" (and maybe because of them) I have been reluctant to give free rein to anything other minimal emotional involvement with any of the FSU women I correspond with" .. well the proof will be in the pudding. If it works out well for me than who can be critical. If it does not work out, then I have been a fool. If I end up being a fool for getting prematurely emotionaly involved, then it is a learning experience. I guess I am willing to take a risk for love and happiness sake.
Of course I also go to Moldova to visit a new friend and her family, experience a part of the world new to me. I also bring no preconceived idea about immediate sexual gratification.
If I had not been only involved with one womwn for 4+ months (daily phone calls and letters, I probably would not be so emotionally involved. But wouldn't it be rather strange to have such a high level of contact and have no corresponding emotional involvement? I am not afraid of my emotions, and they are always subservient to my mind.
Of course I know that until I meet her and spend time with her, I will not truly know her well enough to want to spend my life with her. (She knows this as well). But make no mistake about it, I am visiting Ludmilla to see if we may have a future together as husband and wife. It is not a tourist or friendship trip. There are hundreds of other recreational trips I would make instead (Yellowstone to visit with daughter Nat, sking in Aspen with the kids, hunting and fishing in the Canadian Artic with Dad and bro again, Disney World with the kids again, canoeing the Allagash, visiting friends in Cueneverca Mexico again etc..).
Taxco was great also! We had a bus driver on the way up that practically gave me a heart attck on the railess turns on the cliffs.. The way back was worse, 8 of us(me the only gringo) crammed in a little broken down Toyota, doors held shut by rope, hurtling down the same slopes. Las Grutos was great too, the cave went on forever!
Ensata- I have some faith in your relationship with Lucy. Sounds like you both are dying to see each other. I guess you're starting to count the days now! I don't really care how your sex life turns out, just hope it turns out to be a love story.
Dale - thanks for the kind words. We are both starting to get 'nervous' in the good sense and it is stil 20 days away! What is good about our relationship is that we both came into it being very practial and thoughtful, we have really kept our wits about us, and yet our affections for each other have really developed! I hope it turns out to be a true love story as well - for Lucy , me , and as an encoyragement to everyone who is walking down this same path here.
I will definately keep posting. The sex life - well if we hit it off in person, and decide on a future together - it will be sooner or later, - and it should be great!
Olga - your doing a great job in bringing order back to our forum. Seems to me that you are making the right decesions in what you are locking and eliminating. Thanks!
Hello everybody, Ive decided to give it one more shot here. First of all I want to say thanks for all the wellwishes. I know nothing in life is guaranteed, and we both think it is very critical for us to spend more time together before we make the ultimate decision of her coming here to me. You have to realize she is going to leave her job, her family, friends and everything else she knows behind for me (just as your ladies will have to do). Not only that but she does not know English very well and the climate change from where she lives to where I live is like night and day. This is the most important decision of her life. I made the decision to leave my business once again for her and I can't begin to explain to all of you how difficult that is for me to do. Only because everything is in limbo while I am gone. You all have to realize I have approximatly 40 employees and many deadlines and other things I face. My business is pressure for me around the clock and it supports my whole family. It is not as simple as jumping on a jet and shooting around the world.. I sacrifice everything for us both to be in eachothers arms but it is something I cannot let just slip by. I don't want to lose her, I hope you all can understand that. I will try to answer all of you.
Man: I used a translator my agency provided for me.
Ben: Ask me any question and I will try to answer it for you.
Scott: I will try to go more into detail later, if you have any specific questions feel free to ask.
Ensata: You and I seemed to have the same type of relationship going since we met here. I am sure your meeting will be wonderful as mine was. I know I was in a big city compared to where you are going but ask anything you like and I will try to answer for you my friend.
Nisse: We used the same agancy, remember? When you came back and said they were good people it made me feel much more at ease and I thank you for that..
Adam: Your positive experience when you went to St. Pete definitly made me look forward to going. Thanks =)
Ptichka: Thank you for the kind words. You are an asset to this forum =)
Whoever Nickname was: You can go burn in hell
WT: Yes you are right. 9 or 10 days in Russia does not make me an expert by any means. But I definitly got an impression of Russian people while I was there.
Dietz: No need for any kind of apology. Welcome to the forum and try to learn as much as you can before you go. Others have said to get there as soon as you can, but I still stand by the idea of learning as much as possible before going.
