"I'm just curious as to what leads a man across the ocean to pursue a woman he has never met and hasn't got a clue what she'll do once she gets a load of America."
I could give you a warm and juicy statement about this my friend. Read the thread "FSU vs WEST" in this forum, and you will have my point of view :)))
well.. to be honest.. Moscow is a little over 2 hours.. pffff
And I am a bit jealous at you guys... If I am tired after being there a weekend, I cannot stay in bed and complain about jetlag.. LOL
Seriously.. It is kind of strange actually. It will take me about an hour to Tallinn, little over 2 to Moscow, a little over 2 hours to Kiev (If I book a direct flight of course). The strange part is that I live in a western country, one of the richest countries in the world actually, we have no poverty at all in our country, and only an hour or two away it is a completely different world...
Joe,
The prenup topic is one I never get tired of advocating, even though it has already been beaten to a pulp by almost everyone here...both pro and con.
If you do a forum search you'll find all kinds of info on it from most of the members, even some who no longer honor us with their wisdom or diahrrea of the mouth.
Taking care of elderly parents is seen in most parts of the world as the right thing to do. FSU is no exception.
I talked to quite a few women in the past who would happily build their potential western husbands a monument of gratitude if they were allowed to work a little on the side to be able to support their retired and ill provided parents once they become pensioners.
I'd suggest you take every woman seriously from day 1 and do not hesitate to ditch them like a bad habit when you find those who do not reciprocate your interest or attention.
Every minute you spend writing to women who want to create a courtship based on financial dependency or gift giving is a minute you could be enjoying a healthier dialogue with someone who wants what you want.
Just make sure you have a clear, concise mental picture of what you want from the type of woman you seek.
They're out there, mate...and they'll listen to you.
Happy Toad,
I know that you went there to meet just one woman. But please dont tell me you had your blinders on the whole time. LOL !!! Could you not help notice or at least got busted once checking out the rest of lovely sights around you ? Okay , what was your observation of the quality of appearance of these Russian beauties all around you compared to our American female counterparts . I in three trips never saw a woman out in sweatpants looking wiped out in Kyiv. Lets hear it from you Toad.
homebuilderjoe
Go there man and experience it. You can read boards and opinions all day long and we could all sit here till were blue in the face explaining the difference.... Once you get there you will see why it is so hard to explain it. The women are incredible and not arrogant... You dont have to be judged by them for just wanting to get to know them. They are going through truly hard times but they dont need Oprah to help them through it. Like I said I just bumble trying to explain the diff.
So again heres Free's advice..
Do whatever it takes to get there ( second job, sell stuff whatever )
Get yourself tuned up... Groomed, decent clothes, get in shape...
Then go... You will be awed by what you experience.
Jmo,
You're absolutely correct.
I did not see a single woman 'dressed down' in the streets of Ekaterinburg, Tyumen or even Tobolsk, which is considered to be little more than a church ridden overgrown village.
It is obvious that the competition is fierce for male attention.
And the only really fat woman I saw was an older lady selling photo frames in the streets of E-burg.
I told Lena to help me out if my jaws happened to get locked in the 'WOW, look at all the gorgeous Russian women walking around in the streets' position...But after I checked the sharpness of her elbows I took good care not to let my jaw drop out of control.
Until I went to Siberia, I sort of had to bite my tongue because comparing the average american cow to PHOTOS of russian women living in Russia is not exactly comparing apples to apples.
Now I've seen them in their own turf, even though I only went to see and spend time with one of them.
The physical appearance of the siberian women I saw only managed to set the bar twice as high as it was before. And most of you know it was pretty high already.
Fortunately for me, I got from my first trip to siberia what I wanted, despite all the initial and upcoming obstacles.
We're both very happy things worked out as they did.
