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Nairaland Forum / Ramalot's Profile / Ramalot's Posts
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Business / Re: What Happened To Mr Biggs? by ramalot(m): 11:48pm On Jun 14 |
I took my wife to Nigeria last year, and as I loved Mr Bigg's meat pies as a kid, she wanted to try it. On Google Maps in Abuja, a few locations showed up and we drove to 3 or 4 in the Wuse 2 area. None of them were there, including one I actually went to in 2018 on Ademola Adetokunbo, I believe. It wasn't there anymore. We ended up driving a long distance, to find one. It was in a gas station, but can't remember the area. Somewhere on the way to Gwarimpa. After all that stress, they had nothing at the dingy location, except rice & chicken. Pretty annoying. We went back a few days later still in hunt of the legendary Mr. Bigg's meat pie, and this time they had it. Mission accomplished. Mr. Bigg's downfall was mostly a classic case of poor franchise implementation. Nothing kills a franchise quicker than poor quality control audits and systems. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y27Qlab31YI 3 Likes 2 Shares |
Travel / Re: Finding A Wife In Cartagena, Colombia + Small Giveaway by ramalot(m): 11:24am On Jun 03 |
Naijamanyoutube Any reason you didn't stay around Bocagrande? It appears you stayed around Manga or even further into Cartagena. Except the goal is to immerse yourself in the barrio vibe, it's not really worth staying in those areas. Looking at your dates, I was in Cartagena just 2 days before you, but I only stayed for a day, as part of a bigger trip. Only went for old times sake (third time there). Last time, I and my wife went there for 6 months, in the Bocagrande beach area, during the pandemic. I like Cartagena. There's something for everyone, but the new Mayor is anti-nightlife and determined to clean up the city's reputation. Trying to make it a more family-friendly destination, especially in the walled city. Most walled city clubs have recently been shut down, and the few still open don't let in unaccompanied females. The cops patrol the old city and people are not allowed to stand around anymore. You must be walking to or from somewhere. It's a bit ridiculous. |
Travel / Re: Memoirs From Chile by ramalot(m): 3:59pm On May 31 |
tensazangetsu20: You should visit Santiago when you can, to have a more rounded perspective of the country. |
Travel / Re: Memoirs From Chile by ramalot(m): 11:43am On May 31 |
Good ol' Santiago. I was there for two days earlier this month. It's definitely not my favorite city in South America (in general), but it's decent and Chile has a pretty reliable economy. Also, the views of the Andes mountains are quite something. In early 2020, I spent 2 months in Santiago, right before covid lockdowns. I used to wake up to the sun rising from behind the Andes mountains, and that was by far my favorite thing about Santiago. My place was on the 29th floor too, so great views of it from my bed. 5 Likes
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Travel / Re: Is The Nigerian Embassy In Washington DC Scamming Nigerians? by ramalot(m): 7:44am On May 06 |
Enonymous One year is a long time to wait on a passport. Do you have a US passport? If you do, consider flying to Brasilia, Brazil to get it done. Same day service, with no extra charge. Not sure what state you're in, but the cost of flights + DC hotel rates might be about the same as the cost of a flight + hotel in Brasilia. Except with Brasilia, you can book an appointment for tomorrow, get the passport in a few hours and go home. I did a renewal in Brasilia last year. I wrote about it here. Check my profile. |
Sports / Re: South Africa Mocks Nigeria As 'Generator Republic' In New Nationwide Ad (Video) by ramalot(m): 11:22pm On Feb 08 |
This has nothing to do with Nigeria. I was in S. A for about 2 months, last year. South Africa has been experiencing a major power outage issue for an extended period, which they term "load shedding." During load shedding hours, which are published by the power outage companies, the power goes out for 2-3 hours. It happens nearly every day. It's the equivalent of what was termed "rationing" in Nigeria a long time ago. South Africans are fed up with the power outage issue, and this video is simply a humorous show of that frustration. 2 Likes |
Travel / Re: Proof Some Nigerian Embassies Issue Passports On The Same Day by ramalot(m): 4:13pm On Nov 07, 2023 |
