So
a) Western European countries are all different.
b) Latvia is (perhaps) going to become like a western European country.
but which one?
-It is more likely that Latvia will continue to be as different from Italy as Norway is from Spain.
(and one could actually suspect that the real concern was with the question of the ladies of Latvia becoming westernised)(?)
you've lost it mate!
What will your country develop into, i.e what country will it become?
Disneyland, Atlantis or Utopia?
Latvia will remain Latvia, it only will progress.
Eeyore, Sancho, Ranjit and now Geriatrix... how many names do you think you can hide behind? May I suggest the nick 'Chameleon'?
Write it in big letters on your screen, just in case the reason being is Altzheimers.
Thanks Thunder... I don't believe this guy, He just doesn't get it.
Those of us who have traveled a little in Eastern Europe know what I am talking about. I'm planning a trip and looking for real information - I feel little need to debate with a guy who just wants it to dawn on us that all of the European countries are different.
Please altzheimer... er geriatrix... make your clever points to someone else.
Guys - there is a reason that AFA (A Foreign Affair) lists that they conduct Romance Tours and Socials in Latvia - but have none scheduled. Things have changed here DRAMATICALLY. No visa is any longer required for any of the Western European countries and (it seems anyway) any country except the FSU countries. Result - there are European guys, American guys, even Asian guys her aplenty.
Thsi is not the Eastern Europe that it used to be. Oh there are still dishonest cab drivers, don't get me wrong. One yesterday tried to overcharge me by six times abd got dwonright nasty about it. But the economic development has occured here to the point that these women are not looking to the west for anything. Of course a few here and there are but it is radically different that Russia, Ukraine or Moldova.
Take the time and expense to get a visa to one of the above countries. Face the inherent danger of corrupt police officers if you have to - but don't come here. Its not worth it.
From Baltics. Girls here looking for boyfriends not way to west!! And brits and scandinavians are most popular.
And its never been so east europe here!! Internet dating is very popular in Baltic states, but such kind of socials are for lozers, who are too lazy to study english or use computer.
You advise to go Ukraine, Moldova and so on. You really think that such kind of woman who dont care of you personality but "way to west" are better?
What you guys think of that recommendation?
Annika77: I offer being a boyfriend possibly leading to marriage. Socials are great for the sort of face to face meeting that we have always tradtionally used to meet each other (throughout history). Whatever appeal a western man has seems to have diminished in the Baltics.
Your argument is false - much like the same argument that American women use to explain their situation.
(Making this quick becasue I am running out of time.....)
I just came to the thought maybe I'm wrong or right I'm not sure yet. But in Ukraine we had some likes socials which was called "Vechornicy", when girls and men gathered in one house they communicated, danced and sang...and I think that this was a good way to know more about each other:)
Got to love those Ukranian Girls, not only are they pretty but smart also!!!!!Well I might be a little biased since my lady is from Mariupol. Way to go Ptichka!!! Centuries of culture not being displaced by a eupehmism!!
I repeat again. In very simple language. Baltic girls marry abroad a lot. But normal Baltic girl dont go to such kind of socials like american companies organize. Im sure these american men are very educated, nice and so on, no ofence!
No offense taken, I myself am an American that is not into the organized social scene. That's too much of the meat market philosophy
for me. But socials have been arranged in many countries for centuries. For me a relationship is much more cerebral in the beginning. I've had many women write me and I've written to many women
in the beginning and for months I have been writing just two of them.
I am going to spend two weeks with one of them in November. I have
been speaking with her on the phone often, we both feel we offer each other what we both want in a partner. Our meeting is just a formality and time to spend together to get to know each other in day to day life. We are both confident that we are going to meet again in the
spring and vacation in Crimea. The part of this system here that I don't like is after November I'm going to have the unenviable task of
writing one lady and telling her that I do not wish to correspond with her anymore. To me it is an unpleasant task to hurt anyone's feelings. I'm not a guy that has a back up plan, if it doesn't work
for me and the lady I'm going to see. So for me the social thing doesn't work because it is too much like a lottery and searching for
a relationship becomes too disingenuous. It's kind of like the silly
fad in the states now called speed dating. If I lived in the country and went to a social and met someone that's a different story. To come
from abroad and go to one that is organized for the intent of meeting someone to start a relationship is a little bit shallow for me. I don't mean that for everyone it just wouldn't feel right to me.
