Hello to everybody! I am Russian woman, married to American guy

[Faux Pas]

Oooops now they have the backdoor draft known as the National Guard.  its a lot more effective than an actual draft because people volunteered for it.  Unless the situation changes dramatically there will be no mandatory service any time soon.

Backdoor draft? Geeze sculpt we have a 100% volunteer military and leave it to you to label it a draft 

[Sculpto]

Backdoor draft? Geeze sculpt we have a 100% volunteer military and leave it to you to label it a draft 

come on Faux.. do you really think a lot of the NG guys had any idea they would get called up to go to Iraq when they signed up?

[Ooooops]

come on Faux.. do you really think a lot of the NG guys had any idea they would get called up to go to Iraq when they signed up?

 I've read quite a lot of posts on Russian forums about it - "OMG!   My husband is on National Guard list and now he has to go to Iraq!"    Hello!   What did he think before???

[ECOCKS]

Exactly on target Ooooops.

There were a few who were perfectly happy to take the check when all it required was a weekend every month and a 2 week vacation during the summertime but freaked out when it became apparent they were going into a war zone. It was well-understood when they enlisted that they were subject to call up if necessary. They weeded out most of the fair-weather soldiers by giving them  discharges. Tens of thousands of Guards and Reserves have been activated for the two conflicts, the vast majority went when they were called, living up to their commitment.

[Sculpto]

I've read quite a lot of posts on Russian forums about it - "OMG!   My husband is on National Guard list and now he has to go to Iraq!"    Hello!   What did he think before???

Most of them expected to do things like help out during Katrina and other public service commitments.. the fighting was supposed to be for the young recruits.. foot soldiers.. not men with careers and families.  That is why it has been considered a backdoor draft.

[Ooooops]

Most of them expected ...

As my favorite saying goes - "Assumption is the Mother of all Fu*k-ups!"   

If you enlist in the Army you should be prepared to except the consequences....    I've just reread "Starship Troopers" by Robert Heinlein.   Good book about rights and responsibilities ...   

[ECOCKS]

Alert:

Not a good book, Ooooops.

An EXCELLENT book.

Worth reading at least three times.

Once as a child (great action novel for its time).

Again as a young adult (some interesting thoughts in there and WOW, weren't the technology predictions astute considering their time period?).

Finally, as an adult, for the philosophies he expounds on with regard to government, civic responsibility of both individual and state, and even a subtle swipe at the "collective" menace.

Are you into sci-fi in general or Heinlein in particular?

[Ooooops]

Alert:

Glad to see another reader here.       Yes, Heinlein wrote some great and also quite controversial books.   I love them all!   (well, besides "Friday", which I thought was quite cheesy  ).

And yes, I love science-fiction.   Grew up reading it - Bradbury, Azimov, Strugatski, Lem and many-many other great authors!   

[Aloe]

And yes, I love science-fiction.   Grew up reading it - Bradbury, Azimov, Strugatski, Lem and many-many other great authors!   

me too Heinlein was and is 1 of my favorite authors. Also Andre Norton

[Faux Pas]

come on Faux.. do you really think a lot of the NG guys had any idea they would get called up to go to Iraq when they signed up?

Most of them expected to do things like help out during Katrina and other public service commitments.. the fighting was supposed to be for the young recruits.. foot soldiers.. not men with careers and families.  That is why it has been considered a backdoor draft.

They knew EXACTLY what they were getting into and what the commitments were. And they still signed up. The idea that the Guard was a free check for washing trucks and sweeping up the armory went out the window in the first Gulf war. Backdoor draft is a fantasy term apparently coined by you and others who won't admit to the obvious, our military is volunteer. I suppose it doesn't suit your agenda's larger purpose?

[Sculpto]

They knew EXACTLY what they were getting into and what the commitments were. And they still signed up. The idea that the Guard was a free check for washing trucks and sweeping up the armory went out the window in the first Gulf war. Backdoor draft is a fantasy term apparently coined by you and others who won't admit to the obvious, our military is volunteer. I suppose it doesn't suit your agenda's larger purpose?

