Trip Report: Tver, Russia

[av8or1]

Only "defensive" of what's fair and true, that's all.

Seems that you could of addressed the problem with him face to face, on the street when you met, rather than slam the man on a public forum.  That's what I would of done.

Hey Conner, what's up with you tonight?  Why the harsh criticism?  Did you read my day 5 report?  I did talk with Richard about it by phone right after it happened but he was evasive and wouldn't budge.  I wasn't gonna talk about it with him "on the street when you met" because there were others present, that would have been fair to him or to me.  And what's this "slam the man on a public forum" business?  I hardly did that, anyone with any objectivity can plainly see otherwise.  I simply expressed an opinion and made a recommendation.  I further stated that I thought he was a nice man and that his catalogs were well done.  Where's the "slam" in that exactly?

Oh whatever.  You've got a bee in your bonnet over this one, don't think there's any reasoning with you, so I'll just let it go.  This will be last comment on the subject.  I have expressed my opinion based on the personal experience I had in Tver and I will leave it at that.  Besides I've still got two more days to write about and I gotta remember kinda what I said each night, which is a challenge!

Ok, sending out good vibes....

Best to all,

Jerry

[BillyB]

  Did you read my day 5 report?  I did talk with Richard about it by phone right after it happened but he was evasive and wouldn't budge. 

Jerry, I re-read your day 5 report and I don't see anywhere you said Richard was evasive and wouldn't budge. Maybe Richard's bad with math and don't keep up with the currency exchange but I agree with ConnerVT, I think it was miscommunication. It clearly states at his website that it cost 1500 roubles and he provides a currency converter too. For Richard to flat out lie to gain a few bucks when his price is clearly posted is kind of far fetched, especially with him knowing you're going to write a trip report. At one time 1500 roubles was equal to $50.

[Rvrwind]

Not that I have to defend myself, but as I recall the conversation somewhat differently & I understand you were tired & seemed to be pressed for time you may have forgot some details. Also I noticed when talking to you, your cell phone kept cutting out & I would only hear about every third word of our conversation & you always seemed as though you were in  hurry & really didn't want to take the time to talk.
I clearly stated that the price was 1500 roubles. As I recollect, you said "the meeting is $50.00" & I said 'about' that, 1500 roubles. Perhaps your phone was cutting out on your end as well. I know it isn't my phone as I have never had that problem talking to anybody else.
As I don't keep abreast of the daily exhange rate & didn't have a calculator in my hand, I could not give an exact figure in US dollars. Marina goes by the bank on her way in & checks the exchange on the sign for that day & to be fair to our clients we add about 30 - 50 kopeck to it because we are not in the buisness of making money off the exchange rate, as they are, but do like to work with round figures, LOL.
As I recall when I went in the rate was 26.15 on the sign outside the bank & at 1500 roubles you got 26.50, so I see that as a good deal for you. I actually recall that because I was very surprised to see the exchange had dropped that much & was once again grateful that I do price everthing in roubles!! To be fair also, the exchange rate we get here is much less than in Moscow or on the internet, as well.
Like Connor said you could have addressed the issue while you were here, you had my phone # and were always wecome to call.
The same on the age discrepency issue. I wish you would have mentioned that while you were here. I will address that today as I find that unacceptable & will not tolerate it. It will not happen again or somebody will get their a$$ kicked, literaly. I will not tolerate such things in my agency, but unless you the clients bring it to my attention. I can't fix it, if I don't know its broken.
Good trip report Jerry. My only comment would be next time try to relax a little. I always got the impression you were uptight & in a hurry. You gotta take time to slow down & smell the flowers as they say, lifes too short & you'll miss too much. A perfect example is the last conversation we had when you cut me off & hung up before I even finished talking. To be fair, I understand you were eating dinner, but one could be a bit more curtious about it.
From my side I imagine that I expect too much as well. As I very seldom get to speak with those who speak & understand English so that I don't have to repeat myself 3-4 times, I tend to cherish those times & take advantage & monopolize the time. Maybe I am imagining things, maybe not, but I do believe that you met me grudgingly to start with, and had already formed an opinion of me & my agency before we met. JMHO I am grateful for your kind description however.
I am glad that you found someone you connected with, thats what its all about and I hope it works out for you. I expect we will be seeing more of you in our fair city now that you have a lady here.

[Kuna]

Jerry,

I'm joining your fan club...  Great trip report.  Loved the commentary about the runs and I feel like I've been given a clear picture of the dating process.

What I will say though is that you're a Sport-Dating Guru dude...

Sheesh, I got so tired reading about your back-to-back dating that I can't imagine doing it myself.

Can't wait to read more...  THERE IS MORE ISN'T THERE?   

Kuna

[Bruce]

Jerry, one more question which I think will give guys in your shoes a perspective on the process.  Tver vs cities you have been to in Ukraine - who had more eye candy (prettiest) or was it roughly a draw?  All my questions guys who have dated a lot have an opinion on, but you surely have a fresh perspective and its nice to get the insights in such an excellent trip report. 

You have clearly stated the essence of what it is like to meet a lot of women over a short period of time with some of your criterion and how you whittled the girls down to I assume Irina for hopefully a super next visit  . 

P.S.  Darn, I spelled discriminating wrong.  Keys moving before brain.......ah.

[Bruno]

Good trip report Jerry. My only comment would be next time try to relax a little. I always got the impression you were uptight & in a hurry. You gotta take time to slow down & smell the flowers as they say, lifes too short & you'll miss too much.

Agree, good trip report...

About be "uptight & in a hurry", it don't surprise me... it is fully normal when a guy make a very short time visit... only a few days in Russia... don't know but i think that the first 48 hours are already needed because of the time change... and not speaking about the weather adaptation...

So people who make a long trip and stay short time need to hurry... slown down and you have spend a lot of $$$ for maybe no result... remember the game number when it is about hunting a bride...

Seem that Jerry have only rest in little in some sofa  but he have find someone... the next trip will be more relax and allow him to know better his futur "lifetime partner" 

Good luck for the futur !

[Gator]

Great report Jerry!  Not only do you possess writing talent, it is apparent that you spent much time writing your report.  Spasibo!

One should not interrupt a writer in the middle of a long TR, but I do wish to make a comment.  Your report makes more unfavorable than favorable comments about Richard.  There have been many cases of an American client posting critical comments about agencies.  In the cases that the agency responds to these comments, the Agency usually calls the client an “idiot” or something to that effect.  In contrast, Richard has made a gentlemanly explanation.  I have never met nor spoke with Richard; however, I have read his posts for 4 years.  In my opinion, his heart is in the right place, which says something considering the general behavior of the Russian agency business. 

We are all different and you seem to be a high energy, intelligent man who makes decisions quickly, usually on an intuitive basis.  There is nothing wrong with that; in fact many successful business leaders operate that way.   They make 10 steps forward yet 5 backwards while more analytical types may go only 4 steps forward and 1 backwards.  I am suggesting that it is possible, considering your lack of sleep and the pace of your trip, that you may at times have overlooked something.  For example, your quick decision making had flushed Irina in the middle of your initial meeting with her.  So maybe there is some truth to what Richard says.

Regardless, I suggest that you withhold comments about agencies until the end of your report.  It is a fine report and I hope it will not be sidetracked into a spirited discussion of Tver agencies.  We all know that it is a volatile subject. I RATHER READ ABOUT WOMEN!  BRING ON THE WOMEN!