donogaga: As long as you were planning to also visit Brasilia on your trip. Otherwise, the total cost might outweigh the benefit, if you're based in Nigeria. For anyone based outside Nigeria, it might be okay. I say that for two reasons: 1. Brasilia generally isn't a very exciting place, so your vacation will most likely be to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo or maybe Florianopolis. This means you'll have to make a detour to Brasilia, at an additional cost of flights + accommodation for at least 1 night. 2. The cost of renewal outside Nigeria is significantly more than in Nigeria. I can't remember the exact cost, but I believe the immigration fee + admin fee was in the $150 range. |
Travel / Re: Proof Some Nigerian Embassies Issue Passports On The Same Day by ramalot(m): 9:27pm On Nov 06, 2023 |
donogaga: It's at Lote 5, SEN Av das Nacoes, 70800 - 400. Asa Norte, Brasilia Their number is +55 61 2106-0050 |
Travel / Proof Some Nigerian Embassies Issue Passports On The Same Day by ramalot(m): 11:20am On Nov 06, 2023 |
I saw a thread on the front page a few days ago, titled "Can This Happen At Nigerian Embassies?" The thread had a pic depicting a lady's social media post about getting an emergency US passport in a few hours, at a US embassy. In that thread, the overarching sentiment of posts was - that could never happen at a Nigerian embassy. Well, the definitive answer is.. YES, it can and it does. I know this, because I did it only 3 months ago. A standard Nigerian passport renewal, not an emergency passport like thaty lady got. And no, I'm not talking about any "back doors" or "greasing" any palms. I responded in that thread, but felt it's also relevant to emphasize it in detail in a new thread. Nigeria is incredibly incompetent at most things, but once in a while, something works. As they say, even a broken clock is correct once a day. Just for context, I travel with a US passport, but use my Nigerian passport when going to Nigeria, or some African countries. I've renewed my US and Nigerian passports in multiple countries (as I travel quite a bit), so I've had some experience with both. From the screenshot in that previous thread, it's clear the lady was NOT in the US when she got the emergency passport. In the US, we don't go to an "embassy" to get a passport, as "US embassies" don't exist in... the US. The emergency passport is no big deal and comes with only 5 or 6 pages, so you still need a standard renewal when you get home. Also, the current estimated time for a US passport within the US is 11 weeks, and the "rush" service is 5-7 weeks. There has been a lot of passport backlog, similar to the situation in Nigeria, but it's a bit better now, I believe. I renewed my US passport in Argentina last year, and got it in about 2 weeks. Anyway, I went to Brasilia, Brazil 3 months ago, to renew my Nigerian passport, as that was the only passport-issuing location in the region I was traveling. I first visited the Nigerian embassy in Argentina and was told they don't produce passports, but I could get it in Brazil on the same day. I was very skeptical of that information, because... Nigeria. As it turns out, the entire process from getting there, to receiving my new passport was a few hours. It wasn't some emergency passport either. It was a standard passport. I paid online > booked an appointment > went there. Paid an administrative fee > did the capturing and walked out with my new passport all in 2-3 hours. I was literally the only person being attended to at the Nigerian embassy, though. It was empty, except about 4-6 embassy staff I saw. The guy who attended to me was also very polite and professional (something lacking in most Nigerian operations). So, not only can you get your international passport at a Nigerian embassy in a few hours, it's a permanent passport - not an emergency one. Shout out to the Nigerian embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. The embassy in New York is a different story. Took me many months and headaches to renew there, in 2017. The attached image is from a video I took outside the Nigerian embassy, in Brazil. 52 Likes 8 Shares
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Travel / Re: Can This Happen At Nigerian Embassies? by ramalot(m): 10:55pm On Nov 04, 2023 |