Faux.. arguing with you is not unlike arguing with road kill, you just don't get it and you act like you have something interesting to say, yet your words are full of emptiness.  Please, tell me what is my agenda of larger purpose.  I would really like to know as I am sure would everyone else here.

And I would suggest you go back and take a good hard look at the advertising campaigns for the national guard before you make your poorly informed judgments on the brave men who are giving up their lives and mental health so you can sit on your butt all day and call them out for signing up.  Freaking hypocrite. 

[Faux Pas]

Faux.. arguing with you is not unlike arguing with road kill, you just don't get it and you act like you have something interesting to say, yet your words are full of emptiness.  Please, tell me what is my agenda of larger purpose.  I would really like to know as I am sure would everyone else here.

And I would suggest you go back and take a good hard look at the advertising campaigns for the national guard before you make your poorly informed judgments on the brave men who are giving up their lives and mental health so you can sit on your butt all day and call them out for signing up.  Freaking hypocrite. 

Sculpt I've yet to argue with you about anything. You have nothing to offer a decent argument. You jump in a thread and throw words around like you know what you are talking about when you don't. I don't know what your agenda is. Better yet I don't really care. I've noticed you love to sling insults at anyone with a patriotic bone in their body and now you hurl insult at the entire military force and call them draftees. You don't have a clue as to what you are talking about nor about the duty or the honor it takes to serve. You my insignificant peckerwood are the hypocrite.

[Chicagoguy]

I helped a family move here to Chicago 15 years ago. She had finished Med school in Russia but spoke zero English. She studied hard and finally passed all necessary tests but you are right. Residencies aren't always readily available.

She did find one, however, and now is in private practice. She now has a number of other Russian friends here who also had success.

But it can't be easy with two kids to raise.

[gemini]

I helped a family move here to Chicago 15 years ago. She had finished Med school in Russia but spoke zero English. She studied hard and finally passed all necessary tests but you are right. Residencies aren't always readily available.

She did find one, however, and now is in private practice. She now has a number of other Russian friends here who also had success.

But it can't be easy with two kids to raise.

I have several friends-doctors that came 10-15 years ago and  did well. It was never easy to find a residency but it was much easier back then. The competition got really high last 5 years, especially after terrorism in UK. All those Indian docs that were not be able to get a visa in UK went to US and increase competition 1.5 times.

[Daveman]

Glad to see another reader here.       Yes, Heinlein wrote some great and also quite controversial books.   I love them all!   (well, besides "Friday", which I thought was quite cheesy  ).

And yes, I love science-fiction.   Grew up reading it - Bradbury, Azimov, Strugatski, Lem and many-many other great authors!   

To continue in the off topic thread hijacking manner....

Ahh, Heinlein and Asimov are two of my favorites... if you enjoy those, you might also really like Piers Anthony.  The Incarnations of Immortality series is really good. The Xanth series is super light reading, but entertaining and fun.. The Adept series is quite good..

Asimov is probably my all time favorite.. I really loved Asimov's Guide to the Bible. Great reading.  Many love his Sci-fi works, but not many know that he has well over an hundred non-fiction publications.  His death marked a true loss of genius, IMO, what a gifted prolific writer.

[kievstar]

Regarding the military it is voluntary.  There not heros.  Just doing the job they agreed to do.

More USA citizens die each year on July 4th in USA to drunk driving than the last 7 years of Afghan and Iraq war. 

[Sculpto]

Faux..

again you are so far off base it is beyond my ability to comprehend.  Is your hatred of me so great that no matter what I write you will oppose it?  Please get a grip and stop using insulting language.  Your inability to self reflect really is painful to see.

And Kiev is 100% right.  A hero saves lives, not drop bombs on innocent people.  In a few years time, when there are shell shocked PTSD vets sitting in dark corners drunk and begging for a few bucks.. I am quite sure people like Faux will walk right past them thinking what a freaking loser... admit it, you already do.

Anyway.. this thread was about what?

[Faux Pas]

Faux..

again you are so far off base it is beyond my ability to comprehend.  Is your hatred of me so great that no matter what I write you will oppose it?  Please get a grip and stop using insulting language.  Your inability to self reflect really is painful to see.

