The Kyiv Beat......

[etripke 0]

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

[LvivLovers 39]

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

Congratulations! That was very fast! Enjoy your lives together!

[Cantankerous 0]

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

Congratulations!!!

[zqt3344 21]

Well super that is great to hear. I think we all are lucky to be honest, based on what I have seen and read from others posting on this visajourney website and seeing what others go through having finances in other countries, this Ukraine USA embassy appears to be very easy to deal with, based on what I have seen and read so far, and from personal experience also.

ON the lighter side of things just curious about anyone else's experiences in Ukraine.

1) Curious to ask you other Ukraine K1s, what air service do you use when you fly in and out of Ukraine and do you mostly fly to Kiev or try flying to other cities, reason I ask, when I try flying to other cities besides Kiev it gets kind of unreliable and hectic sometimes, flights get cancelled for now apparent reason in other words then you are scrambling at the airport.

2) How did most of you meet your finances? Meet mine while at a friend's New Years Eve party in USA of all places while she was here in USA visiting her sister.

3) Any of you have the old bus or train experiences yet whiles traveling around the country of Ukraine?

4) How about those old 1930s or 40s or 40s airlines from DonAirbus or Dneprovia airlines that link up between cities in Ukraine, anyone every ride on one of those? I thought I was going to meet my maker one night in December flying one to Odessa! Those things are held together by a band aide and rubber band literally.

5) Also have you found that the restaurants totally suck, I mean you wait for 2 hours for the food, it costs way too much for Ukraine and they serve next to nothing and then it tastes like #######! AHHA I see why everyone there eats at home and goes to grocery store and buys their own and refuses to eat at a restaurant, but I had no idea it would be that bad. Everytime I go back to visit I notice that those same restaurants will be closed or out of business!

Hope everyone is doing well and having a good time and K1 experience. I know I cannot say how many times over and over I have truly been blessed by meeting my wife from Ukraine, the women of Ukraine are by far the best I have ever seen in Eastern Europe or for that matter the world, they are definitely one of a kind and a cut above the rest, I never dreamed any woman could be so good and beautiful in this world.

ZQT3344

I Just moments ago received a sms from Lena, and she has the pssports back w/Visas in hand. I am amazed she recieved them so quickly, and given it was a Monday Interview, and they batch process them, I don't know what this does to our perception of them holding them for each Monday. If indeed that were the case, then she wouldn't receive it until next week. Alternatively, she live lives in Kyiv and if it was processed on Monday, she should have had it yesterday or even Tuesday given the shipping?

Sorry, I'm rambling here. We are now set for the November 5th departure and arrival at O'Hare.

E.

Congratulations!!!

[etripke 0]

Well super that is great to hear. I think we all are lucky to be honest, based on what I have seen and read from others posting on this visajourney website and seeing what others go through having finances in other countries, this Ukraine USA embassy appears to be very easy to deal with, based on what I have seen and read so far, and from personal experience also.

ON the lighter side of things just curious about anyone else's experiences in Ukraine.

1) Curious to ask you other Ukraine K1s, what air service do you use when you fly in and out of Ukraine and do you mostly fly to Kiev or try flying to other cities, reason I ask, when I try flying to other cities besides Kiev it gets kind of unreliable and hectic sometimes, flights get cancelled for now apparent reason in other words then you are scrambling at the airport.

I have used both LOT Polish Airlines and Northwest/KLM. I prefer the Northwest/KLM flights by far. Much nicer aircraft.

2) How did most of you meet your finances? Meet mine while at a friend's New Years Eve party in USA of all places while she was here in USA visiting her sister.

We were introduced through a mutual friend (former co-worker of mine and Ukrainian by birth). We were intro'd via email and then things just progressed to phone, and 3 visits.

3) Any of you have the old bus or train experiences yet whiles traveling around the country of Ukraine?

I have both, but our vacation to the Carpathians in July of this year involved a 14 hour train ride from hell which I would not recommend for anyone. But Ukrainians are tough, for them it is business as usual and being a pampered Yank it was uncomfortable. The return trip was miserable due to the weather, it was very hot outside and had to have been over 100 degrees in the compartment. I ended up stripping down to only my underwear, throwing on a pair of workout shorts, and worrying about dehydration. Next time, I would consider a flight in the backseat of a bi-plane.

4) How about those old 1930s or 40s or 40s airlines from DonAirbus or Dneprovia airlines that link up between cities in Ukraine, anyone every ride on one of those? I thought I was going to meet my maker one night in December flying one to Odessa! Those things are held together by a band aide and rubber band literally.

