What advice can you offer me in order to prepare for a first meeting?

[YoungBuck]

Hi everyone. I've been "Missing in Action" from this board, but I'm still on track to visiting the girl who I have been corresponding with since March. She just finished college and has recently been hired, and for me, I have also just started a new job, so the first meet was pushed into October.

Now, I haven't done blind dates, setups, etc. I have only dated people that I have met in real life so I am completely in way over my head. I will be staying in her city for 5 days, arriving Friday and departing Thursday morning. The next few days, I'm going to visit my college friends from Moscow, so I'm also looking forward to that.

Everything I read says I should bring gifts. I plan on taking her dad a bottle of fancy tequila, her mom and sister some Native American clothes like shawls and moccasins. For her something similar and a locket. Im also going to take candy and chocolate, etc.

Other than that, I dont know what else to do or expect. Anything at this point is appreciated.

[Faux Pas]

Hi everyone. I've been "Missing in Action" from this board, but I'm still on track to visiting the girl who I have been corresponding with since March. She just finished college and has recently been hired, and for me, I have also just started a new job, so the first meet was pushed into October.

Now, I haven't done blind dates, setups, etc. I have only dated people that I have met in real life so I am completely in way over my head. I will be staying in her city for 5 days, arriving Friday and departing Thursday morning. The next few days, I'm going to visit my college friends from Moscow, so I'm also looking forward to that.

Everything I read says I should bring gifts. I plan on taking her dad a bottle of fancy tequila, her mom and sister some Native American clothes like shawls and moccasins. For her something similar and a locket. Im also going to take candy and chocolate, etc.

Other than that, I dont know what else to do or expect. Anything at this point is appreciated.

Looks like you've planned fairly well. Take another 6-12 memento trinkets kind of things for others that you may meet. I usually always take 5-6 of pint or half pint liquors. Bourbon or tequila is good. Native American anything should be a hit

[mendeleyev]

Native American anything should be a hit

Good idea, very unique!

Years ago I gave an medium sized blanket from a Scottsdale reservation store, made sure it had no "made in China" stickers, and presented it to a Minister of Communications in the first Putin cabinet after Yeltsin stepped aside. To this day, that blanket hangs on the wall in their very nice dacha outside Moscow.

If you meet family and friends invariably there may be children so I'd take a goodie bag of chocolates and gum--they can get the same brands usually but kids think it's extra cool when the Snickers bar came from America. Anything simple with Disney from pencils to ink pens will go over very well and are lightweight.

[YoungBuck]

Good idea, very unique!

Years ago I gave an medium sized blanket from a Scottsdale reservation store, made sure it had no "made in China" stickers, and presented it to a Minister of Communications in the first Putin cabinet after Yeltsin stepped aside. To this day, that blanket hangs on the wall in their very nice dacha outside Moscow.

If you meet family and friends invariably there may be children so I'd take a goodie bag of chocolates and gum--they can get the same brands usually but kids think it's extra cool when the Snickers bar came from America. Anything simple with Disney from pencils to ink pens will go over very well and are lightweight.

Thanks!

I got the idea of Native American because it is something that most Russians will never be exposed to. Living in the southwest, it is something that I can easily share.
Now I read somewhere that Native American ancestry was traced back to Altai, a region in Russia/Siberia. I wonder if most Russians know that they share a link with Native Americans?

[SANDRO43]

Now I read somewhere that Native American ancestry was traced back to Altai, a region in Russia/Siberia. I wonder if most Russians know that they share a link with Native Americans?

YoungBuck, if they don't, I doubt they'd much like to be reminded . The Altai was mostly inhabited by Mongols, who did not leave fond memories of their cross-Ural invasions, even though high cheekbones are fairly frequent on Russian faces.

[Muzh]

Hey Youngbuck.

Skip the tequila and bring him some very good bourbon. Also, you can buy that at duty free before you board and skip all the TSA nonsense. And cheaper too. My suggestion is Maker's Mark. My outlaws and friends there loved it.

Good luck and enjoy!!

[Faux Pas]

Hey Youngbuck.

Skip the tequila and bring him some very good bourbon. Also, you can buy that at duty free before you board and skip all the TSA nonsense. And cheaper too. My suggestion is Maker's Mark. My outlaws and friends there loved it.

Good luck and enjoy!!

Beside it being my personal preference, I have a few admirers that cheer when I arrive and I really do suspect the Makers is the reason

[Faux Pas]

YoungBuck, if they don't, I doubt they'd much like to be reminded . The Altai was mostly inhabited by Mongols, who did not leave fond memories of their cross-Ural invasions, even though high cheekbones are fairly frequent on Russian faces.

SANDRO I have been a bit confused about this idea lately. Supposedly, there is a DNA match between the Siberian natives and Native Americans that reaches all the way to the Aztecs and before. Then I hear some other evidence has refuted that. I can tell you this. I have seen many artifacts from the Siberian natives as well as the Native Americans and much of it is exactly the same. What say you?

[ML]

Years ago I gave an medium sized blanket from a Scottsdale reservation store, made sure it had no "made in China" stickers, and presented it to a Minister of Communications in the first Putin cabinet after Yeltsin stepped aside. To this day, that blanket hangs on the wall in their very nice dacha outside Moscow.

I have seen blankets made in the various 'stans' that look exactly like the native American ones.

Because, as mentioned here by others, the genealogy is the same.

So Jim you were lucky, because not all Russians are all that awed by blankets coming from the 'stans.'

[Hammer2722]

SANDRO I have been a bit confused about this idea lately. Supposedly, there is a DNA match between the Siberian natives and Native Americans that reaches all the way to the Aztecs and before. Then I hear some other evidence has refuted that. I can tell you this. I have seen many artifacts from the Siberian natives as well as the Native Americans and much of it is exactly the same. What say you?

