Donetsk is one of the few cities I have been in, in the FSU that STILL has a LARGE statue of Lenin, standing big and tall - over Lenin Square - in the center of town.
I happened to be walking through on May 1 "May Day" and there was a huge rally with hundreds of people holing and waving Communist flags - the familiar red variety with the hammer and sickle in the corner. What they were saying? I have no idea - it was all in Russian of course, with many Militia and other police officers to keep the peace.
It bears mentioning that thouhg there were hundreds of people ther - maybe even a few thousand - I don't believe I saw a single person under the age of 50. Most looked like they were well into their 60's and 70's. Most likely Pentioners who longed for the "good old days" when they were better cared for.
Communist sympathy is still present - but it seemed to be a fond relic for some who were mostly waving flags in memorial.
jetm
and Dnepropetrovsk too has a large statue on the main karl marx avenue and another even larger Lenin statue outside the train station.
in april i was in kiev and there was a demonstration of some sort under the large tall column near the glass pyramid. about 100 or so hard die hard communists similar to that you mention with the old u.s.s.r red flags. some young local lady wearing a shirt with the stars and stripes image on it as fashion accesory just walked by, and the commie demonstrators started jeering her and some started throwing their ice cream at her. i can only assume it was because of what she was wearing. frankly i was astonished at the reaction of the commies.
I've read everything and I like it very much.Most of all , I like what DavidUSA sad. Pure common sence. BRAVO!!!!
Why do I put my nose in that forum? I would like to research that social problem and how I may use it in person.Kind of social marketing.:) I am sorry for that too formal expression.
I know some examples of that type marriages , beginning and the end.I see how the agencies makes the money on that type of business, and I know that it goes slow down little bit. Let me explain something. In the end 70's there was a propaganda of american style of life, the country of big opportunity, money grows on the trees, a lot of jeans and etc.It was huge manipulation of consiousness of people. I don't want to go too deep on that subject, but the stereotype still working. Not that much but still exist. The process of globalization does it's own job...internet, news, TV, people talk, traveling.
I might say about me. I came to US first time in 91 from USSR. I was young enough to wear nice "pink glasses" about life and plus those propaganda what I was talking above. I was wondering in NY city and , of course, I bought the jeans "Levi's" in real store, but not on the black market. I saw a lot of immigrants from USSR, but this is another story. They came in US without chance to go back and some of them achieved a good results here, selling the treasure of USSR ( steel, natural resources and so on), getting an education, become the doctors and lowers.
When I came back home in my ukranian city I was so popular, because I had been in US. I couldn't get the whole picture about the life in US, but I saw a lot of hard working people and of course, nice looking men and most of them were gays.. It was interesting.
Any way, everything did impress me a lot and I'd got the "virus" of american style. Only now I realize how stupid I was..
We were limited about proper information about life on wild West. :)I get very surprised why the people in my country still "swallow the bait" about life here...
As a result, i lost a lot of opportunity there, in Ukraine and I've not gain too much in US... I know some women in the similar situation as I am... In the middle of nowhere...exept I know what to do and how to combine the life here in US and there, in Ukraine.It's not easy.I learn to live alone and not be lonely, as a lot of american people do. So, who I am? I am not russian from Ukraine and I am not american as much..When I go to Ukraine i feel a little bit a stranger thereI lost the sense of life in Ukraine and it takes time to adjust even my own people, my own friends to be with.. They say, I became so different. Even my son ( he lives in Ukraine) tells me, ' Please, nobody cares what you do think about how we have to live in Ukraine, it doesn't work here what does work there.'
I think, when she wants to get married with western man, she has to FORGET about homeland as minimum for first 5 years OR the couple have to learn how to live in both countries, doesn't matter where she came from and the most important factor as LOVE should have a place first of all. Anything else will not work.
As I know the men from ,let say FSU ( I don't like such a description, because USSR was big and different one part from another, the same the people and mentality) , are little bit careless attitude to women and morality leaves much to be better for some reasons and I know that realy good from my life and life of my girlfriends. I may say, that an american men little bit better than ours and I know that too. I feel so sorry about you, guys. :) but I feel sorry about myself too... Could you give me some advice and may be I'll use it too on one sunny day. ( I was married / divorced with an american man). It might be useful not only for me.. I am not alone with such a problem..
With all due respect, I do not understand Davids post. How can you be searching for 7 years and not have a serious relationship? I spend no money on correspondence and no money on flowers, but find there are any number of fabulous women in Russia.