I have not done that yet

5) Also have you found that the restaurants totally suck, I mean you wait for 2 hours for the food, it costs way too much for Ukraine and they serve next to nothing and then it tastes like #######! AHHA I see why everyone there eats at home and goes to grocery store and buys their own and refuses to eat at a restaurant, but I had no idea it would be that bad. Everytime I go back to visit I notice that those same restaurants will be closed or out of business!

You my friend have not been to a nice restuarant. I have had some great meals over there and love anything Georgian or Khazak. I have always been the sort of guy who can eat almost anything and I love to cook myself. Some of the cuisine may be "bland" by our standards, but by and large it is a healthier diet than the ####### we eat over here with all of the preservatives, and fat. How many fat children did you see over there? I saw very few compared to the states. I love the "presentation' of the meal as well, some of the courses look like a work of art, and show alot of care and thought in making it. I did eat in one Mexican restuarant in Kyiv that was expensive. The same meal at ChiChi's or someplace similar would have cost about half as much, and been tastier. On the other hand I ate at several upscale restuarants which were VERY reasonable compared to the states, maybe even 1/2 the cost.

Hope everyone is doing well and having a good time and K1 experience. I know I cannot say how many times over and over I have truly been blessed by meeting my wife from Ukraine, the women of Ukraine are by far the best I have ever seen in Eastern Europe or for that matter the world, they are definitely one of a kind and a cut above the rest, I never dreamed any woman could be so good and beautiful in this world.

ZQT3344

[/b]

I agree with you here for certain. Although I can't compare her to many other countries, I have lived abroad before and we have a great life ahead of us. The cultural differences work to each others advantage at times, and will make for interesting days otherwise. I know there are some American men out there who got into this situation looking for a "Wife" while others are looking for a "soul-mate" and I consider myself the latter. We think alike and Lena's strengths are in her intelligence, and self sufficiency which will serve us well here in the States. She is also a great Mom and will be a great step Mom for my son.

E.

Edited October 27, 2007 by etripke

[LvivLovers 39]

It's always interesting reading other's experiences.

1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.

2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.

3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)

4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.

5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.

As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!

Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha

[zqt3344 21]

It's always interesting reading other's experiences.

1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.

THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.

2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.

THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.

3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)

Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!

4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.

Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH

5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.

Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.

As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!

AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.

Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha

THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!

Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!

AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA

Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA

ZQT3344

[etripke 0]

It's always interesting reading other's experiences.

1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.

2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.

3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)

4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.

5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.

As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!

Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha

Best of luck to both of you. You have had smooth sailing so far and there is no reason to think otherwise. The Embassy staff are first rate, respectful and seem to really want to give you what you want.

Best wishes!

[LvivLovers 39]

1) I'm using NWA/KLM this time around. In the past I used whatever got me there...Aerosvit, Ukraine International, LOT Polish Airlines, United, and Delta. So far the best flight I was on was United on the way over. They showed 3 good movies back to back...things like Pirates of the Carribean 2 like only a month after it was in theatres. I fly Delta a lot but their movies always seemed terrible to me. Also on United, just in normal economy or whatever, the seats were leather and nice and big...plenty of leg room. I hope the KLM flights are good, but no idea what to expect there. The price seemed reasonable at least. It seems much easier to me to make reservations going to/from Kyiv only then hopping on Aerosvit to travel between Kyiv and Lviv...seems like there's never trouble getting one of these flights. Also in the past I was able to get round trip tickets for $4...yes $4...they added like 30-40 in taxes too, but still that's really cheap.

