Odessa Kherson 2004

[stoichman]

Weekly wrap up #5 Weekly Wrap up #5 Weekly wrap up #5 This includes week one and two in Kherson only A few statistics Number of first dates = 15 Number of second dates = 5Number of third dates = 3 Number of fourth dates= 2K2 I saw 7 times I believeCost of meetings at Khersongirls = 11 x $20 = $220 Cost of meetings at Adam and Eva = 2 x $20 = $40 I was not charged to meet K2 or N6.Number of no shows = 3 (two, the same girl) Number of dates cancelled = 1Number of dates needing rescheduling = 3 shortest date = 1.5 hour it was V3 longest date= 7 hours- night of concert with K2 Number of girls needing interpreter = 12 out of 15but I only used them on first date, with all of them Cost on interpreters = $154 about 22 hours worth Spending money so far= $550 This includes food, taxi (including the big trip from Odessa), internet, gifts, addition cell phone credit, and gym fee for 17 days. About $39 a day. Number of disco nights = 2, including concert night Number of Alka Seltzer used = 0, maybe this is causing all my current problems. Most expensive date = around $44, concert night with K2, dinner, movie, concertMost expensive dinner for two= $24, with N6. Cheapest date =$10 it was V3. Number of smokers = two out of 15, I feel very lucky.I guess I have been sharing my thoughts as I go. But here are some of the highlights.*by now I am trying to decide if I will return, not trying to decide on one girl, it won't happen on this trip, too late in the trip.*only 5 days left, no new meetings, but I am tempted every time I go in the office.*K2 and her scheme has made me even more gunshy*after 8 trips my American buddy K, may give up on his search.*I predict B2 will find someone on this tripKherson day 15 Kherson day 15Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 37My day must start with at phone call at 3:15am. That is right, 3:15am. Guess who calls?Have you guessed? It was D1 from the disco night. Calling at 3:15am. I wonder what she wanted? I did not even bother answerring it. Today I have a beach date with I2 at noon and a meeting with L2 at 6pm. I also have to decide if I will call N7 for another date, and the last decision is if I will call I1. But it seems that L2 and I2 are the ones I want to see the most. The gym was not so fun today. I walked into the building and I hear the cat and kittens making quite a fuss. It seems the kittens managed to get up the stairs, but could not get down. I found one on the second floor, the white one. The tiger stripe one was on the third floor. I took the two kittens back to the box under the stairs to Mommy. I regret to inform you that the third spotted one did not make it, he was on a stair above the third floor. I was not sure if there was a fourth one, I could not remember and did not see another. What a bummer.I wanted to tell the people in the gym, but I did not know the word for "dead". I never thought I would use it, so I did not learn it. I was going to show the cleaning lady, but when I looked for her, and I peeked out in the hall, I saw her taking him away already. The beach date with I2 was fun. We went to the Calipso beach again. This is our fourth date. She is so adorable, she is growing on me. (not like a mold or fungus) But I find myself wanting to spend more time with her. The conversasion is OK. Even though her English is so low, she managres to ask me questions about my other dates. She knows I am only seeing her and one other girl right now, L2. But she wants to know how serious it is with her, like am I having sex with her. It is amazing what they can get across when they are motivated. We go back to the office. I2 uses an interpreter and tells me she has a new job and will start tomorrow. Awesome, do I know how to pick them or what? I try to find out what this means, will I see her again or not? She will work 8am to 8pm. Now remember she has no phone, cell or at home. So she will try to get a hold of me, I give her my cell number. She will try to call me.So I decide to call N7. If I am not going to see I2 again, I should see someone else. N7 is upset I did not call her yesterday. But she agrees to see me tomorrow, at noon. She is happy I called her.I go to meet L2 at 6pm. This is our third date. I want to take her somewhere nice so we go to Ninel, the place with the swimming pool decoration. She gets all weird on me and asks for an interpreter. So we call the office, which was an adventure in itself. She had to go use a pay phone. I later discovered later that I was using the Odessa city code on my cell instead of the Kherson one. I felt stupid.The interpreter comes and it turns out to be something serious, but simple. L2 wanted to tell me that she likes me very much. But she is afraid to be hurt. She has had no serious relationship for a long time,and has trust issues. She wants me to know that she is really into me, but is afraid of getting her heart broken. Aslo if I decide not to see her again, she wants to be told in person, not through the agency. The last thing she said is that since she is new in the agency, less than a month, she is amazed, and frightened, at our quick spontanous little relationship, it surprised her. There was no real relevaions made, even using the interpreter. But I promised to be a good man when I am with her, but that I have made no decision about marriage yet. She understands. She eats nothing, no food at all, only juice. Why did I bother with the nice place to eat? We go for a walk and we happen to go by the gym. So I take her inside to look at the kittens. She likes them a lot and plays with them a while. I take a picture of her with them.The owner/manager of the gym comes down and starts talking with L2. after a while he takes her up to the gym to show it to her. L2 is thinking about joining the gym. L2 also plans to ask her Mom if she can have the white kitten.Our plan was to go back to the agency to grab a DVD. But it starts to rain. So we go back to my falt and watch TV. We laugh at the foreign channels, some are quite funny.Much later at night, I ask if she must go home. Like around midnight. she says she does not want to. Not wanting another Mom incident, like A6 in Odessa, I asked if her Mom would be upset. L2 said yes, but she does not care.L2 went to explain that her Mom and her have an open "I hate you" relationship. That is right, they hate each other. I asked her on date one if family was important to her. She said yes, very much. But yet she has an "I hate you" relationship with her own Mom. This worries me. Also if she hates her Mom this much, maybe she is looking for a ticket out of here, or am I just paranoid?I insist that she goes home. I explain that I want her Mom to like me, if we are to be together. I get her a taxi, and I ask her if I can see her tomorrow. She says she will be working. L2 also has no phone at all, so I tell her to call me.So now I narrow it down to two girls, but both are working. I will see neither of them tomorrow it appears.Kherson day 16Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 38Well it appears that I only have one date today. N7 at noon. L2 and I2 are both working. I go to the gym early so I can go to the office and write you guys before I meet her.I call N7 to see if she wants to make it a beach date and she says no. I would find out why later. As I was writing you guys I2 walks in. She will not start her job today and wants to see me. She came to the office because she wrote my cell number in a translation book from the office and left it in my gym bag from the beach. I agree to see her at 6pm, cool.Now N7 shows up and I know why she does not want the beach. She is already sunburnt from yesterday. She is really red. This is our second date.So we go to Landa, a place right down the street. The scene of the "magic wand" story. And it happens again. Not the "magic wand", but she wants an interpreter. So I call the office and one comes. Why? I have no idea. She did not want to ask anything important. Or it seems to me, but since the interpreter is there, I make sure she asks everything. Results, not much. I think I am trying to force myself to like this girl since she is very pretty, and older than the rest.After lunch we go for a walk and it is simply too hot to do so. So we go to the office and grab some DVDs and head back to my flat to enjoy the AC. She picks out Serendipidy (I have no idea how to spell that) and Vanilla Sky. We watch Serendipidy, and it really is a good date flick, real sappy.N7 wants to spend more time together but I have to meet I2 soon. So we go for a coffee, since I have none in the flat. We walk across the street to a pizza place, with outdoor seating. Guess who is there?Have you guessed? It is I1. The sick aunt girl, with the 50 hour later text message, after standing me up, the same day she asked me if she wanted me to remove her profile. Now this is weird. She is sitting alone, facing my building, at a table that has a clear view to the opening where my door is. It is the only way in or out. Aslo a clear view of one of my balconies. The table is across the street, but closest to the street. She knows where I live, she was there with me.She sat there the entire 45 minutes we were there. I1 had to see us walk over, we walked right by her table. I was a little freaked, and called home to check on my pet rabbit.I said goodbye to N7, and she wants to do the beach tomorrow, at noon. Cool. And she wants to go to a disco tonight. I told her I would call her, if I can go tonight.I meet I2 at the agency and we walk to Bomonds to eat. We have a little dinner, some salads. And then we try to catch a movie at the cinema by the gym. The movie is starting too late, because her dorm closes at 11pm. So we go back to the flat and watch Vanilla Sky. She decides later she does not care about her dorm door being locked and stays with me. She also says some serious things about love too. It is getting harder to ignore the feelings I have for her. I will see her again tomorrow at 6pm. She is blowing off the job thing it sounds like to me.

