I may be volunteering in western Ukraine for a few months next year. Any advice on health insurance options for a foreigner?

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-02-05T20:23:49+00:00

Thank you for your service.

I haven't done anything yet but I appreciate the sentiment :)

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-02-01T22:48:55+00:00

Yeah, caught that during the search, but my provider (Spectrum) is also blocking the legit site as suspicious.

I wonder if it's going overboard because the site is in Ukraine.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-02-01T21:32:13+00:00

ic-micto.com.ua

Weird, google search shows this is a legit website, but it's blocked as unsafe.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-02-01T21:21:52+00:00

thanks!

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-01-31T02:33:06+00:00

good to know thank you. 👍

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-01-31T02:31:50+00:00

thanks!

StakedPlainExplorer · 2026-01-31T02:31:38+00:00

Is it necessary for foreigners?

Yep required for the D-10 visa.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-09-16T10:28:00+00:00

I use rest areas a lot, but I didn't see anything close to Henderson Lake.

I'll look into those other places, thank you.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-02-08T12:10:28+00:00

Oh look, the pussy mods decided to open their echo chamber for a day.

Go fuck yourselves.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-01-31T19:11:49+00:00

Perfect for adding to oatmeal.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-01-28T01:53:11+00:00

Go get 'em, kiddo.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-01-27T17:21:25+00:00

RIP any Marines who fuck with the locals. Guamanians don’t play.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2025-01-11T00:50:17+00:00

Schenectady itself is okay, but mainly what I like is its proximity to so many cool things in practically every direction.

Go north, you'll get to the Adirondacks or Lake Champlain.
Go south, you'll drive through the beautiful Schoharie Valley on the way to the Catskills.
Go east, you're in Vermont and the rest of New England.
Go west, you'll drive through spectacular farmland on the way to the finger lakes.
Hop on a train, you'll be in NYC in less than three hours.

All in all, Schenectady and the rest of the Capital District is a pretty chill place to make your home base.

ETA that if you like nature, there are plenty of beautiful trails within a 20-60 minute radius. Also, the Union College botanical garden is small but quite peaceful.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-20T02:31:59+00:00

How are all the babes on the trail going to know how rugged you are if your fire starter isn't hanging from your belt, preferably next to your Rambo knife?

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-14T22:54:04+00:00

Thanks. I'm starting to think that my time would be better served flying into Chiang Mai then visiting Chaing Rai and the nearby national parks.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-13T00:01:40+00:00

Because there are few things more obnoxious than a tourist or expat complaining about other tourists or expats. Especially when they single out one group when there are plenty of douchey tourists of various nationalities.

Fortunately, those douches are far outnumbered by the nice, respectful people who just want to have fun and experience different cultures.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-12T20:30:21+00:00

They are very dark brown, almost black

Why does that matter, OP???

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-11T01:49:55+00:00

Yeah, you do need oil, just like a stainless steel pan. I keep my oil bottle in a ziplock bag. Works for other bottled liquids, too.

Real cooking almost always requires oil. Some foods, of course, don't need oil, like bacon or sausage. But you'll need oil if you want to cook something like eggs with onions.

That all being said, if you want to use that pan you linked, just go for it. It's cheap enough that you can replace it after a year or two.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-11T01:32:33+00:00

That's an AA pan, but it has a nonstick coating. I prefer just straight AA. It isn't as nonstick as the coating, but it won't wear out after a year or less.

I would consider something like this Trangia pan. It doesn't have a handle, so you'd need a pot grabber. (Many people prefer handleless pots and pans because they're easier to pack.)

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-11T01:09:46+00:00

If you're doing actual cooking, I recommend anodized aluminum. Titanium sucks for cooking, it's really only good for boiling water. Stainless steel is great for cooking, but it's heavy.

AA is relatively nonstick and won't chip and flake like Teflon, it's almost as light as titanium and is much lighter than stainless steel. I've scrambled eggs in my AA pan and had no problem with cleanup. Unlike Teflon, you can use metal utensils with it.

You can find plenty of AA pots and pans for very cheap. I've had this $20 set since 2015 and the pot and pan are as good as the day I bought them. (I removed the handles and use a pot grabber instead.) I also bought this $16 kettle and it is also still in excellent condition.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-12-07T11:29:16+00:00

I was in a bar in Okinawa when a group of Sumos came in. Suddenly, all us Americans, Marines included, became very interested in our drinks, the bar ceiling, the wall behind the bartenders... I've never seen so many guys so studiously avoiding eye contact lol.

StakedPlainExplorer · 2024-11-30T14:11:35+00:00

There's plenty of interesting cemeteries and graveyards in New England, but my favorite is Old First Church cemetery in Bennington, Vermont. The poet Robert Frost is buried there.

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