Best way to meet a Ukrainian/Russian (and cheapest)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Yes...

Link?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I would guess it is because of the stimulating multi-cultural conversations and the stunning contributions of members not married to RUB women in particular.

What is?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Speaking about being 'tough' and 'strong'. I think I actually became stronger after going to the States for the 1st time. Yes, I live in a building with no elevator and I never lived in a building that had one. I never studied in a building that has one either (even though newer university buildings have them, but I'm lucky enough to study in an old one). I don't see any problems in walking back and forth between the 1st the and 4th stories 50 times a day. Riding a bus during rush hour periods can seem tough, but that's what I've been doing all my life, so that's easy too.

The really hard part comes though when you are in a foreign country, you don't know anybody or anything, nobody is waiting for you, nobody can help you and you have to find a place to live. Thank God, I came with a friend and we both had jobs. We got pretty lucky to find a place to live in downtown Annapolis, but it meant that all the grocery stores, libraries and (oh my God! ) the mall were pretty far away. And neither of us could drive at that point, so... I really learned how to be patient at that point, because I knew that if you miss the bus, you'll have to wait for an hour to catch the next one. We didn't have wi-fi or a cable at home, so... 30-40 min. walks to the library under the midday sun with all that terrible humidity were fun And rains in Maryland differ from rains at the place where I live - there it doesn't matter what you do or how big your umbrella is, if you got caught in the rain, you're getting wet.

Things got a little bit easier after I met my fiance, but I was still pretty much on my own.

I know that there are hardly any American people, who have the same kind of difficulties, but the point is that it's not country that makes you strong and patient sometimes. It's more about trying to live on your own in a completely unfamiliar environment.

And I'm really glad I was adventuros and... well, crazy enough to do something like that.

well, back to where we were before our welcome multi-cultural guests lost track.

I think the difference is that you have never lived how most Americans live. That will change your ideas. Alla arrived at about 7pm and we had a 5 hour ride back to Vermont so she got here in the middle of the night, though she could still recognize she walked up exactly TWO steps to get in the front door and that the car (OUR car)was parked just a few more steps from door. The next morning I said "Let's go grocery shopping AFTER we get your Social Security number" She said "but it is raining and we do have enough food so maybe another ti...oh I forgot...we have a car! YES!"

Her first year here she couldn't wait to go back to Ukraine/Russia and stayed there for two months ("muntzes" for people not married to FSU women)

The next year she stayed for 1 month and was whining to me on Skype immediately that it was hot in the apratment, the buses were hot, they were crowded and smelled bad. Drunk men were taking out their c*cks and showing her at the bus stops...y'know, fun stuff.

when her car got wrecked I said "Good thing we live on the bus route, you can take the bus to..." NO WAY! I want a rental car! I am not riding the terrible bus, this is not Ukraine!

She went from washing her clothes in the same tub when she took a bath and no dryer to a huge washing machine, dryer and "work room" with folding tables, drying racks for "delicates" and a fold down ironing board. She does not wash clothes in the tub for nostalgia.

There is no way she has converted to being "an American" woman but she has been spoiled by some of the conveniencs we take for granted.

Incidentally, communal apartments and "hostels" are still quite common in large cities, even in downtown areas. There are some apartments and "rooms" even in our apartment house that have no toilet or kitchen and they share with other families.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I came across one of C-Hammers posts where he/she was complaining about our lack of family values in the RUB forum. All the other lemmings were eating it up....

I saw a show once in which lemmings were jumping off a cliff together. I guess it happens when one of them pretends they are a bird or something else they are not.

Edited April 16, 2011 by Gary and Alla

[eekee 182]

I actually don't know how to drive. So maybe I'd like America better if I had more opportunities to experience the magic of the automobile besides sitting around waiting until my family or friends aren't busy and can take me somewhere.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Tnx for that info; he may quality under that. I'll investigate.

I like to believe that with hard work comes luck. Some are luckier than others and others are not so much. I don't compare but do have a problem with some obtruding their experiences.

Yes, he should Phil. Children of citizens under age 18 get that automatically. Since Leonid is adopted he will get that benefit.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Ummmm where does one get such a job?!? Hook me up :-D

International construction companies are always looking for project managers for foreign assignments. If you are willing to live overseas and qualify for construction management, try it out. There are tins of overseas contractor jobs available in many fields, check out what is available for your field of work.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Gary, I don't know where you are from, but where I grew up, you don't leave your fiancee or wife in abject poverty, living in a hostel. Thats not what a responsible husband does. Maybe that is just an American custom.

Our son shares a room in Moscow with three other boys 10 months per year and has a bathroom in the common hallway. Last time I was there (I actually got one of those Russian visa things) they had made furniture from pizza boxes. (yes, they actually have pizza in Russia) It costs $1100 per year (we pay the rent 12 months a year though he is here for 2 months every summer just so we can keep the place for him because it is such relative luxury ) and includes utilities.

