Август 31, 2004
Whoa
8/31 23:25 Moscow time
Too much vodka to accommodate much writing. The conference came off fairly well. С П-ёв and I went out before lunch to get a good OP for his diagnostic computer, and I spent a decent chunk of the afternoon setting up his system. The conference was good, though it seems that the toys I was made to bring out this way are not distributed as I had expected.
One of our major vendor’s representative for Europe is a French guy, J-C L. I took the opportunity over lunchtime to sling some French. Not surprisingly, it was painful to switch from Russian to French, even though I know the latter way better than the former. Still, I impressed people; some wondered aloud if I could possibly be an American. I assured him that all Americans were so worldly, and that what he had heard was merely a vicious rumor. I’m learning from the salesmen how to lie effectively...
Tomorrow, I leave at noon for the airport. Then Vienna, and then Bangkok. I’ve been advised to commission a suit there, as I should be able to get it, along with a spare pair of pants for less than one hundred dollars... Maybe I will get around to that; suffice it to say,, I might not be able to post for a day or so.
As a final note, the boss decided to keep “my” “department” phone for himself (big surprise). As luck would have it, I’m in Russia, where everything is possible. So, we went with KS (whose expense reports go to a completely different organization) to dinner (which came to $350 for the five of us). I just beforehand bought our new department mobile, which we had the Russian cashier write up a receipt for, headed “Sonik Auo”, but not itemized. Our new phone will be paid for as if it were a meal. This is Russia. I’m learning, as is PR (the salesman for this area). They tell us if we keep this up, we’ll be real Russians in not too much longer.
Regardless, I’ll have and Aussie number shortly after arriving there. A will get it from me; others can get it from her. Good deal.
I’m going to stop now; I’ll try to get to posting again before I leave Moscow tomorrow.
Too much vodka to accommodate much writing. The conference came off fairly well. С П-ёв and I went out before lunch to get a good OP for his diagnostic computer, and I spent a decent chunk of the afternoon setting up his system. The conference was good, though it seems that the toys I was made to bring out this way are not distributed as I had expected.
One of our major vendor’s representative for Europe is a French guy, J-C L. I took the opportunity over lunchtime to sling some French. Not surprisingly, it was painful to switch from Russian to French, even though I know the latter way better than the former. Still, I impressed people; some wondered aloud if I could possibly be an American. I assured him that all Americans were so worldly, and that what he had heard was merely a vicious rumor. I’m learning from the salesmen how to lie effectively...
Tomorrow, I leave at noon for the airport. Then Vienna, and then Bangkok. I’ve been advised to commission a suit there, as I should be able to get it, along with a spare pair of pants for less than one hundred dollars... Maybe I will get around to that; suffice it to say,, I might not be able to post for a day or so.
As a final note, the boss decided to keep “my” “department” phone for himself (big surprise). As luck would have it, I’m in Russia, where everything is possible. So, we went with KS (whose expense reports go to a completely different organization) to dinner (which came to $350 for the five of us). I just beforehand bought our new department mobile, which we had the Russian cashier write up a receipt for, headed “Sonik Auo”, but not itemized. Our new phone will be paid for as if it were a meal. This is Russia. I’m learning, as is PR (the salesman for this area). They tell us if we keep this up, we’ll be real Russians in not too much longer.
Regardless, I’ll have and Aussie number shortly after arriving there. A will get it from me; others can get it from her. Good deal.
I’m going to stop now; I’ll try to get to posting again before I leave Moscow tomorrow.
Inside Metro station Проспект Мира
One of the fuzzy hats (A bit small for me...)
Август 30, 2004
Cruise on the Moscow
8/31 00:12 Moscow time
So the presentation(s) went fine today. I slung a bit of Russian, got a chuckle, and had many, many people complimenting me on my workmanship. I started to wonder at one point whether I had actually done so poorly that they all felt sorry for me and needed to cheer me up... By the time I had that thought, though, the booze cruise had started and was, in fact well underway (as was I), so it was all ‘no worries’.