[stoichman]

Kherson day 17 Kherson day 17Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 39I wake up very tired, and sore, and decide to skip the gym today. So I dress for the beach and go off to the office to write you guys, and wait for N7 to show up for the beach date. While I am writing you guys I am told that L2 was in yesterday and will stop by to see if she can catch me at the office. She left her watch at my flat.N7 calls my cell while I am at the office and she says that she can't make the beach, she asks to talk to Olga. So I hand the phone over to Olga. Olga hangs up the phone and tells me that N7 is sick and wants to see me later. I already have plans to see I2 later. Olga tells me that N7 will call back, to get my answer. N7 may be sick from the disco, since she wanted to go with me last night, but I never called her. Maybe she went with friends. N7 does not call back, maybe Olga got it wrong, maybe I was to call her back. Olga asks me if I want to call N7 back, I say don't bother.B2 is in the office so we decide to go have lunch. He is not seeing anyone today, he may pop the question to one girl tomorrow, and meet the parents. So he is alone today, she is in Odessa for the day.We go to have lunch at the Irish pub. My cell phone rings and it is the office. L2 is there and wants to see me. I tell them to send her over to me at the Irish pub. She is not in a good mood. I will find out why later.The three of us go to look at DVDs and CDs. I buy one Green Grey music CD. I saw their concert here in Kherson. B2 gets two DVDs. The CD was only $3 and the DVD was only $6. L2 and I go back to my flat so she can get her watch. Then we walk down to the office to get a DVD, she picks out "Life or Something Like That". We go back to the flat to watch it. Now I find out why she is mad. She saw me with I2 yesterday. She saw us walk by her place of work. She said that I2 was ugly, that I was dumb for walking by her work, and she was so upset she got drunk last night and is hung over.I told her that I did not remember where her work was becasue it was pitch black when I was there (9:30pm) and I would not be able to find it again. I also reminded her that I told her I was seeing someone else, it was not like I trying to keep it secret.L2 relaxed a bit, and told me again that she really likes me. After the movie I go to meet I2, and say goodbye to L2. L2 and I agree to go to the beach tomorrow at 11am. She has to work tomorrow at 5pm.This time L2 left her sunglasses in my flat. Last time it was her watch.I meet I2 at the office and she tells me more about her search for a job using an interpreter. She was promised a job at a supermarket, but they want a full time person and she will go back to school soon. So today I2 went to a few cafes and got a job at Bomonds, a place I have been at with her. She starts tomorrow at 10am.We go for a quick bite to eat. On the way to the cafe I see L2 sitting at a cafe, she sees me, oh well.A few interesting Russian customs/things come up, while we eat. No talking at all. Here is how it goes.I tell her to "get stuffed". Not on purpose, but when you put your thumb between your first two fingers and show it to someone, it means "get stuffed". I do it all the time, not on purpose, a real bad habit over here. I do it all the time while sitting at a table, resting my arms and hands on the table. She slaps my hand and laughs at it.She itches her nose. In Russain this means or foretells that you will be drinking and/or drunk soon.So I look at her and flick my throat with my finger. This in Russian means someone is drunk, and nod my head in her direction indicating her. A head nod over here can mean many things. Like "hey you" or indicating someone depending on who you nod towards, or "what?", or even a sexual thing depending on the context.She laughs at this conversasion without words, surprised I knew all the meanings. Lots of fun.We go to the cinema across the street from the Lenin statue. Spiderman 2 is starting today. We watch the film. Another one where you really do not have to hear the words to understand. Spiderman wins, sorry to ruin it if you haven't seen it. No reserved seating again, so both cinemas here in Kherson are like that. The ones in Sevastopol, Odessa, and Yalta all have reserved seating, so it is different. You pay for the seat you want, in Kherson you sit wherever, like America.I2 and I go back to my flat. She stays again. She says she wants to so that she can be with me more.