[KenC]

Jerry,
I too am enjoying your trip report.  My experience with LTP was some 8 years ago, but little has changed.  They still do all and more than they promise and that is all anyone can hope for.  The rest of it is all on the individual's shoulders.  I remember Jack saying some years ago that a man should plan on having 4 to 6 small bites of food over the course of a day while meeting RW for "lunch" and "dinner."  You seem to have that part mastered.

On your $7 "problem" with Richard.  I am a contractor and deal with many different personalities of customers discussing some very detailed subjects concerning our work for them.  I have come to the conclusion that some  people just hear what they want to hear regardless if it was said or not.  Some times I can be as specific as possible, and the customer is truly only hearing every other word.  I cannot tell you how many times, I just "suck it up" and absorb the difference due to the possible misinterpretation of what was actually said.  You claim he said $50 and not 1500 rubles, he claims otherwise.  Small discrepancy and an insignificant amount of money ($7).  Certainly not enough to disparage a man or his agency.  Your words here are surly more hurtful to Richard than the $7 was to your wallet.  Personally, I would cut more slack for anyone the first time.

Back to your report.  I hope to hear good things.
KenC

[jinx13]

 I'm pretty sure this isn't about $7, Jerry seems like a very generous guy, he was buying lunch for the staff everyday. It's the principal of it, but I hear what KenC is saying, misinterpretations happen all the time in business, but I don't think Jerry was slamming Richard or anything.

 My question is if the exchange rates were going down as Richard said, than how did $50 become $57?  Maybe it's better for Richard to say "about $60" so the client is pleasantly surprised instead of feeling taken advantage of.

[Rvrwind]

My question is if the exchange rates were going down as Richard said, than how did $50 become $57?  Maybe it's better for Richard to say "about $60" so the client is pleasantly surprised instead of feeling taken advantage of.

Actually when it comes down to it the cost is 1500 roubles, what it is in US $'s I could care less. I don't accept US $'s from clients in country, period. That was because of a misunderstanding with another client that cost me money over the exchange rates. It is difficult for me to wrap my head around it. I get guys from 10 different countries asking me what it is in their currency. I can't keep track of them all & I really don't care to. Its 1500 roubles, period.
I think Jerry has written a very good report. He has not critisized me or my agency or anybody else in any harmful way, only pointed out a couple of slight misunderstandings shall we say. I don't in any way have anything bad to say about that. He was pleasant except for the one occaision the last time we spoke on the phone to which I fully admit I could have taken the wrong way. I am also willing to admit that the 'uptight & in a hurry'  was probably due to his lack of sleep & time constraints. One reason I counsel guys to not come if they can't spend at least two full weeks. Lets face it, less than that & you really can't see or do much in a week when the first two days you are jet lagged so bad that you can barely think straight.
By the way Jerry, I spoke with Marina about the age thing & she stressed that she told Olga you were 39, what Olga heard or chose to hear I don't know. I do know that the one thing I told Marina & all the staff when I took over the company is that I would not tolerate lying to any client, male or female, for any reason whatsoever. So I was pretty sure before I asked her what the answer would be.
I don't & won't condone it in any way shape or form. Thats why I told you the age limits on the profies were what they were, I don't allow them to be changed. If thats the age the lady is interested in, I see no point in putting it up 10-15 years like other agencies just to hook guys into writing letters or meeting a lady that they will never have a chance with. If the guy is close say up to 5 years we will call the lady & ask her, but we will not preasure her into a meeting. Sometimes if the guy looks somewhat younger they will agree to meet him, sometimes they turn him down flat.
Keep up the good report, I too am interested in finding out who the lucky lady is.  Actually if your anything like the rest of us who have been successful, you are the lucky one, LOL..

[av8or1]

DAY 6

Ok so the morning of my 6th day in Tver comes along and I can't sleep worth a darn.  I probably got a couple of hours of REM about 1 or 2 am and that's gonna be it.  I'm firmly convinced that it takes a couple of weeks or more to really adjust to the time difference and I'm only gonna be here a week so in doing the math it's clear that something doesn't add up and that there'll be a price to pay somewhere along the line.  Any of y'all ever notice that in your travels to the FSU?  Oh well, still just glad to be here.  Very glad.  So it's 4 am now and pointless to just lie around in bed.  I get up and do a long shower thing.  Better.  I still don't wanna sleep, crap.  Good try though.  So what's next?  Futile question.  I know what's gonna happen "next": the brain will start to kick in.  Scary thing that is, but it's late night/early morning so what else would you expect?  That's its intrinsically appointed time to work its magic.  I give in to it, what the heck, there isn't anything else better to do.  Like being on the verge of going over the crescent point in a roller coaster ride, "here we go!" I say to myself.  And with that my thoughts turn towards the events and the women I have met thus far in Tver.  I am grateful that I have met so many of them and I feel good about not leaving any rock unturned via the hunting endeavor, though that has now performed its swan song.  Only two days left.  I try not to think about it.  I wanna stay longer.  There seems like so much I haven't done, so much I haven't learned about these people, their lives and their culture, and truthfully there seems like there are so many women who I haven't met but who I'd like to meet.  And I don't wanna go back to our PC QT BS society.  I feel more free here.  I'm sure many of you can relate.  Then I think of Irina.  Hmmmm...it occurs to me why I have kinda been instinctively drawn to Irina beyond the physical or what-we-have-said aspects.  Irina is the type of woman that everyone tells you to "go to a church" to meet. (shudder)  She's the girl next door.  But with a body and a face that would make any man the envy of the neighborhood.  She is intelligent and beautiful.  She likes teaching the children at her school and she likes children in general.  She is always dressed in her Sunday best.  She takes pride in her appearance without being the socially elite country club type.  She walks and talks with elegance, grace and charm.  She is calm and reserved yet funny and outgoing.  She has a warm, friendly smile.  She seems kind and considerate of others.  She's the kind of woman any man would be proud to take home to meet the family.  In a nutshell, that IS Irina.  Wow.  'Seems to be just the type of woman I've been wanting to find.  Wow.  Oh hell, here we go again: I'm falling and I know it.  But I can't let myself simply do one of those freefall numbers where the skydiver does so many exhuberant-looking twists and turns on his way down that you're sure he's gonna pull something out of its proper socket.  No.  Can't go there.  Although things between us seem to be mutual, I just don't know what she's thinking or feeling.  Sucky place to be that and yet I'm so glad I'm there.  Better than the alternative as the saying goes.  Also I have meetings with other women scheduled.  Again, it would not be in good form to cancel these meetings.  Stop thinking.  No I mean stop!  Ok enough.  I feel like I'm having some internal reenactment of "Sleepless In Seattle" where I'm in the 5th ring of hell because I'm being raked over the proverbial relationship coals by Dr. Marsha Fieldstone with my privates hanging out in the breeze for millions of complete strangers to gawk over, point at and say "eeewww, look at that Fred."  But it's just Tver and there's no draft of wind.  Just a lot of cold, grunge and an unwittingly subconscious, secretive quest for the best cheesecake.  I pull myself out of the quasi-hypnotic state that over-analyzation and the emotions therein will put you in.  Shelve it all I say!  ... For now anyway.  I decide to jump ahead on my movie watching.  This morning will be "Wag The Dog" with DeNiro and Hoffman.  Interesting movie that is, unexpectedly surreal.  I allow myself to fully enter their world for a couple of hours and leave mine behind.  It's a welcome relief.