Everyone is here. From Peterburg, И Ю and his crew, as well as С П, А М, Т, and А Л – who was sick last time I was here, and who I never met. From Moscow, К Е and his crew, as well as a larger crew from the second, less satisfying dealership. From Yekaterinburg, С А, Н С (the general director) and another gal. From Khabarovsk, С П-ёв. From Vladivostok, two of the three И’s, as well as the main owner, who is also the chairman of the Duma of Vladivostok. Plus a whole bunch of people I had never met.
So. The cruise.
I tell people that Russian “know how to entertain”. Pretty much everyone seems to think this means that they drink tons and tons of booze. While true, this is not the main point I am trying to get across. More important than (okayfine, equally important) the drinking is the general socialization, mingling and otherwise atmosphere of a Russian night. Effortlessly, one finds oneself talking in some depth with every other attendee. Not pro forma conversation, either, but good stuff ranging from the business related to the humorous to the old classic ‘telling-of-outrageous-stories’. What’s more, they are, to a person, gracious conversationalists, who will do their best to accommodate the communication level of your capabilities. We had the range from the Duma chairman to a mechanics from Yekaterinburg; all had this quality. I’m chalking it up to ‘national character’ until I am shown otherwise...
I chatted with А С a fair amount about his impressions of Moscow, since he’s been an infrequent visitor since the mid-80’s. Also with И Ю about stuff ranging from language studies to the physics of transmissions to the award he got as our best-performing dealer in the region for the year. Also with C П-в and А М about life in Peterburg. Also with some guys from Moscow about the city itself and some new foul language for me. Also with P R and B R (J V’s boss) about the stolen Russian gold. Also with T again about Peterburg. She made me promise to call her before I bring A out this way so she can set up some proper guiding for us. J V was ecstatic by the end of the cruise. Most every non-Russian I spoke to -- one of whom is Iranian by descent, but a Frenchman, and with whom I gave a valiant (and successful, though painful) effort to speak in french – agreed that the cruise was a major success. Congratulations to all the guys at our Moscow office who set this up are certainly in order.
For tonight, I have taken С П-ёв’s diagnostic laptop and tried to re-install our diagnostic programs. To no avail since the 100%-white version of Windows XP he bought is the Home Edition which lacks various components, relative to the Professional Edition, which our diagnostic program needs. К сожелению... I’m going to hate to break the news to him tomorrow morning...
So the presentation(s) went fine today. I slung a bit of Russian, got a chuckle, and had many, many people complimenting me on my workmanship. I started to wonder at one point whether I had actually done so poorly that they all felt sorry for me and needed to cheer me up... By the time I had that thought, though, the booze cruise had started and was, in fact well underway (as was I), so it was all ‘no worries’.
Everyone is here. From Peterburg, И Ю and his crew, as well as С П, А М, Т, and А Л – who was sick last time I was here, and who I never met. From Moscow, К Е and his crew, as well as a larger crew from the second, less satisfying dealership. From Yekaterinburg, С А, Н С (the general director) and another gal. From Khabarovsk, С П-ёв. From Vladivostok, two of the three И’s, as well as the main owner, who is also the chairman of the Duma of Vladivostok. Plus a whole bunch of people I had never met.
So. The cruise.
I tell people that Russian “know how to entertain”. Pretty much everyone seems to think this means that they drink tons and tons of booze. While true, this is not the main point I am trying to get across. More important than (okayfine, equally important) the drinking is the general socialization, mingling and otherwise atmosphere of a Russian night. Effortlessly, one finds oneself talking in some depth with every other attendee. Not pro forma conversation, either, but good stuff ranging from the business related to the humorous to the old classic ‘telling-of-outrageous-stories’. What’s more, they are, to a person, gracious conversationalists, who will do their best to accommodate the communication level of your capabilities. We had the range from the Duma chairman to a mechanics from Yekaterinburg; all had this quality. I’m chalking it up to ‘national character’ until I am shown otherwise...