THat is great, $4 deal, wow who was that with? I HAVE flown Delta to Austrian(connecting in Vienna, Austria then on to Ukraine) on a round trip. Also flown Lufthansa round trip from USA United Airlines then Lufthansa. That was a wild experience. Basically the airport I was flying into that time was Dnepropetrovsk and they are a bunch of corrupt thugs running it I swear, they were in a big row with Lufhhansa because they were flying in an out of that airport with such lower airfares which was killing their very own Dneprovia airlines which I found out later that the airport in Dnperopetrovsk was deliberately not allowing Lufthansa flights to land in their airport thus they were having to reroute to Donetsk or Kiev or Khariv or whatever else airport would allow them to fly in then they would schedule a bus or a train to your destination, talk about a treat flying into Munich from USA then getting to gate and sitting around and waiting and noticing no one else showing up to wait with me and asking Lufthansa rep if flight still on since I had been alerted from Ukraine to be aware of possible problems, well sure enough about hour to 45 minutes before flight out of Munich to Dneperpetrovsk I have to run down stairs to get some tickets to get me on to where I am going, well, lucky lady at Lufthansa desk was good in English and nice, she was great, so in like next 30 minutes I run through another custome and immigration checkpoint and then get on a flight to Frankfurt, which would then hook up with Dneprovia going to Dneprorpetrovsk, only delayed me about 2 hours or so , but it was unreal. And getting out was a mess one morning at 4 am from Donetsk. AHAH I will never forget that time. I could have throttled that Ukraine girl working for Lufthansa at Donetsk and jerking me around!!!! typical Ukraine stuff, but oh well It finally worked out, DonAir bus back to Kiev then Lufthansa out of Kiev to Munich on to USA! Also flew United and Delta this past year then on KLM, which is good. Hey I never had bad experience, I like the GErmans Lufthansa, they stay on time no matter what, Austrian Airlines was great also, and so was KLM, just finding flight ahead of time and right price is key.

I forget which airline...either Aerosvit or maybe Ukraine International. This was just between Lviv and Kyiv. I was holding my breath to see how we were going to get shafted but the seats were just like every other one. I think one part of the catch was you couldn't get a refund or change tickets, etc. but at that price it wasn't an issue anyway! haha Wow...sounds like you've had some fun experiences! =)

2) My wife and I met on one of the international dating websites. I signed up out of boredom one day not really expecting to find anyone but figured what the heck! Worth a shot! But after about a month, there she was...the woman of my dreams! Despite coming from different countries and cultures, she is a better match for me than anyone I have ever met in the US. I'm still pinching myself! We're a perfect match.

THAT is unreal how many women in Ukraine there are just waiting for a decent kind man, great for you, hard to imagine that would happen you know, it is so amazing, even I cannot believe how I meet my wife. I agree they are better matches for men in USA those women from Eastern Europe by far.

It was funny. When I went there to visit, her mother and her friends all thought I was just great. They kept saying how polite and decent I was but I wasn't doing anything at all. Just sitting with them and talking. I have been telling my friends non-stop they need to go there and find a wife because they are the best in the world! haha

3) I haven't tried bus or train yet. Sounds like good times though! =)

Well you do not know what you are missing out on, I took a train from Dnepropetrovsk once all the way to Simferopol on to Yalta via bus and once car and then once by plane and it was unreal. Reminds me of Etripke trip on train to CArpathians this past year. Sounds like neat trip Etripke I want to do that next time. Anyway, I road on one of those non-AC or ventilated trains which those people there do not mind or notice nor the women as Etripke says those women from Ukraine are so damn tough and strong nothing bothers them like the soft lazy American women I had been with in past. Anyway, can you imagine there is no AC on this train and only way to get there where we were going and I was so damn hot one night I could not take sleeping in shorts and no shirt in compartment with 3 other people bunk bed style so I get up and go hang my head out the train window to get the fresh air, and finally after hour I was revived but I swear I would not do that BS again. So we tried the AC bus which is so much better and more room and more comfortable and faster I think, anyway unreal how those people travel and tolerate it, amazing. Culture shock for me!

I heard about Etripke's trip also. You are right though...Ukrainians can tolerate anything. My wife is happy all the time. I've still never heard her complain about anything. Well only one thing. She said once we are all done with this process not to let her meet the people from CSC because she might kill one of them! hahaha But really other than that, she is always positive. It's really amazing to me. When I commented about this in the past she just said that many people have much bigger problems so nothing is so big to complain about. I have to say it's very refreshing and just one more thing I love about her.

4) Haven't done that one yet either. Aerosvit was scary enough for me.

Well those Ukraine airlines are a hoot! AHHA every time we land the Ukriainian passengers start clapping loudly and I am sitting there looking at my finance/girlfriend thinking what is the big deal about that and she just smiles and says well one never knows in Ukraine sometimes and I am like great! AHHAH

I remember the clapping upon landing also. I can tell you my first trip to Lviv...it did feel a little dicey and the plane was blowing around in the wind a lot! I felt like the pilot did a darn good job to get us down in one piece.

5) My experience with the restaurants in Lviv was great. Always had great food at good prices. It was a lot better than I expected because I'm a very picky eater.

