A newbie traveling to Moldova.....Any advice?

[MrConstruction]

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to ask some advice from the people who have been there and done that.  I am relatively new to this endeavor and have only been corresponding with women from the FSU for about 11 months.  Started corresponding with many women and I believe that I have narrowed it down to that very special one.      Finally managed to get some time off and now I am headed over to see her (she lives in Moldova)  I live in Maui.  I think I have most of my bases covered....... bought my tickets through Vayama.com prepaid my apartment (nice one located off of Stefan cel Mare)  arranged for airport pick-up.  Brought some jewelry for her (just in case)     

I am however a little worried about customs and airport security.  I was planning on bringing cash with me for immediate expenses, then switching over to a Visa Card, and Visa bank debit card.   I do have my passport, and as I understand it I don't have to register as long as my stay is less than 90 days.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is my first trip abroad.  Anybody know any good restaurants or cost of living in Chisinau?  How much money should I take with me?

   Thanks for the advice
             Robert

[catzenmouse]

Welcome Robert,

 We do have some members who are from and/or have traveled to Belarus. I can't remember any names now but perhaps do some searches on Belarus and you'll find some information.

 Maui huh? I don't know... I don't think those FSU women like that tropical climate without any Winter! 

Ken

[I/O]

Geez Catz......there is a tad of difference between Moldova and Belarus.....sorry to take the dig, but the 'Muricans 'as never bin knowed for thaaaaaaaar good jograffy. Touch worse even than we igrunt sods down here. (If that's possible)

Mr Construction: Search out Alyona (I think it is) who is a member here and she comes from Kishinev. She'll clue you in a bit.

My history with Moldova goes back a few years and Im a touch foggy on it now. 1) You WILL need to register yourself as a foreigner within 3 days, police or other contracters will do that for you. 2) Don't take wads of cash. You'll need IIRC $60.00 to get your instant visa at the airport, plus a couple of 20's up your sleve if something goes pear shaped. I don't recall an ATM in the Kish' airport but I won't swear to that. Nevertheless, the taxi drivers will happily drive you to the nearest one..........go figure. You'll find ATM's thicker than hair on a cats back, they're everywhere.

Airport security is no problem if you have your paperwork and other ducks in a row.

Moldovan women, generally speaking, are about the most stunning looking I have seen anywhere (Yeah my Mrs wants to cut my throat everytime I say that, but it is the way it is) so take some massage oil for your neck.

The most important advice I'll tender, now wait for it, lol, is when you walk out of the airport if you go in via Kishinev, cross the driveway, then walk down THE BLOODY STAIRS, to the taxi area, don't do what I did and try to walk down the ramp. Fair amount of my arse is still embedded in that friggen ramp where my feet went from under me and I skidded all the way to the bottom, not a pretty sight and neither was my arse, nor my arms, nor may hands, nor my legs and..........you get the picture.

On other notes, I have some serious concerns regarding your preparedness. Jewellery doesn't quite seem the thing right now, but that's up to you, back up plan?...Any local language? Studied any street maps to have an idea what to find where? Hope your not hoping they'll all speak to you in English, because you'll be sadly disappointed. Kishinev is the only place in all the parts of the FSU I have travelled, where I had a cop seriously try to shake me down for money. I am not saying it is outstandingly bad in this respect, but the fact it is the only place I have ever come close to having a serious problem kinda speaks something to me.

If you've never been to the East before, like Kishinev and Moldova though I do, frankly I don't think it is the best place to start. Me thinks you're in for a helluva shock.

I/O

[evaljean]

Congratulations, good luck on your trip.

My first trip to Moldova was in the middle of winter as well, unfortunately many of the women will still be covered up.

My wife is from there, and there is a good chance you will need to keep your head on a swivel.

Moldova is different than other FSU countries.  It is actually a Roman country versus a Slavic country.  It was originally part of Romania till Stalin chopped it off for his own interests. 

The country is now a mix of Russian, ethnic Moldovan's, etc.

It is also the poorest country in the FSU.