I finish the movie about 6:30.  After using my cognitive reasoning to keep up with the storyline and somewhere in between the steady rhythym of the old-school, loudly ticking, sweep second hand wall clock in this Babushka's flat and the warmth I feel in the top of my thighs from the heat generated by my laptop, I find that murky, warm place of dreamland and fall asleep.  Fortunately I remembered to set the alarm last night.  It does its thing at 8:30.  For the first time I find myself being tired enough to want to stay in bed and rest this morning.  But I know better.  I blindly fumble around a bit but can't find the freakin' phone to turn off the now annoying chime bell sounds that are the alarm sound I mysteriously chose several hours ago.  I find a chord and pull it in towards me only to have the side light fall out of its holder on the wall and with gravity as its aide, pound me on the left shoulder, noisly tossle about, illuminate and then come to rest on my ear.  This is one of those moments when you realize your own absurdity and that you can be just as big of a dork as anybody else.  You ask yourself "just exactly how did I do that again?" and you shake your head in bewildered amazement.  Heck, in this case I guess that's one way to turn on the light.  Thank the Lord it isn't hot yet.  Guess it's time to get up.

The weather check reveals that it's colder than a witches tit outside.  According to my barometer anyway.  'Course that's calibrated in TEXAS where anything below 70 means it's time to break out the parkas, space heaters and muklucks.  So I'm sure it isn't actually that bad out there.  At least it's dry and all of the on-again, off-again rain we've been experiencing hasn't turned to ice.  That's no fun to run on.  I don't like slamming into the conrete, it just doesn't feel too good.  I come back inside to get ready and heck I've even got a little routine going now.  Gettin' dressed up, geared up and stretched out for the morning's run is starting to feel customary, though I still haven't adjusted to doing my split stretches on these long a$$ rugs that dominate the landscape of the apartment floor.  They're slippery as hell and yesterday I came damn close to pulling some stuff that I hope to use again in the future.  Well someday maybe.  Wouldn't that be a b*tch too...kinda like breaking your leg the minute you step out of the car in Telluride before you've even gotten to the lodge, let alone hit the slopes.

Ok so now I'm outside but where to go?  ElefIno.  Wanna do something different but the beauty and majesty of the Volga draws me back.  I decide to try going down the other way this morning and see where the path along the embankment on my side of the river leads me.  As I reach the bottom of the stairs from the road to the walking/running path I see a different bridge way, way over there in the direction I wanna run.  "Cool!" I think and I decide to go down, cross it and see what's on the other side.  It looks like a good two miles away from here so maybe I'll get in another long run this morning.  "Hrrrmmmph!" I say after only a 3/4 of a mile.  The walking path comes to an unceremoneous dead end of garbage, dirt and unkept grass.  I turn around and head back to the bridge near the flat, cross it and head in the same direction I had been taking on my side of the river.  Maybe it'll go somewhere on this side.  Nah, too easy.  It comes to an area that looks like "the beach" where people must swim during the summer months.  I wonder "where's the beach?!" because it's just a lot of concrete, some rusty, paint-faded rails and narrow entrances to the water.  But maybe there's something I'm missing.  Here there is a fork in the river and it appears to go on a ways, don't know just how far.  I decide to keep going and find out.  I appreciate now the ability that running gives you.  Thanks to running I am able to do these self guided tours and I am discovering that I learn so much just by seeing what's out there and watching the locals go about their business.  It's a lot of fun and seems like a good way to get to know the city.  Anyway, the flat is now at my 6 and across the Volga so I have a sense of where I am.  Unfortunately the walking path ends (again) just beyond "the beach" so I have to take the show up onto the streets above.  I get there and it's a big residential area.  I'm now running on a backstreet in amongst a lot of housing projects.  There's not much drainage here in Russia, puddles of standing water and potholes everywhere.  My running shoes have never been dirtier.  Just then a huge splash of water comes from under my right foot and soaks my left.  Crap.  In TEXAS, no big whoop, but it's cold here and my lefty is almost instantly feeling it.  Eh, suck it up.  As I pass the side of a back building I see an old Babushka trying to get down a set of exterior stairs that has no railing.  She's using the wall and not so well.  So I run up to help.  She looks up at me with the expression of a deer in headlights.  I'm sure she isn't accustomed to this so I say "Ya tolka hochu pomash" which in my broken Russian means "I only want to help" as I extend my arms towards her.  She gets the jgist of what's happening and to my surprise allows me to help her down the stairs.  "Ameerecanyetz da?" she says to which I reply "da" and you'd have thought she had just found the winning jackpot ticket in Vegas or something.  She tears into an entire schpiel of stuff, speaking so enthusiastically that it's impossible for me to keep up.  I just nod and say "da" a lot.  We get to the bottom and she looks up at me (she's all of 4-foot nothing) with one of the most grateful pair of eyes I think I've ever seen.  "Spaceeba <something>" she says.  "Pazahlsta" I tell her and I start to run away.  She holds onto my hand and won't stop talking however, so I end up spending another couple of minutes trying to figure out how to politely leave without offending her.  But there's no way out.  We walk around the corner and she's still grasping my hand, though it's taking energy for her to do it so she uses both of her hands now.  After only 10 yards or so she stops, says some stuff that is too yet again spoken too quickly for me to understand and motions towards a dwelling that has an open door.  I look inside and see that it's a small shop, so evidently she's in need of groceries.  With a huge smile on her life-worn face she tells me "Dasvedonya" and heads on about her business.  I also tell her goodbye and head on my way.  Didn't encounter anything funny today during the run, but it was interesting nonetheless.  Ok, it's getting on towards 10 am and need to get back to meet Olga at 10:30.  I chose that time so that I can run over and get the laundry.  It wasn't ready until late afternoon and I didn't wanna take it on the dates with me yesterday so it's still at the office.  A cursory glance at the cell phone tells me that it's 9:55 already, so I put it in high gear, cross the Volga, almost choke on the fumes, pass the old men on the walking street, get to the office, say Hi to Nadya (the office manager), grab the laundry and get back to the flat.  I have just enough time to shower and get ready in time for Olga.  I have my slacks and dress shirts back today so I'll be able to wear something a little nicer.  I had brought along Kakhi pants for use in a pinch, but you just don't wear those in Russia, especially during winter.  I thought I had more than one pair of black slacks, but albeit no.  They're probably out on the dresser back in Austin, right where I left 'em.  Knashing my teeth does no good.....

