Very well written, Tim. You are right on the money. However, I do need to
play Devil's advocate here for a moment.
The world situation is not friendly these days, especially towards
Americans. If spirit's desire to do this stems from his concern for
personal safety, it's a valid one.
In addition, neither your lady nor you has a complete grasp of the
other's life and lifestyle - where you live, the society and culture
that exist there, etc.
We gentlemen have the luxury of traveling the FSU to meet our lady and
see the enviroment in which she lives. She does not have that
opportunity/luxury/freedom. By the time she sees your city, your
house/apartment/etc, you've already spent $$$ on the visa and such.
If she is unable/unwilling to transcend problems with language/
culture/your house/your cat/your mother-in-law :-) she returns
home, and you're back at square one, a little poorer (financially
and emotionally).
I can understand and empathize with spirits' position - allow the
lady to view 'manus futurehusbandus' in his natural environment :-)
As much as one would like to have every single duck lined up
just so, ultimately, though, it's still a leap of faith - and more
of a leap from her side than from yours.
Suggestions? Comments? Flames?
<Bob dons asbestos flight suit and assumes crash position>
Thats the only thing that bothers me is the situation of peoples feelings toward americans when I go abroad. My girl now has a pretty good idea of where shes coming to and how her life is going to change. I cant predict the future, and I'm not even going to try. I hope she is happy here and I will do everything I can to make sure she has a smooth transition to my culture.
I see my trip to Russia as one of my great adventures and it is something I will never forget.
Buran:
I'm afraid you can only blame George W for the anti US feeling around the world mate, if he kept his nose and his troops out of other countries business it would be far better for everyone !! And our "Idiot Blair" having his tongue up Georges arse isn't helping the situation for us !!! Or making attitudes pleasant toward Britains in other countries either !!!
An aside here; I don't see these "crusaders against terrorism" rushing into Northern Ireland or Korea to start a war against the regime`s in those countries !! I heard said a few months ago, that if they were honestly looking to roust terrorists, they would be at war with about 35 countries in all !!! I wonder if a lack of oil under those countries might be a factor in the policy making ! ;o))
Buran: As regards Spirits reasons, from what I can make out it appears to me as laziness, and an unwillingness to go there because he thinks it will be easier for him to bring a girl to the USA !! There doesn't seem to be much consideration given to the girls feelings about it !! No Russian women with any brain at all is Ever going to come to him unless he goes to her first, if only for a brief holiday. If the holiday works out then sure, invite her back to your place, but asking her to come to you (and also think about the fact she will be flying to the USA, just as potentially dangerous as you guys flying to Europe !! Hijackers wont ask if everyone on board is a US citizen before they plough time square with a stolen jet full of passengers !!!) first is a Very selfish and self centred thing to do, No Russian woman would be impressed by this offer unless she is a scammer and has no intention of using the money you send to buy a visa or a ticket !!!
Anyone harbouring dreams of their Russian lady flying to them first is living in cloud cookoo land and full of their own importance !!!
I just wanted to add a little something -- first about courage and the fear of flying so to speak. I am not afraid of any man,any country,anything. I have had much life on the edge of danger, and lived in the most severe of adverse situations. Death trails us all like the echo of our own footsteps in a dark alley. There is much to be said about faith,whether you believe in God / Yahweh,or not. I really do not care about the "how" I can make the union of this lady and myself happen.I agree that ( in in most societies) a person meets the parents and families,gleans their approval,and is received more warmly from the woman he loves.This forum has however given me much to think about ,and I do agree that if it were my baby girl ( she is 18)or any child of mine I would be very very concerned about letting them go to another country--even Canada or Mexico-my neighbors. I feel like I am back to square one--I am very interrogative and quizzical-and I know that if the least question ( worded very politely) causes her to become defensive,then there is more going on here than I thought. I am still trying to find more information on Luxury Travel from Kremenchug? I have queried them about the passport. I paid her to buy it from them,and I hope to find the truth in this matter. I am not lazy about anything in my existence. I work hard,play hard,and am one of few Americans who really appreciates culture,because many of us have so little beyond the beer-drunk and bratwurst smelling aaacchh! of our German ancestry. I truly starve for knowledge,and I know I will have to go to Kiev. I may just tell her to meet me there,and if everything turns out badly,I will at least see the foundation of Russia,and something much older and richer than pioneer Williamsburg.And maybe try out my "yazik" on people there. A thought also on anti-Americanism,or anti-any country. I like to be able to credit people with individual intelligence,and the reasoning ability to decide that not all Americans are bad--as not all Iraqis are evil. Remember the " I would travel 10,000 miles to smoke a camel" T-shirts? After all--some of these 911 terrorists lived here for years,made friends,had relationships--possibly loved others.Remember if you will that Kennedy tried to assasinate Castro,then was himself assassinated a month after Vietnams president was killed with U.S.help. What country can be called innocent? How few anyway? I think the truth of a person can be seen in their eyes,heard in their voice,and we commonly "feel out" a person for the goodness within them.I have been accepted in different societies because I genuinely care for people,and it comes across to them,and this is something that I believe is universal.Please throw darts if you think I am naive,but I do believe we all come from the same race-and we all basically want the same thing. Maybe T.Blair just needs a little approval from his big brother George.Seems like he would just want out because all these guys in parliament yell at him all the time.Take care !!
Dont feel sorry for Blair Spirit !!! He is merely reeping the rewards of being a lying scheming back stabbing arese licking bitch !!!
When you go to Kiev, have a great time, and try to forget about the worlds troubles for a few days, most Russian TV has little or nothing about the Iraq situation anyway, and you wont hear much about it, if anything, from Russians either, Russia is big enough to have enough news from its own borders to fill a days worth of news broadcasts every day, they concern themsleves very araely with news from the west (or Middle east) unless it directly affects them, which almost all news from Iraq, doesn't.
About Russian passport for another countries.
To receive such passport , we have 2 ways.
1 - girl write special paper ( very easy ) and go at OVIR ( girl know , what is it ). There you give this paper, and 4 your picts.
Passport can be made at month , 2 weeks and 3 days. If make it in 3 days, it will cost near 30 $. If in 2 weeks - 18$. If in month - 9 $.
And girl receive the passport without nay problems.
2 way .She go to agency , pay big money for work , that she can make herself at few hours.
At Ukraine - the same way. At another countries - I don’t know.
For you guys who dont know what Ovir is, its the Russian equivalent of our passport issuing body, and also has connections to the Ministry of Foreign affairs.