[stoichman]

Kherson day 18 and day 19 Kherson day 18 Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 40Two more full days left in Kherson. Today I am to go to the beach with L2 and meet I2 after work if she has time.At the gym, my last day there, since it is closed on sundays, I looked for the kittens. But none were in sight, the box was empty. No Mom, or little ones. After the gym I meet with L2 and it looks like rain. She says she still wants to go to the beach, and we head off. She wants to take the bus for some reason again, but I insist on a taxi. Once was enough.We get to the beach and it is even more cloudy, but we set up camp anyway. Get changed into our suits, and swim a little. Soon it is raining, but only lightly. We decide to wait it out.After about 20 minutes of light rain, we decide to call it quits, and leave the beach. Yes, it gets very sunny and hot, as we leave.When we get back to my flat though it begins to rain heavy so we go inside and watch some TV. I notice that L2 has not smoked at all for our last few dates.I leave L2 at 5pm to go to the Internet cafe to write you guys. While I am there my cell phone rings and it is I2. I tell her I will meet her at the agency at 8pm.At the agency we pick out two more DVDs to watch and head back to my flat. On the way back to my flat of course we run into L2, it seems she is everywhere.I fall asleep many times watching the first DVD, called Immortal, it has a lot of computer animation in it, but it does not keep me awake at all. I2 stays over again. Kherson day 19 Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 41Last full day in Kherson. In the morning I2 and I watch the other DVD we had "Queen of the Dammed" a vampire flick. We had breakfast (not the best breakfast movie, but oh well) and then she headed to work. I will see her at 6pm after work. Yesterday L2 said she wanted to see me at 1pm today. So before I meet her I head to the agency.I first make sure I got a taxi to Odessa. I was lucky enough to get the same guy that brought me here on my cell phone and one of the office girls set it up for me, (did the talking) only 300 grevna again, less than $60. The next cheapest person was $70, and one agency wanted $80. I will get picked up at 4am.I meet L2 at 1pm. We go to Bashnya. She actually eats this time, but it is some kind of pancake with cream cheese inside I think. She is upset again, but says it is work, and her Mom that upset her.We walk past a church, hear the singing, and she shakes her head, as though not approving. It appears she does not like church. She asks if I believe in God, I say "yes". She does not, she is an Atheist. (Sidenote- Sure enough, her profile says "other".) Something for me to think about........ After lunch we go to my flat and watch "Me, Myself, and Irene". She laughed a lot, it is sick humor, but funny at times. I like to see her laugh.She is not happy I have to go. But I still have to settle my bill at the agency, and I will meet I2 at 6pm. We walk out together, and we are half way down the street and I forgot the DVDs. I told her I had to go back. I ask if she wants a taxi, she says she will go to her friends cafe. I see her there often.Not exactly the way I wanted to say goodbye, but it had to do. I said goodbye there. And headed back to the flat to get the DVDs. I saw her sitting at the cafe on the the way to the agency, and I waved, she just smiled. I now settled my bill. Khersongirls forgot to charge me for laundry, and I reminded them. It was $20. So if I was not a honest person I could have saved myself over $60 on this trip from fees three different agecnies forgot about. I also donated to the Kid's Homeless fund they have set up.My money is low, I am down to my last 500 grevna, and no American money left.I2 came at 6pm. She wanted to go to her new place of work, Bomond's and get ice cream. So off we go.The dessert was really good. It had ice cream, jello, fruit, and whip cream. It was filling too, sorta big.Then we went for a walk. Down to the river and walked by the water for a while. Then we went to my flat. I packed my two bags. It is amazing how 6 weeks can fit into two bags. I gave I2 my t-shirt that she slept in, she was very happy. She can not stay tonight since I am leaving at 4am, and the dorm locks at 11pm.I promise I2 I will write her using the agency. I2 cried a lot. It was hard to see her go. She did not want a taxi, maybe because she is crying. and she did not want me to walk her home either, I tried to change her mind. I think she wants to be alone.This was the hardest Ukraine goodbye I had to do since 2002.Kherson day 20Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 42 This was the first day I had to use an alarm clock in over 40 days. It is a rude awakening to the fact that I will be working again in about 2 weeks. Yuck!!!!!It begins to scream at 3:30am. Not like my much kinder, gentler alarm clock at home that nudges you awake by starting very quiet and builds to a bellowing sound, but never the less, quite effective.I dress and soon my cell phone rings. It is the driver I hired, the same one that brought me to Kherson from Odessa, the Polish guy.We talk in Russian and he will be here at 4am, like planned. I walk down stairs with my big bag, a huge Nike gym bag, the kind you can hide a body in.He is there waiting for me, a blue Opal car. I throw in the big bag and tell him I have to go get the other one.I did it this way so no one had to