Olga arrives and tells me that we have a light day today.  "Uh-oh" methinks, I heard that kinda language one too many times from my football coach so I know better.  I decide to just wait and see what the day brings rather than inquire further.  We depart for our usual morning breakfast at Mon Cafe.  A guy from here on RWD, who will remain unnamed, referred me to a woman in Tver named Katya and we will meet this morning here in Mon Cafe.  Olga will hang out at the office while Katya and I talk.  The breakfast is good as normal.  It's interesting to eat like this, seems almost like I'm eating American food Carribean style in the middle of Russia.  Katya shows up and Olga leaves.  I've exhausted the minutes on my cell phone so Olga is going to replenish it for me while I am out.  She'll call me in a while and return to Mon Cafe.  It's now a little after 11 and we have a 1 o'clock.  I like Katya, she has a refreshing look to her and is warm and open with me.  She's spent some time in the US and liked it, though not at first.  She's a little young for me at 21, but we somehow end up talking about the age issue in general and then specifically about us.  Seems to not be a big deal with her.  So I open up a bit and we have a good talk.  Time is winding down unfortunately so I invite her to spend some time with me before I leave.  She declines saying that she has work to do and then friends to see the next day.  Claims that she's interested in me however.  "This is not your last trip to Russia" she says, but I am confused.  Can't understand what is happening with this meeting.  So I go with the not-into-you theory and downshift into small talk.  Before I know it she scoots out of the cafe and is gone.  Hmmmm....whatever.  Olga shows up and we walk to the agency.  The girls want salads today so we stop off and pick up a bunch of individually sized salads of assorted types.  Let me tell ya what, like "pancakes" "salad" means something totally different in Russia.  It's basically the same only without the lettuce.  And the whole pieces or chunks of vegetables though they sometimes have small bits of vegetables in them.  Ok, no it's not basically the same.  "Salads" in Russia remind me of cole slaw.  But the girls love 'em, so hey, I bring 'em.

We arrive and as usual the girls are glad to see us.  They claim that I'm trying to make them fat, but they're all so pencil thin that it's unreal.  They could eat for days and not be fat I think.   Within just a few minutes my date arrives.  Her name is Nataliya.  She's a bit older at 29 so she's in the age range I hope to find.  She has straight, long black hair and dark eyes to match.  I'm interested.  So far.  We walk across the walking street to Fortune but I tell them that I'd like to try the side cafe that's around back.  So we head over there.  It's only a few tables, maybe 7 and they insist on taking your coat from you and hanging it up, just like they do in the fancy-smancy restaurant on the front side of the building.  I don't like that so much because I keep all of my stuff in my large coat pockets, everything from my wallet to my digital camera.  Oh well, glad that slacks have big pockets too, generally speaking.  We sit down and the conversation seems to be going ok.  Nataliya is slender and beautiful, but different from Irina somehow.  Irina?!  Quit that!  Nataliya is some kind of banking person, though it's not clear what exactly.  Conversation goes on a little, then she asks me to pour her tea for her.  What?  That kinda came outta nowhere.  I give Olga a "what the heck is this about?" look and she just shrugs in a camoflauge kinda way.  Oh what the heck, whatever.  So I pour her tea.  Little gratitude, more of an expectation kind of thing.  Hmmmm....something doesn't feel right about this.  I can't describe it in words, it's just a feeling that I am having right now, a sense about someone, you know?  I let it pass.  Old Reliable still has the best cheesecake.  This place is ok but for all of its fancy statues of lions and stuff hanging on the walls, good ol' OR still has it beat in that regard.  I give Olga the signal and we end things.  We walk out and I take a photo with Nataliya but decide that I won't be seeing her again.  We say goodbye and she leaves, headed in the direction of the shopping mall.  It kinda feels like I was a pit stop in her day really.  Dunno.

We get back to the office and the girls are hinting about ice cream.  I take the bait and go get a bunch of it at the corner store that's in the same building.  I get back and let the girls choose which type of ice cream they want.  But hey, there's now a new guy named Mike in the office, he's from San Fran.  Men don't come to Tver very often anymore, so it's interesting to see someone else here.  I am surprised.  He's been here before, only a few months ago.  He's looking through the catalogs so I introduce myself and we start talking about the women we've met.  It's kinda cool to talk with him about all of this stuff, though it does feel a bit like two guys looking through some retail magazine and talking about their experiences with different fishing lures or something.  But heck, if you're gonna do this International dating thing you gotta expect a little bit of weirdness and so long as it stays in the "little bit" category, that isn't so bad in the big picture.

Before I know it my 3 o'clock date has arrived.  Olga tells me that we have to go to either Old Reliable or Old Faithful because they're close by and we have a 4:30.  "So much for the 'light day'" I joke with her.  "What?  Jerry we have no time!"  I realize that she doesn't get the joke and there's no time to go into it so I pull a kopek out of my pocket and it's heads.  Old Faithful it is.  This is my second date with Diana, who I am told requested to meet with me again.  I met her the first day I arrived in Tver.  At 22 she is also a little young, but if a woman is proactive enough to make a second date with me, then hey, I'll go.  As we head out I notice that the men who have been busily working on the walking street are making significant progress.  There's a serious dip along one of the sides where I saw them set out bricks only a couple of days ago, but they just leave it.  That wouldn't fly here in the USA but I don't think they'll do anything about it in Russia.  Eh, maybe.  I won't be around to see however.  Diana talks about her job a little.  She's a waitress in a cafe (not OF or OR thank God!) and I ask about the number of customers that she sees.  OF is new and doesn't have many people who patronize it yet.  In contrast Diana works in a well established cafe that always has tons of people in it.  Ok.  I see a little youngster as we near the cafe and the sentimental side of me that said hi to the dog along the Volga the other day can't resist saying hi to this little tike.  He waves back, though shy and probably not accustomed to seeing someone on the street make such a gesture.  I try not to stick out any more than I will naturally when I am in the FSU, but usually can't resist saying hi to a kid.  We get into the cafe and settle into a good booth.  In talking further to Diana she tells me that she's looking forward to going to school next year.  She wants to study art.  I ask her about family life, full well knowing the result and of course her answers are vague at best.  She's great, but we're have different agendas.  For a 22 year old, she's doing fine.  But I'd like a little more at this point in my life.  Olga knows it by now (very WELL by now!) so she makes our signal more in the form of a question to which I respond with a quick nod as I listen to Diana.  This time it takes a little longer because Diana has lots to say, but soon enough we are up and on our way.  I wish Diana luck with her studies in art and tell her that I hope she becomes a successful painter.  She's actually on her way to work so we wish her a good working day.  And she's gone.  Not all dates are gonna be productive or even close, but it's nice to just simply enjoy the company of a beautiful woman sometimes, just for its own sake alone.

We arrive back at the office and Mike is still looking through the catalogs.  He has a date for later tonight and I have just enough time to wish him good luck on it when my 4:30 date shows up, it's now 4:10.  Oh boy.  Gotta have tons of energy for this thing baby!   I'm in heaven though, sheer heaven just for being able to have so many dates in one day!  I always try to give my date my full attention from the second I see her, so I break off from Mike and say hello to Lena.  Lena has it going on to use the vernacular and how.  "God but I love this job" I think as we leave the office on our way to OR (I'm even tired of typing it now so you can guess how I feel about going there in real life).  Olga tells me that we have a 6 o'clock so this meeting needs to be held close by too.  "A 6 o'clock?" I ask unbelievably to which Olga says "da and an 8:00."  Holy hell!  What is that, 6 meetings today?  Damn good thing I stay in shape 'cause this is a marathon.  It's late and I'm tired of typing.  Ok, so we get to OR and guess what?  Lena wants to sit in the smoking section because she's a closet smoker.  Sh*t.  Ok guys, don't start on me, I DON'T WANNA HEAR IT.  I have been doing this for 3 years, so I know about smoking in Russia.  Some of you are hard of hearing so did you get that?  I KNOW ABOUT SMOKING IN RUSSIA.  I am still turned off by it, no matter where it happens and I want to find a woman who doesn't smoke.  They do exist in Russia and you can find them, I know because I have.  Anyway, we go in and sit down.  Lena is great, just my type physically and seems to have a decent enough personality.  After some time passes, I gently bring the conversation around to the subject of smoking, taking it as light as possible (no pun intended).  All I really want to know is if she'll consider quitting, I don't really care that much about a woman's past, just so long as it doesn't affect her future.  I get the clear message that she likes it and doesn't intend to quit.  That's fine with me, she has that right of course.  I also have the right to choose not to be with her, which I do.  At least Lena is up front and honest, which I appreciated greatly.  Olga makes the signal and we're outta there.  Damn shame to see such a beautiful woman smoking.  Sigh.  Oh well, just my opinion.  I say good night to Lena and offer taxi fare, which she accepts.  We see that she finds her way into a cab, then head back to the agency.  I reek at this point and I'm not liking it.  Oh well, it's more common here, so I simply unzip my coat and try to "air out" a little bit on our way back, which is too short to really make a difference.