I chatted with А С a fair amount about his impressions of Moscow, since he’s been an infrequent visitor since the mid-80’s. Also with И Ю about stuff ranging from language studies to the physics of transmissions to the award he got as our best-performing dealer in the region for the year. Also with C П-в and А М about life in Peterburg. Also with some guys from Moscow about the city itself and some new foul language for me. Also with P R and B R (J V’s boss) about the stolen Russian gold. Also with T again about Peterburg. She made me promise to call her before I bring A out this way so she can set up some proper guiding for us. J V was ecstatic by the end of the cruise. Most every non-Russian I spoke to -- one of whom is Iranian by descent, but a Frenchman, and with whom I gave a valiant (and successful, though painful) effort to speak in french – agreed that the cruise was a major success. Congratulations to all the guys at our Moscow office who set this up are certainly in order.
For tonight, I have taken С П-ёв’s diagnostic laptop and tried to re-install our diagnostic programs. To no avail since the 100%-white version of Windows XP he bought is the Home Edition which lacks various components, relative to the Professional Edition, which our diagnostic program needs. К сожелению... I’m going to hate to break the news to him tomorrow morning...
Август 29, 2004
Second night
8/29 23:47 Moscow time
Quite a day today. The MotorShow was fairly neat. We ran into С П-в, А М, and T from the smaller Peterburg dealer on the way out of the hotel. True to form, I completely blew A M's name. We'll be seeing more of them tomorrow and the next day. Then to the Show, where we immediately went to see И Ю. I'm not the only person who thinks this guy is a great partner. He, Б М, and two other guys are here. Again, more of them the next couple days. И had two trucks on display and was quite busy. Unfortunately for him, the exhibit next door was a car stereo company, that was blasting pounding music the whole four days. Poor guy. He says he can recite all their adds in his sleep now, but he will never be able to buy anything from them - the trauma is permanent.
Lunch was at a lodge-type establishment, Ермак. Quite good; PR and KS are starting to believe my claims about Russian food. This place was in the part of Moscow where В Е grew up, so we got some history from him.
After lunch, I got dropped off at the Metro station Полежаевская, and went to the ВДНХ park/business center (via line change at Китай-Город) to check out the fuzzy hat shops. As luck would have it, I found three hats that would work (in a total of three shops...). So not everyone will have to wait. I also picked up some more vodkas and looked for a book for the kids - no luck there. Then, coming back to the hotel (not far from Metro station Павелецкая) to meet В Е and the guys for dinner, I got to switch over at Metro station Просрект Мира, of which I took my only (so far) photo of a Metro. Once I have the time/inclination, I'll of course post them all...
Dinner was an Azerbaijani place. None needs to be said about the cuisine.
Tomorrow morning begins the actual conference. Checking the agenda, it appears I will be presenting tomorrow at 2-2:40 (Parts) then 2:40-3:20 (Service). I relly shouldn't drink before I get up to talk, but I'm certainly having a beer after I finish. We also have the traditional salesman's 'booze cruise' scheduled for that evening on the Moscow River. Perhaps I'll get some pics without dropping my camera over the side...
Oh yeah; I did end up running into С П this morning. We both commented on how each other looks like hell and started immediately strategizing for our next trip out. What a great guy!
Quite a day today. The MotorShow was fairly neat. We ran into С П-в, А М, and T from the smaller Peterburg dealer on the way out of the hotel. True to form, I completely blew A M's name. We'll be seeing more of them tomorrow and the next day. Then to the Show, where we immediately went to see И Ю. I'm not the only person who thinks this guy is a great partner. He, Б М, and two other guys are here. Again, more of them the next couple days. И had two trucks on display and was quite busy. Unfortunately for him, the exhibit next door was a car stereo company, that was blasting pounding music the whole four days. Poor guy. He says he can recite all their adds in his sleep now, but he will never be able to buy anything from them - the trauma is permanent.
Lunch was at a lodge-type establishment, Ермак. Quite good; PR and KS are starting to believe my claims about Russian food. This place was in the part of Moscow where В Е grew up, so we got some history from him.
