Moscow trip report, I have returned.

[judnnc]

Short for now, because I still dont know what time zone my body is in, but will post more later. It was my first trip, and met a great great woman who is now my fiancee. More on that later.. first..

5 Observations about Moscow!

-sun? what sun?

-Babushkas of American lore do in fact, exist.

-I dont understand why some women have grey teeth, or gold ones?

-people there were actually VERY nice! no smiles, but really truly nice folks.

-Russians seem to have no concept of lines.

-lastly, Russian Women > American Women. period. amazing.

It was an experience with many stories, I ll post a full report a bit later when I get some rest!

[judnnc]

DAY 1:

after uneventful flights to LHR and smooth connection, was off to Domodedovo on time and arrived early. Passport control was 10 minutes wait, no one asked a thing. Went through the green customs line and two gruff officers directed me to have my bags run through the X-Ray. nothing special, very fast, grabbed bags and entered into the halls of taxi terror.

Someone said before, and it was true, my woman saw me first, she gave me a single white rose, we hugged, and she took my hand and whisked me off to the waiting taxi she had arranged, and we were off to the Hotel Milan. It all happened so fast it was a blur, and I was very nervous, so she held my hand and tried to calm me in the taxi. We arrived at the hotel, paid the man 1400 rubles, and went to our room.

The hotel itself, while about a 25 minute metro ride to Red Square, was VERY nice, English speaking staff, well appointed, and great breakfast buffet. Also got 30 rubles on the dollar at the exchange there. Highly recommend this hotel if in town.

So in the room, she had done a few things to make me comfortable upon my arrival, and we exchanged gifts, she gave me boxes of Russian chocolates, a martushka (sp?), a card, and she had knitted me a scarf. She also had for me long underwear because she worried I would be cold.

I showered and we lie in adjacent beds talking until I drifted off. Day 2 to follow...

[wiz]

Hello and welcome back!

Obviously your flight connections worked fine and you were not lost!

Sure enough you didn’t find any Russian bears on your way as Russian people are like us……..and most importantly you met a woman who took good care of you, fallen in Love with her   :kissing: ….. so now you are already engaged and your head is in the clouds full of euphoria!   

Going with your statements definitely deserve to be a member of the famous “One week wonder Club”. 

Any how here are some replies to your Comments in the same order.

Moscow does get plenty of sun….. but not in the end of December. Most probably snow is the order of the day…… and as I heard today they do have plenty of it!

Sorry don’t get your comment about Babouskhas of American lore!

Women in Russia visit Russian Dentists who use different material than those in the USA……. some of them do have golden teeth. If your girl is one of those then when she finally comes to USA, then it’s down to you to pay and let her have a Hollywood shinning white smile!

No they don’t and welcome to reality of Russian behaviour so you have to join but you may find that the same kind of behaviour can be found in other countries too!

I see that you noticed the difference between American women and those slim sexy smokinghotkovas and not going back now!
 
Ok mate.

Welcome home and take your time, have a rest and then we hope that you will post a  travel report about your adventure in Moscow!

I see you started already writing your report.....

[shakespear]

It was my first trip, and met a great great woman who is now my fiancee. 

Based on our previous exchange, why am I not surprised?

No need to visit her home city; or meet her parents; or meet her friends; or watch her interact in her normal daily surroundings; nor following any of the other common sense progressions one would normally follow before announcing an engagement; even if dating in your home country. 

First trip, four days & come home from Moscow with a fiancee.  Anastasia Tours, Jack Bragg, A Foreign Affair, the Steckle Brothers and all the other romance tour companies usually take a full 7-10 days to accomplish the same result. 

Congratulations on your efficiency !!

[RussianWind]

I showered and we lie in adjacent beds talking until I drifted off. Day 2 to follow...

I bet all night you discussed the Schopenhauer's work "On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason" 

P.S. My congratulations that your VO has worked 

[judnnc]

well, I showered, then talked, then something else until I literally had to say NO MORE   

[Admin]

Hey Folks,

I, for one, would like to see judnnc's entire report without the distractions of him feeling the need to address sniping from the sidelines.

If someone has a question, pose it in a way that is NOT sarcastic and NOT intended to send one's own 'message.' Ask the question sincerely and ONLY if you have a genuine interest in learning the answer. If your intent is to advance YOUR agenda, using this TR as your foil - DO NOT POST THE QUESTION.

In sum - give judnnc (and all others posting a trip report) the 'room' to share with us their experiences.

- Dan

[boaterguy]

Hey Folks,

I, for one, would like to see judnnc's entire report without the distractions of him feeling the need to address sniping from the sidelines.