meet me at 4am. I locked the gate door, on the 5th floor, and threw the keys behind it on the stairs. I could easily put my hand in the huge holes in the gate, but you cannot reach the lock this way. This was my idea so Kevin did not have to get up so early. Your welcome Kevin!!!!!!!!Now if you remember, Polish guy, on the way here, in broad daylight, could not find Kherson from Nikolev. And I was worried he would have trouble getting out of Kherson in the pitch back of 4am. No street lights to speak of. I was right, he did. And 30 minutes later we finally left Kherson. I felt safer now, 30 minutes is not bad. I should still get there 1 hour before my domestic flight to Kiev. I fall asleep,………………………………I wake up to cursing in Polish, or I assume it was since the car was pulled over to the side of the road. Polish guy was either trying to signal his homeland by smoke signals coming from under the hood of the car, or we had serious car troubles.I am like "antihandy man" so I stay out of his way. He is an engineer seaman so I pray he could get us going again. You see, the sun is out now. It is like 6:45am and my flight is at 8:30am.He talks to the car for like 45 minutes, pouring water down it, he had like 20 gallons in the trunk. Obviously ready for such a task. Whenever he would try to start the car, black, sooty smoke would come out the tail pipe, and the car would say "Ya ne hachow itti" or "I don't want to go."By now he is shaking his head. But wait, off in the distance, there beyond that tree. A silhouette is seen. It is may be a small child, but no, it is a small person hunched over, and in its hand a blue object. Yes it is, a bucket!!!!!! And the person, of course, it is a babushka!!!! A grandma with a bucket. Nothing bad can happen here. Sure enough, the car starts.I get to the airport at 8am and I have 30 minutes to make my flight. Polish guy gives me his address and home phone number. He is a great guy, lots of fun. And I am off to catch my flight.I make the flight, one of the last to check in. I try to sleep on the flight, but it is near impossible when your knees are two inches from your chin, so I eat the breakfast and read a little.When I land in Kiev and get my bag, I ready myself for the taxi drivers, I begin to say "Nyet spasiba" or "no thank you" even before I walk out the door. It always looks like there are a lot of people in the Kiev airport waiting to pick up others, but 2/3 of them are taxi drivers.I say "Nyet spasiba" about 15 times before I get to the buses and look for the shuttle to Borisoyl Hotel, it is free. The hotel is only 200 meters away, but this Ukrainian girl I have in my Nike bag is heavy.So I call the hotel and they send the shuttle for me.I check in, and decide to have my free breakfast now, instead of tomorrow. It is 10:30am. I eat and then read in my room, I have a whole day to kill. I fly out of Kiev at 7:00am so breakfast in the morning is nonnegotiable.I call A6 on my cell. I have not called her in 3 days. I told her I might come to Odessa for my last night, but I did not. I talk to her for about 30 minutes. She went to the AFA socials they had, I told her about them the day before I left. She says she met some nice guys, but she likes me more. I will probably write her when I get home. She is also on Athena's site now. I find out the Internet here is busy, so I decide to go for a walk, and look at the airport a little more. The airport in Kiev is really changing. I have been in the airport here at least twice a year for the last 4 years. It has grown big time. A real sign that Kiev, and the Ukraine is changing. I do not like big cities so I never looked around Kiev, but if the airport is any sign, this is a city on the move. There are many more places to eat here, cafeteria style, an Irish pub, Internet café, (20 grevna an hour), many little shops, and stores, you can even buy a Ukraine tourist type t-shirt now, this place is changing. Most of this was not here 4 years ago. It looks more like an International airport now, than it did my first time here in 2001.I find it very funny when in the Kiev airport I see signs of my journey. Once I saw an ad for a lawyer that specializes in K1 visas on a mini billboard there. And my favorite is the Western Union ad that shows an American man and many miles away, his happy Ukrainian girlfriend because he sent her money with Western Union. This gig is not so secret anymore.I get back to the hotel and discover I can use the Internet so I spend about 2 hours writing you guys, and then try to take a nap. I sleep for maybe 3 hours, and then get dinner. Enjoying what are some of my last sightings of the Ukraine ladies.Before I go to sleep I will update you on my American friends that I spoke about that are also looking for a wife here.K, the guy I was in Odessa with, is still in Odessa. The girl that asked him for $800 to pay rent came back from the failed job in another city. He will spend the rest of his time with her. He plans to see her in a country she does not need a visa for, before he decides if she is the one.T, my buddy I met in Yalta 2002, saw a few girls in Kherson and then brought a girl from Yalta to Kherson. He has been writing and calling her on the phone for 2 years. And two years of letter writing and phone calling fell apart in two days. He will stay in Kherson and see more girls there.B2, is in Kherson for a few more days. I thought he would get engaged, but not this trip. The girl he