One more time!!!

[scaldare]

Hello all.  Gonna make my first trip back to Urkaine in over 2 years next week.  The first group of trips - 8 or 9 since I lost count - did not work out so well but I did meet a few ladies that would have been good for me if I had been faster to the draw. 

I also met my share of scammers and skimmers.  The scammers and skimmers were striking and I chalked it up to education and had a good ego boost for a few days.  Cheaper than entertainment in Vegas I think.

I have been to Nikolaev, Kiev and Odessa.  The very first lady from Novosibirsk I met in the Dominican Republic for 2 wonderful weeks.  My age - 45 at the time - and striking.  Bad mistake to not propose at the time.  Pure class and feminine actions.  I kick myself often for not capturing this one!

The Kiev trips were to meet ladies from elsewhere where I paid for her trip to Kiev to meet me.  They were excited to travel and it made for a neutral meeting spot.  I did meet some nice women but was slow to decide.  They seem to lose patience quickly if there is no progress to marriage.  My fault entirely as travel was easier then and I was in no hurry.  I actually like Nikolaev.  I like smaller populations but the drive from Odessa is scary at night.  I never felt uncomfortable or threatened there.   I still talk occasionally to one itty bitty lady I met there.  Odessa was not good for me.  Many wasted days waiting for a meeting and canceled plans.  Never again!!

Now I will go to Kharkov to meet someone I communicate with for months.  I know she exists due to a birthday gift and photo proof I ordered.  I do have doubts - as always now - but will move positive if I think there is a future.  Prices for agency services have increased drastically since my last visit to Nikolaev but I wanted to see the second city of Ukraine.

Anyone have any suggestions or cautions they wish to put forth before my trip into the great unknown again?

 

[wicheese]

Scaldare,
 
Welcome and you are a better man than me because if I had 8 or 9 trips where I was running into scammers and skimmers, I would have been running as fast as possible from the FSU.  Granted, I have a trip count that numbers in the double digits and from that experience I would recommend to anyone asking to look local vs. overseas, but then again I'll be getting married in two weeks oo someone who always makes me smile so there is hope.
 
My comment is, have you been speaking to this lady on the phone?  Have you tried any routes other than the pay-per-communication sites?

[Mila]

Hi Scaldare,
if you need any help in Kharkov, you are always welcome Good luck!

[Jack]

Now I will go to Kharkov to meet someone I communicate with for months.  I know she exists due to a birthday gift and photo proof I ordered.  I do have doubts - as always now - but will move positive if I think there is a future.  Prices for agency services have increased drastically since my last visit to Nikolaev but I wanted to see the second city of Ukraine.

Anyone have any suggestions or cautions they wish to put forth before my trip into the great unknown again?

scaldare, Kharkov is a pretty good city.  I cannot think of a particular city that probably has a more woman to man ratio than Kharkov.
Mostly this is due to the large number of ladies attending the Kharkov Universities (Kharkov has more Universities than any other Ukraine
city) who come from surrounding rural cities and do not return to the rural life after graduation.   A lot of 24 to 32 year old single females in
Kharkov.  And a lot of these women speak at least a little English.  Try to meet ladies who can speak at least a little English, being able to communicate directly with any woman a man can usually sense quicker if their is potential chemistry as opposed to trying to get to know a
woman thru an interpreter.

Kharkov also has several very good marriage agencies, honest marriage agencies, and it is one of the reasons I have seen many guy's
have a good amount of success in Kharkov. 

Regarding the price increase you referred to. Yea, everyone want's to follow the lead of Kiev.  Kiev charges more, cities like Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk
think they should charge more.  scaldare most the times the agencies are willing to work with you and offering discount pricing. I know our clients spend half of the normal rates that the agencies charge.

You need to go with your gut feeling. You say you have doubts. That's all I need to hear. You need to not only have what we call a back-up plan, but you should arrange to meet a few other ladies.

[Eduard]

The Kiev trips were to meet ladies from elsewhere where I paid for her trip to Kiev to meet me.  They were excited to travel and it made for a neutral meeting spot.  I did meet some nice women but was slow to decide.  They seem to lose patience quickly if there is no progress to marriage.  My fault entirely as travel was easier then and I was in no hurry.

That's smart. I've been doing the same thing with my clients, set up in Kiev, get a separate apartment for the ladies and have them come for a few days each to meet my guy and see if there is chemistry there. I just came back 2 days ago from Kiev where I went with my client from Canada, and as usual, it worked out just great. The guy made a great connection with one of the two ladies who took the train from Belarus but then, once the lady from Moldova arrived it was pure magic. Awesome to see people connect like that!
Good to be home in Florida with my wife and kids though! 

[scaldare]

Hello all.

Thanks for the great support and advice.  I am in Kharkov now and some of my original doubts were realized.  The lady I planned to meet for months did indeed meet with me the night of my arrival. However, according to agency owner she did not see a future with me.  It happens, I am a big boy and can take a setback.  However, he did have other women I could meet that were clients of the agency - for a substantial fee.  Classic bait and switch?  The lady I met was absolutely gorgeous and seemed to have a pretty good life going with her own car and small business.  I wonder if she is the bait used to get men to Kharkov?  Maybe, maybe not.

I did meet one of the agency girls - for the full fee with agency interpreter.  Very nice and pretty lady but she seemed genuinely afraid of moving to another culture.  She got real quiet during dinner and almost seemed ready to cry at the thought.   We were not really discussing any solid plans as I was in casual discussion mode.  No romance talk, no promises, no lies.  I do not think she is ready to accept the possibility so I moved on and decide to find someone on my own.  Not an easy task on Saturday night after midnight in Kharkov.

After going back to the Anastasia site, I did find a lady I had contact with in the past.  We chatted much of the night online and she agreed to meet on Sunday. Since this was outside of any local agency, there was no intro fee and the lovely young interpreter was only $15 per hour.  We walked and talked for 5 hours!!  This city has so much to see.  I do want to return when there is warm weather and sunshine.  The lady suggested another meeting for lunch on Monday and another 5 hours of good conversation and company, but no walking this time.  Am glad, my old bones and American shoes were not used to the cobblestone streets.

I think this may work out.  I declined the offer from the original agency for any more meetings and the fees and will stay with this one lady.  We have another meeting today - Tuesday - for a short lunch break and photo taking.  She works nearby but I learned nearby may mean a 3 minute walk!!  I find it a good sign the lady is doing the suggesting for meetings and making time.  It might just work out this time.  I'll try not to screw it up!



Now, if I could only figure out how to get my hotel to send a shuttle to the airport in Vienna for my journey home.

[scaldare]

Thanks Mila,

Sorry, I wished I had seen your offer before I left but I was working up to the day I left and had limited access to the internet.  Knowing what I know now, I would contract for independent services for a translator.  Maybe I am too skeptical or cynical now to use an agency worker for this.

I am here in Kharkov now for 2 more days but not sure if I will need your services but would welcome contact if you wish.  I have a local cell number.