If someone has a question, pose it in a way that is NOT sarcastic and NOT intended to send one's own 'message.' Ask the question sincerely and ONLY if you have a genuine interest in learning the answer. If your intent is to advance YOUR agenda, using this TR as your foil - DO NOT POST THE QUESTION.

In sum - give judnnc (and all others posting a trip report) the 'room' to share with us their experiences.

- Dan

I have to agree 100%. Like Damn people what is your problem!

[judnnc]

Hey Folks,

I, for one, would like to see judnnc's entire report without the distractions of him feeling the need to address sniping from the sidelines.

If someone has a question, pose it in a way that is NOT sarcastic and NOT intended to send one's own 'message.' Ask the question sincerely and ONLY if you have a genuine interest in learning the answer. If your intent is to advance YOUR agenda, using this TR as your foil - DO NOT POST THE QUESTION.

In sum - give judnnc (and all others posting a trip report) the 'room' to share with us their experiences.

- Dan

I'm only going to assume the sniping was from shakspear, whom I have on ignore so it doesnt bother me.


A few other observations quickly:

- Just because Russian people dont LOOK friendly, does not in any way mean they are not friendly.

- I realized how fortunate, blessed, and stupid Americans can be. To experience this culture is something I would recommend to anyone. Even now there are leftover signs from CCCP, but I did not leave feeling pity for the people there, many of them have endured and endure far more than most of us could realize, and it is obvious they are very strong as a people.

- I never once had a problem with the police, scam artists, or people trying to rip me off. People tried to help me if I needed it, kind to me and welcoming. I don't think anyone is so evil they want to rip you off for a cab or a meal, its just something that some of them need to do to survive.

-The woman I met never once asked me for money, complained if I tried to pay for ANYTHING, and went so completely out of her way for me that I will never again be able to look at a woman in my own country in the same way. Even right up to the day I left (yesterday), she waited with me at the airport until she was sure I had my boarding pass and was ok to leave before she went to her own flight-- which she consequently missed due to taking care of ME. She cried like a baby as I rode up the escalator to the passport control to my flight, and I never once felt like she would think less of me if I did not act macho or 'strong'.

That said, a few things that were not totally positive were the pushing that occured in the metro, and the seemingly inept (or atleast apathetic) employees at DME who check you in for your flight.

Other than that, I feel like I can take on the world now, and have a renewed appreciation for my own life and a new appreciation for another culture many miles away from my own.

I'll contine to post until I complete the report, it was only a 4 day trip, and yesterdays travels were quite brutal so Im tired and actually at work so bear with me.

[Chicagoguy]

Sounds like a first rate woman you have found there !!

Pushing on the Metro ?   Same in many places of the world.

Rude airport counter people at airport ? The counter woman yesterday at Delta told me an outright lie.

[Shostakovich]

I bet all night you discussed the Schopenhauer's work "On the Fourfold Root of the Principle of Sufficient Reason" 

P.S. My congratulations that your VO has worked 

A better choice might be, Mr. Shopehaurer's essay, "On Women" - heh - heh.

[KenC]

judnnc,
I am glad you are happy with the outcome of your trip and that your pretrip fears were all for naught.  I for one hope that when you do catch up on your sleep that you will fill in some of the blanks with more details.  Background on your relationship prior to the trip, day to day activities while in Moscow (not personal details), your mind set for becoming engaged and your future plans from this point forward, would all be items of interest.
KenC

[dogspot]

Congrats, judnnc!

I hope things continue to work out well for you. So do you expect a quick return to visit her and her family?

[wiz]

judnnc,

I am glad you are happy with the outcome of your trip and that your pretrip fears were all for naught.  I for one hope that when you do catch up on your sleep that you will fill in some of the blanks with more details. 

Background on your relationship prior to the trip, day to day activities while in Moscow (not personal details), your mind set for becoming engaged and your future plans from this point forward, would all be items of interest.

KenC.

I do agree with you Ken and I hope he will be over the jetlag soon and post a nice report, as you say.

It is nice to read that people going first time to Russia can meet the right person for them...... so his report will be very interesting to read. I know I was a little cynical previously but was because of his previous posts.....

Anyway...... he is having  a new start and HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Happy New year to you all! 

[Doll]

- Just because Russian people dont LOOK friendly, does not in any way mean they are not friendly.

- I realized how fortunate, blessed, and stupid Americans can be. To experience this culture is something I would recommend to anyone. Even now there are leftover signs from CCCP, but I did not leave feeling pity for the people there, many of them have endured and endure far more than most of us could realize, and it is obvious they are very strong as a people.

- I never once had a problem with the police, scam artists, or people trying to rip me off. People tried to help me if I needed it, kind to me and welcoming. I don't think anyone is so evil they want to rip you off for a cab or a meal, its just something that some of them need to do to survive.