After lunch, I got dropped off at the Metro station Полежаевская, and went to the ВДНХ park/business center (via line change at Китай-Город) to check out the fuzzy hat shops. As luck would have it, I found three hats that would work (in a total of three shops...). So not everyone will have to wait. I also picked up some more vodkas and looked for a book for the kids - no luck there. Then, coming back to the hotel (not far from Metro station Павелецкая) to meet В Е and the guys for dinner, I got to switch over at Metro station Просрект Мира, of which I took my only (so far) photo of a Metro. Once I have the time/inclination, I'll of course post them all...
Dinner was an Azerbaijani place. None needs to be said about the cuisine.
Tomorrow morning begins the actual conference. Checking the agenda, it appears I will be presenting tomorrow at 2-2:40 (Parts) then 2:40-3:20 (Service). I relly shouldn't drink before I get up to talk, but I'm certainly having a beer after I finish. We also have the traditional salesman's 'booze cruise' scheduled for that evening on the Moscow River. Perhaps I'll get some pics without dropping my camera over the side...
Oh yeah; I did end up running into С П this morning. We both commented on how each other looks like hell and started immediately strategizing for our next trip out. What a great guy!
Август 28, 2004
Catch-up
8/29 08:25 Moscow time
Sorry I was so brief last night; I genuinely thought I would need to get to sleep to keep from jet-lagging. No need to worry; I got up this morning on my internal clock at just a hair before 7. Fair enough; it let me call A before the kids really needed to get to bed. Plus, I get this leisurely morning to write here!
The hotel we’re set up in is a new, pretty nice one just a bit south of the Kremlin. Fairly expensive, I would bet, but since the big bosses are staying in the same place, us lowly serfs get to reap some proximity benefits. I’m in the process of downgrading my expectations for this trip, fuzzy-hat-wise. Sorry to everyone, but unless I am struck by some colossally unexpected luck, the fuzzy hats will need to wait until next Feb. –sigh-
On the plus side, that leaves me free to pick up other neato stuff (including the two songs whose CD’s I am still trying to identify). I haven’t run into С П yet – which feels a bit odd since he was my constant companion for the whole month I was here before – and probably won’t until tomorrow as he is touring the big bosses all day today.
Some leftovers from yesterday:
My credibility with my American colleagues was dealt a serious blow before our feet had actually even touched Russian soil. I had been trying for most of the preceding week to describe to them the sheer hell that is passport control at Sheremetevo airport. Coming down the stairs into the foreigner holding pen area, I discovered to my near-distress that there were a total of six people waiting in line in front of us to pass through control. Recall, this took me 1.5 hours last time I did it, and I was assured that this was not a very bad time for Sharek. Then, our bags were among the first ten to come out of the pick-up area, then the guy in front of us through customs set off the radiation detector and so fully occupied the customs guards’ attention that they just waved us through. We got to the car some twenty minutes (!!) after our plane touched down. No amount of agreement from В Е that this ha been in fact a freakish, never-to-be-repeated experience convinced P R or K S that I had not been way exaggerating. I’d hardly be able to believe it myself if I hadn’t been there...
Breakfast time approaches (I’m on lazy-assed-salesman time this trip, it appears); I must depart.
Sorry I was so brief last night; I genuinely thought I would need to get to sleep to keep from jet-lagging. No need to worry; I got up this morning on my internal clock at just a hair before 7. Fair enough; it let me call A before the kids really needed to get to bed. Plus, I get this leisurely morning to write here!
The hotel we’re set up in is a new, pretty nice one just a bit south of the Kremlin. Fairly expensive, I would bet, but since the big bosses are staying in the same place, us lowly serfs get to reap some proximity benefits. I’m in the process of downgrading my expectations for this trip, fuzzy-hat-wise. Sorry to everyone, but unless I am struck by some colossally unexpected luck, the fuzzy hats will need to wait until next Feb. –sigh-
On the plus side, that leaves me free to pick up other neato stuff (including the two songs whose CD’s I am still trying to identify). I haven’t run into С П yet – which feels a bit odd since he was my constant companion for the whole month I was here before – and probably won’t until tomorrow as he is touring the big bosses all day today.
