Why I go to Russia!

[Doll]

The fact is you can live for around 200/mo there

Almost impossible

[dokrog]

Doll, but not impossible. I did say in reality we were spending around 500 to 1000 usd though. That seemed to be pretty typical. My wife's family also eats a LOT of potatoes and they grow their own tomatoes, cucumbers etc. and of course potatoes but not all of them.

I will also say that Russia has the sweetest icecream I've ever tasted. Ours here in America seems almost tasteless by comparison.

Utro, You have that exactly right about the Rubble devaluation affecting prices. I couldn't believe what some things cost. Usually on every trip I like to buy a few things to take home. I always buy a nice crystal set for alcohol with matching glasses etc. I'm trying to give every U.S. family member one eventually. The prices on those have really gone up. I paid around 1300 Rubles last year and almost 3000 this year for the same set or one close to it. With exchange rates that meant the price had increased approx 50%. In reality, I could probably have gotten it cheaper in the U.S.

My wife's brother is a programmer and was making around 1000 usd/mo in Kirov (when he was paid what was owed) The girl who worked next to him was making around 600 I was told. Big disparity in wages that's for sure.

[Doll]

dokrog , both my mother and my older son live there- 6 000 rubles is barely possible to live on. Life is very expensive there.

[Sculpto]

The prices on those have really gone up. I paid around 1300 Rubles last year and almost 3000 this year for the same set or one close to it. With exchange rates that meant the price had increased approx 50%.

I have seen this in Mexico also, in defiance of the "laws" of supply and demand.. sales get slower so merchants raise prices to compensate for the smaller volume.  Its weird and does nothing to help the situation.

[dokrog]

I agree 100% Doll. If it weren't for the fresh produce from the villages plot it probably would be impossible.

I agree that life has become very expensive in Kirov in the last 10 years. Prices have probably increased a minimum of10% per year or thereabouts if not more.

I'm not sure what's going to happen on that end and to be honest it worries me a little. Russia's economy is in many ways based on their natural resources i.e., gas and oil. Their exploration for new sources is down at least 85% also. What will happen in another decade when these fields start running dry? They also haven't helped matters any by decreasing their visa stay limits either. I know of a few foreign investors who have left russia because of that. I've heard that a lot more have also.

[dokrog]

Well it certainly doesn't help Sculpto that most russians seem to be pulling their money out of the banks again but what the hey. Look what happened in '92 then again in '98. Just about the same scenario.

For the record and I know Utro is cringing right now. My wife "says" she wants a HIGH stone fence around whatever house we bye, just like in moscow at least 2 and preferably 3 meters tall. *rolls his eyes*. She does not want people seeing her. She is right now as I write this trying to convince me to remove the railing from our front deck and put up a privacy barrier so cars driving by can't see her when she sits out there. My god that would be an ugly site for sure.

Now that is one mentality that I still can't understand but seems to be somewhat common. Anyone have any ideas on that one?

[dokrog]

Last year I hired 2 men from the village to do some work for us. I needed an addition built for an indoor bathroom (do not ask about the septic please) and I needed the roofs replaced on a couple of the sheds and a new larger chicken coop built. Let me tell you people something. If I or my wifes mama wasn't right there watching them none of the work would have gotten done. I was quoted 5k/mo by both men and agreed to pay that with a 1k bonus for good work. I actually could have hired them much cheaper than that but what the  hell, I have the money.

Needless to say. little odds and ends disappeared. They never ever showed up on time to work. Always were trying to sneak off early. Were half drunk most of the time etc. but you know what?

All that work got done and good quality too. But man oh man you almost need a supervisor for every worker out there. They got quite angry when I withheld their wages for 2 days because half my tools disappeared. I got them back of course. And yes I would have had them soundly beaten if I hadn't.

Young men, hell, what can you do. *shrugs*

[SANDRO43]

But man oh man you almost need a supervisor for every worker out there.

Something like this ?

[dokrog]

Still laughing. I hope you don't mind but I stole the picture. Some things are priceless.

[SANDRO43]

Still laughing. I hope you don't mind but I stole the picture. Some things are priceless.

No problem Doktor, it's from our E-book, and I can't remember where I stole it from myself, I only modified its captions.

It just occurs to me that I could also have added that the rope on Ivan's waist is NOT for safety reasons, but to prevent him from running away .

P.S.: on a closer look, it's not a rope at all, but the handle of some tool. Pity .

[dokrog]

That is too funny. You know. One day the men were digging out the septic (by hand of course) and they stopped to take a break. not talking just staring at the hole in the ground. side by side, passing a bottle of vodka between them. After a few minutes went by and they still hadn't moved I almost started timing them but gave up and went in the house to make myself a peanut butter sandwich.

I always take 3 or 4 HUGE jars of peanut butter with me every time I go. That stuff keeps me alive over there. grins. That and my daughter loves it.

After 30 minutes or so, 2 sandwitches and about a liter of beer later and a failed attempt at seducing my wife, (I am especially fond of baltika 9) I came back out and they still hadn't moved. still same position but now talking in low mumbling tones with little sideways shifts of the eye watching me. I rolled my eyes picked up a sledge hammer and hit the iron watering trough next to me and hollared "pashle pashle seechus". Jesus. They got back to work of course.

[SANDRO43]

That is too funny. You know. One day the men were digging out the septic (by hand of course) and they stopped to take a break. not talking just staring at the hole in the ground. side by side, passing a bottle of vodka between them. After a few minutes went by and they still hadn't moved I almost started timing them but gave up and went in the house to make myself a peanut butter sandwich.

I always take 3 or 4 HUGE jars of peanut butter with me every time I go. That stuff keeps me alive over there. grins. That and my daughter loves it.

After 30 minutes or so, 2 sandwitches and about a liter of beer later and a failed attempt at seducing my wife, (I am especially fond of baltika 9) I came back out and they still hadn't moved. still same position but now talking in low mumbling tones with little sideways shifts of the eye watching me. I rolled my eyes picked up a sledge hammer and hit the iron watering trough next to me and hollared "pashle pashle seechus". Jesus. They got back to work of course.

They were having a séance, probably - septic tank effluvia are known to induce deep trance-like states, you know .

[dokrog]

AS superstitious as they can be your probably right.

[SANDRO43]

Dokrog, if that's you in your avatar, you bear a vague resemblance to Tommy Dorsey. Any relations ?

[dokrog]

That is indeed me, and while I don't play the trombone I do play the saxophone and the piano.