Cop shakedowns do happen. Be careful wandering about without your girlfriend.  There were at least 3 attempts to get money out of me. The most I paid was $20 (In Mexico it can be a couple of hundred).  The next time I was with my girlfriend and she gave the cop an earful and he backed off.

The wine is very, very good. Try the Red Champagne. It is truly a Red Wine, not a blush.

There are ATM's everywhere now, so after my first trip I would take maybe a 100 Euro but you get better exchange rates at the ATM's.

The coolest think in my opinion is that Moldova has the best variety of women. Tall, short, blondes, brunettes, redheads, you name it, its there.

How long are you planning to stay?

Eric

[catzenmouse]

Geez Catz......there is a tad of difference between Moldova and Belarus.....sorry to take the dig, but the 'Muricans 'as never bin knowed for thaaaaaaaar good jograffy. Touch worse even than we igrunt sods down here. (If that's possible)

Sorry 'bout that! See what happens when I post BEFORE I've had coffee in the morning!

--> going back to bury my head in the sand now...

[Shadow]

Cop shakedowns do happen. Be careful wandering about without your girlfriend.  There were at least 3 attempts to get money out of me. The most I paid was $20 (In Mexico it can be a couple of hundred).  The next time I was with my girlfriend and she gave the cop an earful and he backed off.

Cop secret: they actually tip each other off that there is money to be made. When they understand the subject is getting pissed off, word is spread to cease the shakedowns. 

[Simoni]

 Maui huh? I don't know... I don't think those FSU women like that tropical climate without any Winter! 

Ken

Strangly ennough, that is no joke.  Marina complains every day about our 78 degree weather here in South Florida.  It seems like 78 is ok in the summer, but it should be COLD in the winter?   ???

But now that we are freezing out butts off here i Kiev, I think she might appreciate 78 when we return home :-) LOL

Robert- Welcome to RWD.  And good luck to you.

[WmGO]

MrC,

1. You need to have a back up plan in case things do not
work out with the woman you are going to meet. Odds are you
will need the back up plan: get the names of some local agencies in
Kishenev to go visit and arrange meetings for you if things do not work out.

2. If you have not already done so, learn the basics of Russian history and
culture as that will be most applicable to Moldova thanks to Russification
and Sovietization....also some basics of Moldova history and any other
culture issues.

3. You did right to make your own arrangements for accomodations.

4. Leave the jewelry at home. Would you bring jewelry to an AW you are meeting for the first time? However, I would say that costume earings such
as you can get at mid to high end women's shops (like the $20 range type) do make great gifts for women you meet for the first time - something you give them at the end of your meeting as a parting gift (if you liked them regardless
of sparks and they were nice to you).

Good luck.

[catzenmouse]

Send Marina up to visit us for a Winter and she'll change her tune (if she doesn't after this Winter in Ukraine). Elena is ready to move to Florida NOW!

Strangely enough, that is no joke.  Marina complains every day about our 78 degree weather here in South Florida.  It seems like 78 is ok in the summer, but it should be COLD in the winter?   ???

But now that we are freezing out butts off here i Kiev, I think she might appreciate 78 when we return home :-) LOL

[Simoni]

Send Marina up to visit us for a Winter and she'll change her tune (if she doesn't after this Winter in Ukraine). Elena is ready to move to Florida NOW!

Ha!  I have a vote, too!  WI is a good place to visit in summer, not winter :-)   This below zero weather in Keiv has convinced me that I want nothing to do with freezing weather.

Our place is empty, so send Elena on down to thaw out.  LOL

MrC--  If you go visit in winter, do take lots of very warm weather.  Maul it ain't.   

[Alyona]

Sounds like Moldova is becoming a more exciting place to go!

The agency I used in Moldova used told me stories that most of the men who come to meet a Moldovan girl are very pleased and happy.  No one was ever upset, and generally things seemed to work out between them.

Moldova is a small country.  Although there are more foreigners coming there are far fewer that come to Moldova than to some of the more popular countries. 

In someways Moldavian girls are still not as exposed to westerners, although times are changing.

I think it is a great place for your first visit.  You still might want to go elsewhere to compare and I think if you do, you will find yourself back in Chisinau before too long.