We get back to the office and guess what??  Wooo-hoooo!!  Irina is my 6 o'clock date!  Yeah baby!  Boy am I glad to see her.  How refreshing!  I want to hug her but I don't because in this society it isn't right to make such displays of affection in front of so many other people, at least not in this context.  So I just say Hi and ask how her day was.  Olga tells me that Irina really liked OF and wants to go again.  Ok, no problem.  We hit the walking street and it's a little bit warmer out, so Irina and I hold hands for the first time.  I'm a little hesitant to do this because I'm seeing other women and it doesn't feel right to have affection with any of them until I make a decision.  I know that she knows I have been having other meetings and she initiated this session of hand holding, so that makes me feel a little bit better about it.  OF and OR have kinda exchanged roles over the past couple of days, I feel more like a schmaoozer in OF than OR now.  Oh well, can't be helped.  Most everyone hangs out in cafes in this part of the world.  Irina orders a latte and cheesecake.  I get cheesecake too eventhough I don't like it as much here.  I get Olga to take a few photos and I take a couple myself.  Olga then goes to the restroom and it's the first time that Irina and I have had any time alone.  We begin to speak a bit, with my broken Russian and her few words in English that she still knows from school we are able to have a basic communication.  We talk about why I came to Russia to find a woman and what we are each looking for in the future.  She says that she very much wants to start a family and wants to be married to a good man.  'Claims to only want to be married once, which admittedly is something I like to hear, though I know that in a way such a statement is kinda ... I dunno cliche-ish and often not true, maybe?  Dunno what I'm trying to say about that, I'm just cautious of such things.  I allow myself to believe it however because there is a strong ring of truth in her eyes when we talk about it and I am careful to check that out.  We also have a way of looking at each other too....something is happening here that's for certain.  I begin to wonder if she has been having the same thoughts about me at night that I have been having about her.  I hope so.  Olga returns and we continue from where we were before.  Can't remember where that was now because it was only idle chit-chat kind of conversation and I like this more serious stuff that Irina and I have when Olga isn't around.  Not wanting to do too much too soon, I allow the conversation to spin back down again and we talk about her family.  I won't reveal too much about that with you, sorry, but it's kinda personal.  Irina does seem to come from good folk, that much I will say.  We tend to catch ourselves staring at each other and I tell her "it's a sign!" to which we have a good laugh.  Olga rolls her eyes from the corny-ness then playfully looks back at me as if to say that it wasn't really corny, just too cute for it's own good.  That's when I knew that things were in high gear with Irina, when another Russian woman acknowledges that things are going well.  Unfortunately Olga gave me the signal again right as the laughter settled down.  Crap!  I look back at Irina and don't wanna leave her, though I know I must.  Of course I am careful to not let any of this show, or so I think.  Who knows what I am actually expressing on my face.  I pay and we're soon outta OF and on our way to Irina's now-familiar tram stop.  She again says that we don't have to wait but 10 Clydesdales at full gallop couldn't drag me away from this.  Well maybe they could, but you get the point.  Much to my shagrin the tram arrives just as we've stopped walking.  I'm not familiar with all of this so before I know it Irina has kissed me on the cheek again as I was looking towards the tram and is starting to walk away.  I let her go, grudgingly.  Wow.  Olga wakes me out of my fixation and tells me that we need to go.  I wait until the tram leaves and then we go on our way.

We get back to the office.  I know that I somehow have to forget things with Irina and focus on Svetlana, my last date for the evening.  I have met with Svetlana twice before.  The first date was great but the second one started to go downhill a bit.  One thing you need to know about the FSU: if it's cold outside you're gonna have a hard time finding a table to sit at on the inside.  All of the places we tried including OR are full.  So we head out away from the walking street (where there really aren't that many cafes) to the main drag where the shopping malls are.  After a little bit of a walk we find a cafe that's down in the basement of a building.  We go in and there's actually a table!  We take it and there's more of a menu here so we decide to eat something substantial too.  Svetlana is nice and friendly like normal.  She paints her fingernails strange colors and in strange patterns though, which gives me pause a little.  I haven't had good experiences with women who do such things.  But she's a different person, so hey.  Through the course of the conversation I realize that Svetlana just isn't the woman for me.  She likes to burn incense which is ok, but I'm not into it.  She likes to listen to loud music when she's at home.  I suppose that I could handle a little of that, but from what she tells me I think she wants a more than "a little."  Far more important of course is that she doesn't know whether or not she wants children.  Not good.  For me at least.  And there are other things that I won't go into, mostly because it's late and I can't remember them all.  When I try to get a feel for just how important these things are to her, I realize that they're fairly significant to her.  I don't wanna go trying to change someone, so I know that it just won't work with us.  Oh well.  Like a broken record Olga gives me the signal and we leave.  We walk Svetlana to her bus stop, upon which she asks if we'd like to do something else.  I don't like turning someone down if they're sincerely interested but at the same time I need to be honest with her.  Just as I begin to speak Masha from the other day walks up to us and asks us what we're doing.  Hell.  I know that these women realize that men go out on other dates, but crap this is still awkward for me.  I don't wanna hurt anyone's feelings!  The three women talk quickly in their native tongue and I have no idea what they're saying, it's just too fast.  Then Masha leaves us without so much as saying goodbye to me.  I watch her go, hoping to heaven above that she isn't offended.  Svetlana just looks at me then says that she will go home now.  Crap.  I feel like a jerk and I quickly scan the situation to see if I have done anything wrong.  I don't think I have, but who knows.  Russian women can be offended easily.  Well some of them at least.  The three of us stand in silence, Svetlana barely looking at me now.  She sees her mini-bus and is off.  I just look at Olga and ask "what just happened?  Did I offend any of these women?  I didn't mean to!" and she tells me no, that they know each other and don't like each other from before me.  Whew!  Ok, strange but that is a relief.

I walk Olga to the intersection where she's been getting a taxi home and see that tonight is no different.  Then I stop by the store in my building.  With the up and down of today I feel like a used yo-yo and if I was a drinking man now would be time for a tall one.  Alas I don't drink so I just get some OJ and a Snickers.  Then I go home.

What a day.  I get my shower and get into bed with my juice and candy bar.  I rethink everything.  It feels like a three ring circus in a way to me.  I start to question the approach I have taken to this whole trip.  After a few minutes I realize that doing that is kinda stupid so I let it go.  I'm too tired anyway to give it any rational thought.  But I do think about Irina.  I wonder how she is doing, how is her mom and if she is ok.  I hope all is well.  I want to call and check on her but I know it wouldn't be the right thing to do.  So I let it go.  Hmmmm.....big exhale.  At least the Snicker's over here is pretty good.

