Picture of my beautiful Irina and Joe in Virginia Beach,VA USA!

[Turboguy]

PeeWee, my comments were more a joke than anything.   The only real difference is that Moscow gals are big city gals and they do have more income as Bruno pointed out.   Even the smaller cities there are pretty big.   Small town gals live in cities of 1 - 2 million. 

[virginiajoe]

Turboguy is right,Moscow is like comparing New York City to Beaver Falls,PA,quite a difference.I have to be honest with myself I guess now,any Russian women like Irina who works for a company as large as hers is worldwide,has a tourist,business visa,she is going to Lativa in July for a company trip.It is hard to admit it why would she leave this wonderful life in Moscow just to come to America and be forced to work at a minimim wage job.Like I said before her happiness is more important than what I want.She has a great life in Moscow,a car,apartment,she travels overseas every year,her life is better than most Americans.
Even if we are just friends,that is good enough for me.I am lucky to have someone to welcome me to Moscow and to be friends with.Irina said she likes both Russia and America,so it is hard for her to choose which one she would like to live in for the rest of her life.I have to admit this is not the typical American,Russian relationship,friendship.I have not heard of too many Russians that can travel freely.But if they have a good reason to return to Russia,it can be a different situation.It is so unfair people from other countries like Brazil,PI,Mexico seem to come here so easily,I have nothing against people from those coutnries,but why treat people from former FSU countries and Russia like they are suspect criminals.Seems like the cold war still exists here in America.

[Turboguy]

Joe,  From what you have said it sounds like you two have not had a serious talk about where you want your friendship to go.   Hopefully that will happen in the future and you will know where you stand and what may lie ahead.

Women sometimes have reasons to get married besides improving their financial condition.     I have a life where I travel a lot and believe me, it can get tiresome after a while.   It could be that she wants a good husband and doesn't think she can find one in Russia.  I have heard guys say that.    My thoughts would be don't be discouraged but don't get your hopes to the point where you are going to be devistated if it does not happen.

I agree with you about the difficult situation with the visas.   I am guessing that the record indicates that there are just too many who don't go back home if they let them in  it is sad.  It would be so much nicer if we could just bring them for a visit any time we wan't

[virginiajoe]

That is true,it it true we have not had a serious talk about marriage,etc.Maybe in Moscow we will have that talk.Money is not everything.I will not be devistated if our relationship does not lead to something serious,at least I gained a good friend.It is still early so we will see what happens.Thanks for the advice.I really need help about getting the visa.I have never been to Russia before.Should I try Atlantic Fellowship? Will they help me with the visa support? Thanks again!

[Turboguy]

Joe,  If you want to save a few bucks you can try that.   There are some good services that will do it all for you.   The one I use is www.russia-visa.com     As a matter of fact i will be ordering one from them in about two hours.    Another good one is www.gotorussia.com   I just like to go the fast ease way.  I have never yet had a problem and you just order online and then mail them your passport and a passport photo and you are set.

[virginiajoe]

Thanks for the info,I have to update my passport.Japan was the last country I visited and that was some time ago! That will probably take a month or so right? I think New Orleans is where they process it.
I was thinking about what you said during lunch today.It is weird.Irina seemed really different in person than in our e-mails.It's hard to get her to open up sometime with e-mails.In person it was the opposite though and her sense of humor was awesome! I don't understand why that may be.She uses the computer at her work so maybe that's why she dosen't have time to write long letters.She says she works from morning to evening,I can believe it because her boss,the CEO of her company,he acutally lives in London called her twice.She was quite annoyed by this! Then my boss called me right after that,she thought that was funny!
I think when I am in her environment in Russia it will be good for the both of us.I will ask her what her plans for the future are.I still cannot forget her last words to me,she had tears in her eyes and said,"Please come to Moscow." It will be interesting to see what happens,thanks again for the advice.I have to admit this is very confusing to me.

[tim 360]

Joe,  definitely visit her in Moscow and don't have any big expectations,  they can lead to great disappointments.  She gave you a firm invitation...take it.  You have made a good friend,  with very good character and take your time and see how things go.  I am sure you will have a great time.

Tourist visas to the USA for average Russians are difficult to get.  "B's" and student visas are much easier.  Either her job or her family give her some clout.  So,  don't be too quick to think that she has any need to move to the USA, as she probably has a very nice life in Moscow.  Good luck!

Oh!  Last thing.  About time to remove her photo from your posts.  Too many fat yuri's cruising and downloading pic's for dubious use.  Tim

 

 

[virginiajoe]

Tim thanks man for your response,I hope fat Yuri is not using my photo.Beautiful Irina is too amazing for this too happen!It would make me sick to my stomach to think someone would use her like this,it was hard hearing all of the sailors in Va Beach whistling at her.I told her,typical americans.It just goes to show we are not used to Slavic beauty here! She agreed with me and asked if they do that to all the women. I will visit her and see what happens,you would have had to been there and seen her eyes when she told me to visit Moscow,it haunts me till now,I will be there for her though no matter what.I don't want to take her away from a good life.She even joked Joe,you speak Japanese it can give you a job in Moscow.Sometimes she is so hard to figure out,but I like it! Again this is so confusing to me and I am sure she feels the same even though she will not say it.I sent her the photos from her visit via UPS it was not cheap,she was flattered I sent them! Wish me luck! Thanks for all the advice! I really need it! One thing I remember from her visit is her amazing sense of humor,I have never laughed so hard! It has been such a dream these last 2 weeks! Thank you again,she is so lucky to have the life she does,I hope I can be a part of it!!!

[tim 360]

Mail to Moscow?  Next time go to the local PO (USPS) and ship Global Express,  much cheaper.  There are 2 different classes,  check them out.  Moscow is the main hub,  so prices will be cheap.

Pic's,  yeah!  Delete them!

Reserved emails from her?  Simple.  Probably using the company computer at work and the emails and keystrokes are logged.  And she knows it.  Not too privet.  Regular postal mail from Moscow to VA ( VA to Moscow), $1,  should be 7 days each way....tops.  Her postal mail and telephone calls should be clear communication.  No corporate big brother watching,  Tim

[virginiajoe]

Thanks Tim! She was happy to get her pictures from Virginia! I will use regular mail next time for her.I did get a nice e-mail from her today,finally I made her laugh! I am sure her company monitors computer use.I can't wait to go over there and see her.I think she is looking for a nice guy,friend,etc,who is not going to parade her around.I hope to god people are not using her pictures for wrong doings,scams.Thanks again!

[virginiajoe]

Global express is through USPS right? I am going to the post office tuesday so I will ask them about the rates,thanks again.It sounds pretty cheap compared to UPS which was about $16 for a small parcal!