Hello, All

[spider]

My name is Roger and I live in Southern California.  I'm just happy to finally find an extremely informative and objective forum to be part of.

I have been thinking of going to FSU to find my better half for several years, but due to work, I have been procrastinating... until now.  I'm currently planning my first trip to Uzbekistan toward the end of Nov.  I actually do not expect anything from this maiden trip.  I'm going to just enjoy the trip like a vacation and relax.  I will post my progress as it goes along.

Again, good to be here.

[AnastassiaAsh]

Hi Roger,

Welcome to the board! Why Uzbekistan? Tell us your corresponding 'saga' so far?

[SANDRO43]

I'm currently planning my first trip to Uzbekistan toward the end of Nov.

Good luck, and remember to bring along some warm clothing .

[spider]

Good luck, and remember to bring along some warm clothing .

Haha, yes.  I lived in Boston for 9 years and am (or should I say, was) used to cold climates.

[spider]

Hi Roger,

Welcome to the board! Why Uzbekistan? Tell us your corresponding 'saga' so far?

Thanks!

And there is really no saga thus far; just a lot of thinking and researching of this whole undertaking.  However, what I did decide was to first try Kazakhstan due to its mix of people - very much like all major metropolitan cities in the US.  And since I am Asian myself, I hope a lady from Kazakhstan could get used to the new environment in the US much more easily and quickly.

What made me sorta change my mind to go to Uzbekistan instead was that I recently came across an agency in Taiwan that specializes in foreign (mostly China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Uzbekistan) match-up's (to its local residents).  I'm embarrassed to say I knew almost nothing about Uzbekistan besides the fact that it's bordered with Kazakhstan.  And after doing some research, I found its ethnic groups very similar to those in Kazakhstan.  Out of convenience, I asked the agency to arrange some meetings for me, but I specified that "she" would be going to relocate to the US, not Taiwan.  I think this proposes a challenge for them as they've never dealt with US immigration laws, but I'm taking the trip anyhow, at least, to get my feet wet.

In the mean time, I'm going to find out more about Uzbekistan and the best/easiest way to bring "her" to the States.

[Turboguy]

The K-1 visa is the best way to bring her to the USA and it is not that hard to do.  You just want to be absolutely certain that she is the woman you want to spend the rest of your life with.   The K-1 is not for a visit or a trail marriage, it is 90 days to plan your wedding.  Visit her enough before you get engaged to know what you want.  When you are ready for the K-1 visit VisaJourney.com and you will find all the info you need to get her here. 

[Mishenka]

Roger, welcome to RWD. Tashkent is a great city to visit. Check out Bukhara and  Samarkand, very cool cities with incredible history. Be sure to eat Plov when you are there and some tasty Uzbek bread.  I learned how to cook Plov from Galina's brother Aleksey. Very tasty!  I have over 1000 photo's if you are interested in viewing.  Remember it is 90% Muslim, but only had a few terrorist incidents in the last few years. A few American targets, Embassy bombings, but only a few deaths, stay calm and blend in, (when in Rome do as the Romans do) Taxi's are still dirt cheap in the city. You should pay no more than $1 or $2 to get anywhere across town in any direction. They may ask for more but will always take less.  This country is rich in Natural gas and Oil. Still Gas costs them more than what we pay here in San Diego.  Taxi's are plentiful there and line the main streets. Food cost is the same as in California. The Uzbek Sum exchange rate is 1400 to 1. If you exchange 100 USD you will get 140,000- 150,000 Uzbek.  Its a huge stack of 1000 Sum bills.  You will get a few thousand sum more from a local merchant than a bank will give on exchange. Many merchants buy USD for travel.   I did many transactions at National Bank Uzbekistan, they take 3% each visa cash advance. Visa and master card are not accepted at merchants, Uzbek cash only.

I met my Galina in Moscow 9 years ago, she now lives in Tashkent.  I spent a month living with her in April this year. I plan to return shortly in the next 10 days or so for her birthday, my 4th or 5th trip over 10 years time. I'm happy to give you more pointers on Uzbekistan.  Like any communist country, Central Asia is a difficult place to live, prices are high and wages are not enough to survive. Winters are harsh, Summer heat is unbearable 105 - 120 degrees+ . Conditions are not clean. Water is not safe to drink, restaurants? well, there are a handful of good ones like in my photo with Galina here at a German restaurant with great food and excellent service.   Their president just raised the minimum wage to US $23 per month, Woohoo!. Food cost a family of 3 about US $300 per month.   You need to remember where you are while there. Never speak against the government in this city, The USA was evicted from the Uzbek airbase after a negative remark from GW Bush after a terrorist attack left many people dead after Uzbek militia opened fire on people. This eviction was after USA sent 44 million in aid, or shall I say rent for this space to launch the Afghan war. There is a NATO presence downtown.  There are more police in this city than non military. I felt safe out late at night but there is still petty crimes of theft that go on in local neighborhoods.  No one is allowed a gun in this country.  As always keep your passport with registration on you at all times. 
 
Need a massage? Maya, from Korea,  gives great massage for 2.5 hours for 25 USD, I bought 5 massages for 100 bucks! This woman healed things in my body doctors in US couldn't.  When she is done with your massage ask her out on a date, she is single!. I have some connections with cheap airfare and info obtaining visa's (PV) for you.  Make sure to register with local hotel or authorities within 3 days of arrival. It will cost you a $25 bribe or so. Everyone working a Government job in this city expects a bribe to get anything done. When it comes time to get serious about immigration, copies of records, translating documents,  keep some USD on you to give out as " gifts" or tips as we call them, they expect this because they are paid little by their boss.

The women in this city are a beautiful mix of Middle East or Persian with Asian.   Many are slim and dress like models on the runway.  The population of Russians in Uzbekistan is about 8% of these less than half are women, so leaves you with 2% females of all ages, narrowed down to a handful of available women you have to choose from.  As a minority and these women really stand out in the crowd.  They don't fit in among the Central Asians, they act and dress different as well. Very few speak English.  I hope you speak Russian well or you must have an interpreter with you.  download google earth and study the city streets. You can zoom in and really see a lot of detail.

If you have any questions, PM me or write an email. I'm happy to help.
Mishenka

[spider]

Thanks so much for the info, Turboguy and Mishenka.  That certainly helped a lot.  And Mishenka, I will certainly hit you up as I already have some questons...

[Mishenka]

Roger, I had a few ideas, just to get more familiar with Uzbekistan, do a photo search on the cities of Tashkent

http://www.alovelyworld.com/webouzbek/htmgb/tachkent.htm

also Samarkand http://www.alovelyworld.com/webouzbek/htmgb/samarkand.htm   

and Bukara   http://www.alovelyworld.com/webouzbek/htmgb/boukhara.htm 

so you can see the people in their home city, etc, also read up on the history of this country, CIA fact book, read as much as you can to learn about these people and how they live.   http://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/uz.html

The weather,
http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/UZXX0004?config=SZ=180x150*WX=FHW*LNK=SSNL*UNT=C*BGI=seasonal2*MAP=null|null*DN=advantour.com*TIER=0*PID=1031611200*MD5=5e62e3788ed14987d005cf5f01504a67&par=WOWs0_1031611200&site=180x150&cm_ven=WOWs0&cm_cat=180x150&code=link&promo=10day&cm_ite=link&cm_pla=10day

 I have a link to here that is interesting,   http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2005/11/22/us_closes_air_base_in_uzbekistan_amid_uprising_dispute/

Uzbek Embassy link   http://www.uzbekconsulny.org/visa/private/

This will keep you busy a while, enjoy!
Mishenka