was going to ask leaked some insider information to one of the office girls, she is not ready for an engagement yet. B2 did meet the parents, and will see her more before he leaves.I make a few International calls to secure a pick up in Miami at the airport.Good night guys, I got a wake up call at 4:30am.Total days in the Ukraine so far this trip= 43Last day in the UkraineThe flight home……………..The phone rings at 4:30am. I was having a weird dream about little league baseball, a wet uniform that was too small they made me wear, and then somehow ended up in the uniform at a restaurant eating a Danish. Note to self, "call therapist."I catch the shuttle with a Christian outreach group, lots of luggage, and many guitars. I make it to the airport about 20 minutes before they allow me to check in. The "green channel", which means you have nothing to declare, was really quick like 15 minutes only to wait.By the way, a little warning, when you clear customs to get in the country they give you what they call an "invitation". It is different and separate from the "customs declaration". It looks like a brochure with little boxes to fill in. Passport number, type, where you are staying, etc. Half of it is for entrance, half is for exit. On the way in they collect the entrance part, ripping off the exit part, and giving it back to you. You fill out both parts on the way in. On 5 of my 7 trips I was asked for the exit half on the way out. I had it all 5 times. Not sure what would happen if you don't have it. I was asked for it this time, and was able to produce it. So make sure you keep the exit half guys.I had to fly to Amsterdam, and then to Miami. On the flight to Amsterdam I sat next to an American couple from Minnesota that just adopted a Ukrainian baby, he was beautiful. They were so happy. The father said it took them about one year of waiting to adopt, and it cost about $25,000. Most of the fees happen in the USA he said. I asked him about bribes along the way, and he said yes there were some, but they look at it as normal business here in the Ukraine.I only had like an hour lay over in Amsterdam, just the way I like it, and only had to walk about 100 meters to get to my new gate, cool!!!! I was picked for the random security check on the way into the gate, body check, and bag. First time for that, no biggie though, all of 7 minutes.Now this is so cool!!!!! I try to fly KLM and Northwest all the time, for the frequent flier miles, and this is why. I have so many miles now I have enough for a free International ticket, but along the way I was bumped up to "elite" status, which means I get 50% free frequent flier miles every trip and I get upgraded to first class, free without even asking, when it is available, it is automatic.I have been upgraded to first class many times on domestic flights, but never on an International flight. I went up to the check in desk, to make sure the lady in Kiev put my frequent flyer number in, and the girl there hands me a new boarding pass. I was upgraded to first class for the transatlantic flight (9 hours) from Amsterdam to Miami, for free!!!!!!Those of you that have been over there know this is clutch. I sat down in my seat and freaked out. The chair is like one of those really nice home theatre chairs, full recline with a leg and foot rest that has two fold out cushions down there. I stretched out my legs, and I could not even touch the chair in front of me with my toes. It was like 4 feet from my chair.Every chair has a separate, TV screen and when they served the meal, I could not believe it. They actually serve you. I had a little tablecloth put on my tray. First a salad with shrimp, green salad with veggies, bread, and some type of meat. Then I had a choice between chicken, beef, or fish. A choice. I took the beef and it was a real steak. And it was not bad at all. Dessert even had a choice, cheesecake, strawberries, or chocolate cake. They even put real whip cream on my strawberries.There were three movies, One was "Man of Fire", another had Johnny Depp in it, I think it was a Steven King movie, and The "Prince and Me" which I thought was funny since it took place in Wisconsin where I grew up. The last thing I thought was funny happens later in the evening with the snack. The economy seats got ice cream like those little cups you get in the cafeteria in grade school. First class had a choice of about 3 gourmet flavors, like "chocolate chunk coffee." So this is how the other half lives?I tried to sleep, but could not. So I watched most of the three movies. My house sitter picked me up at the airport. And I knew I was home when I heard words like "dinero, libro, adios,". Yep I was back in south Florida.I asked her to take me shopping so I would have some food in the house. She agreed, and it is different than shopping in the Ukraine. You only have to wait in one line, not three. And I had to stop myself from answering in Russian.At home most things were OK, except for my grass, it really needs to be cut. My dog was happy to see me, but sad to see the house sitter go, he got away with murder I am sure while I was gone. Too cute for his own good.I got a second wind around 7pm and unpacked and did my laundry. But I was ready to pass out around 11pm. I had been up for about 26 straight hours traveling, so I took a shower and off to bed. Who is on my mind now? … the most, I2. Still to come……………….Kherson wrap up weekly wrap up #6AfterthoughtsThe future