The ecconomy in Ukraine may be better than 15 years ago but I know that plenty of people would still happily migrate to another country. A friend of mine in NZ has a sister that is in Vladivostok, she has a good job there in TV advertising, moves in the high society and the high society is good there. But she is looking at moving to NZ even though it would mean a drop in lifestyle. Her bother lives in St Pete (the showcase of Russia)so I met him while I was there. Hes a young doctor, but his main focus at the moment is learning English, because he wants to move to NZ next year.
Sure I have contacted some women that said they are only interested in Russian men, but many see no problem moving to another country if they are with the one they love.
I think the one thing they hate is to tell them their country is crap. If they tell me all the men are drunks, I tell them they have nothing on us, we wake at 8 in the morning to start drinking. If they say there country is terrible, I tell them its fabulous and I want to move there.
Living in Russia maybe ok now, but many see there is another world out there and have no problem starting a life somewhere else. Especially those that are more politically aware of the world.
Alena, Why do you feel sorry for us? Are we not the lucky ones ))
I have't been searching for 0 years.:) , Adman. I do my marketing search and try to undrstand what is going on. I met my husband on one of my trip to US, but we got divorced 2 years ago and I didn't want to search, especially on internet and I never did. I have another type of luck :)i want to understan do I have to waste my time and energy for searching for man on interenet or I have to find something different to do.
Oh ye, you know better what is going on in Ukraine or Russia. I know what the people say after happy migration.
Oh ye, you are lucky, so many beatiful western ladies and you are searching for... adventure, I guess.
Alena: You just seem to be a pile of resentment. You recent how the USSR changed. You resent your life in America. You resent that you left Ukraine. You resent that you cannot go back and feel natural. And you especially seem to resent the men who are SUCCESSFUL and HAPPY at finding Russian or Ukrainian women.
You mention that you wore a pair of rose colored glasses when you first went to America...? I'm guessing you LEFT them there some place. You might do well to find them again or go to an opptomotrist for a new pair because it doesn't seem that you have seem anything rosey in years.
Contrary to what your sceptical self thinks, there ARE some good men here. And they have legitimate intentions. You seem to have an exagerated view that so many women have from any culture. - When they are young the world is their oyster. As they age - they resent the hell out of anyone who is now young, in their stead, or more prosperous or more open minded than they are. They resent no longer being the center of attention.
SURE there are problems to overcome, and some of will never solve the problems - but some of us MIGHT. And it is with that hope - that things just MIGHT work out - that we move forward to try to find our Russian bride. Its not as far-fetched as you like to imagine.
Jetmba,
"Pink glasses" means when you are younger you don't know tooo much about the reality of life, you trust everybody, you take everything literally, with opened heart, naively.
I do wear sunglasses ( don't take it literally)when somebody try to "put the noodles on my ears"
I see what I see and I would't like to rise the guest in order to have something to do or for any other reasons.There is not too much fun to see the girls who are thrown away, because the begenning was sooo romantic and excited and it became the problem.
I am NOT INDIFFERENT to what has happened with a lot of women who came here to be happy with one and only. And this is MY PEOPLE and I would like to know what's going on. Resently I had to help some of them to get some job in order to make some money to get back home. Ridiculous!
My suggestion is don't to live in illusions,don't be "day dreamers" and before you go there check up your health ( sometimes it's happened, they need the nurse), ability to help her financialy, to give a ethical support and remember , in case the marriege failed she will need the same support as any other american lady has. Don't take an advetage of here, this is my point!!! She has to have a CONTRACT too.
Well, there is some more hopes in vietnam, irag or even yougoslavia.. Don't you want to go there for "hopes"?
I am going to talk about the prob when I'll be in Ukraine.
I know, there is a lot of good men here, but they don't go in all those countries for adventure. Don't look for "brown cows" over there, there is no more.
She supposed to speak FLUENT ENGLISH and this is important too, she has to explaine her feelings, her needs, she has to talk with people and associate with the people from her country too. Don't put her in your middle of nowhere and pretend she is happy. Nonsense!
LOVE, when 3 things work together - mind, soul and body. LOVE is a blessing. Do you know what does it mean, jetmba?
I know. I wish you the same.
Oh ye, you are lucky, so many beatiful western ladies and you are searching for... adventure, I guess.
What you apparently don't understand is men from USA are looking elsewhere for their partner for a reason. It is
because we have not found that person where they live. And to be sure, many have spent years looking for that person. To look abroad is just another avenue to find someone to share your life with.
