CR1 interview 11 Oct, Kyiv

[mobob]

Woke up this morning to find emails on the iphone from NVC with 0045 timestamps. Nearly tripped over my feet getting to the computer - didn't even want to try to read them on that tiny screen. After case completion at NVC on 28 Sep, interview date is 11 Oct. We're reasonably pleased since we had two RFEs at NVC, each resolved in about a week, including one sent by registered mail from Ukraine. Speaking of which, the USPS system did show the date & time the letter arrived at NVC from Ukraine. Rather anticlimactic for tracking, but does show proof something arrived. Overall, the process seems to be moving on schedule, if not early. I presume the 0045 timestamps are due to an automated system since I don't expect anyone to be working cases or machines that time of the night. No plaudits necessary, just posting FYI for those in the Ukrainian boat. Cheers.

[Daveman]

hey John! Great news. Congrats!!


Now, let's have a drink together... because...



now are you ready for the kicker?  We received ours this morning too...  Interview 10/18.  Too bad they won't be there on the same day. 


Anyway, don't mean to hijack your thread,  but just thought we could kinda celebrate together since our ladies come from the same area...

So, Cheers Brother John! 

[mobob]

  and  and I can't find one holding a beer! How absolutely crazy and funny. So, maybe there's a chance we'll be in country about the same time? I really want to try out that steakhouse you recommended. Now that I have a REALLY good excuse... I can blame it on you and my wife will agree? Maybe.  I make her crazy filling up a trip with things to do and places to visit. And chocolate and vodka to bring back, with a little room for other stuff.

[Daveman]

That is a rather bizarre coincidence.  I would think there must be some kind of connection.  Perhaps they throw all Ukrainian visas applications in a pile and the notify everyone on the same day (considering we were notified on the same day yet the interview dates differ by a week).  Ah well, who knows?  It is kinda cool.


I will not be heading over this time around.  We had planned on it but something came up which pretty much killed any possible travel plans for about three months.  So she'll be interviewing alone.  That does kinda suck because yeah, I'd have enjoyed taking you guys to Shato and then showing you some of my favorite places hang around in Donetsk.  Shato a great reataurant.  You have to keep in mind though, that as far as a Steak goes, great in Ukraine is high average in USA -- no comparison really to say Ruths Chris,  Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn or Outback.  But, highly decent with some very unusual sauces which makes the adventure very worth the time and money.  You should celebrate there anyway and if the schedule works out I am sure TheM^TM would enjoy meeting with y'alluns over there. You just need to learn to speak with a Dracula accent so she'll understand you.. heh  j/k


So how long are you going to stay?  Spending most of your time in Kiev? 


Again Congrats!  We're on the final ramp up now, eh?  Is your lady freaking out yet?  Mine is already nervous as hell.  I wish I could do the interview for her.  I was flat born without the "nervous" gene, and she wound up with a double dose. 

[Faux Pas]

That is a rather bizarre coincidence.  I would think there must be some kind of connection.  Perhaps they throw all Ukrainian visas applications in a pile and the notify everyone on the same day (considering we were notified on the same day yet the interview dates differ by a week).  Ah well, who knows?  It is kinda cool.


I will not be heading over this time around.  We had planned on it but something came up which pretty much killed any possible travel plans for about three months.  So she'll be interviewing alone.  That does kinda suck because yeah, I'd have enjoyed taking you guys to Shato and then showing you some of my favorite places hang around in Donetsk.  Shato a great reataurant.  You have to keep in mind though, that as far as a Steak goes, great in Ukraine is high average in USA -- no comparison really to say Ruths Chris,  Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn or Outback.  But, highly decent with some very unusual sauces which makes the adventure very worth the time and money.  You should celebrate there anyway and if the schedule works out I am sure TheM^TM would enjoy meeting with y'alluns over there. You just need to learn to speak with a Dracula accent so she'll understand you.. heh  j/k


So how long are you going to stay?  Spending most of your time in Kiev? 


Again Congrats!  We're on the final ramp up now, eh?  Is your lady freaking out yet?  Mine is already nervous as hell.  I wish I could do the interview for her.  I was flat born without the "nervous" gene, and she wound up with a double dose.

Texas Roadhouse? You CAN NOT be serious!!!

 

I'm a little chintzy and a bit of a snob on a decent steak. I have never gotten something even remotely close at a Texas Roadhouse. It's an ongoing joke between the wife and I

[Daveman]

Damn steak snobs!      


I'm surprised you haven't gotten at least a decent steak at Roadhouse.  Not my favorite but the ones around here aren't bad. Definitely better than Golden Corral, Ryans or god forbid.. Shoney's (rofl)..


Those in the other post are all average to high average steak joints around here.  RC's being much more expensive and a little better but really not better enough to justify the difference in price.  Due to the proximity I pretty much live at Longhorn Steaks talkin' 'bout Longhorn Steaks... they got big bowls o' peanuts, Texas taters and ice cold brew... and animal heads on tha wall starin' back at you...


