Mother Russia

[santo]

After my exciting evening last night, I am stuck at the apt today. My girl got called in to work at the bank for three days, and I had to send out someone from the apartment rental company to register my passport with the migration service.  I don't want to risk going out without the passport until Igor comes back with it. Russia has some archaic visa laws that make travel difficult. You guys that go to Ukraine have it easy.  Sure there are Russian special forces invading, but you don't have to wade through the red tape in mother Russia like I do.

Today I will stay home, study Russian, and look out my window at all the construction going on. Apparently winter is so harsh here that all construction happens in the summer. It appears as if the town is booming with new growth, but it's only once yearly construction.

Just some random thoughts about this process so far:

I am falling for my girl more every day, but how well can I really get to know her on a short trip? It's going to take a long time to get over the honeymoon phase and really get to know her so we can both make an educated decision about how to proceed.  That will be difficult, given the time, distance, and our work schedules.  I run my own business and can escape for weeks at a time, but I eventually have to go home.  I'll go back home in a week or two.

She went from shy well behaved girl to she wolf in a matter of minutes yesterday. I am not complaining, but wondering if there are any other surprises.

Everything looks honest and well intended from both sides. But I still wonder how much is motivated by getting out of this village and moving to USA. I know it's a big part of it, but I want me to be a big part of it too.  I'm sure she has doubts about my intentions too. She already told me and we talked about it.

How long have you guys usually gone back and forth with your girls till you made decisions?  Im ready for the relationship, I just want to make sure it's the right girl.  I've dated girls in the US and have had shocking surprises about them after years together.  That will not be an option with this one.

[BillyB]

She went from shy well behaved girl to she wolf in a matter of minutes yesterday. I am not complaining,

You're not complaining....yet. Hopefully you don't see this often. I don't enjoy being around people who can't control their emotions.

I still wonder how much is motivated by getting out of this village and moving to USA. I know it's a big part of it, but I want me to be a big part of it too.  I'm sure she has doubts about my intentions too. She already told me and we talked about it.

Don't pursue marriage until you both solve these trust issues. You think she could be a gold digger/green card girl and she thinks you're a sex tourist/playboy. How do you two find love with these thoughts in your heads?

[Shadow]

The transition from shy girl to wolf is pretty common. Get used to it, unless it is a deal beaker for you.
For the rest, my advice is that if you wish to venture a relationship with a RW you have to go for it.
If you believe she can be the one you will spend your life with, work towards that goal.
On the way, be cautious but never doubt your feelings and actions.

By dragging out things too long you will give her the feeling you are not fully interested, and hse may lose interest in you.
The first real indication will be what happens once you are back home. If both of you wish to have similar intensive contact as you had during your trip, things are good. If one of you slacks, it often means interest is lost.

[santo]

So I went out for another walk today

I was encouraged by my GF.  She said, why you don't go out? You are strong. Lol

I just had one main observation...wow-wa-wee-wa!

They must churn out the pretty girls here by the dozen in some local Siberian milaya factory.

My thoughts about looking too foreign were dissolved when a local asked me for directions.  At least I think that's what she was asking

Other things I noticed were guys with poor fashion sense ( what's up with the track suits??), Eurasian looking Kyrgyz or other origin people ( some of the girls are kinda hot looking), and no outdoor cafés!  There was some neat street food though.  Plenty of fried dumplings, beer by the plastic cup, and borek- cheese filled empanadas thingies.

The local beer is great.  It is sold in all the stores, and tastes so fresh.  I drink it like those amerikanskis drink coke.
My girl is coming over for dinner tonight. I tried buying ingredients to cook a chicken Parmesan with limited luck.  The local markets don't have much as far as anything but Russian food.  I couldn't even find oregano

I did get some great frozen vareniki! Nice with a cold пиво!

[Shadow]

Other things I noticed were guys with poor fashion sense ( what's up with the track suits??),

Probably those guys feel the same about the way you dress 

[Gator]

Everything looks honest and well intended from both sides. But I still wonder how much is motivated by getting out of this village and moving to USA. I know it's a big part of it, but I want me to be a big part of it too.  I'm sure she has doubts about my intentions too. She already told me and we talked about it.

If she were truly motivated to get out of her "village," she would have already moved.  Psychologically it is difficult to move away from family and friends, thinking it may be a few years before she sees them again.   For most RW it is the man not the country that compels them to move.