Some leftovers from yesterday:
My credibility with my American colleagues was dealt a serious blow before our feet had actually even touched Russian soil. I had been trying for most of the preceding week to describe to them the sheer hell that is passport control at Sheremetevo airport. Coming down the stairs into the foreigner holding pen area, I discovered to my near-distress that there were a total of six people waiting in line in front of us to pass through control. Recall, this took me 1.5 hours last time I did it, and I was assured that this was not a very bad time for Sharek. Then, our bags were among the first ten to come out of the pick-up area, then the guy in front of us through customs set off the radiation detector and so fully occupied the customs guards’ attention that they just waved us through. We got to the car some twenty minutes (!!) after our plane touched down. No amount of agreement from В Е that this ha been in fact a freakish, never-to-be-repeated experience convinced P R or K S that I had not been way exaggerating. I’d hardly be able to believe it myself if I hadn’t been there...
Breakfast time approaches (I’m on lazy-assed-salesman time this trip, it appears); I must depart.
Finally here.
8/29 00:41 Moscow time
Man oh man is it different to be on a business trip with salesmen. We went out a bit today walking with В Е, Ю П, and Ю’s wife О. Once around the Kremlin, mostly me talking to O and Ю in Russian while the other two Americans talked with B. Then, to dinner at the Bulgarian place so loved by B E. Good food. Such good food here. Plus vodka.
Not much in the way of observations tonight. My language all (such as it is, of course) came back to me right away. It’s a shame in some ways that I have to be leaving here so soon. Probably, I’ll have more to say tomorrow. For now, I’ve been awake for a bit too long. Nighty night.
Man oh man is it different to be on a business trip with salesmen. We went out a bit today walking with В Е, Ю П, and Ю’s wife О. Once around the Kremlin, mostly me talking to O and Ю in Russian while the other two Americans talked with B. Then, to dinner at the Bulgarian place so loved by B E. Good food. Such good food here. Plus vodka.
Not much in the way of observations tonight. My language all (such as it is, of course) came back to me right away. It’s a shame in some ways that I have to be leaving here so soon. Probably, I’ll have more to say tomorrow. For now, I’ve been awake for a bit too long. Nighty night.
Август 27, 2004
What a ride
???? after dinner, airplane time
You know this one is back-dated, since I’m writing it on the plane. Still, let’s pretend...
I met up with P R (salesman) and K S (vendor rep) just before getting on the plane. They’re both sitting together; I am up on a northward-facing window seat, next to a Dubliner who’s just finishing up an around-the-world gig himself. Good times; good stories; good jokes. Couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor, in my opinion.
I’ve got to pack up now as the lights are going down, and so is my laptop’s battery. Probably, I’ll watch the Garfield movie on the dubbed-into-German channel; that may make it marginally less horrible...
More in Moscow.
You know this one is back-dated, since I’m writing it on the plane. Still, let’s pretend...
I met up with P R (salesman) and K S (vendor rep) just before getting on the plane. They’re both sitting together; I am up on a northward-facing window seat, next to a Dubliner who’s just finishing up an around-the-world gig himself. Good times; good stories; good jokes. Couldn’t have asked for a better neighbor, in my opinion.
I’ve got to pack up now as the lights are going down, and so is my laptop’s battery. Probably, I’ll watch the Garfield movie on the dubbed-into-German channel; that may make it marginally less horrible...
More in Moscow.
Starting off
8/27 14:54 Portland time
PDX again. The terminal at the end (where the direct Lufthansa flight departs from) is more crowded than usual – it seems the NW air flight to Tokyo that should have left around noon was leaking jet fuel, so they needed to try to fix; then get another plane; then let the passengers coming in from Frankfurt deplane through the ‘customs-controlled zone’. The folks are still waiting, but they say it won’t delay our boarding in an hour or so...
A, Z, G, and I did our regular pre-flight lunch out (on the Company dime, of course). None of us seem to be nearly as busted up this time as we were for the last trip. Mostly, I suppose, since it’ll be for half the time, and I wasn’t really home for long enough to totally assimilate back into things. Since I don’t plan on traveling again before February, that shouldn’t be an issue coming home from this trip.
