Kuna's Ukraine Trip Report

[Mir]

Well is you do decide to go to Dnepro please avoid the taxi and take the plane.
Aerosvit from Kiev for $117 return inclusive of taxes

[I/O]

driving on the wrong side of the road

Kuna: Now get this into your head.  They drive on the right side of the road, we drive on the correct side of the road.

I/O

[Gator]

The mystery is solved.  As everyone is saying, Ms. C did not want a co-worker to see her with a farang. 

This explains why she was hesitant to be straight with you.  If totally forthright and honest she would say,  "He will tell the other workers and everyone at work will think I am getting married and leaving the country.  This will make my job more difficult."   She knows that the word "marriage" would frighten most men or at least seem extremely presumptuous.  It is also premature considering her conservative nature.  So, she tried to change the subject in a diplomatic way.  There was little else she could say safely on a first date, even if she were very gifted in the English langauage.

 :offtopic:To keep you informed, the Colts whipped the Bears.  And an incredible gentleman finally received his redemption.  Good things do happen to good people.

[DKMM]

Ahh the mystery man.  I wonder if he realizes people around the world are talking about him, heh heh.  But yeah, not worth worrying about.  If he was close to her, and she wanted to hide you, she would have made dam sure you didn't go to the same place together to eat.

I disagree about the hiding from work thing, although its obviously a case by case situation.  My girl in St. Pete insisted on me meeting her at work and even coming in so all the girls in the office could get a look at me.  Her own boss was giving her the business over me and everybody knew who I was, where I was from and my intentions of stealing her away.  Maybe she didn't realize that could get her in trouble, but all I could gather was there was some envy at worst but mostly it was giggles and compliments.

Kuna, Brisbane is 100 times better than Kyiv to raise a family and you know it.  Entertaining such thoughts are not a good idea!  You must have the UW fever bad!!  I wouldn't live in the FSU unless I was earning at least as much as here, which is impossible.  So why do it?  A decent girl should realize how much better life in Oz would be... or get some friends to marry her friends (ha!)

Ne pukha ne pera!

[Michelangelo]

 :offtopic:To keep you informed, the Colts whipped the Bears.  And an incredible gentleman finally received his redemption.  Good things do happen to good people.

Yeah, he is a great guy.  I worked with him when he was with the Bucs, and was so impressed.   So intelligent and such a gentleman.  Tonight, I loved what he said as he was handed the superbowl trophy.

Sorry Kuna...here we are talking American Football on your dime :-) LOL

[Mir]

DKMM

St Petersburg is likely to have a much more liberal atmosphere then an out of the way Ukrainian city.

While it can be argued how many times (if any) Brisbane is better then Kiev I don't agree that wanting to immigrate is the right criteria in differentiating between decent and not-decent Ukrainian girls!

[Michelangelo]

Well is you do decide to go to Dnepro please avoid the taxi and take the plane.
Aerosvit from Kiev for $117 return inclusive of taxes

I've made that Kiev/Dnepr flight MANY times :-)

I agree-- fly. The plane will shake and scare you, but you'll be there in an hour, instead of an all night train ride.

[PeeWee]

First Super Bowl in years that I did not care who won or lost.

Peewee

[PeeWee]

I've made that Kiev/Dnepr flight MANY times :-)

I agree-- fly. The plane will shake and scare you, but you'll be there in an hour, instead of an all night train ride.

yep and besides time is money. Ukraine? Yeah...the plane is the right call.

Is there a CW forum? (Chinese Women)

Peewee

[I/O]

Kuna, Brisbane is 100 times better than Kyiv to raise a family and you know it.  Entertaining such thoughts are not a good idea!  You must have the UW fever bad!!  

When you are up to your arse in aligators, it is difficult to remain focused on the original intention, which was to drain the swamp.

