Tim
You lucky bugger, We are all green with envy :))
Trad
I agree it isnt all dollars and cents. My current girlfriend is in NZ for the rest of the year to learn English. Because of her work and family she has a great standard of living in Russia but would like to stay here. It would probably mean a drop in relative money terms but she sees the quality of life here, peoples attitude and lifestyle and would like to be part of it. Whatever her true situation is in Russia, she can afford to fly back and forth to Russia several times, pay for fulltime english lessons and rent her own appartment, She doesnt seem like a desperate ecconomic migrant.
I am not slagging of my own country or America, but neither of these countries are some Utopia wrtav. What Timmy says about health care is true. Ex Soviet Union is lacking in a few things, but medical knowhow is not one of them. I know where I will be getting my dental work done.
My wife also possesses a Romanian passport and can go anywhere in the Eu, the only country she needed a fiance visa for in Europe is the Uk, strange decision to marry a guy from England when it was the most difficult and expensive option
Moldova is very poor, but that includes all the towns and villages, the capital is not so terrible, all the people I know there, go out in the evening, have mobile phones, dress very nicely and don't wonder where their next meal is coming from.
I will grant you that some people are mercenary, but most people want love and a family
timmy, agree life can be good in Ukraine if you have good, steady income especially denominated in hard currency. Most of us here could go there and live a wonderful life. As you might know, many people make third world countries their retirement home.
For native Ukrainians, it is a different story. Health care is free, but sucks. I was shocked by the death of my father-in-law and the way it happened. Life has a price over there and they'll let you die if you don't have money in your pocket, there is no question in my mind about that. I am not talking about work on someone's teeth. In the US, things are not perfect, but they won't let you die. If you go to a hospital, they'll take care of you even if you're uninsured. In fact, there are states and counties that offer basic insurance to all citizens. In Western Europe, health care standards are even better I believe. There is no worse country to live in my opinion than a country that treats its citizens in such a discrminatory manner as Ukraine does. Needless to say my wife has totally hated Ukraine for what happened to her father and I can't blame her. Now, we are hoping to bring her mother here as soon as possible.
I have traveled the world as few people have. I love visiting places and experiencing different cultures, but I always want to come back. US is home and I love it, I would never move permanently somewhere else especially to FSU.
tradman, one of my classmmates in business school in the mid-nineties was a moldovan guy who had worked at the UN, was from a "good" molodovan family, etc. He seemed a guy with deep pockets, too. I am not sure who are the people with the expensive wardrobes that you're talking about in moldova. Maybe you're talking about the local aristocracy. It is very hard to believe that what you described represents the average moldovan citizen even those living in the capital, moldova is one of the poorest countries in the world. What felicedate said above cannot be far from the truth.
Tradman said they they were very nicely dressed, that doesn't mean expensive. I know when i was there they could spot americans by the way they dressed (which wasn't because they were well dressed in their option). Girls take a lot of pride in what they wear and look after their clothes. As someone said in the FSU they wear their wealth. Walk down the high street of any UK city and you'll see woman in tracksuits just like the US. Tradman is correct here. I also have found girls don't really want to leave their country, this is where their family and friends are. Having said that a lot of what wtrav02 says is also true actually. The only thing i disagree with him about its what Felicedate said being not far from the truth.
Well, maybe just our experiences are different. I have posted what I found girls to be like, if you found something different then that has helped form your judgement. I can only say that of the 6 FSU girls I dated, none of them wanted to leave their country, they were willing to do so, but it was not their first choice. Maybe you experiences were different
>all the people I know there, go out in the evening, have mobile phones<
Gosh fella's, must be my darn bad luck: every lady I've ever written through fiance . coms's Moldova affiliate tells me they don't even have a landline, let alone a mobile phone.
Alot of women from Chisinau have written to me so,
Has any one got some tips on:
1. How to get to Chisinau ie plane, bus, etc
2. Best places to stay
3. Is the language spoken there Russian or Romanian?
4. Any tips on what not to do when I get there.
1, where will you be flying from
2, older generation 30 plus speak Russian first, Romanian 2nd
under 30 it swaps round
can put you in touch with someone for accomodation
***buffed. more mobile than landlines, but even my mother in law who is 60 has a mobile
Sorry tradman, excuse my vagueness. I mean, fancy getting to a destination not knowing where you came from and worse still once you are there not knowing where to go back too!!...;) I would be travelling from London, so I guess flying would be the best option.
Another thing, is it possible to buy a property out there?
My research leads me to beleive that the authorities are trying to relax the position on visas. Any thoughts?
GG,
Chisinau/Kishinev is not the easiest place to fly to, if you go to http://www.amadeus.net/home/new/index.htm this is the engine that powers the airlines, you won't get prices but you'll get schedules, LON is London, KIV is Kishinev.
Austrian Airlines have recently started Heathrow to KIV via Vienna, I can recommend the following price search engines:
If you have a Tesco Clubcard then access lastminute.com via:
http://www.tescotravelstore.com/site/travel/flights/homepage.html?skin= tesco&CATEGORY=flights_list
Ebookers & Travelbag give Sainsburys Nectar points.
I normally fly from the U.S. to the Frankfurt, Germany airport. From there there are daily flights to Chisinau, Moldova. I was even able to meet my lady in Frankfurt last year, but it was very difficult getting her Visa. I think since she has visited and returned to Chisinau, that if we want to have her visit again the visa will be much easier. I normally pay between $300 to $400 for a round trip ticket from Frankfurt to Chisinau. Your lady can meet you right at the airport. You will need a Moldavan visa to get through customs. You can either get it ahead of time or get it at the airport in Chisinau ($60 and passport photos required). Best of luck and I hope you find the happiness I have.
Hi, either fly London to frankfurt and then chisinau, or london to Chisinau via budapest with Malev Hungarian. There are cheaper ways, fly to Kiev or Bucharest and take a train. Visa no problem, issued at Chisinau airport
Martin, tradman, John, Thanks for your help. I really mean that. I know my next wife will be foreign it will take time money and spirit, something I am prepared for. I just know.:))
I, then 37, tried to bring over a pretty medical school grad from Chisinau, 25, only rednecks at the US Consulate (Everitt, Theis & Dalton) at Bucharest wouldn't give her a visa - I'm Asian. This Consulate is known for sadism, probably because it is located in the Land of Dracula, also a sadist.
Interesting points of view on ppl/women from FSU countries. I can tell you that there are alot of younger ppl that want to come to the US for employment. I say that knowing that I am currently involved with bringing over 4000 FSU students for work here in Southeastern Virginia. I am the person that contracts with employers for FSU students to be employed. What they make here in 3-5 months, - expenses, is enough for them to afford to go back to univerity and live on for another year.
I would say that 25% never go back to FSU. They either get married or continue their education here in the states.
I am also currently working with the state gov't of Virginia, as well as the state department for the employment of 100,000 ppl from FSU countries for the manufacturing/distribution jobs that will become available in Virginia over the next 5 years. I would say that the US is not paved with golden streets, and rainbows over each hill with a pot of gold, but jobs, employment, fair standard of living can be had by anyone willing to work for it. Thanks for letting me air my opinion/views on this...