I'm still in St.Pete. Great city. There was no where NEAR the "old Soviet Union" behavior I was expecting on arrival. Heck, even my luggage was not inspected, which you CAN'T say for the U.S.A. anymore.
St. Petersberg is VERY accessible to foreigners, and I not that most places include English as well as standard Russian spelling. Credit cards are not as prevalent as I hoped, but ATM's in some locations work just fine.
Weather is very nice, and the city is beatiful.
Certainly are a lot of lovely women, too!
On the firt day of the socials, I met an absolute knockout named Inna. We've been out three times thus far. Yesterday, we played pool and went walking around St. Petersberg. After dinner, we came back to my hotel and had tea at the lounge.
She said her feet were hurting from the walk and her new shoes, so I offered to massage her feet in my room, and up we went. While rubbing her feet, we talked and watched the movie "Corky Romano" dubbed in Russian. How's THAT for an initial relationship memory to drag through your life?
After the movie, I took her down to get a cab back home, so she could sleep and get to work in the morning.
While waiting for the cab, I think she had enough of me being a gentleman, and manuevered me behind her. We hugged and kissed while waiting for the cab.
DAMN FEMINIST NAZI'S! You've ruined my love life! She wanted me to be the sexual agressor, and years of subliminal training denied me the common sense I needed.
Now, I have a mild cold I'm trying to get over, and spend more time with my lovely Inna.
Six more days to go, so who knows what else noteworthy may happen!
You did good by holding off really, in fact sounds like you're doing things just right, I mean do you want to be loved or just have sex. Get the daily double, go for both, now this might be a novel idea Scott but think about it go ahead use both of those heads!
she went to the hotel with you? wow, my (former) girl refused to even enter the lobby, said it was not appropriate, i.e full of hookers, mind You I could not find any;-)
weather is nice? my woman told me the weather sucks. Hope your having a good time and I wish you luck. Im going back there in november and I cant wait. only problem is I am going to freeze my ass off. the good part is she will keep me warm =P
Nisse, there ARE hookers at this hotel. I think all major hotels turn their heads in the name of business.
As far as other girls, they do differ. My compatriates have tales of some of their girls not liking to hug in public, while others do.
I will state that all the time I was with Inna, she was quite coy with me.
Well, it's been a couple of days more, and Inna is suddenly being like an American women. She has accused me of being married, of just being here for fun, and not being fast enough on the relationship side. She WANTS me to ask her to marry her now. Much like some past stories here, I need to cut my losses, and find other avenues. It's hard to discard the investment I've made.
The weather is very variable. Overall, it has been nice. During my visit of the Peter and Paul fortress, it started to rain. Since I was determined to take several pictures, getting wet was the only recourse. Of course, when I got up that morning, it did not appear that I needed an umbrella.
Everywhere I have gone with Inna, she has taken an umbrella. However, it never rains constantly, so I don't think I have a real requirement to do so.
Wess, I am still specifically NOT making the moves on her. Partly for the reason given above, but also that I want to her to specifically know by example that I am not trying to take advantage of her. Ultimately, I'm here for a relationship, and not mindless sex (though with her body, I have to constantly override my bodies desires!)
Anyway, today we go to see the Hermitage! Beatiful city. Even if you don't want to find a wife here, it's will worth coming just for the sites and history. Again, very foreigner friendly.
I have ridden the subways here a few times as well. If any of you live in New York, or travel the New York subways, it will be old hat for you, minus understanding the locations in Russian.
I'm back but still winding down. My situation with Inna is dead. I have an alternate with a girl named Elena in Novgoradm, but she is in the process if getting a job in St, Petersburg. As such, she has a lot on her mind, and it is difficult to see how serious she feels about me.
For those still debating going over, get over it and go. You won't regret it.
Learn Russian! In the large towns, you can survive without it, but you might be surprised how much the girls will appreciate you doing this. It demonstrates a commitment to them.
Lastly, I see western culture is quickly creeping into the FSU. Those that wait will see the numbers of who they wish to be with will dwindle soon
!
Not my point. You are right in that most of these women are searching abroad for quality men. However, western culture is making these women more western like in their behavior. Just be warned.
If any of you have questions, ask them and I will try to answer them later. I slept for 14 hours last night. Still trying to get my time clock back in sync.
I Inna, though I have to keep telling myself the right thing happened. One person on our tour summed it up VERY well. "You are seeing her at her best, right now.".
One answer has not changed. If you have a desire to go, do it. You will find a million reasons not too, until you just commit and DO IT!
If you are concerned that your expections will not be met, then deal with the fact that it by logical conclusion will never meet your expectations. It did not meet my expectations, but I knew not to have unrealistic ones to begin with. As such, I had a great time. Take it as it comes, and take the opportunities as they present themselves.
Inna was an oppurtunity I seized upon, and it worked great up and too the point and she decided to steer the relationship where I was not prepared to go.
There are some prepared to power date and make the marriage decision on that trip. I'm not. A relationship destined for the rest of my life should not be limited to what we know of each other in only three days. That's just me.
You don't have to be fluent. You can hire interpreters in all of the towns with agencies. I had one in Novgorod, though in the end I really did not require one. I can read Russian far better than I can speak it. I rode the bus back to St. Pete with Elena, and she helped me with my pronounciation. Again, they really appreciate you trying to speak the language.
Instead of posting to several distinct posts, I will keep my relevent experiences here.
Whew, finally back home in Texas, and glad to sleep in my own bed again.
Regarding women wanting children (or not wanting), you can certainly find them. The bulk appear to want children, and for the most part, I think there is a common thread.
Many of the women I visited in St. Pete were surprised that I came from a large family (two older sisters). I told them that is an average family in the U.S.A.
I was informed that many families have only one child, and normally not more than two. The simple fact was that most Russians could not afford more than one child (again, the ladies were telling me this).
Given the above, I can see the desire to have multiple children (and this means generally wanting children). They want the opportunity to have a the kind of family they have not historically been able to have in Russia (and the other FSU countries, I imagine).
On the subject on race, a couple of women DID ask about the issue with African Americans, and the dangers involved with them.
It took a while to describe the history of slavery to present day, and some underlying issues. Just like we have myths about Russia, they have myths about us.
And I sweet little myth is all we are here to find :o)))
Hey Scott :o)
Im kinda back too, but only on and off as Im busy sorting my new home out !!!
Why oh why didnt I just stay where I was and save myself all this bloody hard work ? !!!