false impressions

[KenC]

if the family car has a GPS then even better. As long as she can set the program and then understand the words of the direction that the OC is giving her and if she can follow those insturctions then she should never get lost. A GPS is a must, I think.

Peewee

Peewee,
I guess that is a good point, but GPS systems were not as popular 7 years ago. I also wonder if a GPS system might be a distraction for a new driver? She could always pull off the road to find out where she was though.
KenC

[Turboguy]

I am sure some of it might be where you live too.   I won't say bad things can't happen in the Beaver Falls area but since I dropped Tatiana off and walked her into the mall and arranged to meet her inside the mall I did not worry.  If I lived in LA or NYC I might not have been as comfortable with that. 

I also think all gals are a little different.  Luda for example was always nervous arround new people.  Tatiana is not and seems like she would adapt easier than most of the FSU women would.
Perhaps if I had a gal who was shy and not comfortable around strangers I would not push her into anything.   I do not think OWW is doing anything wrong.  He is just flying by the seat of his pants and trying to help her fit in to our culture at what ever rate seems right to the both of them.  I was curious if that was a common situation, and it seems like it might be more the exception.

[Jet]

I agree, Ken.  My wife now gets very tired of Russia and Moscow very quickly, she is amazed at how much Russia has changed since she was last there, and it's all change for the bad.  I don't mention that she is now viewing Russia through hugely American eyes.

She still loves the food, (you just can't get decent salty fish in America), the music, arts, her friends and family, but she sorely misses her home in Texas when she is away.

Liliya and I had this exact conversation last evening during preparations for her Monday departure. She's not looking forward to the trip as she had in years past, and would rather spend more of her summer vacation here with me. On the flip side, papa is not getting any younger, and grandmother (at 79) is squarely in the "fourth quarter", and I think it's good that Niko makes use of the opportunity to know his extended family while they are still around and in reasonably good health. This trip marks a distinct change in Lil's mindset, in that she is not "going home", she is leaving "home" to go visit her relatives...

[KenC]

Jet,
There comes a point in time where the excitement of going back turns into an obligation. As my inlaws love to come visit us here in San Diego, if it weren't for her Babushka, I don't know if Lena would ever go back to Russia now.
KenC

[jb]

This trip marks a distinct change in Lil's mindset, in that she is not "going home", she is leaving "home" to go visit her relatives...

Bravo~!  I think this statement most accurately sums up the nature of a successful marriage to a foreign woman.  As long as the bride still feels she is a stranger in her new home, more Russian or Ukrainian than identifing with her new home in America, (or wherever) she cannot fully assimilate into her new culture.  This is a very large milestone to pass.  Congrats, Jet.

[Jet]

Clyde,

Welcome to marriage.

It's either compromise or give in and move on.

It takes a while to get used to it but I've found that being forced to work things out between ourselves without outside influence/interference from other close family, friends is definitely the way to go. 

I completely agree here! Sometimes the reason there is no movement toward a solution is because we kinda get entrenched in our own mindset and refuse to budge. I have learned to pick my battles, and really give serious thought to what's ultimately most important to me, and the relationship. Sometimes it is better to "live to fight another day" than to have an "intercontinental death match" over whether we'll be dining on chicken or steak, Friday night....

[PeeWee]

Peewee,
I guess that is a good point, but GPS systems were not as popular 7 years ago. I also wonder if a GPS system might be a distraction for a new driver? She could always pull off the road to find out where she was though.
KenC

True enough, KC. I do not like the idea of pulling off the road to get directions. Can you feature an RW pulling into a gas station and walking up to the guy sitting in the booth and asking in sweetest and yet completely untest new American language, "Ah, say...yo...Habib! Can you tell me were Kroger is?" Now you got some guy trying to tell her in his broken English how to get to somewhere. I think the distraction to the driver is trying to acutally not only understand Habib but to then follow his directions to the Glory Hole (mall).

My luck would have her pulling off of the road in Crackville only to find herself asking P Daddy Drugman and J Jim Jim Pimpboy for directions.

Peewee

[jb]

My luck would have her pulling off of the road in Crackville only to find herself asking P Daddy Drugman and J Jim Jim Pimpboy for directions.

