I made 4 previous journeys to the Former Soviet Union ("FSU"). The first 2 were on tours. I used European Connections and A Foreign Affair.
In my first tour (Donetsk; Mariupol), although I did not find the right woman for me, I knew I had a second chance at happiness in life and that it would come in the form of a wonderful woman from the FSU! Before it was over, I also visited Sevastopol, Kiev, Moscow, and Volgagrad.
By Christmas of 2006, however, I was growing very frustrated and was thinking that the good women had all been taken from the FSU, and that those remaining were scammers.
It was at that juncture that I received my first e:mail from Tatiana. I knew immediately that she was a very special woman. We corresponded vigorously for 4 1/2 months. I went to visit her and proposed on my third day there! After that, our love just grew and grew.
Now, after almost a year of paperwork and hassle, she has her K-1 visa and will arrive very soon.
My message to everyone is not to quit, even if you are temporarily discouraged!