The definitive answer is.. YES. I know this, because I did it only 3 months ago. A standard passport renewal, not an emergency passport like this lady got. For context, I travel with a US passport, but use my Nigerian passport when going to Nigeria, or some African countries. I've renewed both my US and Nigerian passports in multiple countries (as I travel quite a bit), so I've had some experience with this. From the OP's image, it's clear the lady was NOT in the US at the time of getting the emergency passport. In the US, we don't go to an "embassy" to get a passport, as "US embassies" don't exist in... the US. I was in a US embassy in a South American country last year, to renew my US passport, and met people getting emergency passports. It's no big deal. The emergency one comes with only 5 or 6 pages, so you still need a standard renewal when you get home. I was there for a standard renewal, for a larger 50-page booklet, as I had enough time (2-3 weeks). So mine clearly wasn't same-day. All that said, I went to Brasilia, Brazil 3 months ago, to renew my Nigerian passport, as that was the only passport-issuing location in the region I was traveling. The entire process from getting there, to receiving my new passport was a few hours. It wasn't some emergency passport either. It was a standard passport. I paid online, booked an appointment, went there. Paid an administrative fee, did the capturing and walked out with my new passport all in 2-3 hours. I was literally the only person being attended to at the Nigerian embassy, though. It was empty, except for about 4-6 embassy staff I saw. Not only can you get your international passport at a Nigerian embassy in a few hours, it's a permanent passport - not an emergency one. So shout out to the embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. The embassy in New York is a different story. Took me many months to renew there, in 2017. The attached image is from a video I took outside the Nigerian embassy, in Brasilia, Brazil. 3 Likes 2 Shares
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Travel / Re: Nigerian Passport: New York Branch by ramalot(m): 3:18am On Oct 14, 2023 |
I have no recent encounter with the New York office, but they seem generally incompetent, and that's one rundown office. I did a renewal there in 2017, as I needed to visit naija, and certainly won't apply for a naija visa. 2-3 months later, it was one excuse after another. Their booklet production machine was always broken back then. Managed to get it in about 3 months. The most efficient Nigerian passport renewal I've done was a few months ago, in Brasilia, Brazil. Entire process took a few hours. Paid online, made an appointment, showed up at the embassy for capture and they produced the passport immediately. I was literally the only non-staff at the embassy, so I guess that explains the speed. |
Travel / Re: Ghanians Please Kindly Recommend Fun Places I Can Visit For A 1st Timer by ramalot(m): 1:41pm On Sep 16, 2023 |
elonmuskbaby I haven't been to Cape Coast, but I spent about 2 months in Accra, very recently. You'll likely be in Accra at some point, so I'll provide some details about it. I have nothing against Ghana or the people. Many of my friends in the US are Ghanaian. My honest opinion is, Accra is highly unremarkable as a city, and overpriced (for what it is). I've spent time in many countries and Accra has one of the worst value, for money spent. Especially airbnb accommodation. That said, your question is about "fun places." Everyone's definition of fun is different, so you'll need to be more specific. If fun for you is tourist sites/activities, well, there are only a few of those in Accra: Black Star Gate and Black Star Square: This is what someone referenced as Independence Square earlier. It's a monument with a black star on it. The square beside is the equivalent of Nigeria's Eagle Square, in Abuja. People only go there to take pictures at the Black Star Gate. Nothing else happens there, in general, except there's an event. It's free to access. Osu Castle: The Osu Castle is a historic castle related to the slave trade. However, it has recently been closed to public access. You won't be able to get in there anymore. When we went, we were turned back. The city beaches: Labadi Beach & Laboma Beach: The good part is these beaches can be lively, with a lot of people and activities. Bars/restaurants, ATV-riding, horse-riding etc. There are also several nice beach clubs, like Sandbox and Polo on Labadi beach, and there's Alora on Laboma beach. The bad part is these beaches are the dirtiest I've seen in my entire life, and of the 100+ beaches I've been. Actual garbage on the sand and in the water. Especially at the far