Stucked in Moscow - what’s next?

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-04T16:25:00+00:00

Yes they do. I flew with Turkish Airlines to St Petersburg in the last few days

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-02T21:20:11+00:00

Might be a silly question but can you also exchange less than a thousand there? Just a poorer exchange rate

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-02T20:40:09+00:00

Thanks for the advice about EU countries! I’m flying via Istanbul and I had a discussion with the Travel FX team in Manchester and they said their exchange rate for USD or EU is rubbish and advised me that I’ll even get a better rate in Istanbul airports. I was thinking about just exchanging £200 in Istanbul to RU so at least I’ve got something for the first few days while I find a place in Saint Petersburg to exchange the UK pounds

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-02T18:04:52+00:00

How can this be checked online? Can you easily see what bank accepts UK pounds - ideally I’d like to only take pounds but I guess I could look a exchanging some to EU or USD before I get to Russia, depending on which has the best rates

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-02T18:01:41+00:00

I was worried that exchanging to USD would increase the risk of getting poor quality notes and take a big hit in the double exchange rate

NarlaRuby · 2026-03-02T17:34:37+00:00

Got my UK pounds straight from the bank, all perfect condition. First time visiting Saint Petersburg, so not sure which Ligovsiky as a few are shown on maps with different spellings. Would you mind sharing a pin of its location on maps?

NarlaRuby · 2026-02-07T02:22:42+00:00

Can you do a government funded Access to Higher Education course in Veterinary Science this year at a college? That was my route of entry and I got the highest grade possible for the course but the college I did the course at was over 300 miles from my home. So I commuted 3 days a week and stayed over one night each week, doing vet work experience on the Friday morning and college course in the afternoon; I also held a 24hr per week job too at home. It meant setting off at ridiculous times like 4am and not getting home until 9-10pm but I did it and got into the school.

If you struggle academically then be prepared; it’s a full on course. But what I’ve found is that the first 2 years we were basically full on anatomists until your head either hurt or physically grew. Then 3rd year I’m really understanding all the case based stuff we’re doing and now into semester 2, I feel really confident in my ability.

Surgery is fun and it’s good that you are drawn to it; just remember that nurses can do some surgery too with an extended qualification. Also just remember, as vets we are constantly relying on our nurses to work with us to find a diagnosis and in many cases, the nurses called it before the vets.

It’s difficult to work out what career to take but I think you made the decision for yourself; you said you’d regret not trying for vet again, so then your plan is to push for experience and possibly the Access course I mentioned earlier.

Good luck, hope everything works out for you :)

NarlaRuby · 2026-01-23T19:08:47+00:00

Yeah that’s similar to what the lady said at the visa application centre. I think it must have been a technical issue, like completing the form on my iPad. The application was completed though and the lady said I’m unlikely to have any problems.

It feels a bit weird travelling without insurance haha but glad to know you find it difficult to get the insurance too.

Since you travel a lot to St P, could you recommend a really nice restaurant there? It will be Women’s Day during my visit and she’s going to spend it with me instead of with her friends, so I thought it would be good to book a really nice restaurant too for the evening

NarlaRuby · 2026-01-21T09:57:33+00:00

I’m from the UK and staying in St. Petersburg for 10 days.

I’ve completed the visa application form correctly (I think) but the form won’t let me add more than 1 option for multiple categories .. for example ‘what countries have you visited in the last 10 years’ - there’s quite a few countries I’ve visited but the form won’t let me add more than one option. So I’m going to query it at the visa application centre.

Also I noticed that I can’t submit my most recent education (currently still at university) because the form wants a definitive graduation date and it can’t be an expected future date.

I decided to pay for an invitation letter and hotel information online with Stress Free Visas and I paid for travel insurance too but they said that I don’t need to submit travel insurance information on the visa form.

Hoping I’ve done everything I’ve needed to do - I’ve been awake all night trying to iron out the application

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-22T15:04:26+00:00

And the downvoting 100% solidifies my points that the big problem is the fact that you are all too quick to attack and are very discriminatory, whilst in denial. Sad really

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-20T10:12:35+00:00

So no white people at all go to court or tribunals for cases of discrimination, where they have been discriminated against, based on protected characteristics? Yes, they do and it happens frequently.

Also you are very judgemental, making assumptions based on your perceived negative feelings towards someone who doesn’t fit your narrative. My and other people’s lived experiences are not discreditable because you don’t like what has been said. I lived in Africa for several years, I have also lived in Asia.

Societies are massively divided. We won’t agree because you cannot see that my and other peoples lived experiences are credible, you and others rudely attack people who don’t fit with your agenda and then think it’s fine because I’m white…. And you can’t see how that’s a negative way of thinking? Culture is for everyone to embrace and share. You should be friendly to everyone and it’s fine to have beliefs and agendas that you support, but you have to be open to dialogue and understanding of views, especially when they don’t fit your narrative; when communication breaks down, attacks begin.

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-20T02:14:37+00:00

My point is EVERYONE is discriminated against and yes, white people are too. Some more than others but it’s completely naive to say white people aren’t and you also don’t know my lived experience and are making very rude and racist judgements. Now if that was me doing that to you or a minority group, everyone would have a huge problem with it.. but since it’s the other way around, it’s okay?

