Actually they are poor and struggling.
I had an interesting conversation yesterday with Marina. She said things are getting quite bad lately. No jobs, wages getting lowered and people having to work longer hours. She said it is caused by criminals in the government and she probably isn't wrong.
She works 6 days a week 10 hours a day and they have just cut her pay by one quarter. I just hope they will let her have some time in July for us to be together for a while. She has started looking for a new job but it is very difficult.
She told me that people are starting to talk and fears that if it keeps up there could be another revolution. Her words not mine. I think she is exagerating but what do I know.
If things continue to improve for us at least I can help her. I wish I could do something more to help.
I was told by a Ukraine person when I 1st arrived there 2003, Women “wear” their wealth. they do not have many luxuries but they believe in making themselves look beautiful. They wear the best they can afford and look after it. Every night they wash there cloths and prepare their cloths for the following day. they clean their shoes and keep them like new pairs.
Not like the spoilt Wes ties, use - abuse and throw away and replace.
I have seen it 1st hand how they look after personal things, they know, they can
NOT just go and get another item off the shelf.
Take note of how many children you will see in the shopping streets of any city in FSU. You will see very few. Why, because you don’t tease and tempt them with things you cant afford.
geriatrix
I do not know why you are even here looking at this forum. You seem to have a very NEGATIVE line on FSU women. Have I got this wrong or mistaken for someone else ??????
I didn't know when I was young I was poor didn't matter. Zen philosophy, which I believe in a bit, is if you have health, food to eat, roof over your head and work you are already wealthy. My wealth has expanded exponentially and has nothing to do with money or material things.
Maxirat, you're right + very few women change their clothes and shoes after 1 season. Usually we wear shoes for 2-4 years, the same is for clothes.
And by the way, for example shoes made in Ukraine cost not very much, but they are great, comfortable, look nicely and are possible to wear for a couple of years (or longer) without losing their shape:)
They take care of thier cloths and many of the cloths are of much better quality than we see here in the States.
My boys wearout a pair of tennis shoes about every 4 months and they cost three times the cost than in the FSU. But they don't have the swish mark on them in the FSU.
Hmm, i wear my shoes for about 2-4 years, but then again I have about 4 pairs :-) and I hate shopping so I usually where my close for about 2 seasons, and I have a favorite pair of jeans I have wore for almost 9 years, they have big holes in the knees and a couple further up, and know that I am fully they are tighter and the chiks dig it. haha. I cant wait for Elena to come hair, girls like to shop, I will give her the responsibility to cloth me and I will cook for her in return haha.
Ptichka
Yes, the quality of the shoes and cloths is superior to here, thats for sure. Narly everything here in NZ is made in china. Use then throw away soon as it starts looking a little tatty.
I can still see, my 1st Lena, washing her cloths - in the bath - every night. Cleaning the dirt off her boots every night and putting in place to dry for the next day. I really admired this, just did it without any moaning or fuss, and her daughters.
I tried to buy a nice top in Traveskya - Moscow for her "NET, too exspensive here, will get same at home for half the price"
This is why I admire and want to be a partner too a FSU lady, their priorities are in good order.
Talking about clothes:
Back in the dark ages, when you bought a new pair of denim jeans, they were new.
Then, for some years you had a a choice between new and 'half detroyed' (washed in acid with stones).
Now that seems to all you can get.
They look '..a little tatty..' already in the shop...
Is there (here in the so called rich West) a secret conspiracy to promote fast turnover by selling only half-destroyed clothes??
My fiance carefully keeps the plastic bags that each artical of clothing came in. Then she carefully packs it back into the bag after the clothes are worn, washed by hand and air dryed. As a result a particular red sweater that she has looks as good a year afterward as it did when she bought it.
Every time I run my stuff through the dryer I KNOW I collect an ounce of dryer lint. That's got to be coming from somewhere.