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Dec 6, 2017 at 20:54 comment added jwenting @EvilWashingMachine that program didn't exist openly when I was there, but the Chinese influence was quite noticeable in things like appliances, vehicles, and stuff like that. Lots of Chinese imports there, more Russian or Korean, the other major trading partners in that region.
Nov 27, 2017 at 6:37 comment added Evil Washing Machine @jwenting how big is China in these countries? Is their new silk road programme having a huge impact or not as prevalent?
Nov 13, 2017 at 17:16 comment added jwenting @EvilWashingMachine I've been back to some areas in central Asia, and in general things have improved. They're nowhere near capitalist democracies like the US or western Europe, but the economy is better, there is more freedom both of economic and political nature. And with increased foreign investment and influence in these new nations, things slowly but surely get better. Can't revert the damage of 70 years in even 20.
Feb 15, 2016 at 12:07 comment added CGCampbell (Removed my comment because I no longer see the comments it was based on.)
Feb 15, 2016 at 11:10 comment added Oleg V. Volkov @jwenting, it just changed name.
Feb 15, 2016 at 11:10 comment added Oleg V. Volkov @CGCampbell, you entire mindset is rude and offensive to me. Can I flag you to be removed?
Jul 19, 2015 at 16:45 comment added jwenting @EvilWashingMachine I've been back to Uzbekistan in 2011 and there have been lots of changes. The place feels a lot less oppressive, and though it's certainly not a free market democracy as we're used to in the west and effectively a dictatorship still, there's a lot more activity, people seem happier and less afraid, etc. etc.
Jul 19, 2015 at 15:28 comment added Evil Washing Machine @jwenting I'm quite interested on your travels to the East pre-1989. Have you been back in recent times? Is there any change and if so, for better or worse?
Jul 2, 2015 at 12:02 comment added jwenting @OlegV.Volkov where's your Heaven on Earth USSR? Oh yeah, it no longer exists...
Jul 2, 2015 at 11:17 comment added O. R. Mapper @jwenting: At least WP says the embargo does/did "not prohibit travel by U.S. citizens to Cuba per se, but it makes it illegal for U.S. citizens to have transactions (spend money or receive gifts) in Cuba under most circumstances without a US government Office of Foreign Assets Control issued license". I do not have a more reliable source for that right now, though.
Jul 1, 2015 at 17:02 comment added jwenting @CarstenSchultz yes, they did. It was illegal to travel from the USA to Cuba. Many people read this as it being illegal for US citizens to travel to Cuba but AFAIK this was not actually the case (and many did indeed travel to Cuba through other countries).
Jul 1, 2015 at 15:33 comment added Carsten S Regarding 3, I think that until recently the US had restrictive rules about travelling to Cuba.
S Jul 1, 2015 at 8:44 history suggested Bregalad CC BY-SA 3.0
Some better formatting
Jul 1, 2015 at 8:10 review Suggested edits
S Jul 1, 2015 at 8:44
Jul 1, 2015 at 8:00 comment added Greg @FelixGoldberg Yes, it was definitely true for Soviets.
Jul 1, 2015 at 7:58 comment added Felix Goldberg @Greg I meant Soviet citizens.
Jul 1, 2015 at 7:55 comment added Greg @FelixGoldberg This is depending on country and on years, so this statement is rather overgeneralized. Also, people here seem to forget that average (even wealthy) people in eastern bloc simply not had much money to spend for travels. Neither you could buy foreign currency freely. So part of the reasons of limited travel were pretty practical.
Jul 1, 2015 at 6:45 comment added Felix Goldberg Re:2. For ordinary people, travel even to eastern bloc countries was almost out of the question.
Jul 1, 2015 at 5:54 history answered jwenting CC BY-SA 3.0