ends. The water is heavily polluted and has rip tides, making swimming dangerous. For a cleaner beach experience, you'll need to travel far out of Accra. Cape Coast likely has much better to offer for beaches. Nightlife: Accra definitely has a lot of nightlife activities, like bars, clubs, lounges etc. They're mostly concentrated around the Osu area of the city, on and off the main street called Oxford Street. Drinks aren't expensive, per se. A small stout beer, for instance is typically about 25-50 cedis, depending where you are. You can look up the menu of most places, on their Google Maps page. Food: There's a bit of variety in Accra. Food can be pricey (for West Africa), depending on where you eat. Like once, I paid 2000 cedis, for a meal for 5 people. Nothing out of the ordinary, just grilled chicken + rice/salad, lamb + rice/salad etc, and some juices. It was a restaurant called Persia, I think. Osu area. One of the nice restaurants for local food is called Buka, in Osu. It's a pretty big Nigerian restaurant, but they serve most Ghanaian local dishes too. Their prices aren't bad. For instance, egusi + pounded yam and a drink, for 2, runs around 300 cedis. That's about N24,000. That might sound expensive to some, but wait till you get to Accra. As with any country, there are definitely places you can eat for less though. Overall, Accra is not a very developed city, so keep your expectations in check. It's exactly what you'd expect of a typical West African city. There are a few neighborhoods like Labone, Cantonments and North Ridge, which are similar to Abuja. Outside of those areas, the rest of the city is comparable to places in Nigeria like Zaria, Makurdi, Enugu, Ibadan etc. 4 Likes |
Travel / Are Nigerians Slowly Recognizing Realities Of The Nigerian Condition? by ramalot(m): 12:01pm On Sep 08, 2023 |
NOTE: This thread is not about politics and which government or party is good or bad. Please avoid engaging that. This is about root causes, and how Nigeria can possibly emerge from the current state it lies. Anyone with basic education who has traveled a bit, should recognize that Nigeria has the financial capacity to be much better than it is. A lot of comments in a thread I saw today - "Why Do Most Nigeria Streets Look Like This?" tells me Nigerians are slowly starting to blame the right things for the general condition and underdevelopment of Nigeria. In that spirit, I'll add a few thoughts. I could write an entire book about this, but I value my time, so I'll keep it short. Contrary to popular claims, the root cause of the shameful state of Nigeria is NOT as simple as: - Bad Government: It is a result of a collective rot in the citizenry. Nearly everyone, top to bottom fuels corruption in their own way. It just so happens some of the citizens eventually become the government. You can't scoop clean water out of a bucket of polluted water. - Lack of Funds: Nigeria's federal income has had many periods of significant surplus. 100% of the time, it has been looted. Deposit 10 trillion dollars into the federal account today, and nothing will change in society (except looters getting fatter). So any policies geared toward increased revenue in Nigeria is a waste of time, if the people don't collectively stop having a looting culture. - Colonialism: Does colonialism have its effects? Yes, slightly. However, anyone still blaming colonialism for the state of Nigeria, while exonerating thieves robbing them blind deserves it. If Abacha was alive today, and returned to contest as a civilian ruler, he'd still get massive votes, after robbing the country with complete disregard. That is the paradox of the Nigerian polity. It's like if a man broke into your family house at night and raped your mom and sister. The next morning, the community decides to hire a security man, and you nominate the rapist for the security job. This is what Nigerians have been doing repeatedly for decades and expecting positive outcomes. In other words, Nigerian "leaders," the entire chain of command AND the citizens are directly responsible for keeping Nigeria in its current state. The colonial masters have mostly pulled out of the pillaging. So direct the blame where it truly belongs. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: Four Nigerians, Rescued In Brazil, Survived 14 Days On A Ship's Rudder by ramalot(m): 5:27pm On Aug 03, 2023 |
frog12: I saw this story a few days. Yes, the story is true. You can look it up on reputable news sources, like Reuters.