Tonight's movie is "The Sweetest Thing", kind of a chick flick and a comedy all in one.  I like Jason Bateman's character the most though.  Funny stuff.  Ok good night guys, hope all is well back in the USA.  Tomorrow is the last full day here.  Wish me luck.

[av8or1]

Richard,

Ok, well thank you for the explanation.  I know that misunderstandings can happen, so I am willing to agree to that regarding my experience with your agency when I was in Tver.  It was partially my fault too, I guess I should have checked with you again on the price once I was in town.  I just assumed it would be the $50 we talked about over email.  My bad.  Assumptions are no good.  And who knows maybe the woman I met in your agency was using the age thing as a way to politely show her lack of romantic interest in me, maybe it was something else.  Thanks again for looking into it.

Overall I think Richard tries hard to run a good agency.  So if you're in Tver, give him a try.  I'll change my recommendation to positive at this point, with the caveat that a guy gets everything very clear before you step foot in his office.  I shoulda done that.

As for our last phone call Richard, I wasn't trying to be short or anything.  The reality is that I was in a rather loud place (Club 80's) and I could barely hear what you were saying.  When I hung up with you, I did say bye and didn't just click the phone off.  The problem was that right at that moment the waitress had come up to us and was wanting to know if I wanted mashed or boiled potatoes and my interpreter was standing there trying to talk with me.  So I had to go, that's all.  I wasn't trying to be rude nor did I have a lack of concern for you.  I'll bet it is nice to speak with native English speakers for you, so I understand that too.

It looks like I'll be heading back over for New Year's so if you're around maybe we can meet for coffee or dinner like we talked about when I was there, but was too busy to take you up on.  Got any recommendations for places to be on New Year's Eve?

Best to all,

Jerry

[av8or1]

Jerry, one more question which I think will give guys in your shoes a perspective on the process.  Tver vs cities you have been to in Ukraine - who had more eye candy (prettiest) or was it roughly a draw? 

Bruce,

Yeah I'd say that it was roughly a draw in the big picture - Ukraine vs. Russia, though many guys would stoutly advocate that the prettiest girls are in Ukraine.  To be completely honest I did see a small difference in the women between the countries, though I will state it with some hesitation, only having been to Russia twice now.  And it is only my opinion.  And generalizations are dangerous, very dangerous.

That having been said, I believe there to be a larger number of beautiful women in Ukraine.  However, there is a larger number of good-quality women in Russia.  So I'd say that if you're looking for a trophy wife and divorce doesn't bother you, go to Ukraine.  If you're looking for a woman who you want to stand by your side and be a good wife and mother, go to Russia.  Yes these are bold statements that obviously don't always hold water.  I know that.  Clearly there are exceptions on both sides of the border.  However, based on my experience in both countries I believe there is a fair amount of truth in these assertions.

Best to all,

Jerry

[Kuna]

So I'd say that if you're looking for a trophy wife and divorce doesn't bother you, go to Ukraine. 

HAHAHAHA... if I was looking for a divorce I'd just marry my ex-wife again!  We did that pretty well last time!   

Kuna

[av8or1]

DAY 7

THE LAST DAY in Tver.  Wow it's finally here.  I can't believe it.  And yet I know it because my body is slowly starting to adjust to the local time.  Last night I fell asleep about 11:30 or midnight and slept all the way until 7 am or so.  After getting up to drink some juice I find myself sleepy again and I don't wake up until 9:30!  Wow, this is stunning.  Clearly there's no time for a run this morning so I just hop into the shower, Olga will be here at 10.  When she arrives I am ready to go.  Last night ... ok I gotta confess ... I called Irina, but only for the purpose of asking her out to breakfast this morning.  She agreed and will meet Olga and me at the agency at 10:15.  So we high tail it over there, not wanting to be late.  Olga looks great too.  We just so happen to both be wearing blue today, so "it's a sign!" she says.  Hahaha!  Funny girl.  We leave for Mon Cafe and on the way I buy her a bouquet of roses.  She likes them very much and the waitress brings us a vase to put them in.  During our time here we talk about both piddly and serious stuff.  I wanna get this age thing out of the way so I bring it up.  She's 23, about to be 24 and I'm 39, 16 years.  She tells me that it's not a problem for her "very much."  She wants a man who has an established life and who will be a good husband.  It's music to my ears, but...can it really be?  Oh heck, I try not to be skeptical and to simply believe.  She says further that I don't look 39 to her.  Ok, good answers, dangerous to take it much further, so I just accept it.  She wants to know how I view family life so I tell her how I envision it and she agrees with my basic portrait.  So all is well.  We talk more and I show her how to make the UT Longhorn sign with her hand.  She's shy about it but does it enough to get it down.  Hey, it's what's important in life!   Hahaha!  We make a couple of photos then it's time to leave.  She has some work to do for her class tomorrow.  I tell her that I want to spend my last night with her and she accepts, telling me she wants that too.  So I tell her I will call her after 3 or 4 pm.  Olga and I walk her to a different tram stop this time and we walk hand in hand the entire way.  This is good, this is very good.  I'm smiling pretty much uncontrollably and loving every minute of it.  With her standard kiss on my cheek she is gone.  I look forward to seeing her again tonight!

I have Olga call the girls but only one is working today.  She says she wants the big chicken plate from the chicken place again.  So we go and pick it up for her.  We arrive at the office and I ask about Mark, a guy from Massachusetts who I have Internet correspondence with and who is engaged to a woman through LTP.  He supposedly arrived last night but I haven't heard from him.  Nadya the office manager (who didn't want any lunch, BTW in case you were wondering) calls them but no answer.  We'll try again later.  Maybe he's "busy", who knows.  Later.

At 1 o'clock I meet Elena who is a former interpreter for LTP so we'll go on our date without Olga.  Elena is older at 36 but I kinda like that.  Much closer to my age and it somehow makes me feel more comfortable about this whole thing, though possibly falsely so.  Again, who knows?  She's been to all of the cafes in Tver about as many times as I have been to OR and OF combined and then some, so I just let her choose.  And of course she chooses OR.  It's beyond old now, well beyond.  But I sound out my battle cry of "sure!" nonetheless and off we go.  Along the way Elena tells me about her experience with LTP and some of her experiences there, without giving any real details.  It's interesting conversation and I am intrigued by her.  She now works in Moscow some of the time but still lives in Tver.  A common theme I'm seeing with the women here.  From my point of view it's rather unique to Tver, I haven't ever seen this kind of thing to such an extent in the other cities I've been to in the FSU.  The conversation with Elena is different from most Russian women I have met too.  She is quite open and like meeting a woman here in the USA she tells me about her past relationships (though nothing in detail).  Therefore the time with her takes on a new identity, one that is more familiar and comfortable somehow.  Hmmmmm....I like this.  I like Elena.  It's too bad that I met her so late in my trip.  I would like to have spent more time with her.  Elena isn't the most beautiful woman but that hardly matters to me at my ripe old age.  Just having a woman who won't screw me over is enough for me, so long as I am attracted to her, and I am that with Elena.  Why couldn't the office have gotten in touch with her earlier I wonder.  Then I remember that they tried but couldn't reach her this week because she was in Moscow.  Crap.  I feel conflicted now.  I have started to develop feelings for Irina but feel so much more comfortable with the age difference thing with Elena.  And I'm certain I could like her enough to pursue a relationship.  Boy am I confused, but I don't let on that any of this inner monologue is happening.  I pull out my cell phone and take her number.  Then I notice it's 2:15, I haven't paid and I have a 2:30.  Those who have been to the FSU know that this is a problem because of the slow service in most any cafe and restaurant.  Sure enough that's the case, as I make it back to the office at 2:29.  Fortunately the woman I'll be meeting at 2:30 hasn't arrived yet, so I have time to properly say goodbye to Elena without the awkwardness of my next date being present.  Elena is a great gal.  I wonder how things would have turned out if we had met a few days ago.  Hmmmmm...funny how things work out sometimes.

