Cosmetics and cures

[aikorob]

I have spent the past week freezing in Odessa as I  spent more time with N.
She is only waiting for another Police Report (long story on what happened to first one) before setting an interview date. Because of the weather, we spent most of the time in my flat or hers; where one evening I started to really look at her supply of war paint. I quickly pointed out the same brands available to her over here; and the conversation then turned to OTC drugs and other staples from the Anteka.

Guys, do your wives load up on their favorite brands of drugs and cosmetics when they make a trip back?
Any grief from Customs when they come through the line?

I tried to explain that she will have to place any items in her checked bags --- since we are now safe with no toiletries in the cabin.

[Jet]

Actually my wife has found nearly all her favorite brands here at better prices than she got in Russia, and with better quality of the products. She's mentioned more than once what a pleasure it is to open mascara, foundation, or whatever and find that it's not a dried out glob on the bottom of the container. She also likes the fact that she can try out different things before buying. Cosmetic lines such as Lancome, l'oreal, Maybelline, & Garnier are ruble for ruble less expensive in the US than in Russia, and so we usually have the opposite phenomenon: Lil packing her suitcase with several hundred dollars of cosmetics to take back to Russia for relatives and friends.

[KenC]

I have about the same story to report as Jet except Lena did appear to be rather happy that CVS was now carrying a brand of make up from Finland that she liked to use back in Russia.  I never heard her talk bad about the quality of the goods she bought back in Russia either.

Now medications are a whole different ball of wax in our house.  Every trip here my MIL is loaded with drugs like a Columbian smuggler.  Their range of "over the counter" meds is much greater than ours.
KenC

[Vaughn]

I'll second Jet's post - cosmetics, especially the brands he mentioned, (you can add Christian Dior and Halston in the fragrances) are hot in Russia - meaning they're so popular ladies will pay premiums for them and yes, they're often quality inferior or just plain out of date. Elvira's sister, cousin, and friends went bananas
over the horde she hauled home.

But I'd like to address one item in the Cures Department - on my second visit (February 2002) I brought along a 2-pack of Vick's Nyquil just as a precaution - it was my first wintertime journey. Turned out that my wife, her Mom and her daughter all had remarkably bad colds - and spent a few evenings schlogged on what they hailed as "The Green Medicine".

We've never had any trouble with customs, in fact, on our last arrival at SVO-2, I think they were out to lunch as we waltzed through the unstaffed station.

[Sohkay]

Theraflu is ridiculously expensive in Ukraine, so I take some of that. I also take loads of dental floss, whitening toothpaste and triple antibiotic analgesic creme.

[SANDRO43]

Ladies & Gentlemen, I just added a new "Things To Talke Along" topic to the "Travel & Transportation" section of the Wiki : http://russianwomendiscussion.com/wiki/index.php?Things%20To%20Take%20Along with your recommendations . Feel free to add/improve.

[aikorob]

I noticed more ads for familiar stuff this time as well---Garnier, Dove, colgate just to name a few - so that part of the equation should be no problem.

She has a major problem with the concept that you need to get a prescription for medicine though, which is what prompted the OTC part of my question

[Michelangelo]

...Lena did appear to be rather happy that CVS was now carrying a brand of make up from Finland that she liked to use back in Russia.  I never heard her talk bad about the quality of the goods she bought back in Russia either.

Speaking of CVS, my fiancee got SO EXCITED the first time we went there and she saw the cosmetic aisle!  The prices were cheaper than in Ukraine!  She could not wait to tell her friends 

[Michelangelo]

She has a major problem with the concept that you need to get a prescription for medicine though, which is what prompted the OTC part of my question.

My experience, too.  She could not believe we had to see a doctor and could not buy all meds  OTC.  She also complains constantly about the pharmacy closing at 9 p.m.!  She says it Ukraine they are ALWAYS open.

One more problem--when she had a sore throat I took her to the doctor in Ft Worth, and he prescribed anti-biotics. He gave her the usual spill that she should take ALL the pills.

But you know FSU stubborn women! 

As soon as she felt better she quit taking the meds....

And the sore throat returned a few days later.

[Zhena]

Well,you have many medicines in the supermarket-which does not need any prescription. Not antibiotics,of course-but many things for getting rid of cold.
About the cosmetics-I didnt take almost anything from Ukraine and I am glad I did-here are plenty choice

[aikorob]

Hello fiancee--glad to see you are posting again
Perhaps you could write a "trip report" from your point of view?

I will tell N. that another Odessa lady said there was plenty of choices here!

[Zhena]

Hello fiancee--glad to see you are posting again
Perhaps you co uld write a "trip report" from your point of view?

I will tell N. that another Odessa lady said there was plenty of choices here!

Yes,here are plenty Tell her not to worry about. About a trip report-well,I dont know what about to write better-about my interview which was very easy-or about my adjusting here  ::)The real difficulties start only when you getting to US...Should I post how did I cry in the night the first days? Cos I missed my family and my cat? Or how was I confused about not understanding what the people say to me? Now all that is better...but process goes 

[jb]

You could have brought the cat with you.  That might have been a comfort to you and saved a few tears.

[Zhena]

You could have brought the cat with you.  That might have been a comfort to you and saved a few tears.

:)My cat is 18 yo and never left the flat. I would never put her in  such stress.

[Vaughn]

To tie in cats with the subject line, I'm wondering if
veterinarians do well in the FSU - aside from the group
castration of a horse that we were treated to, like it or
not, some months back. Come to think of it, I've not once
spotted a vet clinic while over there....

Allergies - good gawd, my wife suffers from them, even with
a plethora of remedies available. Maybe Arizona one day?

[aikorob]

http://www.go2kiev.com/view/pets.html

Just to take this a little further afield; N. will be leaving her cat of 10 years behind also.
Fortunately (or not) a stray came out of my woods about 8 months ago, and gave me 3 little presents before I could catch her and get her fixed. I sent pictures of the little buggers to N. ; and she was quite happy that one of the little guys looks exactly like hers. They will all be fixed by the time she gets here, so she can have a kitten of her own her to bond with.
Like fiancee, there was no way she would subject her cat to the stress of a plane ride and a strange new home.

[Zhena]

Allergies - good gawd, my wife suffers from them, even with
a plethora of remedies available. Maybe Arizona one day?

Oh yeah-the allergies very stubborn sometimes to treat,I know. Many people suffers from them. If she is so sensibilized,you just have to exclude all provocative agents and reach the best climat for her...

[Zhena]

Aikrob, I would advise her to take some antibiotics with her if she uses them sometimes-here you need a prescription for them. All other medicines like the pain relief or antihistaminic,or antimycotic,she can find here in supermarket. Also I would advise her to take some russian CDs and DVDs...I am so glad I took the Maski-show dvd You can enjoy them too,its really funny and without the words almost.