Where is the humiliation? She wanting to meet someone because the e-mail process for her is not working? Then we are all humiliating ourselves. So a woman has to think so low of herself to attend one of "these". Why don`t you just call all of them whores and get it over with.
Look I realize that if you met a woman in a social and you like her and someone is telling this and that and the other about socials, it's normal to have this reaction. I said this is my prerogative and I may be dead wrong. We're just sharing views and experiences here. In the same context, I've encountered many times the skepticism of others outside this forum about the way my wife and I met (online) and the usual hinting about how unconventional it was, doubts about her intentions or mine, etc. If socials worked for you even as an experience that led you to something else, then it was a good experience and you shouldn't care what others think about it. By the way, I'm sorry for calling you names in the dispute that we had a few months back. I'm happy to hear that you're doing fine.
Of course, no woman goes to these thinking so lowly of herself that she is prepared to be humiliated. Just like no batter steps up to the plate with the anticipation of striking out. But if the potential for humilation (striking out) prevents one from playng baseball - then it is fair to say that that person is a coward, plain and simple.
My lady, who I met at a Social, is absolutely convinced that if she had not met me - she would have met someone else (whether that that is supposed to make me feel any better - I do not know). She is completely convinced that she was the best prospect in that room and that some of the fuys were fools for not noticing that. (Hpw's that for self-confidence.)
Further, she kept an eye on me all evening as she was actually the LAST woman I spoke to on the first night, and rated all of the other girls I spoke to before her. I have a picture record as it was suggested that we bring a Polaroid camera and take two pictures of ourselves, along with the girl that we had spoken to. One picture, of course, for the girl and one for yourself for potential marriage visa purposes as well as to associate names with faces later. Of all of the girls that I soke to - she only considered one to be on her level, and therefore a threat. She has chided me more than once asking me why I chose to speak to certain "ugly girls"!
I think that to attend a social a girl needs no more or less confidence than to write a profile, have glamour shots taken of herself and sit back hoping some distant Romeo will eventually decide that she is worthy enough to write to. If I were a woman, I would feel just as humiliated checking in with my agency wondering why no one had written to me yet.
Trav,
My problem if i have one is my own problem . I would like to relate this to our occupations per say. For instance , You obviously are a business man and i am out of your league with international business and economics. I am blue collar . On the other hand i am an enginneer on the railroad and i highly doubt you know my craft. I can`t talk businees and you may not be able to talk Railroad on the bluecollar level. I think you get my drift . I can relate my experiences at a social but i really don`t really think that you can. Me and Jet have constantly given actual hands on experiences about them because we were there . Mostly everyone els`es opinions here about them are heresay and what they think is going on. Me and Jet kill all the hype with our actual knowledge and no one wants to hear it. I e-mail and will attend another social if it goes there . Like you said whatever it takes . I would give my right arm to be in the Greek Islands with a FSU woman as you are. I just wish people would pay attention to the details i have explained about the socials . If i thought it was a bad scene, i wouldn`t be there.I can understand it can be difficult to explain to people you know how you met your wife . 99 percent of the people are miffed if you tell them how you met . People are strange about this.I get ridiculed constantly when people learn of my Holy Grail that i am searching for. I extend my apologies also to you also for back in the winter. I regret anything that i said directed towards you also.
How much has this total experience cost you guys so far. I am hearing multiple trips and repeated tries. Seems like $4,000 a trip and at least 5 or 6 trips to get anywhere. So are we talking maybe $25,000 or more just to find the lady and ensure she is coming to be your wife? Is that what you guys are experiencing. With getting her here and legal etc. I am thinking $35,000 or so. Does that sound about right?
SD
You bring up an excellent point and one I have commented on this several times. Look out, some here will misinterpret your justified curiosity for stinginess. I understand it is not.
My first trip was to see one lady. My airfare was about $1100. Gifts, clothes, hotel in Germany on the way back, meals, chipping in for the groceries, visa, etc etc approximately another $2000 maybe. About $3 grand total.
My next trip will be more expensive no doubt. Airfares have increased and I will not be staying with a woman straight out of the gate again. That means an apartment at least to begin with. I will go for another 2 weeks. If I strike out I will need the services of an agency. That may mean an interpreter. It will also mean more structured dates. More money. My next trip is going to cost $4,000 I would think.
