tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post8775876638134367094..comments2024-02-07T11:31:44.141+03:00Comments on On Life in St. Petersburg: Banking, AKA Handwriting PracticeElizabethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15283395756742923658noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-33743691632178894722015-06-07T08:29:35.396+03:002015-06-07T08:29:35.396+03:00Also, I'm still not quite accustomed to the fa...Also, I'm still not quite accustomed to the fact that things look DIFFERENT in Russia. Though, I do recall that Sberbank had a distinctive internationally recognized sign....still the inside of the bank was very low-key...and it was so much smaller than I would have envisioned - Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623179886908222942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-3322677524719470282015-06-07T00:44:57.513+03:002015-06-07T00:44:57.513+03:00It was when I was getting a Congolese visa, I'...It was when I was getting a Congolese visa, I'll have to look for the post.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283395756742923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-14280618688726189682015-06-07T00:40:46.056+03:002015-06-07T00:40:46.056+03:00I don't know if you remember, but I had troubl...I don't know if you remember, but I had trouble finding a bank in Moscow, too. Interesting. I recall their residential areas being REALLY residential. Despite the Congolese Embassy being tucked away there, it seemed like there weren't as many stores and banks on every corner like in St. Petersburg. More trees though, perhaps. Incidentally, my debit card was hacked a few months after that transaction.Elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15283395756742923658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2949422246633548404.post-67539116062702269892015-06-06T05:05:34.797+03:002015-06-06T05:05:34.797+03:00One of my big adventures in Moscow was going to th...One of my big adventures in Moscow was going to the bank. And, it was really urgent, too! We were out of money. I can't even imagine how it was that I was supposed to get money, but someone I had some idea that my Credit Union in Lansing could wire them money. I did get the money but was terrified, as you can imagine. The hardest part, however, was that I had to have a "Sberbank" and of course, when I wasn't looking for one that's all I could find, but now I needed one there was none to be found. I scandalized Ilya by being a true American and boldly approaching a policeman to ask for directions. From the shock on the policeman's face, I could tell that he wasn't accustomed to direction-giving being part of his role, either. But, he pointed us in the right direction, finally. One thing I remember about that experience was that the bank was empty - and what a relief that was! I could make myself ridiculous in more-or-less obscurity.<br /><br />Regarding a signature, I vaguely remember practicing! And, I ended up using just an A and Kitching. In my case the Russian and English are not that different....but there's other words where I get that "y" and "u" mixed up. Fortunately not when it matters.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12623179886908222942noreply@blogger.com