Wow we were going to go visit Lviv this summer and just got busy down in Odessa and Kriv Rog checking out things. I have been to all those major cities in Ukraine but there, have heard a lot about it, where and what is good places or things to do in Lviv. Well my experience is that the food the Ukraine women and their families make is outstanding and super healthly like ETripke says and they can cook like a magician, but the restuarants I have been to I Kiev, Yalta, Simferopol, Svestapol, Donetsk, Odessa, Khariv, Dnepropetrovsk, Kivy Rog, Zaproshia or wherevever else was not so hot, I am sure there are some great places but it was hard to find for the price, most of time the people hosting me just took me to their own private meal deal and it was always excellent.

I don't think you can go wrong in Lviv. Just so much interesting architecture every place. Of course I think my favorite was the opera house. Definately check that out....the inside is amazing. You can catch a nice show for under 10 bucks I think! I've eaten in probably 10-15 restaurants...liked them all. Each one had a really unique character. I wish we had more places like that here. And you are right. They eat much better. I was looking for pizzas a lot...my wife was always eating salads or something else healthy. Being married to her will probably literally make me live many years longer! hahaha

As far as Ukrainian women...I don't know about the others, but my wife is amazing. She's the perfect blend of beauty, sweetness, intelligence, and good morals! I definately didn't believe that such a person existed anywhere in this world. So I feel very blessed also!

AMEN BROTHER! PREACH IT! They are the best hands down, after being to Eastern Europe and seeing those women there, I told all my friends they are simply spinning their wheels here in USA and wasting their time and yet they still cannot believe it, I tell them to go there and see for themselves and they all say well you just got lucky and I will not be so lucky and I am like BS, there are thousands of great looking well built awesome personality hard working serious kind caring moral women there, just waiting for a knight in shining armor to come rescue them.

You hit the nail on the head. I mean there's just nothing wrong with these girls. Of course I feel like I found the best one though! hahaha

Our interview is on Monday! I know she will do great, but I'll breathe a lot easier once she's been approved! Oleksandra doesn't appear to be nervous at all....go figure! hahaha

THAT is great Lviv! You guys will get it easy and be rocking on next week. Typical Ukraine women, after what they have seen or endured there, nothing bothers them here in USA, it is like a dream come true or fairtail here for them!

Etripke you are right there are no fat people or women in Ukraine and they walk all over the place nonstop and work and eat so well compared to people here, Do you guys have your wives or finances wanting to go walking or running all the time each day or to a park or outside nonstop, my wife loves exercise, they think nothing of walking or running 1, 2, 3 or 4 miles or whatever at all!

AND In HEELS sometimes! AHHA

Do you guys notice how they always dress up or look nice and never go around looking like a slob or bad, ever, I mean they always look like a million bucks and always dress so well always. AHHA

I hope you are right about them liking the USA. I worry a little bit about this. My wife was very happy in Lviv and on many occasions tried to convince me to move there with her instead of coming to the USA. If not for the job situation, I'd be tempted! =)

I haven't had a chance to see how the exercising will be yet as immigration has kept us apart most of our relationship. I do know when we met in the Dominican Republic she loved the ocean...we'd be out there pretty much all day long in the water! And yeah...I can't believe some of the shoes she walks around in. Again...never a complaint. And yes, you are completely right. She always dresses great. I'm going to have to update my wardrobe completely because I feel like a slob now. hahaha

[LvivLovers 39]

Best of luck to both of you. You have had smooth sailing so far and there is no reason to think otherwise. The Embassy staff are first rate, respectful and seem to really want to give you what you want.

Best wishes!

Thank you very much! Glad to hear the people in the consulate are nice. As you know, frequently this is not the case. Down to just over 1 day away now. The excitement is really building! =)

[Mariya 0]

WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!

My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!

I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.

[etripke 0]

WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!

My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!

I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.

I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.

This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.

Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.

Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.

One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.

E.

[zqt3344 21]

WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!

My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!

I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.

