Women's Day

[myrddin]

(I'm actually listening to Songs in the Key of Springfield right now!)


Homer: When it comes to compliments, women are ravenous blood-sucking monsters always want'n more... more... MORE! And if you give it to them, you'll get plenty back in return.
...
Bart: That's great, Dad!  Do you know anything else about women?

Homer: Nope, that's it!

[Patrick]

Whats the rule of thumb ? Buy one dozen. Give 7 to your wife and 5 to your girlfriend. Thats the was it was explained to me in Ukraine. Who am I to argue.

[Simoni]

We just sent MIL (mother in law) 7 roses and a box of candy.  The site we used in Dnepr was:
http://www.cindyagency.com/Dnepropetrovsk_flower_deliveries.htm

The total cost was $56, including the delivery fee and we get a nice pic of MIL on woman's day :-)

[groovlstk]

Not to stray too far off topic, but one of the things that struck me in this thread is how Americans (more so than other Western people, I think) stubbornly stick to their traditions and customs when courting FSU women, for better or (mostly, I think) for worse.

I believe JJ absolutely cares about his girl and wants her to buy something nice for herself, and may accept that she may privately think he's a lazy git - as long as she enjoys the gift, that's enough for him, as his intentions are the very best. OK: saintly, heroic, foolish, or self-sabatoging?

Recently, when I read Ken's excellent TR and his attempts to organize a romantic dinner at his rented flat, I was reminded of the many times I tried to hammer square pegs into round holes during my search. In Ken's instance, he comes off as heroic in his effort to organize that staple of dating life: the romantic, candle-lit dinner at home, prepared (or at least organized) by the host.

But there are foolish ways in which we apply this same logic. In my instance, during my first few trips I insisted on tipping locals 20%, something I always do back in the US. At the time people (including the women I dated) advised me to simply round up the bill and be done with it. I thought my minor generosity was a good example of how Americans should behave in Ukraine/Russia, etc. etc., and if people thought I was being foolish it was OK because if they'd just look a little harder, they'd see I was simply a good guy. Bullshoit! My behavior was never viewed as good or generous by locals, it was seen for what it was: foolish.

This is a very minor example, but even during the latter stages of my travels when I was engaged I continued to make similar stubborn mistakes, although hopefully less often. I think anyone new to the search needs to understand that there is a big difference in pounding square pegs into round holes and coming out looking like a hero (as in Ken's example) or having the same intentions in other circumstances and being tagged as foolish, greedy, or worse. It's not always obvious, and clinging to traditions can have big implications in a budding relationship.

[myrddin]

Good points, groov, and I hope to learn what some of those foolish things are. 

I really don't want to stick to my stubborn American traditions if they get in the way.  Still, in this case I think you're better off sending a gift with some meaning than sending her shopping, unless FSUW are VERY different from every woman I've ever known (in this particular way).  I don't doubt anyone's sincerity, and I'm certainly not the master of finding the right gift.  But I thought I understood the principles.  And just playing the odds, I've rarely upset a girl by sending her a gift

[Turboguy]

I hate March 8. It's sooo commercialised and the most important - hypocritical. It is supposed to be about the right for women to have a job, not a lame analogy of St.V day. 

I have always been surprised that the American greeting card and gift industry have never grabbed hold of Woman's day and tried to make a big deal about it.  I would guess that 98% of American's don't even know the holiday exists.   Proably they don't want to mess up their Valentines day sales and confuse the issue.  Someday they will probably want to move Valentines day to another month so they can add Women's day.

We celebrated Woman's Day by going to the Mall and wondering around.   VWRW, like a lot of RW is particular about what she buys so I was hoping she could pick out something or some things she liked but the pickings were slim.   Even both of the major department stores she likes,   Penskies and Mousy's had nothing that seemed really special.  Well it gives us an excuse to shop some more.

[chivo]

I hate March 8. It's sooo commetialised and the most important - hypocritical. It is supposed to be about the right for women to have a job, not a lame analogy of St.V day. 

From what I gather about this day from the Russians is its equivalent to Mother's Day with a dash of St. Valentine's Day thrown in.

Whatever the case, Fashionista is partly right about having a job, only that women in the New York garment district wanted jobs with better pay and conditions. Ironically, accordingly to this journalist, it originated in America in the 1850's and was exported by Europeans. Now it's too late this year, but maybe some of you can save some of this for the next.
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/stories/2008/03/07/007.html

Just remember to keep your promises to the ladies always (which is anything you'll say you'll do BTW, even remotely) and send some flowers.

The rest is gravy...well for the men here anyway . Good luck.

chivo 

PS i hate this day too Fashionista, but, I'm sure for different reasons. Everyday should be "your woman's" day.

[Fashionista]

From what I gather about this day from the Russians is its equivalent to Mother's Day with a dash of St. Valentine's Day thrown in.

Agreed, it is, basically, a Mother's Day with StV's twist. Same as New year's eve became a substitute for Christmas in USSR.

[groovlstk]

My wife and I celebrated Women's Day yesterday with a five other couples, we all had a blast. We didn't have enough seats for everyone so we ate Russki-style, with the sofa serving as a bench seat

Photo 1

Photo 2

Photo 3

Photo 4

[KenC]

Cool photos, Groov, thanks for sharing.

Lena's Americanized version of "Women's Day" is to get together with her Russian girlfriends and eat Russian food, drink some wine, listen to Russian music and reminisce about the Motherland.  It is usually at our house except for this year.
KenC

[Serebro]

It's so nice to enjoy small joys of life, so why not to see it as another opportunity to have fun:)

[Voyageur]

We celebrated Woman's Day at Chucky Cheese.  It made our eight year old woman very happy.

- The Pizza made all of us happy