visiting in her city.

[JR]

Be calm shallow pockets!!
Cheaper meat awaits your arrival in Tashkent!! :evil:  brave girl

Awwweeee, I'm beginning to think you're sweet on me BG   You know, I had a whole lot to say about your ancestry and the obvious and long history of failure of that particular family tree then I realized dogspots thread is way too good for your particular brand of stink so I shall refrain from further bantering with you here.

dogspot, my apologies for detracting from your post. I am enjoying it immensely. I am glad that you have found someone special and I hope it will continue to blossom into a wonderful and fullfilling relationship.

[dogspot]

No worries, JR. I invited Brave Girl here by posting a photo of her alias because I kinda like the girl. She's harmless and her act is somewhat comical. I think beyond her internet persona, Brave Girl is a sweetheart like Doll, Aloe and Russian Wind. We just need to break through her protective barrier.

Jolly Man, I also wish you the best on your upcoming trip to Tashkent (raises glass). May your shallow pockets lead you to your destiny.  

DS

[russianfront]

Dogspot I am really enjoying your post filled with an amazing level of detail and honesty. Keep them coming!