Moscow round 2

[Mishenka]

Hery Sculpto, great to hear the positive news from Anit, and remember, "everyting will be fine"

Mishenka

check your PM's

[mendeleyev]

Sculpto, wanted to drop in and offer sympathies on the loss of your lady's father and offer "Oghormi" (Blessing a soul) the traditional Armenian blessing at funerals and cemeteries. She will likely wish to visit his gravesite and have a priest say a special service at the 7th and 40th day marks after his death. Having just read this I imagine 7 days have past but if you plan to travel perhaps she'd like for you to be there with her on day 40.

Her father may not have been religious but Armenian cultural and religious customs for burial are typically the same regardless of religious conviction.

My secretary is Armenian and very knowledgable about customs and traditions but would never talk to her about your situation without your permission. I don't get around here that often but drop me a message is you wish me to any questions.


Also wanted to wish you a speedy re-entry into the employment ranks. Being without an income is very tough.

[JR]

A prolonged sickness and really drain a family. My condolences for Yours and Anit's loss but lets hope the relationship between you two blossoms into something solid and good bacause of it.

[Sculpto]

Sculpto, wanted to drop in and offer sympathies on the loss of your lady's father and offer "Oghormi" (Blessing a soul) the traditional Armenian blessing at funerals and cemeteries. She will likely wish to visit his gravesite and have a priest say a special service at the 7th and 40th day marks after his death. Having just read this I imagine 7 days have past but if you plan to travel perhaps she'd like for you to be there with her on day 40.

Thanks!  And I have really no idea what customs she plans to observe.  I am not sure if she does either.  She is definitely not religious and I suspect knowing something about her Fathers Soviet background he likely wasn't either.  I was a little surprised when I asked her who would meet her in Yerevan and she didn't know.  All she was able to tell me was she was going to a very small village with no internet and she thought they might not be electrified. 

My secretary is Armenian and very knowledgable about customs and traditions but would never talk to her about your situation without your permission. I don't get around here that often but drop me a message is you wish me to any questions.

Please go ahead and ask her anything and everything.  Feel free to post here or in PM.  It might be interesting for me to ask "A" about the feedback that comes from your secretary.  I may also ask on the Armenian forum, though, I wonder if there is a big difference between Armenian Americans, Armenian Russians/Soviets and Armenians??

Also wanted to wish you a speedy re-entry into the employment ranks. Being without an income is very tough.

Hey don't curse me!    I think it is high time I went back into business for myself.  I am fed up with being at the mercy of a boss and making other people rich.  I was self employed throughout the 90's and gave it up to see if life would have more stability as an employee.  I have learned, quite painfully, that there is less security and less money... so.. I am thinking this is a blessing in disguise.  Besides, every single of my clients has come with me, and, written letters to my former employer... who is by the way kissing my arse every day now begging me to help keep the sold projects in the showroom. Most of my clients threatened to cancel the orders unless they had me to finish them up.  I have maneuvered a higher percentage of commission from him to finish up the jobs.  Plus, I sold a nice project today and will sell another one on Monday.  Did better today with one days work than I did in a whole month as an employee... 

So.. if anyone needs their kitchen or bath remodelled.. here is my "shameless plug"  hahah! 




[/quote]

[mark2353]

Congratulation! Happy to hear that you are doing well in the new venture!
good luck!

[SANDRO43]

Besides, every single of my clients has come with me, and, written letters to my former employer... who is by the way kissing my arse every day now begging me to help keep the sold projects in the showroom. Most of my clients threatened to cancel the orders unless they had me to finish them up.  I have maneuvered a higher percentage of commission from him to finish up the jobs.  Plus, I sold a nice project today and will sell another one on Monday. Did better today with one days work than I did in a whole month as an employee... 

Then how about a consultant's arrangement with your ex boss ?

[Sculpto]

Then how about a consultant's arrangement with your ex boss ?