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Travel / Re: Four Nigerians, Rescued In Brazil, Survived 14 Days On A Ship's Rudder by ramalot(m): 5:14pm On Aug 03, 2023 |
There seems to be a lot of ignorance here about Brazil. Brazil is not the US, but it's not remotely Nigeria either. I'm a US citizen, and currently spending 6 weeks in Brazil. I also spent about a year in Brazil, in 2020, as the pandemic hit. At the time, overstaying was permitted, because of the pandemic. The development level of major Brazilian cities aren't nearly in the same league as Nigeria or any African country, except South Africa. A simple Google image search of Brazilian cities should offer you an idea. Of course, there are many crappy neighborhoods and favelas, with high poverty and crime. In the same way, I can show you a bunch of slummy neighborhoods in the US with high crime. The Brazilian economy has had major growth over the last 20 years, even though it has slowed down slightly. Also, Brazil has a very strong passport. It gives you visa-free access to nearly 170 countries. For comparison, Nigeria's passport gets you to about 55 (mostly African countries). For anyone who hasn't been to Brazil for at least a few weeks, you probably have a warped view of what it is like. So instead of making assumptions, it's better to look up some vital stats and info. 5 Likes 1 Share |
Travel / Re: Japa Nairalanders, Let's Discuss. by ramalot(m): 8:34pm On Apr 02, 2023 |
colonelwealth: I'm hoping you realize how contradictory these two statements are, and how the second completely justifies the first. It's perfectly logical for you to consider the cautious treatment Nigerians receive as a "negative impression." However, it's illogical to call it "unnecessary." The reality is, it's absolutely necessary, for the same reason you highlighted in your second statement. While all Nigerians aren't criminals, the "average Nigerian" will attempt to take undue economic advantage of people and places, at the slightest opportunity. It doesn't matter if they're in Abuja or Abu Dhabi. For general context, when I moved from Nigeria, Obasanjo was President. So it's been a while. I've done my fair share of traveling, which I spoke about a bit, here: https://www.nairaland.com/7484940/lived-visited-over-30-countries 2 Likes |
Travel / Re: A Nairalander Visit To Hurghada And Cairo, Egypt (pictures) by ramalot(m): 3:46am On Mar 26, 2023 |
@iqtest Nice pics, but instead of copy/pasted descriptions, it would be more interesting if you provide personal insights/stories about the places in the pics, and your experience there. I find Egyptian pyramids interesting and would like to visit (most likely in some months). I've climbed both the pyramids of the Sun and the Moon at Teotihuacan (Mexico), as well as all the smaller ones there. Pyramid of the Sun is only half the size of Giza, so I'd like to visit Giza as well. |
Travel / Re: A Nairalander Visit To Hurghada And Cairo, Egypt (pictures) by ramalot(m): 7:54pm On Mar 25, 2023 |
Iqtest: You're most likely attaching images larger than 4 mb. Resize your pics with an online tool. 1 Like 1 Share |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 1:22pm On Mar 06, 2023 |
anutioluwa1: You will have to get a visa, as I assume you're on a Nigerian passport. Some countries allow you visit them if you have a valid US visa, but I doubt Chile is one of them. Santiago, Chile is a nice enough city. I was there for two months. |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 4:35pm On Jan 07, 2023 |
Kolenda: I think this question is better-suited in one of the job/career sections of Nairaland, as this is a travel thread and I'd rather keep it that way. However, I'd say get an MBA from a good business school, instead of an MSc in Marketing. If you keep improving your practical tech skills, in combination with an MBA, you'd be more formidable in the labor market, as a leader of both tech and marketing teams. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 2:38pm On Jan 04, 2023 |
Suky01: Please read the thread. I've answered this a few times. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 4:11pm On Jan 03, 2023 |
Konquest: I used duolingo in learning the basics. However, nothing beats real-world use of a language. The more you speak a language with native speakers of that language, the better you get. And no, I haven't been to Cuba. I've looked into it and honestly don't see much of an appeal. I'll consider a 3-5 day trip to Havana, but nothing more. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 3:42pm On Dec 31, 2022 |
