In Ukraine now!

[mobob]

Ok... this is where I should really be posting while I'm in country.

Groceries bought. Next trip vodka! Finally getting around to taking a few photos. Soon as I get them processed I'll put up a few.

Maybe the sleep schedule will be normal now. Got up 'early' at 0700 to head to market. That might've been the kick I needed. Weather is wonderful. Much, much better than the 100+ weeks I left in Oklahoma. I'm even getting accustomed to the rock hard mattress. Man oh Man I miss box springs!

With all the preparations I made back home and all the stuff I brought, I FORGOT to bring a roll of tp. Didn't need it on the way here. Will definately take a roll or two back with me as an educational aid and souvenir for my children. And friends.

Wedding is planned for 1300 Friday, local time. Olga tells me the RAGS official recommended afternoon is better as things slow down a bit. And it might take a little longer since everything has to be translated for me. After that we go back to her flat for the dinner. Which is what we'll be doing tomorrow... preparing for the dinner. Hmm... I'll be getting a good taste of married life right before it happens. Hmm... Actually, that's already in progress "John, put this there. John, put that here."  'Da, daragaya. Da' ... said with much gusto! And sincerity.

[Muzh]

Congratulations and good luck.
 
No three day party scheduled after the wedding?
 
Also, be aware that your new wife will be "kidnapped" and it is your duty to "rescue" her. IF it is down according to custom, go to the best man for "help." You are going to need it after a few toasts.
 
Enjoy.

[mobob]

It's going to be a very small wedding, one day of celebration with family and close friends. For us, that will be enough. However, I still am expecting to finish at least one bottle of vodka. I thought we were going to buy it today. Turns out her father is in charge of that project. I will be sticking to one liquor only. I've had really good results from Ukrainian vodka, as in no hangovers. Yet. I did bring plenty of ibuprofen. And I'll keep a bottle of water handy as well, along with the advice to be nibbling on food during the toastings.

I finally got around to taking a few photos.

At the market yesterday...

Vegetables, fish, and fresh bacon. Really fresh. Really, really fresh. Really.

[Muzh]

It's going to be a very small wedding, one day of celebration with family and close friends. For us, that will be enough. However, I still am expecting to finish at least one bottle of vodka. I thought we were going to buy it today. Turns out her father is in charge of that project. I will be sticking to one liquor only. I've had really good results from Ukrainian vodka, as in no hangovers. Yet. I did bring plenty of ibuprofen. And I'll keep a bottle of water handy as well, along with the advice to be nibbling on food during the toastings.

A couple of comments. Her dad in charge of the festivities? Three days minimum for eating and drinking.
 
Ibuprofen after a lots of drinking? Don't you think you damaged your liver enough with the alcohol that now you want to make sure it will be really dead? From a health perspective, the last thing you want to take for a hangover is acetaminophen, ibuprophen or naproxen. Bad, bad, bad. Aspirin will enhance your ulcer. If you have to drink, take it like a man. 
 
Can hardly wait for your TR. Again, good luck    and conratulations to you both.

[mobob]

Tak...

[Muzh]

отличный!
 
Удачи вам 

[mendeleyev]

Lovely!

[Hammer2722]

Nice photo! You guys look great!

[Faux Pas]

отличный!
 
Удачи вам 

Yeah, whatever he said!


Congrats mobob!

[Jumper]

Congrats to you both!
 
 
Great photo!

[TheTraveler]

Congratulations, mobob!  All the best to both of you!

[Anotherkiwi]

Congratulations!  You both look great, and my feminine side says that is a truly stunning wedding dress!

[mobob]

Thank you, everyone. For months I'd complained and she apologized that she was always tired when we skyped. Then... when we get married I discover why she was so tired. She made the dress. Every night, after work, after cooking, after dinner, after all the other household chores were done, she worked on the dress. AND she embroidered a towell, too! I felt sooooo much like a heel. I deserve it. Yes, it is stunning. Even more so in the bright sunlight. Heads did turn! And all I could think and say was "mine mine mine!"