I think reason is baltic people are quite reserved and need more privacy than slavic people. People here have more language skills too, you need to communicate 3-4 languages to get normal job, people dont usually use translators to communicate forigners. I think one thing is speed dating in one city, but go to so called social to the end of the world...Im happy that at least one person here have realstic attitude to life. Thanks Mike
I see, thank you a lot for explaining!!! As for language skills we may argue:) people here know several languages too, of course those who want to have a better job and who has abilities to learn languages. As for example, Lugansk is a city of workers and engineers more, at least it was originally, and my parents are engineers too and they always had problems with learning the languages...
But would you admit that if a man is in the city on some business or any other reason, and he finds out that there is a social...that he may go there? I think that it's like in real life, I think that a person should choose, and for that to see more people, to communicate with more people, of course some are lucky (just like me:) to see the person and to know that this is the one and only...but some are not...so they need to see and communicate with more people...right?
Mike:
We all have different skills and abilities. I happen to be a fair writer (with the aid of spellcheck which, as regular readers know, I do not use in this forum). I have written scores of papers in graduate school and college and many more in my professional life. I have had poetry published in a small periodical. Its not a matter of my literacy, and while that may be a factor to consider for my potential mate it is not an exclusive one. Have you ever read the wrting of someone and then, on meeting, looked into their eyes to see.... nothing?
It happens.
I do not fall in love mearly by the reading of the written word. Love is a personal experience, an orchestration brought about by many factors. The physical presence of another is certainly a part of that equation.
Sure, letter writers can dismiss those who like Socials by saying that Socials are superficial and "meat markets". I guess they could be, under the wrong circumstances.
Those who are critical of letter writers can dismiss the writers by saying that they are afraid to encounter women face-to-face and that they hide behind the written word to avoid taking the rsik of actual contact.
The debate can go on as far as I am concerned. Both techniques have advantages and drawbacks and both work for different people.
I prefer to meet my lady in person and not to exclude her by using the artifical filter of rejecting her because she may not have email access, may not speak excellent English or may lack confidence in her ability to write to a native English speaker.
there is merrit for both methods so why not use both. Write some letters and go and meet her, if there is nothing between you, meet others. Write, meet. meet, write. eventualy you will have to strike it lucky. But if you stick to only one method and have it in your mind that there is no other true or correct way, then you are limiting you chances.
Mike, have you ever been. You do not have to go to socials, go to an agency and meet some girls one on one. Or what? if things do not work out with your girl, will you sit alone in you apartment waiting to go home. And, I am sorry but meeting is much much more than a mer formality. Letters are letters and both of you have high hopes of each other, but reality is reality and you realy do not know what will happen
I think I didn't make my self very clear. There is merit for both
causes, just the social isn't my choice. Also it is very possible but after many letters and phone conversations with her, massive
exchanges of photo's, it may not click, improbable but not impossible. No Id I won't sit in my apartment, I'm too much of
an extrovert. I will take in the sites of the country maybe I will
check in at an agency, but that won't be high on my agenda. I traveled extensively in the Pacific, so travel is enjoyable to me.
I've been to your country Id and before I die I would like to return to Perth.
I wasn't being critical of the social, just stating my personal opinion which is not always in agreement with others but I have to, or we all have to do what works for us. Also my character isn't one of writing or calling a woman exchanging our ideals and feelings and then if it doesn't work out. Next Lady please! That's
just not me. I'm am also in agreement that I don't fall in love with just the written word, and the personal meeting is important, but in which order? The cart before the horse theorem? You can look
into someones eyes and see nothing, but that emptiness would have reared it's head to me long before the meeting. For me to fall in
love has to be an extremely mental thing. Not that I'm not a red blooded man that appreciates also the physical beauty of a woman, but there is more to it than that. So for me a woman with extreme inner beauty and average looks is more attractive to me than a drop dead fox with little of any intellect. Many of my own friends
disagree with this thought. So attending a social and meeting a woman isn't going to give me the understanding of her inner beauty either. It takes time, intellectual communication and yes meeting and spending time together in day to day activities. Maybe the word formality was a bit of a capricious statement on my part, but I don't hold the meeting as the most important aspect of a relationship. It's just one of many. This young lady and I have had major discussions of the phone regarding the complexities that is going to challenge us in our relationship. That is also why I chose to stay within my age range, she is 43 and I'm 46. She challenges me mentally everyday, and to me she is extremely attractive, but her inner person is what makes her beauty.
So when I get back to the States on November 30th I will write about my experience. Good or bad.
Jet I can't get my damn speeell chck to wrk in this forum. I write better politcal commentary anyways. Just ask the many I've pissed off here.