geraldo077: Thanks. 1. Getting to meet some of the people at that event in Uruguay was certainly one of the highlights. I haven't been to Luxembourg, so I really can't say. I know it's certainly not cheap though. 2. Work/life balance is great. As I detailed somewhere before, traveling the world isn't one massive extended tourist vacation, for me. Sure, my entire lifestyle is similar to a vacation, based on varying locations, but everyday life isn't. I spend a lot of my time working at home, same as I would if I was back home, in the US. When you stay in a place for say 3 months, you've already seen the major attractions in a few days, and from then, life becomes relatively "normal," which is great. Trying to be in full-time tourist mode, wandering around all day is a recipe for burnout and low productivity. 3. Look into Data Analysis, Cyber Security, UI/UX Design, and any programming languages you can handle, if you want to challenge yourself with programming. 4. I talked on some of the reasons earlier in the thread, but it's a combination of an improved economy and diet changes. Since the average Brazilian has more money than 15-20 years ago, they've discovered a love for fast food, and can now afford it. So yeah, teletubbies everywhere in Rio. 5. I once missed my flight from Amsterdam to Bangkok, around midnight. Spent 24 hours at Schiphol airport, because I waited till morning, so I could have the airline re-issue my ticket in the morning. They refused to re-issue it, so I lost the ticket and had to buy a new one. Then I had to wait till the next flight, at midnight. So a full 24 hours of frustration and having to pay double for the flight. This is certainly not the most dramatic event in my travels, but I'll leave it at this one. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 2:57pm On Dec 31, 2022 |
Correspondence: I answered this a few times in the last few pages, so please go through them. The summary is Data Analysis, Cyber Security, UI/UX Design, any programming languages and more. Artificial Intelligence is the future, so look into any related field. Since you already have a quantitative background, the transition shouldn't be hard, if your general computer skills are good. |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 9:42pm On Dec 30, 2022 |
flyinnizam: In most places, I go to an ATM with my bank card and withdraw cash in their local currency, at the official rate. Remember, unlike Nigeria, Argentina and some places with "black market" exchange rates alongside their inaccessible official rates, most countries have a single official rate. So changing dollars at currency exchange businesses in most countries will leave you with a worse rate than an ATM. |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 5:48pm On Dec 30, 2022 |
Blessiing: Sorry about your health issues, but I have no information on this. 1 Like |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 4:56pm On Dec 30, 2022 |
Hotty321: You're unlikely to be hired by any established company as a Project Manager, without significant management experience. Once again, you don't need a science background to learn data analysis. You just need to be capable of analytical thinking and good with normal use of a computer. Most basic aspects of data analysis happens in Microsoft Excel and for larger databases, you'll go into querying tools. Take time out and research these things online, and watch informative YouTube videos. |
Travel / Re: My Trip To Russia & Teaching Experience In Russia by ramalot(m): 7:20pm On Dec 28, 2022 |
I don't know the OP, but I'll attempt to offer some perspective on a few things about this thread. I don't think the OP is up to anything shady, as some have suggested. However, the OP has certainly overstated several things. The OP has done a good job documenting his journey, but too many people visit a place for a brief time, and make conclusively assertive statements, like "there is no racism in Russia." The more accurate statement is "I haven't experienced racism in Russia." Just for context, I have only briefly transited Russia (about 6 hours in Moscow). However, my fiancee is native Russian (Slavic) and I'm Nigerian-American. We've lived together nearly 4 years, so she tells me a lot of firsthand things about Russia, from a native perspective. A few things the OP has inadvertently overstated (by no ulterior motive of his, just a common thing people do): 1. Racism: I'm not someone who runs around yelling everything is racism, and I don't even watch TV news, so I have nearly zero media influence on my opinions. So is there racism in Russia? You bet your sweet ass, there is. Just like anywhere in the world, the majority of people are NOT racist. However, some native Russians have a significant racial prejudice against others. This isn't even mostly about blacks, as there aren't too many blacks in Russia. The main victims of this racism and discrimination are from neighboring countries, like Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan etc. My lady tells me a lot of stories of how people from those places are regularly harassed in the streets, on trains and such. Typically being told to go back to their countries, by random people, and how she felt bad for them, whenever she saw it happen. 