[mobob]

Tak... Last night I got a surprise I was really hoping for... During the wedding dinner, somehow the subject of samogon came up. So... Olga's friend Nelya visited last night with a jar of the good stuff. We sat, chatted, and drank about half of the jar. Did I mention it was a big jar? Like the size of a pickle jar. For really big pickles! Way back when, I helped my dad make wine, and thought it might be fun to be a wine critic. Alas, I have not the palate for fine wines. This is better!!! I got to critique her batch with what I had back in April. A person may ask how I would remember from such a long time ago. Believe me, it made that much of an impression. Nelya was pleased. And she left the jar. Actually, she left two jars. I think it's a special honor to become befriended like this. I can only hope that in a future trip I get to have a bigger sampling session. And, as usual, no hangover!

[CanadaMan]

Congratulations mobob!
May your marriage be long, happy and rewarding!

[mobob]

Going to Mariupol to get translated documents. For some reason the US government wants everything in English. And properly translated and notarized. I guess Promt or Google aren't good enough translators. Hmph. If we have time, we'll get a printer for Olga's computer. And I'll take photos. Paka, y'all!

[mobob]

And then... So, (tak), it's my last night in Ukraine. I vaguely remember someone, somewhere, saying 'I told you so!'.     OMG! If I can only remember even half of this to write down, it will be a miracle. Hell, it's freakin' difficult enough to type. The backspace key is getting a supreme workout.

Got the translated documents for the visa petitions. All looks good. Of course, there will be more stuff required once I get home. Still, it was a nice last day in Ukraine. The weather was cool enough for the cold weather jacket. Visited the market in Mariupol before picking up the documents. That was a hoot, even if everything was closing: we got there very late.

The ride to and from Mariupol, as most rides in any Ukrainian vehicle, makes me feel not so bad that my truck needs new shocks. Wasn't terrible, but that was with an empty bladder.

Took a few photos. Absolutely no chance I'll edit or post before I leave. Somehow I've got to pack my bags. And I guarantee, it ain't gonna happen tonight.

Just now, it's 22:18 local. I've been crocked for three hours, and I don't see that wearing off before I crash.  The crash I know is coming, btw, is not from alcohol, even though it is a contributing factor, but from the basic fact I'm finally, totally, just plain worn out. I'm not expecting a hangover, even though I DID empty a bottle of very good congnac with the father in law, Volodomir, and THEN we finished the remainder of the samogon from Wednesday night. Damn! That's some really good s**t!

Wheel's up just before 15:00 tomorrow. I should have, I hope, plenty of time to wrap eight bottles of elixir and five kilos of chocolate before the taxi ride.

Friends, Romans, countrymen, yeah, I'm still crocked!  ... I bid you poka, poka, from Ukraine.

More to follow, once I dry out.

John

[Wayne]

If you have time before you leave Ukraine, you can find the G325A on the USCIS website, help your wife fill it out, print it out and have her sign it. Does she have an international passport? If so, get a copy of it. For the CR1, I don't think you need her birth certificate. If she was married before, you need the divorce certificate copied and translated.
 
Good luck on your last night in Ukraine!

[mobob]

No longer in Ukraine.    Already wishing I was back there, but without the plane ride.
 
Thanks, Wayne. Got a 325 done for each of them, along with the necessary translated documents. And the next adventure begins... the visa petitions.
 
I've got a few pages of notes to catch up on. And I've got to finish the last trip report before I start this one. So little time... But no hangovers! And only gained one pound. Must have been the 'liquid' diet.
 
Speaking of the 'liquid'. I packed nine bottles. Seven vodka, three as gifts, and two beers that are NOT for me. Who'd want beer when Ukrainian vodka is available? A good friend wanted to try Ukrainian beer, so I obliged. All arrived safely, but were molested somewhere between Washington DC and Oklahoma City. TSA had their way with my bag. I'm guessing someone heard it sloshing. The chocolate, all five kilos, was in my carry on bag, and only suffered a few 'yum!' traveling casualties.
 