 

    I am falling for my girl more every day, but how well can I really get to know her on a short trip? It's going to take a long time to get over the honeymoon phase and really get to know her so we can both make an educated decision about how to proceed.         

I believe you will do just fine based on your earlier words:  "It's going to take a long time to get over the honeymoon phase and really get to know her so we can both make an educated decision about how to proceed."  I have the impression that many men move too fast upon spending a week with a hot dyevushka.   OTOH you recognize the reality of the situation.

How long have you guys usually gone back and forth with your girls till you made decisions?  Im ready for the relationship, I just want to make sure it's the right girl.

It would not be too fast to suggest an exclusive relationship (means no dating other women when you return to California).  Nevertheless you need to spend more time together, so plan on future meetings.  The two of you could meet in a third country such as Turkey (the Med) or Egypt (Red Sea).  There are many package tours available to Russians for such trips.  In the winter you could meet in Thailand.  If you have some extra cash, RW love Europe, especially Italy.

Eventually this is suppose to lead to marriage.   

[Lily]

 Santo, I am glad that you enjoy your stay in Russia.
 
Walks, yes. We were doing it all the time. We walk everywhere. Even on heels
 

So I went out for another walk today

I was encouraged by my GF.  She said, why you don't go out? You are strong. Lol

I just had one main observation...wow-wa-wee-wa!

They must churn out the pretty girls here by the dozen in some local Siberian milaya factory.

 

Well yes, we Russians have this distinct Slavic look that is different from the Anglo-Saxons and from other people in the world that populate the U.S. We are used to being like that, to looking like that, and we take it almost for granted. Our sisters, or mothers and aunts, and ourselves look like that. That's our nature.
 

Other things I noticed were guys with poor fashion sense ( what's up with the track suits??), Eurasian looking Kyrgyz or other origin people ( some of the girls are kinda hot looking), and no outdoor cafés!
 

You have a right observation on the jogging / track suits on guys. I was living in Central Siberia for a few years. Yes people love wearing track suits. I think that this would come, first, from general insufficient choice in clothes for people, and. second, from the generic convenience of the track clothes. They give a great freedom of movement that is much required in a generally unsafe, hard-to-get-on reality, and the lifestyle that is somewhat charging. Do you think that a suit made by Saville Row is well suitable in order to stand in line for a beer outside? 

[santo]

The street scene reminds me of grand theft auto mixed with that movie children of men.  Okay, and throw in a couple barbies

Her family lives in another FSU country so she really has nothing here but cold winters by herself and large Siberian rats ( she says they exists, I have never seen them!).

[Faux Pas]

So I went out for another walk today

I was encouraged by my GF.  She said, why you don't go out? You are strong. Lol

I just had one main observation...wow-wa-wee-wa!

They must churn out the pretty girls here by the dozen in some local Siberian milaya factory.

My thoughts about looking too foreign were dissolved when a local asked me for directions.  At least I think that's what she was asking

Other things I noticed were guys with poor fashion sense ( what's up with the track suits??), Eurasian looking Kyrgyz or other origin people ( some of the girls are kinda hot looking), and no outdoor cafés!  There was some neat street food though.  Plenty of fried dumplings, beer by the plastic cup, and borek- cheese filled empanadas thingies.

The local beer is great.  It is sold in all the stores, and tastes so fresh.  I drink it like those amerikanskis drink coke.
My girl is coming over for dinner tonight. I tried buying ingredients to cook a chicken Parmesan with limited luck.  The local markets don't have much as far as anything but Russian food.  I couldn't even find oregano

I did get some great frozen vareniki! Nice with a cold пиво!

Actually you can find most anything you want in Tomsk. I've been to Tomsk many times and the first several times I too, thought it was hapless to find ingredients. Rather than trying to surprise your lady, just tell her what you are going to do and the ingredients you need. She'll know where to find them or she'll know someone who knows.

The labels are usually in Cyrillic and often you'll not find certain ingredients in places you would generally expect to find them. There are grocery stores of every shape and size there and some will surprise you with what they have in stock, even the smaller ones.

If you can't find exactly what you want, you can find something really close.

[jone]

Today I will stay home, study Russian, and look out my window at all the construction going on. Apparently winter is so harsh here that all construction happens in the summer. It appears as if the town is booming with new growth, but it's only once yearly construction.

You are absolutely correct!

