Working in the ‘stans

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Khazak, Uzbek etc

Might have some work there for a few days.
Having never worked abroad before, being a nervous wreck without a wingman, and with an almost pathological dislike of dealing with strangers, how difficult is this likely to be?

My lifetime foreign achievement so far has been to fly to Paris and go for a pint on my own.

If I’m met at the airport, taken to the hotel, picked up for the job, returned to the hotel and taken back to the airport, I may just about cope with it. But if I’m left to arrange any part of it myself, I’m likely to end up wandering around eternally like Marcus Brodie in The Last Crusade.

Anyone worked there before, and if so, how many times did you get ripped off and/or mugged?

Warra f***ing flange .
 
Khazak, Uzbek etc

Might have some work there for a few days.
Having never worked abroad before, being a nervous wreck without a wingman, and with an almost pathological dislike of dealing with strangers, how difficult is this likely to be?

My lifetime foreign achievement so far has been to fly to Paris and go for a pint on my own.

If I’m met at the airport, taken to the hotel, picked up for the job, returned to the hotel and taken back to the airport, I may just about cope with it. But if I’m left to arrange any part of it myself, I’m likely to end up wandering around eternally like Marcus Brodie in The Last Crusade.

Anyone worked there before, and if so, how many times did you get ripped off and/or mugged?
If you really are the way you say you are, don't go. You will be ripped to bits starting from getting ripped off with taxi driver and taken to nearest cash point. Worked in the area for years on and off. I felt safer in Basra than Atyrau late at night. The locals hate us....
 
Canny advice so far. However, people saying go out and enjoy the experience obviously haven’t read enough of my threads to understand my issues with people and with non-organised things. I once went to a conference in Harrogate and didn’t speak to a single person while I was there.
Ditto with the aforementioned Paris trip. I just mooched around smoking tabs aggressively and swaggering like a hard man.
If I do end up in one of these places on my own I’m not leaving the f***ing hotel.
Take your clipboard if it will make you feel more at home.;)

Conferences will be a little different as people will be on full on dickhead mode either getting lashed as they are away from home or trying to network their way up the career ladder.
If you are away to do some work and are effectively a guest in someone else's country, people will generally be wanting to make you feel welcome and tell you how great the place is.
Despite all the scare stories, 90% of people are alright and will want to make you welcome.
 
The chances are it will be at a power station or chemical plant in the middle of nowhere so I don’t know how much culture there would be to experience anyway.
Herbal, always need samples of our CaO dropping at such places - it's a pure white powder, if I give you some will you take it for me ?

pint in it
 
:lol:
Captain Shambles on tour. This has so much potential.

On a serious note, whilst I haven't been to any of the stans, I've travelled all over the world on my own for over twenty years. I'm a bit of a fuckwit at times and I've survived.
If you're with work, most stuff will be taken care of.
Football is the global currency. If you ever get into bother, talk football.
If you really get off the beaten path and end up in a dodgy area on your own, start arguing with yourself really loudly until you are safe. Nobody will approach if they think you are unhinged.

This advice also goes for travelling to/in Peterlee
 
Khazak, Uzbek etc

Might have some work there for a few days.
Having never worked abroad before, being a nervous wreck without a wingman, and with an almost pathological dislike of dealing with strangers, how difficult is this likely to be?

My lifetime foreign achievement so far has been to fly to Paris and go for a pint on my own.

If I’m met at the airport, taken to the hotel, picked up for the job, returned to the hotel and taken back to the airport, I may just about cope with it. But if I’m left to arrange any part of it myself, I’m likely to end up wandering around eternally like Marcus Brodie in The Last Crusade.

Anyone worked there before, and if so, how many times did you get ripped off and/or mugged?

If it is Kazakhstan it really depends upon where you are based / fly into.

Astana is modern - Airport no bother and flights via Lufthansa are decent.
Almaty is modern and a great night out. Loads of bars and restaurants. Airport as above.
Locals very friendly and most speak English very well.

If you are, like me, unlucky............
Atyrau is crap. One decent hotel and a couple of decent bars and restaurants. Flights via Air Astana are expensive and service almost non-existent. Customs are a pain in the arse.
You will get a tatty immigration slip which you have to register with police within 5 days. Do Not Lose it or you will not be allowed to fly out. If you realise early enough you can replace it for $300. Carry passport (with slip) whenever out as can be stopped at any time to produce. No passport = On the spot 'fine' or if late a night in the Plod Hotel.
Most locals ok except in the bars late on when it can be very 'interesting'.
 
