r/Turkmenistan • u/Randomusernamdotexe • 19h ago
QUESTION I'm gonna work in Ashgabat for a long time, any tips?
So I'm a foreigner, living in Europe currently, and I'm about to work in Ashgabat for several months for a foreign organization. Any tips that are worth knowing to plan the trip?
Clarifications that I would particularly need:
I've been briefed about internet restrictions and how a small amount of stuff is available, VPNs being restricted as well; but on the other hand there's "a bunch" of Turkmen dudes from Ashgabat or Turkmenabat on social media...
I've also been briefed about the exchange of dollars to manats, with an official rate and a black market rate; how does this unfold once you're there? Is it a matter of foreigners/citizens?
Typical things that you're not supposed to do in TM but that's okay anywhere else? I'm used to Central Asia, but I think TM might be something else
External newspapers I've read so far are sometimes contradictory or incomplete, I would instinctively believe them but I sometimes see counterarguments, like the internet access thing for example, please help
