deanaf - in my opinion, before you begin this journey you had better think about how much this all may cost you in money and time. Also you should know getting into an international relationship is not easy, not all Russian women are not looking to leave their country like many will have you believe. Plus there is no guarantee for success. Go into this with the mindset if things dont work out, you will have an opportunity to travel to places you would probably never see in your lifetime.
"the commentary should shift from what expectations we have of the Russian women to what expectations we are going to have to have of ourselves."
Well said Harantis, I think this statement is true.
A girl like that would run circles around an American broad knowing half her english skills! The funny part is Ive lived in Russia with my lady and seen how they live everyday life and I will tell all of you that an American woman would not survive in Russia even if she spoke Russian fluently. I get a good laugh everytime that thought of some American chick walking the streets of Russia trying to survive.. LOL Funny thought..
Think they could cut it in Saudi Arabia ? (Not only aren't the seats in your SUV heated, you're not even allowed to drive it babe !)
How about in Vietnam, knee deep in a rice paddi ?
How about many places in South and Central America ? They'd stop complaining about the toilet seat being left in the "up" position after a week of pee-ing in a pot (literally) on the front porch of your shack.
I'm laughing hysterically right now. Not that it isn't nice to be able to have nice things in America, but it just fries my butt when an American women won't travel someplace because they can't stay in a five star hotel.
I sort of touched on your point in another thread sometime back until a couple of proven failures decided to expound their wisdom and tell everyone you didn't need any standards or ethics if you looked in another geographic location.
You raise the most important point of all IMHO when it comes to seeking a foreign and particularly FSU partner.
Just some points which should be established early. What and why do you want? If you simply have a "Wife Vacancy", then IMHO save everyone including yourself some time and forget it. What do you have to offer apart from material assets. Understand what motivates the foreign woman to consider a foreign husband. Financial viability should be examinined. Your own family situation, children, commitments etc. Ex wife in the picture anywhere?
Expectations of ourself might include at least knowing our ability to stay the distance. Expecting to be able to mix in any and all levels of society, both domestically and abroad. We should expect ourselves to learn some foreign language. Be prepared to study a little culture and history. Be prepared to make hard choices because for sure they will come. Be prepared to quit on so called friends if they start to quit on you because you are seeking a foriegn partner. This is a huge area, because friends can make or break you and her at a later time. The bottom line is that you will need to be an "Iron Fist in a Velvet Glove" type of man if you are to succeed.
Never never be ashamed to white flag this and say it is not for me. I respect very much people who have the courage of such convictions. You'll need a helluva sense of humour and the patience of Job either way. You need to be prepared to apply yourself with an almost scientific fervour to this in order to keep learning. The research and learning should not stop when you get that ring on the finger. Believe me, that is just the time when it is going to get really tough. However, ohhhhhh the rewards are beyond description. A Russian woman's heart truely won, is a prize beyond price and more precious than any gold.
Just take a look at some really old films of Russian politics, when the exiled were vanquished to northern Siberia. The Russian woman always followed her man across the Urals to be with him through hell and back. She never thought to quit. Films, though they may be, they do tell a very accurate story. Are you worth such a woman? That is question number one. She is not a Goddess by any measure, and don't believe the hype that she is, but she can and will be the real partner most men dream of.
I still don't think anyone hs identified the city that the video was taken in (unless I missed it). Could certainly be Moldova from my many experiences - though I am guessing it isn't.
Did you notice that she bought a single beer? Not a six pack or a case, as we typically buy such things in the US. Part of that is a function of not wanting to carry such quantity - they don't have car trunks to throw it into. But people tend to shop, casually, for their daily needs. My lady could neven get used to grocery shopping in the US in quantity and doing it only once a week.
I think this is perfectly nice and normal for any former Soviet Union city. It really should be required viewing, if you haven't been before and are planning to go and meet your partner in any FSU country-- just as a small primer.
I don't agree that this is a particularly run-down city. Kiev can look exactly like this-- if you go 8km in any direction from the Maidan. In Odessa, 5km in any direction from the center looks like this.
The city centers can be beautiful, very European. Heck, the shops in the center of Moscow can be nicer (and more expensive) than Paris or Manhattan. In the CENTER. Go a few KM (well, in Moscow-- several km) and it will look a lot like this.
The street scenes are 100% normal-- they are not at all in a sketchy part of town. It may seem run down compared to Iowa City or Tucson or Sacramento or Sydney -- but it is just another part of the world.
The young woman seems perfectly nice, reasonable, rational, down to earth, realistic. Does money and good looks help? 'Yes, sure!' she says-- but her basis is something much more fundamental-- he must be psychologically stable! She almost apologizes for that, as she thinks it might sound rude-- but she is being perfectly reasonable.
By the way, just about any train station in New York City looks sketchier than this! I’d take the metro in Kyiv or Moscow over NYC any day!! :D
You can also see the difference between the at-home and in-public persona that I’ve observed to be common. In the market shopping, she is much more brusque-- which I have seen often. It is like armor that is worn to protect, when out in public. In home, or with friends, or in safe closed spaces, the warmth comes out!
I’d love to contact this woman, just to tell her how nice it was to see an honest and unedited video, and wish her well in her search for a partner!
You guys are spot on in so far as this could be in any city from Kishinev to Vladivostok including the bigger cities.
It is in fact Omsk in south western Siberia. I picked up two things, the street side shop which I happen to know quite well (It sell s the most expensive choko pies in Omsk LOL) and the accent, which is an educated, but very much southern Siberian accent.
Anyone who has been in Omsk will know that it is one of the more modern cities in Russia in the central part and to an extent, even some of the suburban areas. The main part of the city is very clean, wide streets and modern shopping centres. BTW 1.2 million in population. The clip is made on the southern side of the river in the markets area. (Generally)
I think this is no easy lady to win, but by goodness, I think the man who does just that will need to be smart and when he does, he will have a very smart partner who will be in for the long haul regardless. Just MHO.