When you come to Donetsk you will have to use a Maschrutka, a sort of Minibus, but this task is harder than it sounds. Here are some Tips to make you get through a Mashrutka ride:
- Do not stay in the front. As soon as you have paid the driver, silently of course, try to crawl into the darkest corner in the back to avoid any complications. Otherwise you would have to pass money, pay or simply have human interaction and who likes that?
- If an elderly lady enters you have to give up your seat immediately otherwise people will tell you to do and then tell you why they think that the youth of today has no standards or behavior anymore. And since you don’t speak Russian you can not defend yourself. Plus any reason that people could shout at you should be avoided by all costs. They do like to do it anyway.
- Pretend to be super busy reading or receiving text, reading a book, listening to music or be completely concentrated at the blocks of houses passing outside of the window. As soon as somebody thinks you are occupied they will not disturb you with tasks like passing money or returning it.
- When the time comes to exit this particular kind of public transport try to find a button with a horn on it. This one will make it easier for you since you won’t have to explain to the driver that you would like to exit this marvelous vehicle. If you cannot find a horn , just murmur something with that resembles what your roommate has told you before and just sign like a crazy person to the door. At some point he will have mercy with this pitiful creature, called an EVS volunteer, and he is going to let you get out of his car.
- If all of this doesn’t work just go back to your dark corner and cry silently while you watch your station passing by.
I do hope that this was useful, have fun and ride Mashrutkas.
Ride on fellas,
Maggie