So what?

[Fandango 1,439]

I resemble that remark! And she will STILL say Ukraine is a better place to live

Most american women would simply throw a hissy fit and quit.

Imagine an American woman living in a really nice downtown apartment, big by Ukrainian standards, but the elevator has been broken since 1958, the market is three blocks away, she lives on the 5th floor (they are all 5 floors because that is as high as the water pressure will push the water without booster pumps) and you have to carry your groceries 3 blocks and up 5 flights of stairs, wash your clothes in the tub when you take a bath, try them over the tub, iron them all, boil hot water on the stove for a bath three nights a week...

Basically people that know nothing are best not making comments about others conditions.

Let me ask you this, would most American men 'throw a hissy fit and quit' too? Would anyone here look at the above scenario and say 'great! that sounds awesome!'

Sounds like Alla wouldn't do it either, now:

The next year she stayed for 1 month and was whining to me on Skype immediately that it was hot in the apratment, the buses were hot, they were crowded and smelled bad. Drunk men were taking out their c*cks and showing her at the bus stops...y'know, fun stuff.

when her car got wrecked I said "Good thing we live on the bus route, you can take the bus to..." NO WAY! I want a rental car! I am not riding the terrible bus, this is not Ukraine!

She went from washing her clothes in the same tub when she took a bath and no dryer to a huge washing machine, dryer and "work room" with folding tables, drying racks for "delicates" and a fold down ironing board. She does not wash clothes in the tub for nostalgia.

There is no way she has converted to being "an American" woman but she has been spoiled by some of the conveniencs we take for granted.

Incidentally, communal apartments and "hostels" are still quite common in large cities, even in downtown areas. There are some apartments and "rooms" even in our apartment house that have no toilet or kitchen and they share with other families.

What does being converted to 'an American' woman entail?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Let me ask you this, would most American men 'throw a hissy fit and quit' too? Would anyone here look at the above scenario and say 'great! that sounds awesome!'

Sounds like Alla wouldn't do it either, now:

What does being converted to 'an American' woman entail?

Yes, most American men would quit also. I promise, like you, I will not marry an American man either. Feel better now?

For an FSU woman the best way to convert to an American woman would be a sex change operation. I think it is called an "addadicktome"

[Fandango 1,439]

Yes, most American men would quit also. I promise, like you, I will not marry an American man either. Feel better now?

For an FSU woman the best way to convert to an American woman would be a sex change operation. I think it is called an "addadicktome"

Please don't be snarky, I'm being sincere here.

What is the point of saying how most USW would 'throw a hissy fit and leave'? Would you willingly subject yourself to living like that? I understand if there's no choice, but it seems an odd thing to single out American woman as being the ones with a problem. It also sounds like your Alla wouldn't do it now either.

There is no way she has converted to being "an American" woman but she has been spoiled by some of the conveniencs we take for granted.

'no way she has converted to being an AW.' I'm just curious as to what your definition is. I know you've said in the past how AW are 'spoiled'(that is up for debate, but not the point right now) and from this particular post of yours, you admit Alla is too. So what's the difference?

No need for snark, please.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Please don't be snarky, I'm being sincere here.

What is the point of saying how most USW would 'throw a hissy fit and leave'? Would you willingly subject yourself to living like that? I understand if there's no choice, but it seems an odd thing to single out American woman as being the ones with a problem. It also sounds like your Alla wouldn't do it now either.

'no way she has converted to being an AW.' I'm just curious as to what your definition is. I know you've said in the past how AW are 'spoiled'(that is up for debate, but not the point right now) and from this particular post of yours, you admit Alla is too. So what's the difference?

No need for snark, please.

I am never snarky, I was sincere. I did willingly subject myself to that life but I am not your average American man. If I was, you probably would have married one yourself. I also still own property there and we have every intention of living a large part of the year in our flat there when I retire.

Alla is looking forward to being a US citizen and being able to live in either place and come and go freely as she chooses with no concerns about her permanent resident status. She misses some of her conveniences when she is there. Kind of like camping. So what? My definition of being converted is like yours...someone you wouldn't want to marry.

[Fandango 1,439]

Alla is looking forward to being a US citizen and being able to live in either place and come and go freely as she chooses with no concerns about her permanent resident status. She misses some of her conveniences when she is there. Kind of like camping. So what? My definition of being converted is like yours...someone you wouldn't want to marry.

How about just define it as what it means to you. What's 'being converted' mean?

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

How about just define it as what it means to you. What's 'being converted' mean?

We agree on the issue. It means "not spousal material"

[Fandango 1,439]

We agree on the issue. It means "not spousal material"

We don't agree on the issue, as I have no idea what it means when you say 'converted to an American woman'. How can we agree if you don't actually explain what that means?