to vexl
alt. to veksl
to trade foreign currencies or illegal goods
to participate in a grey or dark market in a parallel economy
It is a cultural phenomenon present mainly in the countries of the former Eastern Block before 1991. In the former Soviet republics foreign currencies and goods were mostly unavailable to the general public or they were traditionally very expensive. A network of "vexlaks" (alt. vekslaks) - dealers of various commodities - arose among people who spoke foreign languages or had an opportunity of contact with tourists from the West, i.e. waiters, hotel employees, tourist guides, bus drivers etc.
to trade foreign currencies or illegal goods
to participate in a grey or dark market in a parallel economy
It is a cultural phenomenon present mainly in the countries of the former Eastern Block before 1991. In the former Soviet republics foreign currencies and goods were mostly unavailable to the general public or they were traditionally very expensive. A network of "vexlaks" (alt. vekslaks) - dealers of various commodities - arose among people who spoke foreign languages or had an opportunity of contact with tourists from the West, i.e. waiters, hotel employees, tourist guides, bus drivers etc.
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