I think that covers it except for socials. I agree with both sides here and that is why I have kept my trap shut. When I go I would go to a social in a heartbeat. I will go and hopefully meet one lady just as I did before. If that goes wrong then it is the agency. If there happens to be a social I will go. It must be remembered that the socials are only in the big cities like Moscow, St Pete and Kiev. I don't know of one in Ekaterinburg fro example. Another thing that hasn't been mentioned about socials. I read on AFA that the socials are $400 a night. That is a lot of money for one night of meeting women. That is bloody expensive. I agree with QC I would try to find a local hang out and just go there.
Then there is the little bit of money in reserve for the hookers. Oops!! Did I say hookers? I meant tour guides.
I repeat I would not think twice about going to a social other than the outrageous cost of one. Think the one I saw was in Colombia and was $400 and with AFA. I think they are great.
I honestly don't know how much i have spent on this endeavor so far. I'm an MBA not an accountant. I'm educated in coming up with plans - that the bean counters figure out how to pay for. (Actually those are specifically marketing people.)
My initial trip over there was about $3,500 (for the airfare, Socials and one meal per day). I probably spent another $1,200 on my own.
I've been to Moldova twice since. Each round trip ticket was about $1,300. Five weeks of hotel stays at about $55 per night = $1,925. Maybe I spent $3,000 to $4,000 extra all together.
I also went to Latvia - spending about $3,500 all inclusive.
That all comes to around $15,000 so far in trips give or take a grand or two.
Of course in between I sent gifts - and I KNOW I spent over $700on phone calls.
Maybe $15,000 in all so far?
Hey - I could have blown twice that on a 4x4 with a snow plow. I am from Wisconsin after all.
Oh yeah - I just spent around $1,500 to fly her over here and another $1,500 for a trip to Florida when she gets here. entire k-1 visa process was under $500 including all finilng fees and medical exam - because I did not hire an attorney. And abot $500 tofly her and her mother to Bucharest FOR the interview.
Ok I am lost !! I have been trying to find European Connections because I know that is the one JMO used. I can't find it. It isn't Anastasia is it?? I heard they weren't too good.
I am trying to find out where the socials are held. AFA is easy but this one is killing me. Also are there any other companies that specialise in this approach. I am open to all possibilties.
Incidentally Toad I have my first complimentary lesson in an hour just a little nervous. I'll tell you how it went.
Soccer dad ,
My first trip was cheap. A 800 dollar roundtrip airfare. 360 dollars for 7 nights in a beautiful eguipped and furnished apartment. The owner of European Connections cut me a break as a walk in cause i did not travel with the tour and business was slow . He charged me 200 bucks for a social. I spent 500 on food and kickin around.Under 2000 for me. The only two reputable tour companies are AFA and European Connections and Tours. They offer different packages to accomodate your budget and what you want . You can fly and tour with them or just show up at the social. They have a good staff and understand your situation and fears. Here it is IZZI www.euroladies.com and on this sight is their tour and prices schedule at European Connections and Tours. Family owned and operated for i think 15 or twenty years. Izzi send me your mailing adress and i will send you their videos of the actual tours and the ladies on the website who attend these socials who walk up to the camera and say hello and walk away and turn around once or twice.Actually at the socials . They have a name and number on their blouse . If you like them you can write down their number and write to them on their site . At least you can see live who you are willing to write to and meet . It is kind of neat. If you travel with the group or go on your own i think the prices all average out about the same . But i personally have managed all four of my trips to be around 3000 for 7 to nine days.
I'm going to clarify something. First I did not say it was a meat market, I said it shares a meat market mentality. You can take the alcohol away all you want but it still holds the same premise to me. Many guys many women in a room trying to accomplish a connection. Secondly I wouldn't have come on this site or any other if I did not have the intention of meeting a woman. My situation was a long pragmatic approach to finding the almost perfect lady. I had called written by email and by post to Larissa for 8 months before I made the trip. Each call and letter I learned something about her that made the decision easy for me to go see her. I couldn't personally do that at a social, that's just me. JMO before you start classifying me as a "Bozo" for using the words meat market mentality, just recall your last trip to Ukraine thank you!
Mike,
My final trip to be with a certain women which i did have a relationship with did not work out.But i still had a great time .Bozo ? HARDLY. It simply was not going to work and i gave it a real shot.To label an event which you have never been to does. Meat market ? Meat market mentality ? What is the difference? Many guys many women ? Try many women and hardly any guys. Calling it meatmarket or meatmarket mentality is absolutely the worst choice of words to describe it especially if you know absolutely nothing about it .As i said before go to one if the chance ever arises then form an opinion . It will carry more weight.