[stoichman]

Weekly wrap up #6 This includes week one, two, and three in Kherson only A few statistics Number of first dates = 15 Number of second dates = 6 Number of third dates = 4 Number of fourth dates = 4 I2 I saw 8 times K2 I saw 7 times I believe L2 I saw 6 times Cost of meetings at Khersongirls = 11 x $20 = $220 Cost of meetings at Unona = 2 x $20 = $40 I was not charged to meet K2 or N6. Number of no shows = 3 (two, the same girl) Number of dates cancelled = 2 Number of dates needing rescheduling = 3 shortest date = 1.5 hour it was V3 longest date= the nights I spent with I2 Number of girls needing interpreter = 12 out of 15 but I only used them on first date, with all of them Cost on interpreters = $154 about 22 hours worth Spending money so far= $650 This includes food, taxi, internet, gifts, addition cell phone credit, and gym fee for 17 days. About $32.50 a day. Two Odessa-Kherson taxi rides = $115 Number of disco nights = 2, including concert night Number of Alka Seltzer used = 0, maybe this is causing all my current problems. Most expensive date = around $44, concert night with K2, dinner, movie, concert Most expensive dinner for two= $24, with N6. Cheapest date =$10 it was V3. Number of smokers = three out of 15, I feel very lucky. Odessa-Kherson Wrap Up the whole trip This includes week one through six in Odessa and Kherson A few statistics Number of first dates =29 Number of second dates = 9 Number of third dates = 5 Number of fourth dates =5 Number of fifth dates = 4 Number of sixth dates = 4 Number of seventh dates = 3 Number of eight dates = 3 I may have seen A6 more It averages out to 1.60 dates a day. I took out the days of arrival and travel days. Cost of meetings at Athena = 6 x $15 = $90 Cost of meetings at Adam and Eva = 6 x $20 = $120 Cost of meetings at Khersongirls = 11 x $20 = $220 Cost of meetings at Unona = 2 x $20 = $40 I was not charged to meet A6, K2, C, or N6. Number of no shows = 4 Number of dates cancelled = 5 shortest date = 1.5 hour longest date= the nights A6 and I2 stayed with me Number of girls needing interpreter = 18 out of 29 Cost on interpreters = $234 about 33 hours worth Spending money = $1650 This includes food, taxi, internet, disco, sweatsuit, flowers, perfume, 3 cds, concerts, addition cell phone credit, and gym fees. About $39 a day. Two Odessa-Kherson taxi rides = $115 Cost of cell phone and starter package= $82 Number of disco nights = 10, includes concerts Most expensive date = around $75, the concert with L. Cheapest date =$2 when A4 refused to let me buy her ice cream Number of smokers = only 4 out of 29, I feel lucky. Most expensive meal for two= $36, girl N2 at the Uzbakastani placeI went back and added up everything, airline tickets, flats, visa, spending money (based on the money I took with) it adds up to $5900. If you divide that by the 43 days I was gone it comes out to about $137 a day.Still to come…………. Afterthoughts The future

[stoichman]