I/O

[ScottinCrimea]

I have to jump into the "it's better to live anywhere else than Ukraine" discussion.  It's basically all about what your priorities are.  If your big thing is how much money you can make and how many luxuries you can buy, then by all means stay away.  If your priority is a slower pace and time to enjoy with friends and family, you may like it here.  As far as the hassle factor, it's a push.  So to tie this back into the thread, Kuna, don't discount either option and certainly consider others' opinions but don't base such a decision on them.  It's your life.

[Kuna]

Guys,

Vrey quick post this morning...  I can't remember what I was up to last night or whether I mentioned the Olympic Silver Medalist Volleyball player from Russia but I had a very strange but fascinating conversation with her this morning over breakfast...  NO, not like that... I was at breakfast, she walked in and later come to sit with me.

Anyway... couple of quick points.

Ms C and I off to Kiev today.  Expecting to have a very nice time.  Really not sure if I should be going to Dnepropetrovsk but the tip on the plane is an excellent idea.  I didn't want to even sit on the express train for 6 hours... AND it arrives at midnight which kinda sucks!

As for living in Ukraine.... It's only a passing thought at the moment.  I DO think that it would be a huge benefit when getting to know your girl instead of flying in and flying out every few months.  I think it's the Chinese that refer to people who fly in and fly out for business all the time as "fruit bats". 

They're only THERE long enough to mess things up!

Anyway... gotta run!

Kuna

[Michelangelo]

As for living in Ukraine.... It's only a passing thought at the moment.  I DO think that it would be a huge benefit when getting to know your girl instead of flying in and flying out every few months.  I think it's the Chinese that refer to people who fly in and fly out for business all the time as "fruit bats". 

Wise point, Kuna.  I did live the first four months of our relationship with Vik in Ukraine, and it was really good for both of us.  And for me, it really was not that different, except for the food.  Her city of Dnepr is similar to US industrial cities like Detroit, with a population of 3 1/2 million.  The city centre is vibrant and beautiful and has an energy all to its on.  And when we vacationed at the Black Sea, it was very similar to coastal resorts I've experienced in the US. Sometimes I felt like I was in the pacific northwest, other times the coast line of Maine. My experience in Aust. is just Townsville, so can't make that comparison for you :-) LOL

But my point is that your point is well taken.

But the decrease in my income makes our living their permanently NOT a good option.

One other thing to consider...when you meet your future wife, let's hope she is from a nice city like Kiev or Dnerpr, since you will be spending summer weeks and vacations there.  Both cities are easy to fly into.  I pity guys with girls from Siberia :-)  LOL

[Son of Clyde]

I considered living in Ukraine but I don't eat the food. If I lived at MacDonald's I might become the role model for that best seller "Super Size Me."

I could never stomach salo and pork because I have been living primarily off of chicken, fish and vegetables since 1982.

Being married now does change things because I have a partner who can help me stick to my diet. There are plenty of open air markets for fresh vegetables chicken and fish.

[ScottinCrimea]

I'm not sure where you were in Ukraine, SofC, but the primary diet here in Crimea is chicken, fish and vegetables, so where's the beef? (sorry for the pun).  They pretty much only use pork to flavor soups, and I have yet to eat salo.  Even my wife doesn't like that.
 M/A - We pay roughly $100 a month for utilities and apartment fees and maybe $200 a month for food for a family of three.  We pay no income taxes and no insurance. You can live VERY nicely here for under $1000 a month.  The equivalent income arguement just doesn't cut it.  I'm afraid you're going to have to come up with another one.  And I definitely agree with your comment about finding a woman from a nice place.  I got very lucky having a wife from Crimea.  Simferopol is a city of about 450,000 that has all of the amenities and still has a small city atmosphere.  Not a lot of industry so minimal pollution.  Because it's the capital of Crimea it's busy year round, not overcrowded in the summer and dead in the winter like the coastal towns.  I couldn't imagine having to spend my vacations in some cities in Ukraine or Russia.  so guys, just one more thing to keep in mind when you begin the search.

