I need advice from the experanced.

[jasenwm]

I have been studying russian and even belong to group that meets once a week and we talk to eachother. Not being able to speak it daily, is very difficult to learn anything useful really.

[Eduard]

I have been studying russian and even belong to group that meets once a week and we talk to eachother. Not being able to speak it daily, is very difficult to learn anything useful really.

It's not an easy language, that's for sure. I've been studying English since I was 7 yo, so I can imagine how hard it is to start learning Russian at adult age. I think it's great that you are trying though. It will help you establish a good repore with the Russians. Just the fact that you are making an effort is going to be appreciated and will put smiles on people's faces. Keep at it, it will help, but don't expect to have a conversation in Russian any time soon. If you are immersed and living in Russia it may take 5 to 10 years to reach a decent level of conversational Russian.

[Faux Pas]

you really can't get to know a person using "Me Tarzan, you Jane" type language. It is important for you to know a woman well before making serious, life changing decisions. It is equally important for her to understand who you are, your personality, your sense of humor and your quirks (we all have them). People who go into marriage after only using electronic translators are really gambling with their lives. Surely it can work out well on occasion but a good number of people become disillusioned and disappointed once they live together for about a year, the woman learns English and they finally learn to communicate.

jasenwm

It is also important for you to understand that this is only a point of view that will apply to some. Certainly a degree of communication has to happen. Be it you learning a degree of her language or her learning yours. There is also the possibility of finding a woman that already has enough English skills that communication isn't a problem. There have been a number of unions where neither could speak or understand each other. Some right here on this board. There are many good women at the introduction sites and some in the marriage agencies. There is no extra benefit in finding a woman who was not looking abroad to begin with. Remember, opinions are like buttholes in the fact that everybody has one.

edit to add: many guys have completed this pursuit with much less than the translators available today (for free even)

[Olly]

Why you think that Ukraina/Russia are deep village? Almost everyone have a PC and internet and everyone have a mobile phon! Now it is cheep here. If she have a job she able to buy a computer, especially if she want to find an abroad man.

[JohnDearGreen]

She lives in Kiev do they not have access to the internet and do they not all speak English well? Thank you for your input I'm new to this and just want to protect myself from going broke , I understand this is a expensive adventure but I wanna keep it limited if I could.

Well, the US AFA manager told me years ago if I wanted her contact info I would have to pay $xx for their 1 minute interpreted phone call and ask her for it (hint - they weren't gonna give me it, and she might not give me it either).   Since she is in Kyiv you could probably just walk into the Kyiv AFA office and pay $xx for an introductory meeting with her and skip all the expensive communication [including the $xx phone call].  Or check for her on other web sites.

[I/O]

Jason: In all likelihood, your first shot is a blank but you'll learn soon enough to sift wheat from chaff so to say.
 
Exercise your literary skills better than you have in this thread - to an educated woman you'll come across as a hillbilly.

[jasenwm]

I am a hillbilly I'm from Connecticut 

[Anotherkiwi]

Jason: In all likelihood, your first shot is a blank but you'll learn soon enough to sift wheat from chaff so to say.
 
Exercise your literary skills better than you have in this thread - to an educated woman you'll come across as a hillbilly.

I am a hillbilly I'm from Connecticut 

I was going to say "hick" but hillbilly will do!
 
Jasen, in all seriousness, spelling is something which is very important in this game/business/pursuit.  If it's difficult for a native English speaker to figure out what you're trying to say, it will be far worse for someone who does not have English as their first language.  It will also totally stuff up your machine translations!   
 
FSUW are not looking for an uneducated person - don't forget that nearly all of them have University degrees, and many have more than one.  They want someone who is their intellectual equal or superior, not someone whose writing indicates that they didn't get to high school.  Take time to check your spelling (and do it yourself, don't use a spell checker!)...and, unless you have the eyesight of an eagle, don't write emails or forum posts on your mobile phone! 
 
Good luck!

[calmissile]

It's not an easy language, that's for sure. I've been studying English since I was 7 yo, so I can imagine how hard it is to start learning Russian at adult age. I think it's great that you are trying though. It will help you establish a good repore with the Russians. Just the fact that you are making an effort is going to be appreciated and will put smiles on people's faces. Keep at it, it will help, but don't expect to have a conversation in Russian any time soon. If you are immersed and living in Russia it may take 5 to 10 years to reach a decent level of conversational Russian.

I noticed that even learning a few words in Russian does leave a positive impression.  As was mentioned in several threads, using just a few words leaves the impression that you are interested in the language/culture.

[jasenwm]

I understand spelling and grammer are important. I write criminal reports for a living, attention to detail is crucial. I was writing on a blog and did not pay much mind to it.

[jasenwm]

I'm not a hillbilly for real , I am from Conneticut but I live in a pretty populated area, New Haven ,CT.

[I/O]

I am a hillbilly

FWIW, reality is not the primary issue in this caper, perception is. So long as you can use a spell checker and don't sleep with your sisters, you're still a chance. 

[Eduard]

You have to find the right balance here. On one hand you want to appear smart, interesting, well educated since most FSU women are that way. Most women want to find a man who is wiser, smarter, somebody they can learn from, respect and admire. On the other hand a woman should get to know the real you, since if she doesn't and you get married she may become disillusioned and disappointed, lose respect and at that point you can kiss her good bye. So in a way you have to better yourself to be with a good woman (which is never a bad thing). But writing good, culturally sensitive letters with good grammar and spelling is a very important first step in getting to know FSU women and making a good impression on them.

[JayH]

 
I was going to say "hick" but hillbilly will do!
 
Jasen, in all seriousness, spelling is something which is very important in this game/business/pursuit.  If it's difficult for a native English speaker to figure out what you're trying to say, it will be far worse for someone who does not have English as their first language.  It will also totally stuff up your machine translations!   
 
FSUW are not looking for an uneducated person - don't forget that nearly all of them have University degrees, and many have more than one.  They want someone who is their intellectual equal or superior, not someone whose writing indicates that they didn't get to high school.  Take time to check your spelling (and do it yourself, don't use a spell checker!)...and, unless you have the eyesight of an eagle, don't write emails or forum posts on your mobile phone! 
 
Good luck!

I am quoting because it needs to empathised .

[JayH]

You have to find the right balance here. On one hand you want to appear smart, interesting, well educated since most FSU women are that way. Most women want to find a man who is wiser, smarter, somebody they can learn from, respect and admire. On the other hand a woman should get to know the real you, since if she doesn't and you get married she may become disillusioned and disappointed, lose respect and at that point you can kiss her good bye. So in a way you have to better yourself to be with a good woman (which is never a bad thing). But writing good, culturally sensitive letters with good grammar and spelling is a very important first step in getting to know FSU women and making a good impression on them.

Same theme and I reiterate repeat readings of the words . Girls are smart,educated and generally much more sophisticated  than the guys who go there.
These are not farm girls you are going to "save" from a life of misery. While some aspects of FSU are still more closely related to the  3rd world-- I can point to areas in the  US like that also.Today there is a diversity there in a fast changing world.

[Anotherkiwi]

I understand spelling and grammer are important. I write criminal reports for a living, attention to detail is crucial. I was writing on a blog and did not pay much mind to it.

This ain't no ornery blog!     Everyone here, whatever their sex or nationality, will pick apart everything that's posted, simply because (nearly) everything here is taken completely literally.  Accuracy is far more vital than on any other forum I've visited simply because so many members do not have English as their first language.