If one believes the theories about the land bridge that is supposed to have existed where Alaska and Russia meet, it is possible that many of the peoples from Asia migrated across this land bridge to North America. That would then perhaps explain the similarities bewtween some of the Native American cultures and Asians.

[SANDRO43]

If one believes the theories about the land bridge that is supposed to have existed where Alaska and Russia meet, it is possible that many of the peoples from Asia migrated across this land bridge to North America. That would then perhaps explain the similarities bewtween some of the Native American cultures and Asians.

I have seen blankets made in the various 'stans' that look exactly like the native American ones.Because, as mentioned here by others, the genealogy is the same.

Precisely.

SANDRO I have been a bit confused about this idea lately. Supposedly, there is a DNA match between the Siberian natives and Native Americans that reaches all the way to the Aztecs and before. Then I hear some other evidence has refuted that.

We've already discussed that (http://www.russianwomendiscussion.com/index.php?topic=16104.msg336569#msg336569):

Model of human migration based on Mitochondrial DNA

I can tell you this. I have seen many artifacts from the Siberian natives as well as the Native Americans and much of it is exactly the same. What say you?

See above. Although IMO that would not be a totally conclusive proof, since archeology has shown that different cultures have produced similar artifacts at the same times where no interchange is known to have occurred, probably because the materials employed were the same (e.g. wool, wood, stone, etc.) as well as the techniques used.

[pokerintherear]

A few years ago I was in the city of Khabarovsk, Russia (Far east). I visited a few of the local museums. The pictures and artifacts they had of the history of local people resembled the same themes of Native American artifacts and way of life I see in US museums.

[Fishingguy]

a big cowboy hat was requested once upon a time. I've never thought about buying one but once I got to researching for the right hat I decided to buy me one too. 

[Aloe]

I had my DNA tested by 23andme, it says there i'm less than 0.1% native american    Minuscule, but still a part!   I doubt there were actual real native americans in south urals? So maybe common ancestors?

[Aloe]

YoungBuck, be a gentleman: open and hold doors for her, offer her a hand when getting off a bus or a marshrutka, etc.

[GQBlues]

I had my DNA tested by 23andme, it says there i'm less than 0.1% native american    Minuscule, but still a part!   I doubt there were actual real native americans in south urals? So maybe common ancestors?

Now if you can only figure out which tribe your ancestry is, then you can see if they can include you into their lineage. Once you do, you have 100% entitlement in the US. Free healthcare, no taxes, no regulatory environmental duties (free fishing/hunting licenses), can vote, 'almost' free housing, etc...literally, you get perks even our poor doesn't get.

If your DNA stated you're at least 25% Native American lineage, then tribal affiliation is unnecessary.

Of course one small detail is - you would have to be here in the US. You could've done that while you were here and if successful, they might've given you a plot of land with 2 cattle.

But who knows, we give almost the same thing to illegal aliens, so likely even that isn't necessary.. 

[GQBlues]

Hey Youngbuck.

Skip the tequila and bring him some very good bourbon. Also, you can buy that at duty free before you board and skip all the TSA nonsense. And cheaper too. My suggestion is Maker's Mark. My outlaws and friends there loved it.

Good luck and enjoy!!

Ditto on the duty free.

Sees Candies' (dark) Nuts and Chews. Depending on the ages of your friends, a good sport hat (Dodgers/Lakers. etc...) is a cool thing to hand out. A good photo album of your area is another good choice. I believe you said you were Latino, if so, something about your lineage can be a wonderful idea.

[LAman]

Ditto on the duty free.

Sees Candies' (dark) Nuts and Chews. Depending on the ages of your friends, a good sport hat (Dodgers/Lakers. etc...) is a cool thing to hand out. A good photo album of your area is another good choice. I believe you said you were Latino, if so, something about your lineage can be a wonderful idea.

Is this what you had in mind?? 

[GQBlues]

  I've never seen that commercial. That's actually pretty cool.

Well, I'm thinking something along the lines like a jar of 'Salsa' and such. I'd recommend peanut butter but that's hardly 'Latino'

[LAman]

I've never seen that commercial. That's actually pretty cool.

Well, I'm thinking something along the lines like a jar of 'Salsa' and such. I'd recommend peanut butter but that's hardly 'Latino'

He can always open the jar of peanut butter and stick a few jalapenos inside!!!
Better yet...make some fresh salsa while visiting!!! They do have some peppers there!!~~ Pico de gallo~~~

[GQBlues]

I suppose they could. Not sure if they have (кинза) cilantro there though as it won't taste the same without it.

Then again it's a gift. Something he can just hand-out. Otherwise, as with peanut butter, he can just buy some peanuts in Russia and bring along a few Native Americans to jump-crush-grind the nuts...
 

[SANDRO43]

a big cowboy hat was requested once upon a time. I've never thought about buying one but once I got to researching for the right hat I decided to buy me one too. 

I bought a couple, too, for friends at Sheplers in Austin:

Justin Rodeo 3X Wool Felt Cowboy Hat (Price: $59.99)

[SANDRO43]

I doubt there were actual real native americans in south urals?

This Lt. Colonel  lost his battle because he wasn't used to snow - like others before and after him .

[Fishingguy]

how about a custom label wine bottle? that would be cool. In fact, I'd like that for my birthday. maybe a whole case of it. 

as for her..depending on the content of your correspondence - Victoria Secret items are always cool.

[GQBlues]

IINM, they open the first VS in Moscow two years ago and they may have more stores there by now, FG...