AFTERTHOUGHTSI thought I would take the topics found here in order of ease. I have many things to share, let's get on our way.The agencies…………………………In Odessa:Adam and Eva- I think they are one of the top two agencies I ever used. How many have I used? I think it is about 8 or so. I like the way Natasha will steer you clear of the girls that are right for you. I do not get the idea she is out to just make money, she told me not to meet about 3 or her girls, either not serious, or would ask for gifts. I appreciate when they do that. Their deluxe flats are the best I have seen in Odessa. 24 hour water, AC, free laundry and ironing, maid service 6 days a week, simply the best flat service, bar none. I used their letter writing in 2003, but not 2004, a little expensive, but good, fast, and simple. I recommend highly, without hesitation.Athena- I used them in Odessa and in Kherson in 2003. One of the best. I like the way the office staff helped a lot in the picking of girls. The girls were not as beautiful as the ones at Adam and Eva, but as a trade off, they were nicer, and less Americanized. I hear the Kherson office is closed. Not enough business I guess. I would use Athena again, especially if I go to Sevastopol in the future, their main office is there. I recommend highly, without hesitation.Ukrainebride.net- I used them in 2003 and visited their office in 2004. I would never use them again. First reason their price, they want $89 to meet one girl. This is their price now in 2004. Other agencies in the same city charge $20 or $15. When I used them in 2003 it was $40 a meeting. Second, (in 2003) one girl came to meet me and did not even know my name. Just that she was meeting an American in a cafe. Third, another girl I met in 2003 stated that when she was recruited for the agency she had no idea what it was, someone just started taking her picture on the street. And she figured, why not? After she was told what it was for. Fourth, It felt like most of the girls I met were just "putting their time in" and was not really looking for someone. I felt like they were getting compensated for their time with free trips to the beach and discos, which I saw first hand, it looked like a "field trip" with the owner paying all the bills.In Kherson:Khersongirls - I think the office is simply the best place to be in Kherson. It always seems like they are busy trying to make you happy. I like how they always check up on you, making sure you are finding the girl you want. I had great luck just sitting in the office and meeting girls that way. The ladies are always walking in to get letters or just to say hi. Kevin takes the time to give advice and help you select girls, even though he has hundreds of emails to answer a day. The flats are also the best in the city, they will not disappoint. Also Khersongirls is home to my favorite interpreter of all, Olga. And last, their letter writing makes the most sense, $50 a month, unlimited, translated two way letters. The best deal anywhere. I recommend highly, without hesitation. Unona- I also liked this office, but more so for the workers. Once again they steered me clear of a few girls they thought were not right for me. I like that, they could have made more money on me, but chose to aid me instead of spend more of my money. I only met two of their girls, but both were nice, and I do believe seriously looking. I wish I could have met more of their girls to get a better idea. I found slightly older girls here, (meeting my criteria) than in Khersongirls. I recommend this agency, but not without hesitation simply because I only met two girls here. They also have an office in Odessa I did not visit.Eleo- I used them in April of 2003. I would not use them again. I did not like that they had an office, but they did not want me to visit. Everything was done on the Internet and phone. I got the feeling that they were just trying to ring up my bill. The manager kept finding girls for me to meet, even though I did not ask her to. She never gave any advice or took a single girl off my list, even after knowing me for a while. They just kept coming. The dates she arranged kept getting more expensive, like bowling in Nikolev, where the taxi driver was her husband, keeping it all in the family. The girls did not seem too serious either, I felt like they were the closet to "professional daters" I have found anywhere.The girls I was (and still maybe) serious about………….. A6- I told her to meet more American men. And she has. I knew this meant that perhaps I was not too serious about her, and I am guessing this is true, now that I am home and thought about it. I am a little angry too, since A6 is the only reason I did not date E2 more. I figured it out. A6 sent me on a serious guilt trip, and I was convinced by her to see only her. This was a guilt trip that even a Jewish mother or Catholic priest would be envious of. I really liked the way we clicked at first. I also liked being with her since I knew she was really into me, I knew she liked me. Is she still a prospect? Yes, I tried to write her an email, but it came back "undeliverable". I1- Why is she still on my list? I can't stop thinking about her. If she did not lie about the sick aunt then I am a real bastard, and lost a chance with a great girl. I was strongly attracted to her, and she made me feel great. One of the best looking girls I met, and she was my #2 pretrip choice for Kherson. I may try to write her and see if I gain some insight into what she was thinking. Why did she wait 50 hours to contact me?L2- I know that the Atheist thing will really cause me to forget about her fast. But her personality was the closest to mine (her and E2). Same sense of humor, and she is so spunky!!!! I dig that in a girl, and different, a real character, and not a "cookie cutter" girl trying to be something all men want. She was not afraid to be herself. I know she liked me, she was serious about being with me. I will try to write her.I2- Is at the top of the list. Why? I know she would make the best wife and mother out of the whole group. She is so feminine, and nuturing. Always fusing about my clothes, and hair, and concentrated on me, and not herself, more than all of the others. It would be so easy to spoil this girl. I am looking for someone to adore and cherish forever, and I see a strong possiblitiy of being able to do it with her. I do worry a bit about the physical attraction lasting, and that is why I wish I had more time with her.The forums…………. I thought of many things to say here. Let me be positive first.I enjoyed writing to you guys. I have always been a bit of an entertainer, (it is the college DJ coming out of me) so this was easy to do and fun. Yes, it took a long time. But once I found the forums, spring of 2004, I thought they could be of use. So I planned to do this all along.I truly liked 95% of the comments and advice that I got. Many people gave their opinion in a constructive manner that is helpful and worthy of a good forum. Open discussion is great, and if it is done in a tasteful way it is healthy and inviting. And I thank all of you that did it in this fashion, which is most of you. But it seems that a few of the posters are not so helpful. Some write as though there is a right and wrong way to do things in this industry. How can that be when we are talking about matters of the heart? There is no right or wrong way to find love. The way some people write is not condusive to helping someone. There were some negative people writing as though they were giving advice that had to be followed or I was doomed. This can't be true, and is not helpful. The only things that we can share are our own stories and experiences, and that is what I decided to