American Friends

[dswann 1]

I am curious as to the experiences of Spouses coming here as to they having made american friends here? What has been there experience? If not why? Do they tend to stay more into a cultural group? Any advice is well taken and interesting.

David

[jimnlena 8]

So far I have not seen Lena with any ??Pure american?? friends. She has however made many US, Ukrainian, Russian couple type friends. It has helped I think making adjustment go very smooth for us.

[Brad and Vika 129]

So far I have not seen Lena with any ??Pure american?? friends. She has however made many US, Ukrainian, Russian couple type friends. It has helped I think making adjustment go very smooth for us.

Same here. Vika does communicate with Russian speakers from all over Eastern Europe, but is pretty careful about how she interracts with them. A combination of don't-share-too-much-of-your-happiness superstition and the common knowledge that not every one in the Russian Community wishes K visa immigrants well.

[dswann 1]

Yes, Know that path. From my first K-1, Natasha had no American friends. All Russian and Ukrainian. That is not good. I would feel a good balance is needed.

David

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am curious as to the experiences of Spouses coming here as to they having made american friends here? What has been there experience? If not why? Do they tend to stay more into a cultural group? Any advice is well taken and interesting.

David

Alla has made many friends, though most of them (all but two) are Russian speaking women. She has met them at school and then been introduced on to others. we have a pretty active "group" of 8 couples, 7 of which are American/RUB marriages and one couple are both from Belarus. She also has a few unmarried/widowed Russian speaking women friends.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yes, Know that path. From my first K-1, Natasha had no American friends. All Russian and Ukrainian. That is not good. I would feel a good balance is needed.

David

We have not had the same experience. Most of her Russian speaking friends are married to American men via the K route. She has not met any Russian speaking women that I know of that have had a problem with her being here by the "K route". She has not been welcomed by American women for the most part, but she is friendly with the neighbors. I think some depends on the area you live in. Highly educated, multi-lingual, gorgeous, "Russian", women married to American men are not high on the hit parade with northern Vermont woodchuck women. Go figure

[milimelo 4,568]

Should this topic go to moving to US or RUB forum?

[TBoneTX 46,173]

Should this topic go to moving to US or RUB forum?

It's a question of general interest that some RUB posters have nicely adopted first. Perhaps put it in, ironically or not, the "Moving to America" forum?

[milimelo 4,568]

Moving to "Moving to America" forum.

[dswann 1]

Moving to "Moving to America" forum.

I can only speak from my past experience from my first K-1. The reason why I posted this is for sure i did not want to see the same mistakes as i did in the first time around. I have to argee with Gary and found that the first K-1 had friends from community. I found that was a difficult sitaution with some of couples and some were great. Where i began to see a problem was when they started comparing relationships, money to anything they could find. Then, came the russian shopping network. These ladies all pretty much worked retail in the Atlanta area and knew what discounts they got on certain days and what percent off with empolyee purchase with a card wow, it was crazy. they all knew there travel dates back and forth to the Ukraine and when going these ladies looked like pack mules heading off. I am hoping Anna does not fall into this and becomes more adjusted rather than staying in her own cultural ring. But in the end, that is not up to me.

David

[Brad and Vika 129]

I can only speak from my past experience from my first K-1. The reason why I posted this is for sure i did not want to see the same mistakes as i did in the first time around. I have to argee with Gary and found that the first K-1 had friends from community. I found that was a difficult sitaution with some of couples and some were great. Where i began to see a problem was when they started comparing relationships, money to anything they could find. Then, came the russian shopping network. These ladies all pretty much worked retail in the Atlanta area and knew what discounts they got on certain days and what percent off with empolyee purchase with a card wow, it was crazy. they all knew there travel dates back and forth to the Ukraine and when going these ladies looked like pack mules heading off. I am hoping Anna does not fall into this and becomes more adjusted rather than staying in her own cultural ring. But in the end, that is not up to me.

David

Sorry dude, when you go to Ukraine, you WILL be a packmule for friends and family. Part of the territory.

[dswann 1]

Lol, I hear ya Brad. Yes I understand the pack mule for family but six other friends things? lol. The other qiestion i had was about shipping. Is there any other company out there other than DHL that handles shipping that i do not have do saw off my leg and give to them? David

[dswann 1]

Well, Thanks for replys. Gary, if i were in Atlanta there would be no shortage of Russian speaking people. I know many from over my now 11 years in that culture. But now, I am in Kingsbay Ga. It is a Submarine Base on the Ga Florida line. Small town 30 miles from Jacksonville. My question came from past experience and a portion from where i am at now. I do worry a bit because I want Anna to have a social circle but I feel there are not many in the area. Anna will work a part time job later of course and finish her masters degree. She is very social lady so i do not worry about that but understand that in her first 90 days here she needs to be busy and have a outlet so she does not feel like she is in a lonely prison. I have told her about life here and what do expect. She is all jacked up about the beach but that wears off quick you know. I have told her about the temps her it was 90 yesterday and it is still April. Guess i am looking at all angles.

David

[Brad and Vika 129]

Lol, I hear ya Brad. Yes I understand the pack mule for family but six other friends things? lol. The other qiestion i had was about shipping. Is there any other company out there other than DHL that handles shipping that i do not have do saw off my leg and give to them? David

There is a service that Vika could use through the local Russian Store that is apparently quite cheap. Trouble is, it is slow as hell. Her best friend sent a package that took three months to arrive, because it got stuck in a small city where the shop owner got sick or something. I can try to get the name if you want, as best GF and her husband are coming for dinner tonight.