WELL I can laugh about it now, but it was not very funny at the time when a lot of things like this were going on, and I can tell you even more experiences that I had, just not enough time or room to type it. Ukraine is always a good time, for simple fact to me that it is still like the WILD WILD WEST was in USA many years or centuries ago! AHHA Anything goes and anything can happen and nothing is dependable or reliable EXCEPT the trains, you can set your watch by them by gosh! The trains are the only thing there that run on time and are exactly the same day in and day out unlike so many other things I have had to deal with while in Ukraine. Life in Ukraine is so unnatural to an American, we are used to everything being on time and working and laws enforced or followed but that is not the case in Ukraine. HAHA it is funny now that I think about it, but at the time it was kind of pain in ####### and stressful sometimes trying to get things done, just basic ordinary everyday life items I take for granted here in USA, in Ukraine that is a near impossiblity at many times. And this is not meant to knock Ukraine or condemn it, just that facts. So if any of you future K1 filers plan on going to Ukraine or marrying a Ukraine, get ready when you go there, things are going to be a lot different than what you are used to in USA, just basic services or everyday life ordinary simple things we take for granted here in USA are not available all the time in Ukraine or simply do not work at all. This is for certain, women in Ukraine are by far some of the finest and strongest and prettiest you will ever meet in the world, while the men in Ukraine for the most part are usually drunk or not working too hard. Just a fact of life there, it is actually a man paradise in Ukraine, any man in Ukraine or former Soviet Union wanting to leave there and come to the USA had better think twice, he has it so good in Ukraine, it is like a dream come true. But from what I have learned from talking to men there, they do not realize it, they just have gotten so used to the way things are in Ukraine and being able to do whatever they want when they want how they want that they know nothing else and just do not care, I mean you will see all these great looking women all over the place on a bus or train or in public place and there is this smelly man from Ukraine sitting there and I just shake my head, and I have seen how they treat or act to women in Ukraine, their mothers spoil them rotten also. Unreal. I know, my wife's Dad would go hungry and starve before he would go to a grocery store and buy food or fix some himself, AHHA it is so unreal how men get pampered there in Ukraine.

Just my observations. No harm intended.

zqt3344

[zqt3344 21]

Mariya

Privet

Say did you file a K1 or what? How did you meet your finance?

ZQT3344

WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!

My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!

I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.

[zqt3344 21]

Etripke

Hey there. So did you get married to your wife in Ukraine? What did you have to file if you went that route? Have to go to Kiev USA embassy for I130? Curious how it is working for you if you are going that route?

ZQT3344

WOW! That was interesting to read how you Americans percieve life here in Ukraine!!!

My husband spent 3 months with us in Ukraine this time - and some of his comments are so simillar to those above!

I'll send him the reference to this page and he might have a good time reading it.

I have always had a great time there. We did discuss my moving, but with a young son in my life it would be tough and I know I couldn't handle leaving him behind. I have seen others on VJ just pack up and leave their children behind...I can't do it. I could leave the rest of family behind no problem, I'm an adult I know I'd see them again and would stay in touch but there is zero dependency on them or for them on me.

This will be Lena's first time being really far away from family. One of the draws to her was the family make up and respect of family within Ukrainian culture. I admire that, and here in the states it is unfortunately not as strong or binding as it seems to be there. Our culture and society seem to forget family sometimes or they look at it very differently from the perspective of how we treat our parents and elderly.

Sorry, just rambling again. Lena will have some tough days ahead I'm sure. I've prepared for this as much as I can. She'll have access to Vonage phone service to call home, I left my laptop there with her family so they can email from home, and use the Vonage "Softphone" for up to 500 minutes of calling per month for only $9.99. The laptop is set up for Video conferencing through Microsoft Messenger. Lena will have all of this, and I just had an International Dish from DirecTV installed this past week so she will have Ukrainian channel 1+1 available to watch here anytime she desires. When I went over last July-August I took her a new Cell Phone (unlocked) and when she leaves Kyiv next Monday she will just swap out the sim card, and be on the ATT network for sms updates on her flights, and to call once the plane lands at O'Hare. She will also have International sms capabilities here in Madison.

Then I went a step further and was introduced to a couple of guys here that have Russian wives and we will meet more couples through them. I felt that native speakers would be a great connection to FSU culture, and offer tips and advice for her. I learned there are over 1,500 FSU diaspora (spell?) here in Madison so she will meet some of them for certain. We actually have a school here where many of them are taking their children several times a week to teach and keep them in touch with Russian language.

One thing that I am disappointed in over here is regarding things for Lena's daughter. Lena's 10 year old daughter has been in Dance since age 3. She has been performing for a dance company in Kyiv since that age, making the "cut" at age 6. The cost for the training and so forth over there is very reasonable, and much more intense (training 5-6 days a week sometimes) than about 95% of the schools here in the USA. I checked into one school here and it was outragous in price for only 1 day a week. That will be something we'll have to wait on for awhile.

E.