Finding Love in Azerbaijan

[RoboCop]

I thought I should start this thread as an opportunity to write about my experiences, in winning the heart of my now wife, a Muslim-Azeri whose parents have strong anti-American sentiments, from the relatively obscure FSU country of Azerbaijan.

I know Russia and Ukraine will be the main countries most men visit, but I think people also forget about entire regions in the FSU like Central Asia aka. "The Stans" that have a large Muslim populace. Every once in a while, a guy will come on here hoping to learn more about pursuing FSU women, who come from a culture imbued with the Islamic faith. Whether she's from Tartarstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan etc., when I compare my experience to that of most of the success stories I've read, I know there is a qualitative difference, not because I'm some special snowflake, but because some adherents of the Muslim faith compelled me to make compromises and jump through obstacles to prove I wasn't a "Dirtry American man corrupted by American porn", was borderline ridiculous, stupid, and with the benefit of hindsight, downright funny.

I want to tell my two kids one day that me and their mother's journey is the story of true love overcoming backwards religous dogma, or something poignant alongs those lines; but if I was to be honest, it's actually about a naive man from Portland, trying to make sense of the incomprehensible.

[Larry1]

I'm looking forward to reading your story.

a Muslim-Azeri whose parents have strong anti-American sentiments...  some adherents of the Muslim faith compelled me to make compromises and jump through obstacles to prove I wasn't a "Dirtry American man corrupted by American porn", was borderline ridiculous, stupid ...

I think that is one of the reasons we don't see more guys traveling to the 'Stans to find a wife.

[Boethius]

Yes, Robo, but I'll also ask if you are Muslim as well (one less hurdle).

[SANDRO43]

from the relatively obscure FSU country of Azerbaijan...I know Russia and Ukraine will be the main countries most men visit, but I think people also forget about entire regions in the FSU like Central Asia aka. "The Stans"

Just nitpicking: Azerbaijan is in the Caucasus, and geographically not in Central Asia although its majority is Muslim .

[Slumba]

I certainly welcome your views... there is one other guy on the forum, that long ago was in Azerbaijan, though it was for business.  And I seem to recall 2 FSUW , though probably they were ethnically Russian, from Baku.

[RoboCop]

Yes, Robo, but I'll also ask if you are Muslim as well (one less hurdle).

No, not Muslim, and even though my wife technically still is, she's not devout. However, I no longer eat pork and try to ensure most of the meat we eat is Halal if that counts for anything.

[RoboCop]

Just nitpicking: Azerbaijan is in the Caucasus, and geographically not in Central Asia although its majority is Muslim .

Yes, I know Azerbaijan isn't apart of Central Asia. I didn't write that up in the clearest of ways. I was using Central Asia as an example, because that region alone would count for most of the Islamic FSU countries.

[Anotherkiwi]

there is one other guy on the forum, that long ago was in Azerbaijan, though it was for business.

That was/is ECOCKS.  Although he hasn't posted since January 2013, he last visited the forum this February.  His profile shows that he is still in Baku, although I have a vague memory of him saying that he was only going to be there a couple of years.

[Faux Pas]

That was/is ECOCKS.  Although he hasn't posted since January 2013, he last visited the forum this February.  His profile shows that he is still in Baku, although I have a vague memory of him saying that he was only going to be there a couple of years.

There have been a few guys that's went to Azerbaijan to meet/date women. I don't recall who exactly they were but, I do recall one of them was well out of his league in age and looks appropriate.  He was 40ish and hugely obese, she was very attractive and early 20's IIRC. The lady in that instance was total class and entertained the chap while he was there although letting him know in many ways she wasn't interested or a good time girl. Her family also treated him well. They were Muslim, he was not. He pined in his TR about not being able to change her mind.

ECOCKS was working under contract teaching English to oilfield workers. AFAIK, he is still happily married to his Ukrainian wife and was only there for the money to be made. I've met Ed and corresponded with him for a long time but, after he was in Azerbaijan it slowed to nothing. Class guy and the same offline as he is on. FWIW

[BillyB]

when I compare my experience to that of most of the success stories I've read, I know there is a qualitative difference, not because I'm some special snowflake, but because some adherents of the Muslim faith compelled me to make compromises and jump through obstacles to prove I wasn't a "Dirtry American man corrupted by American porn", was borderline ridiculous, stupid, and with the benefit of hindsight, downright funny.

I've been to Uzbekistan and Muslim countries aren't always as clean cut as we believe. Walking down the street hand in hand with my lady, people would approach me and ask if I want to go to their strip bar. I got calls to my apartment asking if I want a woman. My girl's brother's girlfriend went downstairs at a restaurant looking for a bathroom and came up eye's wide open. Come to find out the whole entire downstairs of the restaurant was rented out to a bunch of guys who had a bunch of naked ladies dancing for them. We didn't stick around long enough to find out what they were having for desert.


On a side note, there are plenty of belly dancers in restaurants in Uzbekistan and none of them are Muslim so that makes most belly dancers in the Stans ethnic Russians.

[AC]

No, not Muslim, and even though my wife technically still is, she's not devout. However, I no longer eat pork and try to ensure most of the meat we eat is Halal if that counts for anything.

Eagerly awaiting your next installment.   

[mendeleyev]

Sounds like good reading. 

[lordtiberius]

Robo, some people on this forum will use any personal detail against you in a dispute real or imaginary.  Some people on this forum are voyeurs and want to live vicariously through your experience.  I am interested in learning what you thought of the place, funny stories, sight seeing.  Just keep that in mind when and if you write about your personal life on the internet.