In Russia there are four seasons:

Почти зима
зима
Тем не менее Зима
Дорожно-строительные

(or)

Almost Winter
Winter
Still Winter
Road Construction

[ML]

 
Well yes, we Russians have this distinct Slavic look that is different from the Anglo-Saxons and from other people in the world that populate the U.S.

Lily, I don't totally agree with this.

For instance, from what I can tell from your own pictures that you have shown in your various profiles . . .
I could say you look German, Swedish, English and any number of other ethnic groups.

Sure there are some FSU people who look very distinctly  Not western European.

But for me, most (not counting far east FSU or the Stans) look not different from western Europeans.

[SANDRO43]

Do you think that a suit made by Saville Row...

Psstt, it's Savile Row , whose name can be traced to Lady Dorothy Savile, wife of the 3rd Earl of Burlington who developed the Burlington Estate which encompassed it:

[santo]

I'm back in the США after a few nice weeks in Siberia.  We made a really nice connection, and I plan to go see her again in a month.  We will live together at her place and make a decision on how to proceed.  She has been offered a very good promotion at her job, so she will eventually need to decide between that and starting a family soon/leaving the country.

I'm sleeping off the jet lag, missing my girl, missing nefiltroff beer, russian food, and trying to adapt to American life again.  Upon arrival, one of my business associates asked me " why did you go to Russia? They are our enemy!" Amazing! I was speechless. Lol

[Shadow]

I'm back in the США after a few nice weeks in Siberia.  We made a really nice connection, and I plan to go see her again in a month.  We will live together at her place and make a decision on how to proceed.  She has been offered a very good promotion at her job, so she will eventually need to decide between that and starting a family soon/leaving the country.

I'm sleeping off the jet lag, missing my girl, missing nefiltroff beer, russian food, and trying to adapt to American life again.  Upon arrival, one of my business associates asked me " why did you go to Russia? They are our enemy!" Amazing! I was speechless. Lol

You can expect a lot more of that, as it seems that the propaganda machine has been working overtime. Most Americans even here are convinced that Putin is worse than Stalin and Russia is a demon state.

[Faux Pas]

You can expect a lot more of that, as it seems that the propaganda machine has been working overtime. Most Americans even here are convinced that Putin is worse than Stalin and Russia is a demon state.

Stalin was well liked at one point, too.

[Shadow]

Stalin was well liked at one point, too.

Stalin's mind was healthy at one point too.

[Faux Pas]

Stalin's mind was healthy at one point too.

Putin may have had a healthy mind at one point too. Maybe pre-KGB? 

[Shadow]

Putin may have had a healthy mind at one point too. Maybe pre-KGB? 

He still has, unlike some of his adversaries(and supporters). 

[Faux Pas]

He still has, unlike some of his adversaries(and supporters). 

So did Stalin, even after he murdered millions of his own folks 

[ML]

Most Americans even here are convinced that Putin is worse than Stalin and Russia is a demon state.

We only are convinced . . . because it is true.
The USA public is never wrong and the USA was, is and will be the greatest country in the Universe.
As soon as you accept this, maybe you can get over your bitterness and jealously.

[santo]

Return trip scheduled for August.  I will do my part for Russia - US relations

[Shadow]

We only are convinced . . . because it is true.
The USA public is never wrong and the USA was, is and will be the greatest country in the Universe.
As soon as you accept this, maybe you can get over your bitterness and jealously.

As soon as you acept it is nr 2 after Holland we an talk

[ML]

As soon as you acept it is nr 2 after Holland we an talk

To help you understand world affairs better and even your own country . . . there is no country named Holland.

Your country is Netherlands.
It contains 12 provinces; two of which are North Holland and South Holland.

My ancestors originated in ancient Flanders,  so I am an expert on all things in your area of the world, and on place of USA as the ultimate.

Just part of my public service to enlighten.
It's my 'burden' as citizen of USA.

[Shadow]

To help you understand world affairs better and even your own country . . . there is no country named Holland.

Your country is Netherlands.
It contains 12 provinces; two of which are North Holland and South Holland.

My ancestors originated in ancient Flanders,  so I am an expert on all things in your area of the world, and on place of USA as the ultimate.

Just part of my public service to enlighten.
It's my 'burden' as citizen of USA.

Who is talking about the country?
Those other 10 provinces are just unneeded weight.
(especially the one where I live now is often regarded by "Hollanders" as unneeded)

[ML]

Those other 10 provinces are just unneeded weight.

Now you are sounding like a New Yorker; or New Yauker as they would say.