And Kiev is 100% right.  A hero saves lives, not drop bombs on innocent people.  In a few years time, when there are shell shocked PTSD vets sitting in dark corners drunk and begging for a few bucks.. I am quite sure people like Faux will walk right past them thinking what a freaking loser... admit it, you already do.

Anyway.. this thread was about what?

Ah Sculpt...Go... find yourself another thread of which you know absolutely nothing about, pretend that you do and flood it with your diatribe. Feed that ego of yours. Your need to feel relevant is noted.  

[Ooooops]

Asimov is probably my all time favorite..

Douglas Adams is my all time favorite now, after I've read his Guide books few years ago!      Actually, even Hollywood version of it wasn't too bad...

[Sculpto]

 Faux..

so anyway.. Ooops.. do you always bring a towel? 

[KenC]

Gemini,
Any other details you would care to share?  How did you two meet prior to your actual meeting in St Pete?  Ages?  Have you become a citizen?  How often do you return to Russia?  How have your boys taken to living in America?

Chicago is a great city with a large Polish population, second only to Warsaw.  I am sure that the eastern European influence is helpful in some ways.  Any way, welcome to RWD.
KenC

 
Sculpto, take your off topic debate somewhere else and quit sidetracking this thread.  To the others in debate, if you don't reply to Sculpto's off topic posts, he will only be talking to himself.  Way to welcome a new member, guys.

[Ooooops]

so anyway.. Ooops.. do you always bring a towel? 

I always bring a sarong...    

[Gator]

Gemini,

Thank you for joining RWD.  You have a lot of valuable information to share.  I really appreciate your insights. 

My husband's reply.
What were the most difficult obstacles you  faced in an international marriage?

Being married with children after being alone for decades.
 
.
As you see, noting related to an international issue.

I can identify with your husband.

I do not diminish the huge adjustment that a RW must make, yet the man also faces significant changes, especially if his house is invaded by kids.   This is particularly true if the man and woman are at different stages of life.

 My RW required a lot of attention the first few months, and one year later she functions 95% independently.  The boy and girl are another matter, and at ages of 13 and 12, they are just now entering the troubling, hormonally imbalanced teenage years.  I have known them since they were 5 and 4, and I knew what I was enetering.  They are truly DELIGHTFUL kids.  I can not imagine the turmoil if they were not good kids.

As if two young active kids are not enough, we also added a Great Dane puppy, who has managed to eat the sofa.

BIG QUESTION:  If I could turn back the clock, would I marry my RW again?  Absolutely!  Family life has always been my greatest source of joy, and this is like a sequel movie that is just as good as the original.

My real test comes in a few weeks.  My wife is returning to Moscow for 3 weeks.  The kids are staying here with me.
 :hairraising:   :hairraising: :hairraising:

[gemini]

Gemini,
Any other details you would care to share?  How did you two meet prior to your actual meeting in St Pete?  Ages?  Have you become a citizen?  How often do you return to Russia?  How have your boys taken to living in America?

We met through the agency that doesn't exist anymore. Our matchmaker  was a very nice woman. She sent me 2 pictures of guys that were interested in meeting me. I didn't like his picture too much. He was with 4 cats on it. I thought: what kind of guy live with 4 cats? I really liked his letter that was attached to his picture and I also liked the fact that he was coming to Russia in 4 weeks. I had the bad experience writing tow other guys, (one Canadian and one from Fl) that never came over.
I was in my later 30th, he was 6 years older.
I became a citizen, it took 5 years: 2 years we were waiting for GC plus 3.
I went to Russia 3 times since we moved.
My boys were 13, 15 and 6 when we moved. They never had any adaptation problems. The older sons went to high school, were accepted to the swimming team and water polo team. They went to ESL classes for 6 month and then they entered the regular classes.  
The youngest one is an American boy. He is thinking in English and I have hard time to keep his Russian on a reasonable level. He is 13 now and I understand you completely. It is not fun sometimes  to deal with teens of this age.
If you have more questions, I will be happy to answer.