You have such a keen intellect, but you are wrong again.))) I don't like that kind of adventures .. I don't care about western ladies as much, it should be your business, not mine. You failed with your guessing.
I am just curious, how you gonna communicate with your russian one..?I see, you don't need her talking too much.
For how long you going to share your life with her?
You , probably live in somewhere where is only one street. Right? I am sure, there is no avenues at all. Sorry. I understand. i am sure you have a very sserious intentions.
1/ russian husbands. Horrible in 90%.
Even if they are ok with job they are spoiled with plenty ladies around and don't treat their wives good.
I don't want to waste all my life tring to find sm more or less better shit or struggle with other 100 ladies for really good guy.
2/ to move ot not move depend upon personality of MAN.
With one man girl won't make even step tgther, while will follow the other one to the the end of the Earth.
Don't forget about holy and blind LOVE and what LOVE makes with people.
Alena you assume a lot.
I read here a lot about guys being magnets for scammers etc. I do not know how a guy can be envolved with this type of dating for 7 years and still find it a problem. I dont even notice them anymore, sometimes putting their mail inj the rubbish without evening openning the letter. There are so many good women in Russia who has time for the rest.
I dont go on international dating sites, the Russia site I am on is mostly for women looking to date Russian men.Yet so many are still interested in foreign men. The woman I met in Russia last month has never contacted a Western guy before, but she would move tomorrow.
If you have found the West so disappointing and Ukraine is now so good, Why are you not living in Ukraine? I know its because you could survive there.
I have been learning russian( trying, it IS difficult). I believe it is something I have to do. I don't expect her to be the one to learn new language. Also, when I am in Ukraine, I do try to understand the culture and fit in as best as I can. I am not out to westernize everybody and I don't buy my way around. And It is not out of the question to one day move back to country of girl. I hope to spend the rest of my life with girl. What do you mean one street???? I live not far from Los Angeles.
Adman,
the problem with that guy he is in his life's proceedings. He doesn't want to find and probably will never do.. it's just an axcitement.. somebody is waiting for him and he is waiting for something what different than in previous time.. I heard some men do like this and I see nothing wrong with that. I think, the smart lady from FSU will find out it very fast and I think they do... don't pay too much attention for such a people as this guy. May be he has a fat femenist sleeping in next room and doesn't want the problem to divorse with her... I don't know.
As for me, I not disappointed in west or may I survive in Ukraine.. it doesn't work... I do survive in US and it's not easy. Well I came here 7 years ago to built a family.. I failed.. in a meantime I lost the opportunity in Kiev. I cann't return the time. So, I found the way how to combine the life here and ther and period! I know the country where I would like to live, but I have to have my partner close to me, who could share the same values as I do.
I may say, I was in US 3 times before I've got married on US man and only now I see the background of life here... HARD, but I like it sometimes,I don't chaine myself with house here and so on, and when I feel tired from doing things in US I simply buy the ticket and go in Ukraine..
Why would all these Russian want to go to New Zealand? Is it that they have heard that all the New Zealanders have moved to Australia and theres plenty of room over there?
Agree 100% with what David says. Been there and seen it first-hand. The ones that do want to leave? Very rare. Yet some will leave if they are convinced that you are their prince and they love you. They have their own dreams of course, and most post their profile to agencies because they are lonely and not seeing anyone at the time they sign up with their local agency. And I have personally met agency girls who are already in serious relationship, but just going through difficulties and want the next bigger better deal.
When you meet, reality sets in and its a wake up call for them. I too have corresponded with women who finally met local men. These girls in agencies do date and will date local men, even while they correspond with men via these agencies.
When I went to Ukraine, there was no shortage of decent-looking local men at the clubs, bars, restaraunts, etc. All looking at the pretty girls, including the girl I was with.
It is why I am more inclined to agree that most of the very pretty girls who do post their profiles are truly seeking a chance to marry wealth. Simple as that. There are many men around her locally who will hit on her on a daily basis. If you think otherwise, and you believe you are writing to some virgin saint, or some poor bread-line girl desperate to leave her country for a decent guy -- you need to wake up and stop dreaming.
Lots of you guys call these girls scammers, to an extent I will agree that they will misrepresent themselves in order to lure a rich guy to visit them. I encountered that first-hand too.
Just be careful, and be skeptical. Looks and age difference are important everywhere in the world. But the extent of your wealth will eliminate a lot of it - but not all of it.