WTF! I cannot believe she said that!!!

[visaveteran 1]

My wife has been getting more and more down on Ukraine after the prices have skyrocketed over the last few years. It really is unbelievable to me how most people survive...but I guess many of them don't. It's pretty disheartening how disfunctional the economy is.

I think they rely on family and friends. It amazes me how many people can occupy a small Russian flat. And, I guess it's amazing how little it really takes to survive. A few potatoes and cabbage for soup with maybe some cheese and bread...and, of course, cheap vodka.

[amberdima 6]

my husband says the opposite- he watches the news and rants about the abundant crime and dirty streets here. he can't wait to take me to see Belarus and it's awesomeness. i, too, am excited to go; however, i wonder if he will feel the same once he's there...

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

my husband says the opposite- he watches the news and rants about the abundant crime and dirty streets here. he can't wait to take me to see Belarus and it's awesomeness. i, too, am excited to go; however, i wonder if he will feel the same once he's there...

I have not been to Belarus but Alla has been many times and we have friends that are Belarussian. Our friends have absolutely -0- desire to go back to Belarus but have gone to Russia and Ukraine. Alla says Belarus is a "dark place" compared to Ukraine. Brad has a lot of experience there.

I do not know where you live in the US but Vermont is 1 million times cleaner than any city in Ukraine and Alla says Minsk is worse. My experience in Ukraine is that there is always a nice "central" district surrounded by piles of rubble. Even Donetsk, a city even Alla says is filthy, has a very nice central district and "river walk" (try not to come in contact with the water) but around it reminds me of Dante's inferno. Just horrible belching, smoky mills, the air is always kind of yellow-brown. It is difficult to look at when flying into it. Nasty. Kiev is a little better and Odessa has some nice areas but also some terrible slums. Every city is full of wild dogs running everywhere that tear up all the trash cans every night and scatter trash all over the place. Odessa literally "goes to the dogs" at night with big packs of them roaming around. Strange, really strange.

After a while they cannot help but admit that some things are really nice here. But I have to admit there are very nice things we enjoy there, Ukraine is full of "texture" and very interesting, I LOVE to visit. I LOVED living there (though I always knew it was temporary) Great adventure!

[Brad and Vika 129]

my husband says the opposite- he watches the news and rants about the abundant crime and dirty streets here. he can't wait to take me to see Belarus and it's awesomeness. i, too, am excited to go; however, i wonder if he will feel the same once he's there...

He won't. A little teary for nostalgia and family's sake, but never again the same. And he won't like that. Sorry.

[slim 1,514]

My wife has been getting more and more down on Ukraine

Given a long enough time line, she may even come to "foooooooo!" on Ukraine.

It's pretty disheartening how disfunctional the economy is.

Also given that time line.... we'll see it here someday.

it's amazing how little it really takes to survive. A few potatoes and cabbage for soup with maybe some cheese and bread...and, of course, cheap vodka.

While unemployed over the summer I couldn't believe how little money it actually takes to sustain life.

Today, I drop $8 at McDonald's and don't think twice. Back then, $8 would last me all week.

he watches the news and rants about the abundant crime and dirty streets here.

I often hear folks talk about how bad it is because of what they see on the news. I remind them the news covers less than 1% of 1% of our people and the fact is our daily lives are very seldom interrupted by anything, "newsworthy."

Like most things we see on TV... it's got nothing to do with us.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Given a long enough time line, she may even come to "foooooooo!" on Ukraine.

Never gonna happen

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Never gonna happen

Agreed. No way. And I wouldn't want her to really.

[Brad and Vika 129]

Agreed. No way. And I wouldn't want her to really.

I was shocked enough that she said the US was better (in some ways), and she would rather live here. Not looking for any direct slams against the motherland soon though

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I was shocked enough that she said the US was better (in some ways), and she would rather live here. Not looking for any direct slams against the motherland soon though

No way. and both the boys say they will live here also. So far, they plan to live with US.

[Brad and Vika 129]

No way. and both the boys say they will live here also. So far, they plan to live with US.

No doubt wht their mother is on guard against GC groupies.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

No doubt wht their mother is on guard against GC groupies.

So today he asks if he can take Dasha to our flat in Donetsk during the semester/New Year break! Alla is FLIPPING out! She called her mother and Bahbuska says "NO EFFIN WAY!" (however they say that in Russian) She will get out the hammer and sickle!

Alla is making all kinds of excuses why he shouldn't do it, but I think it amounts to "You aren't bangin' her in OUR house"

She told him we will be coming for his graduation and Dasha can come and stay at our flat for a couple weeks then because I will be there "fixing things" (YeeeHaaaa!) anyway and then she can "Go back to her village in the Urals for the summer"

CATFIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!

No doubt wht their mother is on guard against GC groupies.

The irony is delicious, isn't it?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Latest ####### Update!

So we are talking about our trip to Ukraine/Russia this year and Alla is debating whether we should replace the ceramic tile in the bathroom. The new vanity is a forgone conclusion, but the ceramic tile is a question. She says "You know we are not going to buy tile for 7 cents for each piece on clearance at Lowe's" "It is a lot of money and it is not my home"

#######!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited November 25, 2010 by Gary and Alla

[Brad and Vika 129]

And there it is But try TELLING HER that very thing before she says it. For you newbies - that is totally a joke.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

And there it is But try TELLING HER that very thing before she says it. For you newbies - that is totally a joke.

I just have to walk away shaking my head and thinking "#######????" And you have to remember that just a few months ago she said "this is not really OUR house, the bank can take it away if we don't pay" She really does not like mortgages and all that so I don't even want to go there. They say these things and I think they would deny it 30 seconds later.

[Brad and Vika 129]

They say these things and I think they would deny it 30 seconds later.

Absolutely