If these people live between your house and the mall, you need to move.  Probably to a new State...

[KenC]

Peewee,
I actually meant that she could pull over and check her GPS if it was too distracting to drive with it on.  But your take on it brings up a good story. My wife and her new found Ukrainian friend went to the mall in a very early stage of Lena's driving. Well, she got a flat tire. Imagine this: two good looking young women from the fsu managed to get the tire changed for free! They don't call em "survivors" for nothing! Of course "crackville" wasn't located between our house and the mall as lb indicated in his post!

jb,
TFF!
KenC

[BillyB]

Billy,

I take it you have never poured a gallon of gas over a wide area and set it off.

You and your neighbors will be quite surprised at the results.

Use diesel instead.

In attempting to prove you wrong BC, I ended blowing myself up today but the weeds are gone along with everything else. I mentioned gas for the joke because most people associate that liquid as the most common to burn stuff with. That's what Hollywood does. I know diesel is better and safer. I've burned wet brush and tree limbs after logging and to get a fire started, pour diesel on it and a fan to get things cooking. There is a burn ban now and I miss the days of 10 meter tall bonfires.

[aikorob]

Billy,
Come down to Georgia!!! No stinkin' burn bans here!
I have the results of 3 hurricanes and an ice storm on my property--just waiting for you.
It's going to waaaaay more than a gallon though!

[BillyB]

Aikorob,
 
Yeah, I'll come down to Georgia and take care of you but I must warn you, with a custom job, there's going to be a custom price! I can make anything happen with the right amount of money! I'm also familiar with Georgia, I lived in Ft.Stewart and Ft.Benning.

[calcowboy1]

I was told by more than one person that my wife would arrive in the US and become Americanized in a short time. This could not be further from the truth. I hear from her very often how much harder life is in the US than in her country. Maybe not assimilating to our culture can make life more difficult. Anyone else find their fiance or spouse will not let go? Being proud of ones heritage is an admirable trait but to survive in a different environment one needs to adapt. I see changes from day to day so I think the process for some is a slow one. I am thinking it is not the first year that will be rough but the first 2 or 3 years.

HI Clyde,

Strange thoughts because here in Canada my wife couldn't have been happier about becoming more Canadianized, ummmmm, here are some thoughts that my wife has come up with...

She loves to give a wave of thanks to the fellow motorist that lets us in
She now says sorry when it is appropriate out in public
She understands what a "line up" means, and how to act politely
She loves the fact that so many people have smiles on her face
She thinks it's "cool", when total strangers (girls) come up to her and say "wow, awesome boots!!!, where did you get them"?

Now of course we do love our Traditional Russian evenings, ummmm, which was last night, complete with Cavier, dark bread, and a funky Russian movie we rented.

Oh, and she has been here exactly 6 months and 1 week.

[Captmonk1]

My experience is similar to calcowboy's..

She loves to give a wave of thanks to the fellow motorist that lets us in

This has never come up. Not enough traffic in Memphis.

She now says sorry when it is appropriate out in public

This is a good one. I did notice that my wife didn't ever say sorry in regards to accidently bumping into people etc when she first got here. Nor did she say "Thank You". She has completely changed in that regard and now knows...like calcowboy's wife...on when to say "Thank You" and "Sorry". That must be some Russian thing.

She understands what a "line up" means, and how to act politely

I don't even know what a line up means...except when in jail. If you mean...standing in line...yes that was a new thing and my wife has also learned this not so good habit in Russia.

She loves the fact that so many people have smiles on her face

Same with my wife. She is always amazed at how many people have smiles.

She thinks it's "cool", when total strangers (girls) come up to her and say "wow, awesome boots!!!, where did you get them"?

This plays a part in the "Thank You" portion. My wife now knows what to say when someone compliments her outfit. Whenever someone does however..the conversation always comes up at how friendly Americans are...and how we will just walk up and talk to anyone it seems like to her.

Oh, and she has been here exactly 6 months and 1 week.

Yeah that's 6 months and 1 week everyone here should have seen 10 to 50 of yall's pictures.

