Hello!! Everyone!! It has taken sometime for me to get to you on my return. It was absolutly amazing. Everything, The wonderful lady, the town of Yalta, our excursions, the black see ( that I had to swim in and float on my back, Like a mountain stream cool, too), The food,(some Ukrainian close to southern home cooking), The hotel was nice and clean. We did have some problems feeding me from the menu in Russian and the english menu was very old. Service was not always what we see and she did not have any problem not leaving a tip. She wouldn't let me. My lady did not want a translator most of the time and our ability to communicate and understand on few words was astounding. The more complex things we took to the translator or just forgot about. She is not sure of her feelings for me but she did have some tears when it was getting close for time for me to leave. I ask her not to cry, That we had only begun our relations. That's what she did, too!! She is not sure about coming here and I'm not sure how to go about showing her the differences. She is afraid and I can't help that. I want her to come for a visit but she shot down all the visa Ideas. I took over 300 hundred pictures, many of the beautiful mountains and sea view. I know we have places like Yalta, where you are on the beach and the mountains are in the view. But I have never had the chance to see much of it.I got one picture in my mind from the beach over the town of Yalta with the mountains as a back ground. Our excursions into the mountains were very cold. One day we had snow flurries and then back in Yalta it was in the 70's. It was cooler many of our days and the trips to the beach were minimal. We did get cold there to. I was glad I took warm cloths, too!! I got to be delayed in New York on my return for the hurricane that was crossing Atlanta. Was thrilled when we were landing. Felt like we were side ways. For my first trip abroad and first air travel, I got the full treatment. Got to see Greenland by day and night. If you want to know about the women? Well, Most are very pretty and beautiful. They carry themselves very well. We got several smiles when she had Flowers in her hand. There are many, many too, many!!! Everywhere. I thought it may be Yalta but when we went to Simferopol the day before my early flight. It wasn't Yalta. My lady ask me did I like russian women. I had to kindof avoid the question but I did fine. If you need it, I said "none as beautiful as you". I didn't go to the casino nor the strip club, although she did ask if I wanted to. Don't remember to many ladies here asking.LOL!!!! Didn't want to leave her at the airport and can't wait to get back to her. That how I feel about her. She is reserved, I like that about her too. I feel she has feelng for me and does not know how much. The thought of relocating has her alitle flustered. She say thank you for 10 days in paradise. I couldn't do anyhting to better that statement. It was the best time I have ever had with a lady and absolutely amazing. The room was suupose to have 2 beds but it didn't she thought I was, you know!! I told her I was told different and I would do whatever needed to be done to make her comfortable. Well, it worked out fine Guys!!! I didn't feel things were over expencive. I did make a statement like they do that to americans and she was offended by it. I wouls suggest learning all the russian you can before you go. I'm still trying to learn. The Talk translator was very helpful and she had a book that translated back and forth between russian and english, we could both use. It was the most help because it had every word. She complimented me on my patients explaining when she did not understand me. She also complimented me about the arrangements from the travel agent right before we had the problem with the room. I would go back right now today if I could and do it all over again. If I had imagined what I wanted everything to be like before I got there. I would have sold myself short. It's nice to be home and back at work but I would rather be with my lady. Have a wonderful day!!! Sincerely my pleasure!!! southernman P.S. Translator 5$ an hour
Thank you Southernman. I really appreciate that long posting. It really helps. It is only with the aid of people like you that I will really now which way is up. Thank you again.
Steve
We can discuss issues to death here, but the only way to truly know is face the uncertainty and just GO!
I don't have a specific destination just yet, but I intend to go again next spring or summer.
I can't speak for you, but I think the majority are afraid of the culture shock and being away from the world you know. It REALLY is not that different from the world you already know.
I have absolutely nothing against organized tours like A Foreign Affair. They are great but the more I am feeling my way through this I see a combination of Wess's attitude coupled with a focussed trip to meet someone with an out. The out is a trapdoor to go either somewhere else of SAFELY explore the city in question. Eventually this will gell. It is definitely coming together. It would be trgaic to spend $4000 or more to visit a potntial loved one to find out nothing but "phut". I am thinking backup plan. Heavy duty backup plan.
Hello!!! Everyone, gentlemen and our lady support!!! I have received the letter from my lady. She has been thinking very hard and I could tell there was something wrong. We both feel we had a most wonderful amazing time together and wish to have it back. Reality is she has family and friends in her home town. America is a long way for her to imagine being away. I understand her, the fear and not knowing about being so far away. I talked to her today before I read the letter by phone. She said she really likes me. The letter says I am worthy of knowing she can not move to the United states. She would like me to come back to visit. It is alot of money to spend on hope of our dreams. I am a little sad about it all but had the most amazing time of my life with an amazing lady. Would not have had that time if I thought so much about what bad could happen. I've seen a part of the world I would have never seen. Been with a lady I would have never had the chance in america. You can get the image. I could go visit her again and we could fall in love and everything change. The lady is very reserved and does not wish to lead me to believe anything that is not the truth. She did ask me to live there but I have to much time invested in my retirement, union, etc. to start all over. Also I looked around after she ask and the safety and conditions of work are not close to what we have in America. So I told her and she said it is not a good idea. My veiw of a tour is that you will be searching during the time you could be spending with a wonderful lady that shares your interest. It is possible that more time together would have been better for my lady and I. I may have missed asking her if she could relocate to the U.S. and perhapes she did not think much about it very seriously. I can speculate 1000s of things. I can look but and think of my mistakes but only to learn from, not to regret. I have no regret. I will do it again because for sometime there was more hope about finding the love of my life than there has been in my heart for a long time. It will be hard to find such a beautiful, wonderful lady. But there are thousands to choose from. A good back up plan is to go to the agency in the town or city you visit if something goes wrong. I needed to get this out. I hope everyone can understand. I will answer her letter with a phone call, letter and some flowers telling her I am grateful for her, our time together and the opportunity. Have a great day!!! Sincerely southern!!! Best wishes to Frank and the couragous lady he will begin a new life with!!!
Thanks Southernman, I wish you the best on your Quest, I have felt for sometime that it must be a very hard choice for a woman to leave all they know, it sounds like you have invested much between the both of you. I am looking forward to how this all plays out in the end because this does not seem like the end! What ever your decision best of luck!