[Michelangelo]

I'm not sure where you were in Ukraine, SofC, but the primary diet here in Crimea is chicken, fish and vegetables, so where's the beef?
His wife is from Simferpol, also...  LOL

 M/A -   The equivalent income arguement just doesn't cut it.  I'm afraid you're going to have to come up with another one. 
That depends on how much money you can make in the US...for some with higher incomes, the arguement does cut it.

And I definitely agree with your comment about finding a woman from a nice place. 

Yep, Crimea would be tops.  But Dnepr is not for away, so I see us spending summers there, with maybe three weeks near Yalta on the Black Sea...

On topic-- Kuna, my last arguement is another bonus point for Ms. D :-) LOL

[catzenmouse]

I pity guys with girls from Siberia :-)  LOL

Thanks there Michelangelo but no pity is necessary. A little extra travel time is nothing when compared to the treasure that I found in Siberia. 

Ken

[Michelangelo]

Thanks there Michelangelo but no pity is necessary. A little extra travel time is nothing when compared to the treasure that I found in Siberia. 

Ken

Point well taken....I will remove my pity....for you :-) And Turbo too, if he agrees :-)

But Kuno, you save lots of air hours if your flight lands in Keiv, and not Siberia :-)  LOL

[Son of Clyde]

Actually, her mom is from a small village one hour's drive from Simferopol. From the video I saw of a wedding in Simferopol just about every dish on the table looked like some sort of pork product or side dish laden with fatty looking ingredients. I like plain everything including salads. The dreaded salt fish I have tried only once because just looking at it raises my blood pressure.
If I retired tomorrow I would earn about 42k a year which would do fine in Ukraine. I want my stepson to finish high school first, plus every year adds 2% to my retirement. The other option is to wait until age 62 and 9 months and I will receive 80% of my salary (now it is only 68%). I don't like the idea of uprooting my stepson again before he is 18.

[ScottinCrimea]

     SofC,  Maybe it is a difference in families, because whenever we have a family get together, it seems like everything has some sort of fish byproduct in it.  I have to agree with the salted fish.  When I was on the coast last summer I tried just about every kind and gagged on them all.  I love the smoked fish they have here, but when I see them eat dried salted fish heads, fins and all I have a problem.  I'm also more partial to trout when the meat is white and firm, not pink and chewy.
     As I'm sure you are aware, you can live much better on your retirement here in Ukraine than where you are.  It sounds like you have some time to increase your retirement, take care of your stepson, and then weigh the options.  Even on 42K a year you would be living like a king here, unless of course you chose Kiev.  Which village is her mom from?

[Turboguy]

Guys, If having a girl with an enjoyable and easy to reach city is a prime factor then may I suggest you look for a nice AW from San Diego or San Antonio.
If I were going half way around the world looking for a really special woman why would I want to let a few more hours on a plane or a city that was not a vacation hot spot enter into my decision at all.

[I/O]

Point well taken....I will remove my pity....for you :-) And Turbo too, if he agrees :-)

But Kuno, you save lots of air hours if your flight lands in Keiv, and not Siberia :-)  LOL

M/A You are having a bad run with your distance comments. It is actually quite a good deal quicker to get into Siberia from here than it is to get into Kiev. LOL Sorry mate, I was gunna lay off until you came up with that one. 

I/O

[Darth Vader]

Kuna, great Trip Report!  Keep it coming, man!

Thanks a million. 

[BillyB]

It is actually quite a good deal quicker to get into Siberia from here than it is to get into Kiev.

No international airports in Siberia that I know of so the Russians make you fly through Moscow first to go through passport control to check your visa and then you must back track into Siberia.

[I/O]

No international airports in Siberia that I know of so the Russians make you fly through Moscow first to go through passport control to check your visa and then you must back track into Siberia.

BillyB Like you said, that you know of.  2 that I know of, 1 is Vladivostock and the other is Novosibirsk which is right in the guts so it suits us perfectly from here.  I can be in Moscow or anywhere else in Russia faster going in that way and under some circumstances I can be in Ukraine faster that way.

I/O

PS Ekaterinburg is another option also.