share. Most of time I just shared the facts, and when I shared my feelings, I thought it was very obvious also. This is why I keep in touch with about 12 different guys from my various trips all looking for a wife. It is so helpful to hear their stores and details. And this is what I thought the forums would be all the time, but some people are not so helpful.I hate the fact that I felt like I had to mention this, but it was only about 3 to 4 people. And it was only really bad on one forum, and hardly seen on another. Some of these posters appeared to watch the forums like hawks, look for evidence of something they felt was "wrong" and then jumped on the other writer. Saying things that are mean, spiteful, and their only purpose, to degrade this person. It is like a sport for them, and they ruin it for the rest of us.If people would simply share what they experienced, keep to the facts, state opinions as constructive, and stay away from things that sound like pious, arrogant advice, and /or comments it would be more helpful.But this is just my opinion.Ukrainian girls in general……….So after about $25650 on seven trips, 5 that were for the "search", two different K1 visas that did not end in marriage, living with an Ukrainian girl in America for two months, spending about 155 days in the Ukraine over 4 years, meeting hundreds of Ukrainian girls, 3 weeks of recruiting girls for AFA off the beaches of Yalta, and finally getting scammed by a girl, do I still want an Ukrainian wife?Yes.Why? Well the one thing Ukrainian women have that American women can't seem to compete with is the level of femininity. And I think, for me, that this quality is needed in a good wife and mother. It is so refreshing to be with a woman that still wants to be, and acts like a woman. Maybe I was born in the wrong decade for this in America. Now in America it seems the women want to be more like men, and who wants to date a man? Not me.You can list many other qualities that Ukrainian women have. But I think this is the one that sticks out the most, and I also believe it is the one most people would not argue with. Just my opinion.Things I am sure of…………If you are in the Ukraine, then it is OK to pick your nose in public.If you want to be rich, then you will not be a bra salesman during the summer in the Ukraine.If it qualifies as a headband, then a Ukrainian girl somewhere is wearing it as a skirt.Mysteries that remain………..Who got the bigger bottle of perfume, K2 or her Mom?Did I1 lie about the sick aunt?What did D1 want at 3:15am?What is in the little black and white stick that makes cars pull over in the Ukraine when a policeman points at them?The industry in general……………….I think this industry will die a slow death, and it will happen sooner that we think. I have been there the last 4 summers and the girls are changing. They are becoming more Americanized. AFA does not go to Moscow for the main socials anymore of a tour. They go for the last one of 3 to Moscow, and the first two happen somewhere else. Why? I can't be sure, but Moscow might as well be New York, from what I hear. Would I go to New York to meet girls? No. It appears the "big three" are finding new cities to do tours in because the bigger cities they used to use are becoming too "big city" and the girls no longer have a reason to leave. They can stay and become like American girls and take care of themselves. And do American men want to meet this type of girl? I would say no.I myself would not go to Kiev, Moscow, or St. Pete for the above-mentioned reasons. And I fear Odessa is becoming much like this, and way too fast for me. The pretty girls are not in the agencies; they are staying right where they are.Did I say the cities are all fished out? No. But if you want to meet an Ukrainian girl like the ones you read about, it is my opinion the bigger cities will soon not have very many.But once again this is just my opinion, based on my observations.The future………..I feel that I have to go back if I am to be serious about any of the girls I met. I knew ahead of time I did not want to be a "one week wonder" so I left the K1 application in America, it did not even get packed. I did two trips for each of my K1 visa girls, and I am still alone.Have I thought about giving up all together and just staying alone? Yes, I have. But I know that I do not want to be alone forever. I am way too sappy of a guy for that. I remain optimistic that true love can exist, and if it does, I want to experience it.So I may go back to Kherson in December, which is the earliest I can do so. Who will I see? I2 most likely, but it all depends on the letter writing. These relationships fall apart so fast, and the English speaking levels of I2, I1, and L2 kept things from getting any more serious while I was there. Would I see new girls? Not sure, a few from Khersongirls have written me already since I left. And yes, they are tempting, but as of now I have not written back. A backup plan is always good I think.If all of this falls apart, with I2, and the others. I already have started thinking about next year. I have a spring break where I could visit one city, and of course summer. I think the spring break would be a great time to revisit Sevastopol. After all, both my K1 visas were girls from there, so I know it is a good place for me. Would I look up those two? One yes, I would look at her place of work, I know I would, just to see her. Both girls are not in the agencies anymore, they decided to stay in the Ukraine.For the summer I already know I would do all 8 weeks over there. I would like to visit a new city for me, Dnepropetrovsk. It looks like a place I may want to visit. And once again I think I should have visited Nikolev. So if I do 8 weeks next summer (only if starting from scratch again) I may visit in order……………..Dnepropetrovsk - Kherson - Nikolev - Odessa- Yalta - Sevastopol.Anyone want to join me?I wanted to see if I could make you laugh one more time. So here is what my sick mind came up with.TOP SEVEN REASONS I MAY BE BETTER OFF WITH MY DOG INSTEAD OF FINDING AN UKRAINIAN WIFE7. The paperwork and wait for my dog took only 2 hours6. The only work my dogs' teeth need is a special Milkbone once a week5. My dog is already American, so I am not being used for a card of any color4. My dog is always happy to see me, whether I am gone 6 weeks or just to get the mail 3. Due to a slight alteration in my dogs' anatomy I am fairly certain he will never leave me for anyone else, human or canine2. I have already conquered the language barrier with my dog.1. Bringing home my dog did not involve the INSI hope you guys have a sense of humor.AND TO CLOSE………..This is an award for "the best t-shirt logo I saw on an Ukrainian girl."Why close this way? Because it sums up the industry in two words.It states what both the American man and the Ukrainian woman want out of this endeavor.It said simply "AMERICAN DREAM".

[tim 360]

Good idea to re-post it on this board,  I recall it from the other board.  Great in-depth report.  Tim

[START2]

I haven't a clue. Just what exactly is the "Other Board". I would like to read the comments on this particular trip report.

[OhioGuyRob]

Hey Scott! 

If you decide to do a trip this summer let me know. 

[wonderseeker]

Very interesting and enlightening story. I literally just moved to Sevastopol (like a few days ago) to try to do a bit of business here but will probably eventually meet up with a russian girl so it was good to get the inside scoop.   Let me know if you will be here this summer maybe we can hang out a bit. I am currently fairly clueless and dont know much but maybe by then.. :-)   Not sure how to pm on this board but if you do please feel free to pm me with your email.

Chris