I know I'm a little greedy with the drink, but I'm planning on some of the vodka still being around when Olga and Alex arrive. I haven't found anyone that can or will import vodka from Ukraine to Oklahoma, but I'm still searching. And I don't figure she'll want to carry seven or eight bottles in her bags. Something tells me she'll want whatever space she has for her own things and not goodies for me.
 
So... I'm back home. I've got plenty of work to accomplish and plenty to think about. Here's one that's even a little funny: Since I moved back to my home in the country, I've gone from high speed cable internet to an aircard. The basic internet service in a small town in Ukraine is faster, better, and higher quality than what I'm getting here. How bizarre, how bizarre.
 
Poka, y'all. 

[Faux Pas]

No longer in Ukraine.    Already wishing I was back there, but without the plane ride.
 
Thanks, Wayne. Got a 325 done for each of them, along with the necessary translated documents. And the next adventure begins... the visa petitions.
 
I've got a few pages of notes to catch up on. And I've got to finish the last trip report before I start this one. So little time... But no hangovers! And only gained one pound. Must have been the 'liquid' diet.
 
Speaking of the 'liquid'. I packed nine bottles. Seven vodka, three as gifts, and two beers that are NOT for me. Who'd want beer when Ukrainian vodka is available? A good friend wanted to try Ukrainian beer, so I obliged. All arrived safely, but were molested somewhere between Washington DC and Oklahoma City. TSA had their way with my bag. I'm guessing someone heard it sloshing. The chocolate, all five kilos, was in my carry on bag, and only suffered a few 'yum!' traveling casualties.
 
I know I'm a little greedy with the drink, but I'm planning on some of the vodka still being around when Olga and Alex arrive. I haven't found anyone that can or will import vodka from Ukraine to Oklahoma, but I'm still searching. And I don't figure she'll want to carry seven or eight bottles in her bags. Something tells me she'll want whatever space she has for her own things and not goodies for me.
 
So... I'm back home. I've got plenty of work to accomplish and plenty to think about. Here's one that's even a little funny: Since I moved back to my home in the country, I've gone from high speed cable internet to an aircard. The basic internet service in a small town in Ukraine is faster, better, and higher quality than what I'm getting here. How bizarre, how bizarre.
 
Poka, y'all. 

My first several trips I was playing pack mule for vodka and wine. Wine with cyrillic labels seems to be a crowd pleasing discussion piece with several of my wine loving friends. Especially some of the Georgian strong wine. We were devising ways to ship it which never came to fruition as it was too expensive.


On much of the vodka, I later found out, your local liquor might be able to obtain it for you. Much of the Eastern vodka is available through certain distributors in the US. Might be worth a try of you have some favorites

[Wayne]

I don't know about vodka, but there are wineries in Crimea that make good wine and brandy. You can order from their internet website.
 
Since you have the G325A's, the I130 forms are completed by you, but make sure your have all the information complete and correct. Do you have copies of their external passport? Check the spelling on their names, as it should be translated into English already.
 
For a child, you will need the birth certificate. Remember, you will have to mail the original birth certificate to NVC, so you might want to start the process of getting a second Original. Your wife can report that the birth certicate is lost and apply for a new one, which takes several months (unless you pay a bribe).
 
You don't need to notarize the documents from Ukraine--however, your wife will be told that it is absolutely necessary! In Ukraine, a notary is some kind of God!  They charge high fees.
 
Did your wife take your surname? If so, she needs to change it on her Ukrainan passports, deeds, titles, etc. You will probably need the services of a notary to accomplish this, depending upon what kind of documents she has.
 
Getting a new passport in Ukraine because of a name change could take a long time. Of course, a bribe can get this done the same day.
 
Good luck!