Sheesh, I can't believe I still remember that stupid jingle.  That was on the radio about twenty years ago.

[Faux Pas]

Damn steak snobs!      


I'm surprised you haven't gotten at least a decent steak at Roadhouse.  Not my favorite but the ones around here aren't bad. Definitely better than Golden Corral, Ryans or god forbid.. Shoney's (rofl)..


Those in the other post are all average to high average steak joints around here.  RC's being much more expensive and a little better but really not better enough to justify the difference in price.  Due to the proximity I pretty much live at Longhorn Steaks talkin' 'bout Longhorn Steaks... they got big bowls o' peanuts, Texas taters and ice cold brew... and animal heads on tha wall starin' back at you...


Sheesh, I can't believe I still remember that stupid jingle.  That was on the radio about twenty years ago.

I can also state, I have never had a bad one at Ruth Chris. Likely the best chain of all chains. I would eat at MickeyD's before I graced another Golden Corral, Western Sizzlin or a Ryans. I mean really, what's the point of those?  I do remember a trip to Western Sizzlin 35 years ago was a real treat and special occasion. I'd don my best Sunday good luck bandana for that. My how times have changed.

I am a snob particularly where a good steak is concerned. Not for the surroundings or ambiance but for the presentation and service of the meat. I don't know exactly when it happened, years ago I suspect. I firmly believe a piece of dead cow is something to be revered and treated with the utmost respect 

[mobob]

Fist things first.

Oops. I realized (very late) a small mistake. Case was completed 28 Aug, not 28 Sep. Guess I got a little excited or it could be early onset Alzheimer's.  I'd called NVC on 31 Aug and they told me it was completed and transmitted the 28th, sent out the next day to the embassy, and to wait for them (NVC) to contact me with the appointment date. I didn't see any need to bother them further or the embassy to find out when the package arrived in Kyiv, so I've left them alone since then. As originally stated, the email was sent out yesterday morning; I woke up just a few hours after it arrived. So, getting the appointment date about two weeks after completion isn't bad. I must admit, I've been just about glued to my iphone waiting for the notice. Every time I've heard the 'bing' of an email I had to look to see if it was from NVC.

Now... about them steak snobs.  since I can't find a cow. As a youngster in Nebraska, good eatin' cow was what it should be, common, everyday fare. I grew up in the land of black angus - locally raised, corn fed and a small town butcher. Seemed like any steak less than two inches thick was called a skinny hamburger. Well, those were the good old days, my memory's not quite what it used to be. Maybe they were only an inch and three quarters thick. These days I'm particular to Texas Roadhouse. That might be sacrilege to some, but they're the ones that make it the best for me here in the OKC area. Been to Outback, Santa Fe, Longhorn. None of them do it for me, can't ever seem to get a plain steak, always put on a bunch of seasonings on it that just ruin it. Only thing I want on my steak is some salt, a little A1 and a fork. We have a Saltgrass here, but I've only been to them in Texas and they seemed pretty good. In the Dallas area, Parker Brothers' Traildust on 380 is my #2 favorite. Fogo de Chao on the Beltline in Dallas is absolutely the best I've ever had, anywhere in the world. They are number one. But at the price of $50 a person, plus drinks and dessert, a few (many) years ago, I've only been there once. There were four of us; the bill topped $350. So I have to agree with Faux Pas, a good piece of dead cow should be revered. I cringe to even contemplate the cost of a good two pounder with a one pound baked potato and a Nebraska sized ear of corn. And then dessert. I do hit the buffets when I'm wanting a cross section of things, but don't bother with the steak. Last time I had steak at the Corral it fought me all the way. That's what I got for eating a cheap piece of meat, even if it was after 4pm and the prices went up two dollars. I don't do that very often anymore, and certainly not for their steaks.

I broached the idea of maybe, possibly, if we had the time, eating at the steakhouse in Donetsk. I can say the reception to that idea was less than lukewarm, say about the same as a fart in church. I think the deal breaker is the potential cost. I don't mind paying for a good meal and good service, but it appears I'm no longer the comptroller of my destiny. Or wallet. Imagine that! It's not a bad thing, really. Guess I'll concentrate my efforts to more important priorities like bringing back chocolate and vodka. Oh yeah, and the family.

Yes, the wife is going absolutely nuts now. Pick a subject: interview, what to pack, coming to America, why do I want to do so much crap, err... visit people/see the sights, when I'm there. She'll be cranking up the inkjet soon to print out ALL rest of the papers she'll take to the interview, even if they don't need/read them. I figure that'll wipe out an ink cartridge and a ream of paper. I think her biggest worry is if they'll conduct the interview in English or Russian. Like Daveman, I won't be able to be there for the interview, but plenty of people go to visa interviews by themselves and do just fine. What to pack is an interesting exercise. That one will be tackled probably the day before we leave. Nobody's fault, just the nature of that beast. I'm taking five suitcases with me, nestled inside each other. If we need another, we'll buy it there. If I have to, I can afford to ditch some of my stuff - clothing, NOT vodka, to make room. As for the tourist portion of my trip, it'll mostly be homebody stuff and our visit to Donetsk. I am taking two cameras so I'll be taking all the photos I can, hopefully without any kerfuffles. Last trip it got ugly at a market and on another occasion I got a warning in a mega store, so it will most likely just be outdoor stuff and maybe some of the entertaining. As for the actual trip, I'm used to the long waits and long periods sitting in an aircraft. Not sure how they'll manage. They're not used to being cooped up for such a long time with no escape. Ambien anyone? Even if the seats do face forward, they're still not much better than the transports I flew in when I was younger. At least in some of those, if you got lucky, you could get a spot along the fuselage and stretch out on the web seats and sleep.