Speaking of this trip, my itinerary is as follows:
8/27-28 – Portland-Frankfurt-Moscow
8/29 – MotorShow in Moscow
8/30-31 – Dealer conference in Moscow
9/1-2 – Moscow-Vienna-Bangkok
9/2-3 – Quick trip though the sight(s) of Bangkok (28 hours total, including airport time)
9/3-4 – Bangkok-Singapore-Brisbane
9/4-10 – Working in Brisbane with our Aussie dealer
9/10-11-then-back-to-10-again – Brisbane-Aukland-San Francisco-Portland
Certainly, I’ll be updating as possible, and back-dating (hee hee, sneaky me) as necessary. With all the excitement lately in Moscow, I had to modify my promise to A of last trip. This time, I won’t be on the news without notifying her by phone first. Also, everyone should keep in mind the time difference between the US and where I’ll be and refrain from freaking out if they hear some sort of bad news out of that area and I haven’t called to say I’m alright yet – I’m probably still asleep, and will check in as soon as I get up.
PDX again. The terminal at the end (where the direct Lufthansa flight departs from) is more crowded than usual – it seems the NW air flight to Tokyo that should have left around noon was leaking jet fuel, so they needed to try to fix; then get another plane; then let the passengers coming in from Frankfurt deplane through the ‘customs-controlled zone’. The folks are still waiting, but they say it won’t delay our boarding in an hour or so...
A, Z, G, and I did our regular pre-flight lunch out (on the Company dime, of course). None of us seem to be nearly as busted up this time as we were for the last trip. Mostly, I suppose, since it’ll be for half the time, and I wasn’t really home for long enough to totally assimilate back into things. Since I don’t plan on traveling again before February, that shouldn’t be an issue coming home from this trip.
Speaking of this trip, my itinerary is as follows:
8/27-28 – Portland-Frankfurt-Moscow
8/29 – MotorShow in Moscow
8/30-31 – Dealer conference in Moscow
9/1-2 – Moscow-Vienna-Bangkok
9/2-3 – Quick trip though the sight(s) of Bangkok (28 hours total, including airport time)
9/3-4 – Bangkok-Singapore-Brisbane
9/4-10 – Working in Brisbane with our Aussie dealer
9/10-11-then-back-to-10-again – Brisbane-Aukland-San Francisco-Portland
Certainly, I’ll be updating as possible, and back-dating (hee hee, sneaky me) as necessary. With all the excitement lately in Moscow, I had to modify my promise to A of last trip. This time, I won’t be on the news without notifying her by phone first. Also, everyone should keep in mind the time difference between the US and where I’ll be and refrain from freaking out if they hear some sort of bad news out of that area and I haven’t called to say I’m alright yet – I’m probably still asleep, and will check in as soon as I get up.
Август 26, 2004
Hours remain
Just wrapping up the last few things in the office before I take off (one of which, posting here, is obviously not directly work-related...).
I picked up yesterday a map of Bangkok to figure our where I'll be and what might be worth doing in the 28-or-so hours I'll be in that city. I'm advised by most to go to the 'temple of the emerald buddha' (or something along those lines). I found it on the map; it's not too far from my hotel; so thats probably where I'll go. Surely, this time, since I have traded in my malfunctioning way-ancient Sony Mavica camera for a nice, new, compact Nikon CoolPix, I will have tons and tons of pictures.
In other good news, my main man В Е -- actually, his daughter -- came through for me, mobile-phone-wise. I'll be once again in phone contact, using that same number I sparingly distributed on my last visit. Be advised, however, that I will only have that number until the first of September. I hope to get an Aussie sim card sometime on the 4th and have that plugged in right away; I'll distribute that number (just as sparingly, of course) shortly after getting it.