That is essentially what has evolved Sandro.. though.. given some comments he made I am not inclined to help him very much beyond finishing the outstanding projects.  In the USA we have a law that prevents people from being discriminated against because of race.. I was told he was letting me go instead of the less experienced but much cuter asian girl with lower sales volume because she is chinese and I am not and there are a lot of chinese clients in the store.  I am still deciding whether or not to file a complaint with the Department of Labor.  Its a "he said she said" situation so if I make the complaint the burden of proof is on me.  It had been noticed by clients and vendors that i was being treated differently all along.. but, I am not sure I want to drag anyone through the mud... I don't know.. any of the lawyers out there have an opinion on this?

[mendeleyev]

I wonder if there is a big difference between Armenian Americans, Armenian Russians/Soviets and Armenians

Well you could stir up quite a hornets nests on those catagory groupings alone, but the simple answer is yes. As a ethnic people however they're much smaller than many other groups and tend to have lived more concentrated lives so the brush doesn't have to paint as wide as Russians for example. My secty is in her late 20's and remembers virtually nothing of the Soviet era. Her husband is 7 years older so he may have some memories, but nothing like a 50+ year old immigrant would have. From a cultural perspective in general they tend to keep it fairly tight, marrying other Armenians, staying with Armenian business partners, etc.

[Faux Pas]

That is essentially what has evolved Sandro.. though.. given some comments he made I am not inclined to help him very much beyond finishing the outstanding projects.  In the USA we have a law that prevents people from being discriminated against because of race.. I was told he was letting me go instead of the less experienced but much cuter asian girl with lower sales volume because she is chinese and I am not and there are a lot of chinese clients in the store.  I am still deciding whether or not to file a complaint with the Department of Labor.  Its a "he said she said" situation so if I make the complaint the burden of proof is on me.  It had been noticed by clients and vendors that i was being treated differently all along.. but, I am not sure I want to drag anyone through the mud... I don't know.. any of the lawyers out there have an opinion on this?

If you feel you have been discriminated against it is your duty to file a complaint. Let those with the resources sort out whether or not your rights have been violated.

[Sculpto]

I hear you Faux.. though, something happened today that tells me there will be another kind of justice in this situation..

The Reps network in my field is very small.  Everyone knows each other.  Today I got a call for an interview.  The business owner heard about my situation from a rep I have never met, whose brand of cabinets I have never sold!  This owner knew the entire story and wanted to hire me simply because of what happened!  Things get around fast.  I suspect my former boss may find it difficult to get service in the industry going forward.  I have been at this for quite some time and am well known in the field and have an excellent reputation for design and customer service as well as high sales numbers.. the reps know it is the designers that make things happen and often the showroom owners are not where the action is.  It is the same phenomena as all of my clients going with me... I get the feeling I will be opening a new showroom sooner than later. 

[Daveman]

Sculpto, I think the problems with your boss are all misunderstandings due to cultural differences.   At the very least, you should be more courteous with the understanding they must SUFFER! 

[Sculpto]

LMFAO!  he called me three times today asking for help.  I think he is already suffering. 

[Diplomacy]

Why does the thought of Dave and Jr meeting in Russia scare me?  The crazy Americans are making people suffer.  They try to make all sick, by eating cold things.  They not good.  They must suffer!  They worse than Colorado Beetle!

[Sculpto]

huh?

[Mishenka]

beats me

[JR]

Why does the thought of Dave and Jr meeting in Russia scare me?  The crazy Americans are making people suffer.  They try to make all sick, by eating cold things.  They not good.  They must suffer!  They worse than Colorado Beetle!

Together Dave and I have a a plan to conquer the world. All who stand in our way MUST SUFFER! ! !

"All your bases are belong to us"

[Sculpto]

i see we are dealing with some obscure cultural reference..

[Diplomacy]

Well now you are uber l337.

It was  not an obscure reference until Jr, made a gamer reference. 

Most FSU people hate cold food.  Mia even said eating ice cream gave her a sore throat.  Eating or sitting on cold things, is often believed to make you sick.  So it was really an obscure FSU reference.

Oh well, as Sandro said it really sucks having to explain.

[GoodOlBoy]

And finally GOB.. your comment about the Khmer Rouge is so ridiculously uninformed you just make me laugh.  Angor Wat is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world with millions of visitors every year.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1448684 


GOB

[Daveman]

Together Dave and I have a a plan to conquer the world. All who stand in our way MUST SUFFER! ! !