No sooner than I have sat down on the sofa in the back room to ponder the situation Olga and Tanya walk into the office simultaneously.  I snap out of it and lay eyes on Tanya, a woman who I had selected from the catalogs several days ago but who couldn't come until today.  At 6'1" and about 140 - 145 pounds, Tanya is a sight to behold.  Good thing I'm a little over 6'2" I guess!  Holy hell but Tanya could be a model if she was thinner.  She's kinda big-boned though, which I haven't seen much of in Russian girls though I'm sure it happens more often than I think.  I like her appearance however.  It works for me.  We spend a few minutes deciding where to go, something that is old hat to Olga and I by now.  I hold up 1 finger (not that one!) and she holds up 2.  Tanya selects OF, so Olga wins!  Hahaha!  Too funny.  Along the way I learn that Tanya is originally from Tashkent, Uzbekistan and thanks to BillyB and some correspondence I had with a woman from Tashkent that lasted all of two days, I know enough about this city to talk about it a bit.  We get to the cafe and Olga orders my standard black tea.  They serve it in a rather unique way in this cafe, with the tea inside a large strainer that has a ceramic top and that fits snugly inside your tall cup.  Hmmm...the conversation is great, though Tanya is quiet.  I have to expend a fair amount of energy to "entertain" her but no worries.  We laugh a lot and have a good time.  I realize that Tanya is a good woman but unfortunately not quite up there with Elena or Irina.  Which in a way is good because I am conflicted enough!  Tanya tells us that she has to meet her family at 4 and must leave, so we leave the cafe and walk her to the bus stop.  I take a photo with her because she's nice and we had such a good time.  That's three women with whom I could have a potential future today!  Amazing.  We see that she gets into the mini-bus ok and then head back to the agency for what is the last time.  Doesn't seem real that my trip is coming to an end, but it is.  Lord and I am not looking forward to the 11 hour flight back home.

Once in the "love nest" that is the LTP office, I see Mike again from California.  He's doing ok, has some dates lined up, one of whom will be at 4 pm.  I don't know the girl he's meeting but wish him luck.  Just then they get a call that she wants to meet him in the cafe instead of the office so he and his interpreter are off in a flash.  I tell Olga to give me a few minutes to just sit and rest.  I know I can't take long because I told Irina I'd call her after 3 or 4 and it's 4 now.  Fortunately there isn't much thinking to be done on the issue because I have already asked Irina to spend the evening out with me and she accepted.  Once I commit to something, I don't go back on it.  So after about 5 minutes tops I ask Olga to call Irina and see when she can meet us.  Then Nadya the office manager asks if I want to call Mark.  Oh yeah, what is that guy up to.  She calls him and his fiancee answers.  Nadya asks to put Mark on the phone and then hands the phone to me.  I say hello and razz him a bit about not contacting me yesterday.  We'd talked about doing dinner last night.  No sooner than I had said that Olga comes into the back room and tells me that Irina will meet us here at 5:30.  Mark is asking me what is happening.  Olga is asking me if that's ok.  I feel like I'm back at work, but working on the business of my dating life!  Crazy.  I tell Olga great and to tell Irina I am looking forward to seeing her.  I tell Mark that I have met a girl who I like and he should meet us for dinner.  He agrees and based on my previous time there I choose Club 80's as the place to go for something to eat.  I would have liked something a little fancier for my last night with Irina, but I just didn't like the food at Fortune.

At 5:15 Irina opens the agency door wearing a big smile.  Wow but she looks good to me.  I clumsily put on my scarf and coat, partially distracted by her and paritally still not used to all this stuff I'm wearing.  We get a taxi and go over to Club 80's.  Mark and his fiance Veronika arrive about 30 minutes after we do and we all sit down at an enlongated booth.  I would have liked to have sit across from Mark and Veronika but it didn't work out that way.  Poor Olga is caught in the middle and interprets for both couples.  Mark and I take some photos.  I am captivated by Irina, but I try not to let it on too much.  She certainly seems to be into me too, and gradually we open up to each other as the night goes on.  We talk more and more on our own because of the distractions for Olga (loud music and additional couple).  I don't mind that we're not getting the same amount of attention as before and neither does Irina.  We're doing just fine, thank you very much.  The food comes and it's quite good.  After dinner we order ice cream and I learn that Irina likes chocolate cookies in her vanilla ice cream.  She learns that I like vanilla, just plain old vanilla.   Mark orders one of those huge fruit plates with all of the little plastic eating sticks stuck in the various assorted pieces of fruit.  We all share that and watch videos and talk.  And talk some more.  Then Olga needs to leave, her husband needs to talk to her or something.  I wonder if that wasn't code for Irina telling her to get lost, but I dunno, seems kinda doubtful.  But maybe, because I didn't mind seeing her go.  I give her taxi money and she's off.  Irina and I return and sit with Mike and Veronika for a while.  We continue talking and munching on the huge fruit plate.  Well I kept on munching.  After a few minutes, I feel Irina's head on my shoulder and I look down to see her falling asleep.  Her hand is planted snugly in mine and somehow it seems like she's giving herself to me.  I turn and look away at the monitor because they're - for some reason - playing Phil Collins's "Groovy Kind of Love" (a love ballad from the 80s).  Though not a huge fan of it, the timing of this song is somehow mystical and endearing.  "It's a sign!" I think.  Oh boy.  Then I take a deep breath and truly appreciate the value in times like these.  "And these are the moments I thank God that I'm alive.  And these are the moments I'll remember all my life..." is the song that comes to my mind.....I just sit a little.  Silently.  Gratefully.  Amazed.

Then like all great moments, it's interrupted by someone saying "Hey!  Are you ok?"  Hahaha!  It's Mark, I'd forgotten he was still there.  Truly.  Wow.  "Yeah, sure" I reply, still feeling the moment a bit.  Irina wakes up and I know it's time to call it a night.  Sadly so.  So we pay the bill and share a taxi back to the flat.  Mark's place is relatively close to mine but the driver drops us off first.  I tell Mark to call me when he gets back in a week.  We all say good night, reluctantly however.  I don't think they wanted to leave any more than we did, but sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do.  Irina and I walk hand in hand to find her a taxi.  I seize the moment and tell her that I want to talk with her a little.  She agrees.  Thankfully it isn't so cold outside like it normally is in November.  With my broken Russian and her few words in English (and a lot of hand gesturing) we can communicate well enough, though not great.  I tell her that it's been a wonderful time these past few days to see her.  She replies in like manner.  I then ask her to officially be my girlfriend and she gladly accepts, overt hug included.  Life is great!  I also ask her to spend New Year's with me and she accepts that too.  I tell her that we will discuss the details when I get back to the USA.  I then make sure she gets in a taxi and has money.  We have our first kiss after she gets the price arranged with the driver.  Wow!  Just when I didn't think the night could get any better.  It does!  Then she's off.  I'll say it again: wow.  I head back to the flat.  I do the normal shower thing and then make sure I'm packed.  They'll be here at 6 am to pick me up after all.  I climb into bed...I don't need a movie tonight.  Too much to think about and remember and most importantly to look forward to!

