Hi folks,
I was reading Brad's (Captmonk) post about being lucky, and I was writing a response, however, I decided to post a new thread on a little of my experiences.
Personally, I totally agree with Brad....
BTW - I am 33, and my wife is 24.
Personal - I am business owner (University education - for some reason the Russian ladies find this attractive and almost downright sexy!!!)
- She had a great job at a bank, has a Bachelors degree in Shipbuilding Engineering combined with Economics, 2 years of nursing education, 4 years of English education, and a Masters degree is "Sports" - in Gymnastics.
Oh, and she is stunningly beautiful!!!!. The first pictures I recieved of her I almost fell off my chair. They were all non-studio pics.
I would have to be classified as a 1 week wonder as well. Well, actually a 15 day wonder (indeed, it took 15 days, until I proposed to her on a beautiful clear night on a beach in Crete - down on 1 knee as well
For me, it seemed like I did a couple of "lucky" things as well. First, and foremost, I knew exactly what I was looking for in a soul mate. I think to many guys are first blinded by all the beauty on the websites, and start this process, without really knowing what they are looking for themselves. Please excuse the expression, but you need to have your $hit wired straight before even looking into this process. Yes, it takes patience, money, and did I say patience.
Quick summary of my journey
- Joined 3 paid websites (1 was offering direct contact info)
- I was writing to about 6 different ladies
- After about 3 weeks, I recieved a very "unique" letter from my now wife
- I wrote back to my wife the next day
- She wrote me back the next day
- Her letters were freakn serious!!!!
- After writing to her and recieving her letters everyday for 3 weeks, I told the other 6 ladies that I was no longer continuing correspondance with them.
- My wife and I spent everyday writing to each (real letters as well), for 4 months.
- After the first 3 weeks, we started talking on the phone twice a week.
- After 1 month, we talked 3 times a week (about an hour each time)
- After 2 months, we spoke 4 times a week (in addition to writing to each other every day)
- During the speaking and correspondance phase, we exchanged so many photos it was insane. I think I recieved about 50 photos from her, and I sent about 200 photos of myself, my house, my life, and at times a complete walk through (story included) of a trip to the mountains we would take. I gave her every opportunity to view what life with me would look like. I wanted to make it clear so she would have no crazy expectations of Beverly Hills 90210
After 2 months we planned on getting together. She had 3 weeks vacation in 2 months, so we decided to take advantage of the time off she had. I flew to St Pete, spent 2 weeks with her and her family. Someone had once told me that you will know if there is a connection when you meet in the airport, wellllll, they were correct!!!. We then went to Moscow together to attend her cousins wedding (which was a blast!!!!). After the wedding, we went immediately to spend a week in Crete. It was in crete, and exactly 15 days from the time I landed, when I proposed. I dropped to one knee, on a star filled evening, and asked her hand in marriage. She accepted and whoooooo, hooooo... BTW, the moment she said yes, the hotel started firing off enough fireworks to fill the sky (I tried to take credit for it, but she didnt believe me, arrrrggg, she is to smart)
- So, I return to Canada, and we continue talking, except, we talk more over the phone. I cannot begin to tell you how much we talk on the phone, it was nuts!!!. Her English went from a 2.5/5 when we first spoke, to now a 4/5. She really picked it up easily.
- After 5 months, I return to ST Pete, and we have our wedding (it must happen in Russia because the Canadian government requires it). WE have the most beautiful wedding, and folks, let me tell you, the moment I saw her in her wedding dress, I could not speak (seriously!!!), I had a lump in my throat, she was sooooooo beautiful!!. Her cousin stood in as my best man (I went to his wedding 5 months prior and all of my Canadian friends couldn't take the time to come out), this guy was awesome!!!. We did all the crazy Russian wedding customs, and I loved it!!!!. After the wedding we jetted off to the Canary Islands for the honeymoon, which was awesome. All told we spent another 3 weeks together and so many adventures (like the first trip).
I return back to Canada and fill out the paperwork (I won't bore you with that stuff). I wait 6 months and it was killing us, so I zip back to see her and we spend another 3 weeks together. We spend a week in St Pete with her family and then run out to Cyprus for 2 weeks on the beach. I think you can tell we love to travel. We both cannot get enough of travelling to new places. If it were up to me, I would have a nice little place in Greece as my launching off point for Europe. Whooooo, hoooooo, party time!!!!
I return back to Canada and wait another 3 months, and whoooo, hoooo, her visa arrives and she lands in Canada on December 11th, 2005. From start to finish, it was May 29th/2004 - to her arriving December 11th, 2005.
So what can I say about this process. Well, first I absolutely loved it, it was a blast. We spent our time getting to know one another through the phone and letters, and discovered how similar we really are. She is so damn mature for someone who is 24, it scares me. We share the same freakn brain when it comes to everything. She did not come here with any wild un-realistic expectations about life here in Canada. She knew everything from the car I drive, to a complete walk through our house. She knows how I spend money, and how much money I earn. She sometimes reigns me in because my appetite for toys is too much. That being said I am a generous when it comes to family and money. I work hard and I have no problems with helping family (that means her family as well). I have paid for her sister's final year of nursing school, I send money back to her family on a regular basis and I have no problems with it (BTW, she has never asked me to do it, I have volunteered).
We have lived together for 6 months now and it is a non-stop blast!!!. The moment she landed, she has been taking some upgrading courses at University for her written English as well as teaching Gymnastics. In a few months she will join me at work and help out "our" business. She has such an amazing business mind, she already has some really great ideas for expanding the business (an office in London, England is in the works, and hiring some additional staff locally). We work hard, and play hard!!!!
We have plans to travel to Italy next year and I will be taking my parents to meet her parents in Russia as well. I love her so much, and I feel like the luckiest man alive.
She is my angelochek
Cheers!!
Calcowboy
P.S. I am sure I have missed a tonne of stuff, however, if any newbies have any questions, feel free to drop me a note.