"All your bases are belong to us"

 

I'm with ya JR. 


Diplomacy, yeah, if we wound up there at the same time we'd probably either wind up in a Gulag, or become advisers to the government.  It could go either way... certainly would freak out the locals in any event. 

Now imagine if Sculpto showed up as well... (doing the Three Amigos dance) heh!

[Wienerin]

Most FSU people hate cold food.   Mia even said eating ice cream gave her a sore throat.  Eating or sitting on cold things, is often believed to make you sick. 

Where did THIS come from? In summer three most popular foods are cold soups - sorrel (or nettles), beets and okroshka (with kvas or buttermilk), they are even served with ice. Icecream was and is enormously popular and I've heard foreigners exclaim on somebody eating Eskimo pies in -20C frost, and also many Americans and Italians said that Russian icecream is better then their native varieties.

Icecream parlors abounded as long as I can remember - not only for children and teenagers, but a recognized place for dating: 3 scoops of assorti icecream with shaved chocolate and syrop and a gloass of champaigne (it was cheap - even students could afford it  )

Also traditional jellied meats (a sort of headcheese but tastier, served with horseradish) and fish. Those were reviled here, but they ARE beloved, and undoubtedly cold

I do not know what do you mean by sitting on cold things, but sitting on cold stone of Neva enbankments can definitely make on sick (we still were doing this when young )

[kievstar]

Regarding open windows and ice I think it depends on a case by case basis.  I have met Russians who seem to fear open windows, air conditioning, ice, etc.  But I have met many more who could care less. 

[Wienerin]

Regarding open windows and ice I think it depends on a case by case basis.  I have met Russians who seem to fear open windows, air conditioning, ice, etc.  But I have met many more who could care less. 

You're right. My apartment in StPetersburg was in the old center in a building built in 1897, with thick walls (brick and stone), double hung windows, etc. And cast iron huge radiators (central heating) - all winter while the heating season lasted (I think it's from October through May), we all slept with open window-panes, otherwise one'd die

Most of the so-called new-construction were built so poorly, and the heating was so inadequate several times during the winter, that people had home temperatures of 12-14C. What windows? THe windows were insulated to the hilts, but still... We have real winter there in some places, don't forget

A/c isn't very common yet, and let me tell you that office buildings here are often over-conditioned, so it's very easy to catch cold when coming from 85-90F in the street.

[Sculpto]

I'm with ya JR. 


Diplomacy, yeah, if we wound up there at the same time we'd probably either wind up in a Gulag, or become advisers to the government.  It could go either way... certainly would freak out the locals in any event. 

Now imagine if Sculpto showed up as well... (doing the Three Amigos dance) heh!

Actually I somehow doubt we would freak anyone out very much.  Between the male strippers in the clubs and the large numbers of goth styled freaks I saw in Moscow I think they might be even more strange than Americans... 

[mendeleyev]

Its a common myth in Russia. Back in the early 1980s and into the late 90s you could walk Moscow for hours in the midst of summer and not find ice in a cafe. In those days it was common to see stacks of coke bottles in corners or behind counters and when you asked for ice to go with the warm bottle of coke they looked at you as if you were crazy. It is said that the number of ice machines in Russia increased more than 5-fold in preparation for the 1980 Olympics.

A few years back MIL cleared a spot in the freezing compartment to hold 2 small ice trays so that I could have ice in summer. MIL and wife have fought about it ever since. In winter my wife will stand at the bus stop because a cold bench could "keep her from getting pregnant." Well my sweetie, we're got 3 daughters already, we've reached the age with our youngest in University (I'm mid 50's and she is 10 years behind) so I really don't think that's going to be a problem is my response. Hers is "you never know" with a smile.

My aunts, cousins, and female friends all take her side. If I get a headache, a cold, fall down on the ice, bump my head on a tree limb, smash my finger in the car door, burn my tongue on some hot dish, etc, she shakes her head and says "see, I told you ice is not good for you."   

Yes we eat ice cream on blini for breakfast too. But she says that is somehow "different."