When my future husband came, I made most of the arrangements for him.   Most women are happy to do this for their boyfriends and you should take advantage of her knowledge.  She can be a great guide for you especially if you don't speak the language, know the money, or other things.

People are generally hospitable.  However like most places if you are not careful people may take advantage.

Try to get out of the city if you can.  There are good tours to the wineries and other places.

I wouldn't worry about the weather or heat, if the woman wants to be with you, she will go to where you are. 

Arizona is hot and it is where my husband has his career.  Hawaii should not be a problem.

If you have any other questions let me know.

Take plenty of pictures, have a good trip and enjoy! 

Alyona

[MrConstruction]

Thank you everyone for all of your support!  To answer a few questions I am bringing money (in all its forms) never can be to careful.....    I know winter is probably not the best time to travel, but it was the only time that happened to fit both schedules.  :-)   I will be leaving on the 15th of January and I'll be back in February.  Hopefully all will go well, and I will not need any of my back up plans   

Alyona, if you don't mind I'd like to ask you a few questions.  First though a little history on me, I'm 34, she is 25 (which I have heard is old for a woman not married?)  She has helped me with many of the arrangements, and wants me to meet her father, and brother.  (I am taking this as a good sign)   If all goes as well as I hope I would like to start the K-1 visa process when I get back.  How long did it take you?  Was it difficult?  Neither of us has a criminal record and I make about $70K a year as a construction supervisor in Maui.  Just out of curiousity why did you look for a foreign man? 


I/O as for the jewelry I am talking about $20 to $30 earrings (nothing extremely expensive, just what you would give a nice girl) 

Thank you again for all of your bits of wisdom and advice,
          Rob

[2tallbill]

MrC,

1. You need to have a back up plan in case things do not
work out with the woman you are going to meet. Odds are you
will need the back up plan: get the names of some local agencies in
Kishenev to go visit and arrange meetings for you if things do not work out.

2. If you have not already done so, learn the basics of Russian history and
culture as that will be most applicable to Moldova thanks to Russification
and Sovietization....also some basics of Moldova history and any other
culture issues.

3. You did right to make your own arrangements for accomodations.

4. Leave the jewelry at home. Would you bring jewelry to an AW you are meeting for the first time? However, I would say that costume earings such
as you can get at mid to high end women's shops (like the $20 range type) do make great gifts for women you meet for the first time - something you give them at the end of your meeting as a parting gift (if you liked them regardless
of sparks and they were nice to you).

Good luck.

Good advice especially # 2

I have been thinking of making some kind of newbie advice / welcome to the forum standard post,
I most likely wont find the time to do it, but if I do I am stealing the info posted here.

Kudos

Bill

[I/O]

If all goes as well as I hope I would like to start the K-1 visa process when I get back.  How long did it take you?

Whoa there Romeo, slow way on down. Think T not K as in T for Trip or T for Travel and lots of it before you go setting yourself up to be another statistic. K for K-1 time should be coming later............much later, much much later. I'm getting future visions...........................................something like this.........................

I/O

[catzenmouse]

Rob,

 Look at I/O's picture closely. Do you want to look like that in a couple of years?

 The worst thing you can do is set yourself up to fail. Thinking that she is the "one" and thinking about a K-1 BEFORE YOU HAVE EVEN MET is just plain crazy talk!

 Right now you (and she) have a pen pal that you would like to meet. This pen pal may or may not have some interesting future possibilities. You can have all the "chemistry" in the world via letters and chats but Nothing (zero, zip, zilch, nada) in person. Neither of you will know until you meet and have some time together.

 This should be a exploratory trip for you. Get your feet wet in the country. Get a feel for the people, the food, the lifestyle, the culture. Do not under any circumstances go into this trip with a mission to get engaged. May as well propose to the checkout girl at the local grocery store that you've known for a total of 8 minutes in the two times she's ran through your grocery order.

 Spend a good bit of time reading through the trip reports here. Read the FAQs. Read the 10 Commandments. Pay attention to the failure stories and you will see that they have a lot in common with your current thinking.

 Do not follow that same path!