And finally, I am sad to note that I will definitely not be making it the the City of Townsville this trip as I had hoped. Apparently, though it looks quite close to Brisbane on a globe, the actual driving distance is around 1200km -- at 100km an hour strictly-enforced speed limits, that makes way too long of a drive for such a short trip. We do have a delaership in Townsville, though, so I hope for a future jaunt out that way.
Perhaps I will be able to post again before I depart; otherwise, you'll hear from me next in Moscow...
I picked up yesterday a map of Bangkok to figure our where I'll be and what might be worth doing in the 28-or-so hours I'll be in that city. I'm advised by most to go to the 'temple of the emerald buddha' (or something along those lines). I found it on the map; it's not too far from my hotel; so thats probably where I'll go. Surely, this time, since I have traded in my malfunctioning way-ancient Sony Mavica camera for a nice, new, compact Nikon CoolPix, I will have tons and tons of pictures.
In other good news, my main man В Е -- actually, his daughter -- came through for me, mobile-phone-wise. I'll be once again in phone contact, using that same number I sparingly distributed on my last visit. Be advised, however, that I will only have that number until the first of September. I hope to get an Aussie sim card sometime on the 4th and have that plugged in right away; I'll distribute that number (just as sparingly, of course) shortly after getting it.
And finally, I am sad to note that I will definitely not be making it the the City of Townsville this trip as I had hoped. Apparently, though it looks quite close to Brisbane on a globe, the actual driving distance is around 1200km -- at 100km an hour strictly-enforced speed limits, that makes way too long of a drive for such a short trip. We do have a delaership in Townsville, though, so I hope for a future jaunt out that way.
Perhaps I will be able to post again before I depart; otherwise, you'll hear from me next in Moscow...
Август 25, 2004
Boom
So. Scant days before I leave, what do I (and more importantly, A) see on the telescreen / internet news?
Two Aircraft
and a
Bus Station
blew up in Russia yesterday...
On the plus side (as far as I'm concerned), the bus station was well outside of the city center area (where I'll be), and the two aircraft were both domestic flights on relatively small carriers, leaving from Domodedovo -- the 'not-crappy' airport that I seem to be unable to fly through. Still, I passed along a request for details to our Moscow office, and got the following response back from В Е:
"Don't worry... the human who scheduled by God to die when swimming never will die in the car accident or in the plane crash.
Welcome to Russia!"
Two days and counting.
Two Aircraft
and a
Bus Station
blew up in Russia yesterday...
On the plus side (as far as I'm concerned), the bus station was well outside of the city center area (where I'll be), and the two aircraft were both domestic flights on relatively small carriers, leaving from Domodedovo -- the 'not-crappy' airport that I seem to be unable to fly through. Still, I passed along a request for details to our Moscow office, and got the following response back from В Е:
"Don't worry... the human who scheduled by God to die when swimming never will die in the car accident or in the plane crash.
Welcome to Russia!"
Two days and counting.
Август 23, 2004
Five more days
and counting...
Well, I spent a decent chunk of time writing about the upcoming trip, then lost it in a computer-memory-related mishap.
Screw it; I'm not re-typing. More tomorrow.
Well, I spent a decent chunk of time writing about the upcoming trip, then lost it in a computer-memory-related mishap.
Screw it; I'm not re-typing. More tomorrow.
Август 12, 2004
Oz
For some reason, most people, when I tell them that my new job has me travelling through large parts of the former Soviet Union, Indonesia, and also, periodically, Brisbane, respond, "Oh neat! You get to go to Australia!"...
Maybe they know something I don't. I'll find out, I guess.
Anyway.
I had to get a business visa for OZ. Unlike the trauma I endured getting my one-year (actually, it's down to nine-month at this point) russian one, the ETA (no, I don't know what it stands for) was almost totally effortless. I indicated on a form my passport number and name, sent it with a copy of my passport picture page and around ninety bucks to a cunsulate, and got back a receipt telling me that my visa was in the Australian computer files. It's good for the life of the passport, which is another nine years...