My hat off to you Happy Toad, you had your method conceived from the very beginning on how you were going to not go over there until you felt for sure that the women you had developed a longer term of communication with met your criteria and obviously you met hers amist all of us trying to shove each others methods at each other and i am guilty too. You had a plan and you executed it when you felt sure and the time was right. I for one have experience but still i am not taken.It is my own fault. I need to take a better look at my own program and it is time to restructure.
Going on a tour certainly removes a lot of possible issue, since the itenary is set. Also, they provide translators, and activities.
If you want the freedom to see the sites and make your own activities as you see fit, going on your own is the better bet. However, you need to do more research in advance, and you should at least have a fundemental understanding of Russian (both written and spoken).
If you go to larger cities, language is less of an issue, since most businesses will speak English. However, you may still need an interpreter for a lady you may meet. The bulk of younger women will know english, thought that may be more reading than speaking.
homebuilderjoe
Well I think you could do it cheaper.... Some of these guys love Kiev but it seemed way more expensive to me then Donetsk. You can go allmost anywhere and have fun though... Now I spent alot.. I didnt really hold back and had a couple of kinda crazy nights, I spent under 5 K. I could see spending 5k in Kiev easier though....
Honestly I think you could just find a good dating agency and set up an appointment there... and have them introduce you.... little hassle and those girls will date you because the guy they are writing isnt there and you are! Bird in the hand and all that.
Socials tend to be expensive and if you like that then cool... it would be intimidating for me to meet them all at once like that having to pick ect. Some guys swear by them.
I am former army ~)) If your still in shape from the corp I think it will help a bit.
Now it isnt Thailand... I mean thats available.... but most of these girls seem to be decent girls that you have to take your time getting to know before any nuptuals... Just my view Im sure others have theirs. I liked it that way, they wer eopen yet had morals and class.
Jmo,
Yes, that was my plan in a nut shell.
I never felt the need to play the FSU field, so going to socials to chase eastern european tail did not seem the right way to go for me.
I tried several websites and found Lena through one who offers unlimited letter exchanges AND chat features, although they censor (poorly) outside e-mail or website address info sharing.
Like fiance.com it also wraps up its services for a flat monthly fee. $30 or so per month.
Regardless of what method you use, I am convinced each man needs to have a clear picture of what they want to achieve before they decide to go to a social, meet (in person) ladies from an agency or even do what I did.
And I spent a lot less than $5K US to do it my way, including daily gifts for her while I was there, and a few for her mother and brother.
If you want to look at it from a different perspective maybe in the long run since I started talking to Lena over a year ago I spent the 5k and more, but by the time I got to Siberia I was already way ahead of the game with a lady already chosen, a friendship already established and even her family well aware of what was going on and who I am.
Most men who spend the same money don't have a woman chosen yet.
Since I do not speak Russian, I quickly dropped the idea of pursuing a woman who does not speak English, Spanish, Italian or Portuguese. There are many nice honest women available, why not choose the ones who can communicate with you directly instead of via agency or other translators?
All in all, I'm glad I stuck to my guns and "Diiiiiiiddddd it mmmmaaaaa wwwaaaaaaaayyy'..:))
Not going to tell anyone it's the best way....but it worked for me so far.
and men, do not let your lack of cyrillic language keep you from relying on a good lady to help you out if you visit her.
Lena was a tigress negotiating anything and everything that needed to be translated for me.
Bagira,
You should know by now that I do not trust anything you do nor do I believe anything you say.
Your motives are transparent.
I will not tell you any information that could help you identify Lena in any way shape or form.
Bagira,
You're jealous, vindictive and a lesser mind.
But your condition is not terminal or permanent.
All you have to do is wait till the next time you must look in the mirror and admit you do not like what you see...it will get better from there.
Good luck to you, woman...:)
Bag,
You should be happy for Happy Toad. How many men can say they traveled to Siberia to find his love ? That is some serious bragging rights from my point of view. His male friends will envy his ass and the women he knows will squirm and show contempt when she naturally outclasses them all by just being herself.