Ken

[Simoni]

If all goes as well as I hope I would like to start the K-1 visa process when I get back. 

It is possible that all will go well.  But even if it does, don't even begin thinking about planning marriage. Instead, plan your next meeting.  And your next.

The percentages say that you have fallen in love with the idea of being in love.  It's a rush.   

But usually, the reality is different than the dream.

Steel yourself for this possibility.   Don't force it.  If it does not work out, have backup plans in the event you don't want to spend all that time with her, or she with you.

It's just the way it is.

[Alyona]

Alyona, if you don't mind I'd like to ask you a few questions.  First though a little history on me, I'm 34, she is 25 (which I have heard is old for a woman not married?)  She has helped me with many of the arrangements, and wants me to meet her father, and brother.  (I am taking this as a good sign)   If all goes as well as I hope I would like to start the K-1 visa process when I get back.  How long did it take you?  Was it difficult?  Neither of us has a criminal record and I make about $70K a year as a construction supervisor in Maui.  Just out of curiousity why did you look for a foreign man? 

Hello Rob,

Let me try to answer your questions.

A) In the past women used to get married much younger, at 17 or 18.  Many were divorced by 25.   I have many friends who got married very young and are divorced already.  I got married at 30 and to be honest I am glad that I waited.  If I had gotten married much younger, I might be divorced by now also.  Times are changing and more and more people are waiting however.

B) My husband and I started corresponding in early 2001.  We were able to meet about six months later in August of 2001.  We did not get married however until 2003.  So it took us 2 1/2 years.  We were both a little older and neither one of us wanted to rush things.  In total he made 5 trips for about 2 1/2 weeks at a time. So in total we spent about 3 months face to face before we got married.

C) We were married in Moldova.  Although we discussed the option of the K-1, I was not interested and wanted to get married in my country.  Once we were married we applied for the K-3.    I then joined him in America 3 1/2 months later.  From what my friends in Moldova are telling me, it is much more difficult to get both the K-1 and the K-3 Visa's now.  They ask for proof of correspondence, letters, ticket stubs, receipts, everything to prove this is a real marriage.

D)  My decision to look for a foreign man was not easy.  I had come to the conclusion that marriage to a Moldavian man could be a great deal of trouble.  I watched many of my friends abused by their husbands, cheated on, left alone with children, and generally treated like crap. I decided this wasn't for me.  My original hope was to meet and marry a man from Europe as the US is so far away.  It was more important to me to meet the "right" man, someone I was compatible with, rather than to meet simply a foreign man to escape.

You should discuss with your girlfriend her desires for where a wedding could take place.  Remember the wedding is the big day for the woman. 

I would encourage you not to rush things.  You really do not know someone until you spend time with them face to face.  Even then, it is not the most realistic situation as you are on vacation.  Hawaii is very far. You might consider after meeting her, coming back to see her in a few months.  Remember it will be a very big adjustment for her.

Please feel free to ask me any other questions you have about Moldova.  You are going to have a great time.

Good luck, I hope this helps! 

Alyona

[DKMM]

MrC, you want to think about K1 now?  Come on over to my threads to read what can happen if you do that.  Even if she is legitimate and likes you a lot, it can still be a bad idea to rush it. 

The bad news is, the K1 from filing to getting the visa will take about 7-10 months given the current time frames.  Maybe it will get better.  I filed one early because of the long wait, but man that is a very stupid idea.  You need to build a normal relationship first. 

[KenC]

MrC, you want to think about K1 now?  Come on over to my threads to read what can happen if you do that.  Even if she is legitimate and likes you a lot, it can still be a bad idea to rush it. 

The bad news is, the K1 from filing to getting the visa will take about 7-10 months given the current time frames.  Maybe it will get better.  I filed one early because of the long wait, but man that is a very stupid idea.  You need to build a normal relationship first. 

Good job DKMM!!!!!!  I am so proud of you!
KenC

[DKMM]

The ink is still drying on my diploma...

[MaxxumUSA]

MrConstruction...

A few ...  ahem...  actually most here will tell you to not start your K-1 after first visit.  But this is exactly what I did.