That's it gang, my TR is complete.  Hope you enjoyed the ride as much as I did.  When I get back, I'll post some photos of Irina and I on the RWD forum along with these writeups.  And BTW, now that we're boyfriend/girlfriend it doesn't hurt to tell you that Irina's real name is Olga.  That's how I'll be referring to her from now on....Best to all!

[av8or1]

EPILOGUE

Well I am back now and miss Olga something ... I dunno, fierce, amazingly-so, all of those things.  We've already spoken with Elena, my interpreter from Oregon who advised me to go to Russia and to Tver in the first place.  I am tenatively planning on going back to Tver for the new year thing, though I was thinking about going to Kiev and having her meet me there.  I think the food is much better in Ukraine and the travel arrangements are much easier.  But who knows?  I may propose when I go back if things go really well and if I do that, I wanna do it right and include her family in the process.  And that means going back to Tver.  So here we go....

I am attaching some photos, I hope y'all like.  If I can be of further help to someone, just give me a shout!

Best to all,

Jerry

[Kuna]

Fantastic...  Just a great story!

Av8tor,  I really enjoyed reading your story and am really glad it worked out for you.

Except for all that damn crazy running, it sounds like a fabulous week!

I'm looking forward to the photos and the updates after New Year!

Kuna

[Rvrwind]

Well done Jerry, good report.
As for places to go for New Years, I assme your talking partying/celebrating. In that regard there are lots of them, but you will have to buy tickets & reserve a table well ahead of time, like by next week.
Zebra Cub & Zerkalo throw the biggest bashes, City Club as well but that is a much youger crowd. Club 80 if you liked it also has a bash & thats my fav as well. We've been going to Scorpions which is only 2 blocks from our flat & then come back to the park by the flat to enjoy the fireworks & lite off a few ourselves. Usually the Brother & Sister-in-law accompany us.
Pretty much the whole city is a party that day. There is a huge fireworks display on the bridge over the Volga that can be seen from any tall building anywhere in the city but a lot of folks stand along the riverbank to watch. If the river isn't frozen, which some years it isn't the fireworks combined with the reflection off the water is awesome.
If your more into a quieter party some of the resturants or even the Town Cafe have smaller parties going on. New Years is a big deal here so pretty much everybody gets into the swing of things. But like I said you will have to reserve well ahead of time, otherwise you won't get in. I believe he wife & I are going to Junga this year as her workmates have already made arrangements & reservations for everybody, LOL. Should be quite a bash!
Hope to see you when you come back & we will have time to sit down over coffee & enjoy the ambiance.

[Bruce]

Congratulations!  Great trip report and best of luck to you and Olga in the future.   

Tver is a special place to be New Years, especially when you have landed such a promising special friend.  If I were you I would celebrate in a quiet place in Tver with friends.  A loud drunken bar mass celebration just is not so intimate and does not seem to fit your liking.  Once the new year arrives you of course have Olga in your arms as you celebrate in the new year.  That is "a really good sign" to Russians as you know.  Then you clear from the small quiet gathering and go to your flat together to start the New Year properly with hopefully the girl of your dreams in your arms  .....................

[jb]

Kudos on the T/R, really well done.

Your Olga is lovely.  The only exception is the "Hook 'em" sign, being from a family of devout Aggies here, you gotta know know how distasteful I find that.   

[Darth Vader]

So I'd say that if you're looking for a trophy wife and divorce doesn't bother you, go to Ukraine.  If you're looking for a woman who you want to stand by your side and be a good wife and mother, go to Russia.  Yes these are bold statements that obviously don't always hold water.  I know that.  Clearly there are exceptions on both sides of the border.  However, based on my experience in both countries I believe there is a fair amount of truth in these assertions.

First, great trip report, Jerry.

But jeez.. what a stupid comment about the difference between Russian and UA women.  You have just insulted the majority of men here, who happend to be married to Ukrainian women.

Having dated girls from both countries, I'd say the differences are betwen the different girls, and is not related to what country they are from.

BTW-- I don't think Texans are dumb because they talk slow, either  LOL

Other than your Michael Richards (Kramer) moment, good job!

[Bruce]

Darth, I think you are really dwelling on the possible negative in Jerry's opinion.  He was really nice to state things as he sees them and most importantly he did clearly say that there were great girls from both countries. 

The gist of what he said is that in his opinion the girls are a little prettier over all in Ukraine and seem to have better character over all in Russia.  That happens to be the opinion of a lot of guys out there.  Other people have different opinions. 

It is quite clear to me that he did not intend to insult any man pursuing women in Ukraine or those with Ukrainian wives.

[Darth Vader]

Darth, I think you are really dwelling on the possible negative in Jerry's opinion.  He was really nice to state things as he sees them and most importantly he did clearly say that there were great girls from both countries. 

The gist of what he said is that in his opinion the girls are a little prettier over all in Ukraine and seem to have better character over all in Russia.  That happens to be the opinion of a lot of guys out there.  Other people have different opinions. 

It is quite clear to me that he did not intend to insult any man pursuing women in Ukraine or those with Ukrainian wives.

Thanks for you input, Bruce.  I truly do respect your opinion on this matter, as I do the opinion of Jerry.  In terms of the opinion of guys thinking girls from Russia have better character, it seems to primary be coming from guys who married Russian girls or have Russian girlfriends, as Jerry does.  You won't find support for that idea at all from us guys with UA connections.

I'm not taking anything away from Jerry or his fine trip report. However, when someone takes an extreme position, as did Jerry with this overstatement, I feel it does need to be questioned, and so I did.

Jerry--it seems to me you do jump to conclusions too quickly, as you did with your negative comment about women from Ukraine. <"if you're looking for a trophy wife and divorce doesn't bother you, go to Ukraine"> And ditto with your negative comments about Richard and his pricing, which I still think is clearly stated on his site. And as you did with your initial support for Tver Romance in the other thread.

We all have our own ideas and perspectives, and I by no means have any problem with your personal views.  But stereotypes bug me, and I have to respond when I see them repeated.

My first Russian girlfriend was from Tver.  She rattled off the same garbage about girls from Ukraine being "cheap."   Later I found out she was all wrong.

Seems to be that girls from Russia are more stubborn and arrogant than girls from Ukraine.  Another stereotype?    LOL

Jerry-- excellent TR! Thanks for sharing.

[Jooky]

Ok I'm confused.

Did you switch these girls names around? In your report you are chasing this girl 'Irina' and your interpreter is 'Olga'. At the very end you are missing 'Olga' and show us a bunch of photos of 'Olga', who is beautiful by the way. This 'Olga' is 'Irina' throughout most of your report, right?

Or do I need to go back to sleep?

Nevermind, I just caught that last part about the names. I do need to catch some more sleep. Best of luck!

[ScottinCrimea]

No offence taken.  My wife was born in Ukraine but her family is all from Russia so I'm not sure how she fits in your opinion.  Maybe I got the best of both worlds?