Been There: Its too bad about your misfortune. But you have to understand that each relationship is different just as no 2 Russian people are the same. We all have our different personalities and like I said. I know there are no guarantees in life, I'm a big boy and have been in many relationships in my life, learned from them all. IF anything bad happened I would get up wipe my feet off and go on.. I have done it before and I could do it again.
Anyone with irrelevent or idiotic comments can go drop dead, I have no use for you..
Thus far, I will be in St. Petersburg in late August. I will be going on a tour, so the majority of issues most will encounter will be covered by the tour. This will be an expensive first trip, but I felt it best to take the "all bases are covered" on this first trip rather than read a lot, go there and find I missed something crucial. I should be better prepared for a trip later.
At this point, I'm NOT going to see anyone particular. I HAD been corresponding with one lady for a while, but she had dropped off the planet for all intense and purposes.
Now, since I have booked the trip, I have heard back from her and she has apparently been very sick for the past couple of weeks.
I'm a very straight forward person, so I did tell her that I had booked a tour for St. Petersberg, but fate worked out differently, perhaps we can see each other instead when I'm there.
I don't have any specific questions myself, but I'm sure everyone else here would like to know the details, and perhaps a specific experience of yours might spark futher questions from others.
Regarding Tim, I had exchanged some e-mails with him Friday morning, and he stated he would be on that evening. Not sure where he has dissappeared.
Regarding understanding Russian people, you have to start somewhere. Reading and advice only go so far. You have to learn for yourself. Glad you took that step! You never stop learning.
Ptichka, I would say crash has just given a good examle of "machismo" (in my opinion)
CRASH= Glad you're back safe and sound.---Tell me about your translator. How much did you need her? Was it everyday, just over dinner, when sightseeing or all of the above? Did she meet you at airport? What was cost per hour or day?
My gal took english in grade school and hasn't used it in years. We're hoping some of it will come back to her as we talk more. I bought a universal translator but I don't think it will help much as far as the two of us carrying on a conversation with it. It's very limited in that aspect. I'm just starting to learn russian. Only have 6 weeks till my trip. I figure I'll need a translator most of the time.
On the subject of translators. If anyone needs a phone call translated--check out--be happy 2 day.com--Found it yesterday while searching. They CLAIM that their service is 99 cents a minute. Thats supposed to include translator, phone call and all. I plan to use them next time I call my gal.
The Man Called Donkey says Farewell.
This will be my last post here.
I have been bed-ridden for a few days, on a diet of watery porridge and other soft food items like quiche. I shall eventually progress to red meat, but I shall never drink Vodka. And, while not drinking Vodka might be seen as good, not drinking Vodka because of health problems (fear of latent stomach ulcer) migh not be so good. My medication is Ranitidine Hydrochloride which I get from the local chemist. There is no need for discrete post orders from an apothecary in Mumbai. Thanks, but No Thanks.
When I asked my first question, I did not foresee the storm it would cause.
I did not give you all the details, just the ones I found relevant for my questions. I have been on pen-pal basis with some ladies for a short time, however, probably due to some emotional scars on the part of all parties, progress was slow. I thought I could benefit from joining here.
I realise that I am not in your league. You probably sensed that too. I never sired any children out of wedlock and I was faithful to my wife while the marriage lasted.
As things stand now, I shall have to avoid all references between my real identity and my pen name here. The ladies I would be interested in would be smart enough to check this forum for background information before they decided whether or not my letters were worth answering.
I shall from time to time read your writing, but I shall not post.
I wish you all the best in your quest.
Sancho....what's the f...k are you talking about????????????
SSshhhhhheeeessshhhhh, man....tie your typing finger until you think what you're going to post.
Im glad to hear real world experience from you. It makes me look forward to my trip in November. You being an intelligent person wouldnt make a decision that quick either. Its good to take time and reflect on your situation. If my current situation goes well with the lady Ive been talking with I plan on making many trips there. Its a tough decision to leave everything youve known all your life. Thats why even remote as it is, If I really love her, relocating myself is not out of the question.
Congrats man, Im glad it went well for you!!!
Plus crash while you were away Martin finally won a damn race!!
Lol Nas, I'm glad I can help out in any way. If you ever need to ask anything, please don't hesitate. Im leaving again in less than two weeks! I understand how you feel and I only wish you all the best my friend.
I know about Mark!! I seen a re-run of the race when I got back. What a great win for him!!