You can read my story here:
http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=6439.msg117020#msg117020

Basically I believe that if two people are mature, marriage minded, AND fall in love - then get the ball rolling.  This is the exception and not the rule.  I certainly was extremely lucky in finding, courting, and bringing my wife here to the USA.  So while others say slow down I say that if ALL is OK then move forward.

Me and my wife certainly had a lot of time to get to know each other more while the K-1 paperwork was processed.  Matter of fact I visited her a total of 4 times and spent two months face time before she flew back to the USA with me on her K-1.

My point being is that it IS possible that all will go well.  I hope it does for you.

But...  it is smart to be prepared with a backup plan at least for lodging and travel in the event you don't click.

Some suggestions for you:

1.  Be a gentleman, but not a push over.  Be a man.
2.  DO take gifts for friends and family.  They do not need to be expensive but be prepared with extra goodies.  American cigs and knick knacks from the duty free shop on the way will do.
3.  Enjoy your time and make her laugh.
4.  Don't be a cheapskate.  You should expect to foot the tab for "dates."  When my wife's family and friends dined with us I always offered to foot the bill.  Sometimes I accepted help from her male family to pay a bill - but never the women.
5.  Don't act desperate.  Many men will be amazed at the physical beauty of these women and change their actions based on their beauty.  Women love compliments, yes.  But simply make sure she knows you are attracted to her.  Don't tell her 50 times a day how beautiful she is...  that's creapy.
6.  Let things happen at their own pace.  Don't rush sex or serious conversations.  These things will happen when the time is right.  If your women is interested she will give you a green light here and there.  That's the time to be the man and make your moves or have serious conversations.  Don't force it without a green light.

7.  Enjoy!  Let us know how you did.

-  Best wishes for the two of you.

- Maxxum

[gazza]

Hello Everyone,

Just wanted to ask some advice from the people who have been there and done that.  I am relatively new to this endeavor and have only been corresponding with women from the FSU for about 11 months.  Started corresponding with many women and I believe that I have narrowed it down to that very special one.      Finally managed to get some time off and now I am headed over to see her (she lives in Moldova)  I live in Maui.  I think I have most of my bases covered....... bought my tickets through Vayama.com prepaid my apartment (nice one located off of Stefan cel Mare)  arranged for airport pick-up.  Brought some jewelry for her (just in case)     

I am however a little worried about customs and airport security.  I was planning on bringing cash with me for immediate expenses, then switching over to a Visa Card, and Visa bank debit card.   I do have my passport, and as I understand it I don't have to register as long as my stay is less than 90 days.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated as this is my first trip abroad.  Anybody know any good restaurants or cost of living in Chisinau?  How much money should I take with me?

   Thanks for the advice
             Robert

If the girl you are talking about ia an Alyona Bin she's been stringing me along for 2 years on my private mail, I've met her, every time she's acted strangly, she tells me she loves me but refused 5 marriage proposals, though she's been very physical with me on my long visits, I've gave he expensive jewelery once but she flogged it for the cash.
I think she's been stringing me for the sex but she says she wants to marry me someday, I was with her april/may this year, I've got 2 friends to verify that as they have girlfriends in chisinau, I hope this isn't Alyona Bin your planning to meet though as she has been my girlfriend for the past 2 years, I also know she's been scamming guys using the name Elena, search stop scammer #3144 on anti-scam org and she's there alright, only reason I've not dropped her is she's not scammed me because we've met on 7 occasions, she's even been over here at my place in the UK!

I'll be in moldova again in around 10 days from now myself, I'll definately be asking the girl what the hell she's playing at!
She's a very good liar too! I've been crazy enough to give Alyona Bin sex & money over the time I've known her.

[viking]

Gazza

You do realize this thread is more than 8 months old now? The guy has been there and back already. And if you are jealous of your GF, that is a problem you need to deal with.

[Daveman]

Gazza

You do realize this thread is more than 8 months old now? The guy has been there and back already. And if you are jealous of your GF, that is a problem you need to deal with.

Really.... good lord

[I/O]

Gazza

You do realize this thread is more than 8 months old now?

That would be..............18 months old.