On the subject of alcohol (vodka) and why it's such a priority for me - it's been very well received as souvenirs of my trips to Ukraine. I've got quite a few people asking when I'm going back. Chocolate, too, is a much requested item. I'm more into the vodka, though, as the chocolate doesn't store very well for a long time. No, I'm not an alcoholic, but now that I've had good vodka, and even better samogon, I'm spoiled and don't care for much else but the good stuff. And I really like chocolate, but it's just no good once it's gotten stale.

I'm hoping to stay two weeks after they get the visas. It depends upon my work situation. I've got the time requested, but it's up to the boss. Production stops for nothing. Planning on staying in her village, with a visit to Donetsk to visit friends for a few days. Eat, drink, see the sights. Drink. Drink. Eat. Drink. Uh, I mean celebrate? Drink. It isn't really as bad as I portray, but I must admit that last trip I had to cut it off one day and 'just say no'.

This could probably have better fit in another section, but seems to get read, and that's all that matters, right?

Samogon and salo!

[ML]

Steak is one of the most difficult dishes to predict.

There are so many variables that can ruin it.  Can be gristle or just a bad piece of meat, regardless of price or status of the restaurant.  And then there is the cooking of the steak.  A minute or even a few seconds one way or  the other can ruin it; particularly if you are a discriminating medium rare kind of guy or gal.  I have screwed them up myself.

I very rarely ever order a steak at a restaurant because of these variables.

Anything else, chicken, pork, fish, etc., is pretty reliable . . . but not steak.

Just last week, I violated this rule and ordered a steak.  Actually  I ordered what I thought  was prime rib.  But it sure wasn't prime rib.  I chewed on first bite for about 7 minutes, and finally had to go to bathroom and spit it in toilet.

I told the waiter and he said, we don't have prime rib . . . it was rib eye.
I said, well it wasn't rib eye either because it had no marbling.  I think it was a thick cut of top round or maybe even bottom round.

They were very apologetic and offered a replacement . . . but I said, I'm going with the baby back ribs.  Manager came out and said all the meal was on the house.

Anyway, I am back to no steak orders again.

[mobob]

My wife, Olga, and stepson, Alex, had their CR-1 interviews Thursday, 11 Oct, in Kyiv. As expected (hoped for, prayed for, wished for) they were approved. It was just under a four hour process from arrival to departure. One small hiccup, a missing confirmation letter for visa delivery, which is part of the new system. They will not conduct the interview without it. The embassy staff took care of it getting a barcode of some sort printed and stuck on their passports. A Russian speaking clerk asked for 'all the original documents establishing the relationship' and some legal documents. Fingerprints were taken and they had a 'short' wait. The interviewer asked a few questions: Where and when we met, how many visits, where husband works, do you know he has (other) children, does (her) son talk with husband? Olga quote: "Chat with interviewer take max 3 min, at 1130 we were outside." Shortly after I received the good news SMS.

Observations from Olga:

Staff inside the embassy and interviewers spoke Russian or English as needed with customers.

One person needed a corrected document. Her visa was approved and passport kept, she just had to get a new document to the embassy.

Organization is a must for all the paperwork brought to the interview. Best recommendation is an accordian file or folder system that allows easy and quick access. Appeared they weren't asking for much, somewhat random with what they wanted.

Staff was courteous, efficient and helpful - guards outside, clerks inside and interviewer. A reasonably painless experience.

Everybody that had an interview was approved.

Olga says "tell not need so much worry, everybody is very friendly and helping".


On a travel note, they took the overnight train to and from Kyiv. I think that one starts in Mariupol and works its way through Donetsk to Kyiv. With all the stops along the way, anywhere from  three to four minutes to jump on or off, to a few longer stops in the bigger cities, it took almost 17 hours to get to Kyiv, and about the same to get back. No photos this time, but we'll be taking the same train on the immigration trip next month, so I'll have a chance to keep the camera busy. For some reason the ticket prices were unusually low, around $17 each, for bunks in the four bed cabin. Unashamedly selfish, I'll be buying four tickets so we can get a cabin to ourselves. I'm expecting to transport at least six suitcases, possibly eight, and we'll need the room. But honestly, I just want the privacy, such that it is in a train car.

Now just counting down the days...

[Anotherkiwi]

Congratulations Mobob!  One step closer to another happy couple TOGETHER as they should be!