[Michelangelo]

I am gardener and i will give a few good advice...

For weed in grass, use the folowing mix : 200 g/l MCPA (18,3%)+ 40 g/l fluroxypyr (3,7%)+ 20 g/l clopyralid (1,8%). 60 ml by 10 liter water is enough for kill all and keep the grass good... These mix kill only dicothyl plant and only by contact... It is not working via the ground.

If the weed in grass is moss, use iron sulphat.

Now, if the JB grass begin to "invade" the flower place, use the following mix 108 g/l haloxyfop-R-methyl (10 %)... It kill only monocothyl ( grass & bamboo familly )... The following dicothyl can be sensible and die :  Euonymus nana turkestania, Fagus sylvatica, Juniperus spp., Koeleria glauca, Pelargonium spp. (= geraniums), Potentilla fructicosus, Prunus spp., Rosa canina, Taxus baccata.

If the flower place is make from rose, little tree,... plant with wood constitution... a mix of 3 % diuron + 4 % methabenzthiazuron will kill all but keep these woody... never use the first year that you plant... it is a product who work around 6 month.

But since i am on the ignore list from JB, he will miss these advices... 

thanks Bruno!  JB's loss is my gain...I'll try your mix out tomorrow!  Green grass and beautiful blooms, here we come!!!

[PeeWee]

Line up? Why will they stand in line to view Lenin but not stand in line at the McDonalds across the way when ordering a Happy Meal?

Peewee

[Bruno]

thanks Bruno!  JB's loss is my gain...I'll try your mix out tomorrow!  Green grass and beautiful blooms, here we come!!!

Michael,

It is not my mix but the composition of "Bayer" product... but all product with the name "Bayer" is very expensive for a few milliliter... Generic product exist... by example, Roundup is expensive but Gialka ( in 5 liter ) is the same composition for the price of 250 ml of Roundup...

Professional who treat hectare make themself mix... but for your own home and garden, you can use know label, the wins in money is so low and the risk of make a bad mix is so high... In some way, like the dating procedure for RW... newbies use know way, expert use other way with more risk who can lead to better result !

In some way, it is related to the title of these topic, false impression... too much newbies think that they are expert and crash... i was one of these... And these year on RWD have allow me to learn a lot... i can say that forum have some role in my actual success !

[Michelangelo]

"the risk of making a bad mix is so high..."

Great analogy, Bruno...

I will stick to the "name brands" and the low risk girls :-)))

Burno, you said "too much newbies think that they are expert and crash... i was one of these"

thanks to all who post here and prevent some terrible "crashes"
your advice is appreciated...

[Jet]

This has never come up. Not enough traffic in Memphis.

Funny, the *exact* moment I knew Liliya was going to be alright in the USA.....
We were taking an evening walk, as we often have, and some dude in a beater car made an abrupt hard right into a sidestreet never looking to see if there were any pedestrians around, and nearly running us down. Without hesitation my shy, quiet, demure little wife, flipped the guy a bird and yelled VOLKIN' ID-E-YOTE! I almost fell over I laughed so hard  (although I was just as pissed off at the driver as she was).

Seriously though, I'm somewhat suprised every time I read the stories about bad manners. Even back in Russia my wife always exibited what Americans consider "good etiquette". Always waited patiently in lines, always asked for things with a "please" and accepted them with a "thank you", always gave an "excuse me" when intruding on another's personal space or conversation (on purpose or by accident). I just never thought much about it until reading stories from some of the other guys :noidea:

[Captmonk1]

Seriously though, I'm somewhat suprised every time I read the stories about bad manners. Even back in Russia my wife always exibited what Americans consider "good etiquette". Always waited patiently in lines, always asked for things with a "please" and accepted them with a "thank you", always gave an "excuse me" when intruding on another's personal space or conversation (on purpose or by accident). I just never thought much about it until reading stories from some of the other guys :noidea:

What city is your wife from Jet? Big city...small city?

[Jet]

Small suburb of big city (Nizhniy Novgorod)
Her town had a pop. of 70,000 but was close enough to NN that she commuted to university (for her first degree) every day for 5 years.