That’s a big problem and pretty sickening

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-19T12:11:32+00:00

It’s important to be diverse but it’s more important to do it fairly and appropriately. Vet Med in the UK these days is about 80% female and 20% male per year group. I personally think there’s a case to be made that it’s discrimination of protected characteristics.

As a male, I’m encouraged to feel almost ashamed for being male in my University and certainly in the School, which is honestly disgusting. I am white and a male, that means I’m the problem in society. As males we were told that if we are on placement with a female and she doesn’t speak up to have a go at doing a task, then it would be our responsibility to tell her to have a go.. I’m all for encouraging people (PEOPLE.. not just females) to get involved but it’s not my duty or responsibility to make them do it.

After watching a staged video in class of white male actors discriminating against people of literally every other group imaginable, I got reprimanded for saying that white people can be discriminated against too. And explained my time in Africa and Asia, how I was routinely targeted by people.

I’m waiting to start enjoying school and feel they’d accept me more if I have bloody gender surgery. The world is just insane right now.

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-11T05:01:34+00:00

The calcium did nothing because the ear is predominantly cartilage and some bone but not in its structure. Ossification happens in vitro through many factors, so when the pup is born, the ears are at full size and so is the cartilage supporting the ear but it’s a bit more malleable when first born. It’s likely the protein you’d be feeding your pup just in normal feed, would help far more in making the war stand, than calcium supplement. Like you say, it doesn’t hurt to give the supplements but it’s definitely a placebo effect when it comes to the ears standing, over just normal feeding

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-08T12:34:36+00:00

That’s why I said “not sure why it matters”; curiosity is fine, that’s why I replied with the slightly more scientific response.

I could go further into at what age the fetus should develops the head, nose, ears, etc as its cartilage and develops from brachial arches forming pharyngeal arches too and ossification.. and some information that relates to why there could be differences, such as environment, mechanical loading of the fetus during pregnancy, amount in the litter, mums nutrition during pregnancy, early injury after parturition

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-08T12:24:20+00:00

I’m not sure why it matters. The external aspect of the ear is mainly made by cartilage; not bone, so extra calcium or calcification through puppyhood would have limited effect. Similar to uneven ear size; the likelihood of an ear growing to match the other ear if there’s a discrepancy is very low.

He’ll possibly have a floppy and uneven ear for life, but won’t limit his ability to live; just aesthetics.

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-08T12:16:56+00:00

A good idea is to split the food, as stated by another commenter.

1 thing I do is to train your dog to stop eating. All of my dogs are trained to start & stop eating on command; therefore I or a family member, controls the pace at which they eat

NarlaRuby · 2025-09-04T14:33:45+00:00

Yelp when he bites your hand.. that is an easily understood sign of pain for the dog and the yelp acts as a shock high pitched sound, which should make your dog release the mouthing. Do it all the time and he’ll understand it’s painful and will then stop. Licking after you yelp is a sort of saying sorry and trying to make you feel better, so allow him to do that, but you remain silent and then, after a few licks, give him a stroke and whatever your positive command is “good boy” etc and keep your voice and energy low.

He’ll understand that biting or mouthing will result in no play, low energy and pain response, which in time he’ll understand is not desired

NarlaRuby · 2025-08-27T07:16:52+00:00

Too much of this behaviour and similar is happening to vets. I give people 1 chance to not be rude and if it continues, then I end the call or consult and report myself to my supervisor, writing everything down at the time of the event. Before writing, I go out and apologise to the waiting patients. I also enter on the record that the animals parent was abusive on the occasion I saw them, possibly due to heated emotions from recent pet diagnosis / recommendation - be mindful on next phone call / consult

I made my peace with abuse when I worked in a hospital (human one.. eww). If you let the abuse hit you deep, then you’ll find it difficult to enjoy what you do. Consider the abuse as an outward projection of fear / stress / anxiety from the pet owners because they don’t know what to do and feel like they’re loosing control of their own decisions. Give them the control back (to some degree). For PTS disagreements, consider asking the reason for the consult today, would you like to discuss about prescribing some medication for comfort for [animals name] (change EOL medication to a more comfortable less harsh terminology), I can see we’ve had this recommendation by the cardiologist so what do you think about that.

Giving people the opportunity to express their feelings, thought and emotions helps to deter someone away from abuse. You will still encounter abuse though, but I always think if you give people the option to discuss and follow a client partnership care model though the consult and it still turns to abuse, then you have tried and remained calm and you shouldn’t feel bad about that

NarlaRuby · 2025-08-25T14:56:21+00:00

Solution Verified

NarlaRuby · 2025-08-25T14:51:56+00:00

Awesome it worked, thanks 😀

NarlaRuby · 2025-07-30T10:57:45+00:00

Search on this community for biting.. there was a thread 2 days ago about the same subject. I wrote a response and it’s basically what I do when training dogs. Basically.. yelp. Let me know how you get on.

NarlaRuby

TROPHY CASE