What they missed

[Turboguy]

I guess what I am asking is what your ladies miss the most when they move here.   I don't mean so much things like friends and family.  I mean more things like material things such as the Milk or the breads they have in Russia.  I have heard those comments.  Perhaps things like music, foods,  being able to watch tv in Russian language.    I probably am trying to find things I can bring for her when I make a trip to see her or try to locate in some of the few places that specalize in Russian good or foods.  

[AkMike]

I've wondered the same thing. Ihave discovered that "Dish Network" has russian programing available. I'll begetting that in a month or so when I get to bring her home. She says that it won't matter what she misses as long as we're together.

[Jack]

Turbo, they miss Russian TV!!

Thank god for sputnik tv.  You know what sputnik tv is right?  The first time I heard a Russian woman mentioned sputnik tv I wondered what the heck she was talking about, then I figured it out, with a smile.

We finally added Russian sputnik tv some 6 months ago and man did it help out a LOT.

[Turboguy]

Nope, I don't know anything about sputnik tv,  fill me in if you don't mind.   I will check out the dish thingy,   Right now I am on cable but if there is something that would help I would do what I could.  

[Voyageur]

Turboguy,

Dish TV has about five channels in Russian. It is relatively expensive to get these channels, about $ 30.00 per month. But since I have mentioned that these channels are available to my Russian Fiancee, she is looking forward to having them very much.

I am not sure what Jack meant about Sputnik TV either, maybe it is on cable.

[Bruno]

Turbo,

Try at http://wwitv.com/portal.htm ... around 17 russian TV, 2 Ukrainian TV... over 900 FREE TV channel from the world... all you need is you computer and internet connection... for radio, use http://www.radio-locator.com/

[Turboguy]

Great, thanks Bruno, Mike, Jack and Voyager.   I will check that out.   I know when I am in Russia the thing I miss the most is American TV.   In the hotels about the only thing you get is BBC and that gets really boring after a while but it sure is wonderful compared to nothing.  

[Bruno]

Turbo,

The link in previous post work worldwide... if you have a hotel room with internet connection and own laptop, you will be able to see around 150 American channel via internet...

Some high class hotel have a netwerk connection ( Lan ) near the phone connection !!!

[Bruce]

Parents, sibling(s), friends, the village, their favorite foods, their career if they had one, their INDEPENDENCE - which they work to get asap (best for you to try to help keep them out of trouble until you can trust them, which will vary depending upon girl), language, culture, Russian Mtv and Russian soap operas / movies, Russian holidays celebrated the way Russians do.  It goes on but is possible for them.  The good out-weighs the bad.  The key is the ability to call home any time they want.

[Jack]

Turbo, what is Sputnik tv ?..........It is Satellite tv
 
The dish network has two options, each with two Russian stations. Told the wife to choose which one she wanted so she choose the one that had music and news, some movies, talk shows. After a few months she wants to look at the second option, it had a lot more of older type movies. Couldn't decide which of the two options she wanted, so she got both.
 
When you get the Russian tv option thru the dish network you must have two dishes. One dish is for the standard American dish network and a second International dish, which is identical in appearance to the first dish.

[TigerPaws]

The DishNetwork now has 4 channels in Russian

[Elen]

Parents, sibling(s), friends, the village, their favorite foods, their career if they had one, their INDEPENDENCE - which they work to get asap (best for you to try to help keep them out of trouble until you can trust them, which will vary depending upon girl), language, culture, Russian Mtv and Russian soap operas / movies, Russian holidays celebrated the way Russians do. 

Wonder are you guys really such good to replace all those in the lifes of your wives?

:?

PS (Missing Russian MTV and Russian soap operas???:? How can life turn such bad that you start to do that???:D:D)

[Frank]

Bruno,

Thanks for the links.  I will show them to my wife tonight. 