Thank you, judnnc,  for this description- it's fair.
Congratulations on your engagement!

[judnnc]

Day 2-uneventful.. slept late and hung around the room-Day 3 my lady got up and spent an hour in the bathroom looking pretty for me, before waking me up in a VERY nice way! We went down the the hotel breakfast, and it was off to Red Square on the metro, where I promptly paid 20 rubles to take a leak in a port-a-john.

We took the tour of St Basils Cathedral (awesome!), and hit the Red Square Mall for some window shopping (because I for one, can not afford Gucci, Vuitton, Dolce)

Had a light lunch at a cafe there, and went back to the hotel. I wanted to take her to a really nice restaurant in the hotel, but she refused, saying I should not spend that sort of money.. so we ate at the hotel sports bar. We ordered ice fish.. which came with the head still on it

Retired to the room with plans to go to the Moscow zoo the next day.

Day 4 was my last day since it was such a short trip, and after we got up and managed breakfast it had begun to snow pretty hard. We took off for the zoo and made it to the metro before deciding it was too snowy/cold to go forward.. so we ate at.................McDonalds (gasp), and the burgers taste, look, exactly the same as they do in America.

As the day wore on I really began to worry about my flight out in the morning being cancelled or delayed, but it was no problem. Just at the airport BMI had no reservation for me so it was a bit of a hold up. My girl really went out of her way for me all trip, never asked for money, never let me spend too much on something, and always made sure I was warm.

During 'close relations', she THANKED me each time we would finish. wow. After my return home, she has even offered to pay half of the costs for the visa process, even though she makes so little money. Pinch me now!

A few other things I noticed about Russia is I saw alot of businesses, the hotel for example, where many employees just stood around waiting for something to do... not something you'd see in America as we will understaff.

I never felt threatened, or unsafe at all, and I am glad I went obviously. Now for the visa process. I have emails, photos, travel papers, visa, everything ready to go.. going to start on it today. I assume it will be 5 or so months?

Last word of advice regarding DME passport control.. when you book your flight, try to get a seat close to the exit of the plane, and when you get off...RUN, or you will be waiting a while.

[facetrock]

  Congrats on the successful trip. Do you plan on going back before she arrives with the K-1 visa?

[judnnc]

no, not going back prior to that.. Im off to the visa forum as I need advice on that now

[Sculpto]

judnnc..

You may want to make a second trip.  The embassy will have doubts if you only visited once and for such a short time. 

No one here has wanted to say the obvious.. but I know everyone is thinking it..

4 days and engaged.. is VERY RISKY.  There, I said it.. don't mean to rain on your parade.. but.. seriously.. whats your rush?

[groovlstk]

judnnc, just the personal opinion of another guy married to a Moscow woman, but it's much easier getting to know someone while the playing field is equal (meaning before she arrives in the US). When she arrives, she will likely experience culture shock and stress on a scale she's never known before. The stronger your foundation is and the less surprises you have for each other, the easier these things are to overcome.

[Lee08]

judnnc, just the personal opinion of another guy married to a Moscow woman, but it's much easier getting to know someone while the playing field is equal (meaning before she arrives in the US). When she arrives, she will likely experience culture shock and stress on a scale she's never known before. The stronger your foundation is and the less surprises you have for each other, the easier these things are to overcome.

I agree 100%.
This is yet another personal opinion coming from another guy here married to a RW from Moscow and I believe four days is not enough. You should at least make another trip and stay for 2-3 weeks at a minumum. I'm just one that believes face to face time is what it takes to really get to know a woman and it will be much easier there than after she arrives here when she's under stress.
That being said, I spent FOUR MONTHS total time with my wife in Moscow before she came here, which is probably more than most men do, and that gave us the time to get to know each other and work out some small differences before she came here. And trust me, we were in la-la land on my first trip there only to discover on later trips that we learned more about each other, especially the important stuff.

[Jumper]

guys ,as i understand it ,
she's not from Moscow?
(it doesn't matter really,but she flew in to meet him i believe)



judncc-

i would second others advice.
and not trying to rain on your parade at all.

but take some time , go back and visit, marriage should be entered as a lifelong commitment.
if you do start the visa process, still go back and visit..as often  reasonably  possible..


good luck!

[judnnc]

I cant afford to go back and I dont have the vacation time to do it

[KenC]

I cant afford to go back and I dont have the vacation time to do it

judnnc,
Do you think it is wise to gamble your future and the future of the woman on a relationship with a 4 day duration (mostly spent in bed)?
KenC

[RussianWind]

Do you think it is wise to gamble your future and the future of the woman on a relationship with a 4 day duration (mostly spent in bed)?
KenC

Tssss real men need real adventures 
I'd like to hear his marriage story later, we need to read about something on this forum afterall