But the Russians are going to want my blood again in maybe six months. -sigh-
A happy note is that the Higher Powers at the Company have approved my proposal for a sim-card-lock-free cell phone. В Е in Moscow is going to buy me one and have it waiting for me to jam my MTS sim card into whenever I'm in Russia. Then, I take the MTS card out and replace it with a (insert name of Australian carrier here) card for constant local phone access no matter where I am. Certainly, it won't be quite as thrilling as it sounds.
Maybe they know something I don't. I'll find out, I guess.
Anyway.
I had to get a business visa for OZ. Unlike the trauma I endured getting my one-year (actually, it's down to nine-month at this point) russian one, the ETA (no, I don't know what it stands for) was almost totally effortless. I indicated on a form my passport number and name, sent it with a copy of my passport picture page and around ninety bucks to a cunsulate, and got back a receipt telling me that my visa was in the Australian computer files. It's good for the life of the passport, which is another nine years...
But the Russians are going to want my blood again in maybe six months. -sigh-
A happy note is that the Higher Powers at the Company have approved my proposal for a sim-card-lock-free cell phone. В Е in Moscow is going to buy me one and have it waiting for me to jam my MTS sim card into whenever I'm in Russia. Then, I take the MTS card out and replace it with a (insert name of Australian carrier here) card for constant local phone access no matter where I am. Certainly, it won't be quite as thrilling as it sounds.
Август 08, 2004
Been a While...
I'll just check in here for a moment.
Work, as usual, continues. A, Z, and G are all fairly well used to me again.
And I'm in the process of setting up my next trip out...
The plan for now, is to leave on the same flight out on the afternoon of Friday the 27th, land in Moscow (Sheremetevo is going to be the way of it, it appears...) in the afternoon of the 28th. I'll tool around with a couple other 'mercuns for Sunday (maybe show them my 'secret entrance' to the Kremlin hee hee hee), then we have the first ever dealer conference on the 30th and 31st. Woo-hoo. I'm doing a fair bit of presentationizing for that, and am oh-so-excited about that. I will certainly take the opportunity to sling a bit of russian to try to impress my boss's boss (and his boss, who will also be attending). Hopefully, I will refrain from Supreme Humiliation.
Then, on September 1, I leave for a long, long plane ride. Moscow-Vienna; Vienna-Bangkok. I spend one night in a hotel somewhere in Bangkok, then Bangkok-Singapore; Singapore-Brisbane. I end up in Brisbane the morning of the 4th (I think). That week, I spend with our (established) Aussie dealers, before heading for the last set of rides on Sept 10: Brisbane-San Francisco; San Fran-home. As luck would have it, all the flights will be on the same frequent flyer card, which, with the Busniess Class multiplier, will bring me within spitting distance of A's tickets to Peterburg next summer. So there is a bright side after all...
More to follow, I suppose.
Work, as usual, continues. A, Z, and G are all fairly well used to me again.
And I'm in the process of setting up my next trip out...
The plan for now, is to leave on the same flight out on the afternoon of Friday the 27th, land in Moscow (Sheremetevo is going to be the way of it, it appears...) in the afternoon of the 28th. I'll tool around with a couple other 'mercuns for Sunday (maybe show them my 'secret entrance' to the Kremlin hee hee hee), then we have the first ever dealer conference on the 30th and 31st. Woo-hoo. I'm doing a fair bit of presentationizing for that, and am oh-so-excited about that. I will certainly take the opportunity to sling a bit of russian to try to impress my boss's boss (and his boss, who will also be attending). Hopefully, I will refrain from Supreme Humiliation.
Then, on September 1, I leave for a long, long plane ride. Moscow-Vienna; Vienna-Bangkok. I spend one night in a hotel somewhere in Bangkok, then Bangkok-Singapore; Singapore-Brisbane. I end up in Brisbane the morning of the 4th (I think). That week, I spend with our (established) Aussie dealers, before heading for the last set of rides on Sept 10: Brisbane-San Francisco; San Fran-home. As luck would have it, all the flights will be on the same frequent flyer card, which, with the Busniess Class multiplier, will bring me within spitting distance of A's tickets to Peterburg next summer. So there is a bright side after all...
More to follow, I suppose.