2. Russian Police: Russian police in the grand scheme of things are better than Nigerian police, but that is a very low bar to set. However, Russian police are also very corrupt. People bribe them on the streets, just like Nigerian police. So once again, instead of "Russian police are as clean as a whistle and incorruptible," the accurate statement is "In my time in Russia, I have had only good experiences with the police." 3. Development: Yes, the big Russian cities are developed. However, the "real Russia" is a lot of underdeveloped towns and villages, with dirt roads and babushkas everywhere. Russia is certainly much more developed than Nigeria, but also faces significant poverty and underdevelopment in its rural areas. I also see a lot of people talking about the Asian people in the image. Yes, they're clearly ethnically Asian, and that's because Russia overlaps Europe and Asia. Russia is also the largest country in the world, with parts of it having ethnically Asian populations. Most parts have ethnic Russians, some parts have ethnic Turkic people (Bashkir, Tartar) etc. All these different parts speak both Russian and their local languages. For instance, people in Bashkortostan, Russia speak Russian and Bashkir language. Russia is a lot more diverse than many people realize. If you want a great travel vlogger who travels deep into the remote parts of Russia, check out "Bald and Bankrupt" on YouTube. You'll certainly be entertained. And mushroomFarm, all the best with your studies. 51 Likes 9 Shares |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 3:08pm On Dec 28, 2022 |
Itzteewhy: Read above. |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 3:04pm On Dec 28, 2022 |
Gerrard59: I'm not sure what kind of taxes you're referring to. I stay in most places for 1 month or more. Since the pandemic, it's typically been 3 months or more. If you're referring to income tax, US citizens are taxed on their worldwide income. So regardless of where you are, you still have to file your US taxes every year. Some people who don't plan to ever permanently move back to the US renounce their US citizenship, in favor of whatever country they settle in. That's the only way you can't get taxed on your worldwide income. Only the US and 3 other countries do this. If you're referring to taxes at the destination, then there's typically no income tax requirement. You're visiting as a tourist, and not expected to engage in local commercial activity. What you do online with clients outside the jurisdiction isn't locally taxable. As a tourist, you only pay local taxes through sales tax and similar everyday taxes. Very few places have a "tourist tax," and when they do, it's usually a negligible amount. It's also rarely paid directly, as you'll typically find it bundled into temp accommodation charges. Gerrard59: Haha, I don't think I've ever referred to myself as a digital nomad, and actually really dislike the term. "Digital nomad" doesn't mean anything in particular. It's really just as broad and vague as a term like "commuting worker." So if you asked someone, "hey, what do you do for a living?" and they responded, "I'm a commuting worker," it would be a non-answer answer and make little sense. All they've told you is they have a job and they commute to work by car, bus or train every day. They haven't told you what they do, so you really can't infer their income. In the same way, if you asked another person, and they said "I'm a digital nomad," they still haven't answered the question. All they've told you is they work digitally online and travel often. That's a lifestyle, not a job description or gauge of income. So one "digital nomad" could be plugging away on fiverr, making $500/month. Another could be running a real business online, making $50,000/month. All that said, my being invited to that event had very little to do with my professional or academic standing. It had everything to do with my social skills and personal interests. An example of why I've emphasized being outgoing while traveling, multiple times here. How I met the Uruguayan President I've decided not to detail too much of the entire story in this thread, but I'll tell the summarized story (which might still be a bit long). Shortly after arriving Montevideo, I stumbled on an establishment dedicated to an incident I've always been fascinated by, since I was a kid. I even did a powerpoint presentation speech about it once, in college. I didn't know