Khazak, Uzbek etc

Might have some work there for a few days.
Having never worked abroad before, being a nervous wreck without a wingman, and with an almost pathological dislike of dealing with strangers, how difficult is this likely to be?

My lifetime foreign achievement so far has been to fly to Paris and go for a pint on my own.

If I’m met at the airport, taken to the hotel, picked up for the job, returned to the hotel and taken back to the airport, I may just about cope with it. But if I’m left to arrange any part of it myself, I’m likely to end up wandering around eternally like Marcus Brodie in The Last Crusade.

Anyone worked there before, and if so, how many times did you get ripped off and/or mugged?

You should have taken the easy route to money and gone to medical school.
 
This.

They can smell fear, like dogs.

Seriously though, just go with the flow, don't be a dick, don't make it obvious you're a foreigner, try their food and drink, go to bands, sports events etc with the locals and you'll have a great time. I loved my time in Russia.

Get talking footy with them and they'll love you to bits.
He talks footy with us and we don't love him.
Just joking Herbal me old fruit.
 
If it is Kazakhstan it really depends upon where you are based / fly into.

Astana is modern - Airport no bother and flights via Lufthansa are decent.
Almaty is modern and a great night out. Loads of bars and restaurants. Airport as above.
Locals very friendly and most speak English very well.

If you are, like me, unlucky............
Atyrau is crap. One decent hotel and a couple of decent bars and restaurants. Flights via Air Astana are expensive and service almost non-existent. Customs are a pain in the arse.
You will get a tatty immigration slip which you have to register with police within 5 days. Do Not Lose it or you will not be allowed to fly out. If you realise early enough you can replace it for $300. Carry passport (with slip) whenever out as can be stopped at any time to produce. No passport = On the spot 'fine' or if late a night in the Plod Hotel.
Most locals ok except in the bars late on when it can be very 'interesting'.
Haway @Dave Herbal , this sounds fun

You can write a blog. From prison or not, we don’t care
 
If you really are the way you say you are, don't go. You will be ripped to bits starting from getting ripped off with taxi driver and taken to nearest cash point. Worked in the area for years on and off. I felt safer in Basra than Atyrau late at night. The locals hate us....

Atyrau is f***ing bleak mind.

If it is Kazakhstan it really depends upon where you are based / fly into.

Astana is modern - Airport no bother and flights via Lufthansa are decent.
Almaty is modern and a great night out. Loads of bars and restaurants. Airport as above.
Locals very friendly and most speak English very well.

If you are, like me, unlucky............
Atyrau is crap. One decent hotel and a couple of decent bars and restaurants. Flights via Air Astana are expensive and service almost non-existent. Customs are a pain in the arse.
You will get a tatty immigration slip which you have to register with police within 5 days. Do Not Lose it or you will not be allowed to fly out. If you realise early enough you can replace it for $300. Carry passport (with slip) whenever out as can be stopped at any time to produce. No passport = On the spot 'fine' or if late a night in the Plod Hotel.
Most locals ok except in the bars late on when it can be very 'interesting'.

When they started the 14 day visa exemption (now 28), the immigration official 'accidentally' stamped my passport with the wrong date so I had already overstayed. Luckily one of the office admin girls spotted it straight away and drove back to the airport with my boarding card to make sure they put it right. I have had several issues in Atyrau f***ing airport.
 
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Khazak, Uzbek etc

Might have some work there for a few days.
Having never worked abroad before, being a nervous wreck without a wingman, and with an almost pathological dislike of dealing with strangers, how difficult is this likely to be?

My lifetime foreign achievement so far has been to fly to Paris and go for a pint on my own.

If I’m met at the airport, taken to the hotel, picked up for the job, returned to the hotel and taken back to the airport, I may just about cope with it. But if I’m left to arrange any part of it myself, I’m likely to end up wandering around eternally like Marcus Brodie in The Last Crusade.

Anyone worked there before, and if so, how many times did you get ripped off and/or mugged?
I’m trying to get to Astana but it’s a bastard fortune

Get yersel out there on a freebie and enjoy it
 
Atyrau is f***ing bleak mind.



When they started the 14 day visa exemption (now 28), the immigration official 'accidentally' stamped my passport with the wrong date so I had already overstayed. Luckily one of the office admin girls spotted it straight away and drove back to the airport with my boarding card to make sure they put it right. I have had several issues in Atyrau f***ing airport.
Issues in the airport, did they involve the bastard putting his hat on the counter to put money in. Also calling you back through after opening your case
 
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