 

Dish Network has two programing options that I have had since my wife arrived (I haven't checked out the latest one). One package has old Soviet era movies on one channel and another with contemporary programing from Moscow. The other (RTVI) is more news and contemporary programing based in NYC but with a definite Moscow slant. To get these feeds you must have an additional dish to pick up a satelite which (on the West Coast) is almost due west and very low in the sky. The additional dish will run you about $60 and for basic programs plus these two packages my bill is a little over $100/month. Well worth it IMO.

A computer with internet access at home for her to use would definitely be a must have IMO.

It should be possible to get a subscription to a Russian language newspaper most anywhere in the US. It may not be timely (or completely accurate) information but it will bring a measure of comfort.

I an fortunate to live in an area with a large population from the FSU so there are many "European" food stores where my wife can get most of her favorite foods. I would recomend trying to find something like this as it has been a real blessing in our relationship. A nice loaf of russian black bread can really be a comfort someone so far from home.

By all means, be sure to stock up on some phone cards so that your fiancee can call home and talk whenever she feels the need. We use EuroMama or Hello Europe. Yes, you do have some bad connections (hang up and call again) and sometimes it is impossible to get through but after a while she will work out what times are the best to call. You can always use your more expensive direct service to get through if it is important and she can be brief but with the phone cards she can take her time and talk to family and friends. At $0.13/minute to Kyiv it's not cheap but much better than AT&T! At first we would go through a $20 card in a week but now it's down to about $25 a month.  Always remember rule #1, if Momma is not happy then nobody's happy.

Try to find an ESL class for your bride to attend. She may not pick up much English (especially if it is local school course also known as a "Babushka Class") but she might find some kindred spirits to discuss her feelings with that she can't talk to you about. Of course college classes are the only real way to get some meaningful results but any class is better than none.

Make sure that she has a way to get around town. DO NOT keep her captive in the house or you will have a bird in a guilded cage and that won't last very long. Show her how to use the public transpotation AND how to call a cab if she needs one. I would recommend sending her to driving school (better for ALL involved) rather than trying to teach her yourself.

Be prepared to give up all your extra time (ie. drinking with the boys after work, fishing, reading, other hobbies) until your wife has developed her independence and found her own friends to hang out with.

The two most imporant things that you can provide your wife with are ATTENTION and PATIENCE!

[catzenmouse]

Aside from the normal family, friends, etc. The biggest complaint from Lena is the food. The cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt and especially the beef and the fish. She says that it just doesn't taste right. Pork and chicken are the same.

[wxman]

Rags,

Excellent advice! How quickly after she arrives did you get her outside her birdcage. I know overdoing it early can lead to overload! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[ConnerVT]

Aside from the normal family, friends, etc. The biggest complaint from Lena is the food. The cottage cheese, cream cheese, yogurt and especially the beef and the fish. She says that it just doesn't taste right. Pork and chicken are the same.

Cottage cheese -- Light and Lively Lowfat (thanks go to Jet for that one)

Cream cheese -- Go to the supermarket cheese counter, and buy goat cheese.  Much more expensive than Philly brand, but she'll think it more from home.

Yogurt -- Can't help you.  I can't stomach the stuff myself...

Fish -- We have been going to the fish market that supplies the restaurants in the area, and buying some wonderful cod.  Try buying the wild salmon, and not the farm raised stuff.

Beef -- My wife's diet didn't include much beef to start with.  I enjoy cooking, and we have (slowly) been working beef into our menu.  There are really so many different cuts to choose from at the meat counter, you do need to know what you plan on cooking before choosing the right one.

Of course, a trip to a European food store will always make her happy, to find things that bring back the tastes from home.  Even in the small city here in Vermont, there are several markets for us to shop.  Even found salo...

[Photo Guy]

Ray,
I can tell you what *I* miss, since returning home.

K v a s !!   That drink is awesome - invigorating, like a tonic.
My friend Oksana has informed me about two markets in Phoenix that specialize in Russian food. I must get over there soon!

To help her adapt, I'd recommend the Russian Orthodox Church as a place for her to make friends and release her bottled-up language.