this place existed before stumbling on it. So I took my fiancee, whom I've told many things about this incident, to check it out. While we were there, we met the owner. We got talking about the place, and also made some small talk and jokes. He took a liking to us, and asked us to come have a seat with him in a lounge area in the building, if we had time. I'm always down for a good chat, so we sat and discussed the establishment and incident that inspired it. We talked about many random things, made many random jokes, while laughing out loud like we've known each other for years. Keep in mind, this is an older gentleman in his late 50s. Like I said earlier in the thread, I get along well with all categories of people. Sure, in the process of all that chit-chatting, we talked about some of my professional and academic background. However, those things were only secondarily relevant, and at best, let him infer I wasn't a bum. Social skills is what did the heavy-lifting. At some point, I mentioned how it would be great to meet some of the people involved in the incident. So he asked how long we'll be in town for, because there was a small private event he was organizing and hosting at the establishment, in some weeks. He said he sees I have a personal interest in the subject matter and know a lot about it, which is rare for him to see. And that he likes us as an interesting Nigerian-American and Russian couple, so he wants to invite us to attend. He said it was a private event, so we shouldn't tell anyone about it (before it took place). He said all the people from the incident will be there and the President and Vice-President will also be there. We were excited and accepted his invitation, as I was happy I'd get to meet those people. Honestly, I wasn't too concerned if the President would be there, or not. My main interest was in the other people. We didn't have to go through any background checks, security clearance or anything. Just his instinctive judgment. We simply waited some weeks till the event day and attended. It was great. Small event at the same establishment. Maybe 60-70 of us in attendance. I got to meet people I heard about as a kid, and watched movies and documentaries made about. Not just a quick hello, but standing and having long conversations with some of them, while eating empanadas and making jokes with them. The President was there, and we said a quick hello, but like I said, my main interest was in the guests of honor. After some formalities, we spent most of the time talking with them, taking pics and interacting in a casual "get-together" party format. It was certainly an honor to meet the sitting President of a country, in person, though. For most of the event, the President was always anywhere within 10 feet or right in front of me, within arms length. It was a relatively small room. I found this interesting, as we didn't have to do a security clearance. I guess it speaks to the safety culture in Uruguay. Uruguay is the safest country in South America, so I guess they're not as paranoid. Anyway, it was a great event I was honored to have the opportunity to attend, and meet all those people. The man who invited us is an absolute legend in my books, and is now a friend. We reach out to each other and stay in touch. 8 Likes 1 Share |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 1:05pm On Dec 28, 2022 |
AngelicBeing: Most people are risk averse, so the majority of people will never strike out on their own. Which is fine, as not everyone needs to go into business. However, if a person is nursing the idea and keeps talking, planning, talking some more, but never taking action, then too bad. 2 Likes |
Travel / Re: I Have Lived in (or Visited) over 30 Countries. Ask Me Almost Anything (+ Pics) by ramalot(m): 1:01pm On Dec 28, 2022 |
Hotty321: In general, yes. Data Analytics involves some programming, but it's typically surface level data querying. Except you're dealing with massive "big data," then it can get a bit complex. Either way, you'll need good deductive reasoning to do well at it. Programming on the other hand, requires significant problem-solving skills and attention to detail. So even if you learn a programming language, but have poor attention to detail, you'll still struggle. The consequences of typos in code can be significant. As far as income potential, a great Programmer would earn a lot more than a great Data Analyst, on average. A Data Scientist on the other hand can earn more than a programmer, or fall in the same range. Also, I use "programmer" loosely. All programming languages are valued different, so choose wisely. There are a ton of resources online, so do your own research on these things. 1 Like 1 Share |
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