LenaC's trip to Tver

[KenC]

I thought it would be interesting to post a trip report even if it is second hand.  My wife, Lena, left for Tver Russia yesterday on a trip back to visit with her parents, relatives and friends.  She has been here in America for almost 9 years now and has become rather Americanized.  We have now lived in California for the last 7 years and that has impacted her assimilation to America even more.  I kid her that she isn't a Russian/American or even an American/Russian, but a Californian now!

I drove her up to LAX yesterday for the Aeroflot direct flight to Moscow (12 hours).   I left her at the security entrance about an hour before flight time.  I got a call from her at about 15 minutes after her flight was supposed to leave.  “Why is your flight delayed?”  “Because it is Russian Aeroflot!”   :oOK, the flight was only 30 minutes late leaving.

I got an update on the flight over this morning.  Lena’s first impressions were how rude Russians are in general.  I teased her that when she first came here she thought most American were insincere suck ups with their “have a nice day” crappola.  She said she would take insincere niceness any time over the rude Russians.   The flight was about half full so there was plenty of room for everyone, or so you would think.    One Russian man took exception to another that had slid into the center row of seats to lay down after take off.  The guy must have called “dibbs” on that row!  A yelling match ensued that escalated to a pushing match with the aggressive first Russian man winning.    A female flight attendant tried her best to control the situation but was really helpless.  As he laid in the row of seats he did manage to yell at two Russian women that were too caught up in their conversation and disturbed his sleep.

Later in the flight, Lena spoke to the flight attendant that was involved in the altercation and she was concerned that she would get into trouble for not being able to control things.  Lena wrote a quick letter on behalf of the flight attendant saying that she handled the situation professionally.  Needless to say, Lena has a new best friend flying Aeroflot!

Lena’s first impression of her parent’s flat was interesting.  Consider that she lived in this same flat for many years before coming here.  She said she didn’t remember it being so small.  It was comfortable and well done, but the size of it seemed to have shrunk since her last visit!  She was tired from the trip and crashed early. 

Lena promises to email photos to supplement this report.  BTW, it was her idea for me to post a trip report.  Your comments are welcomed.

[Gator]

Fascinating perspective - a Californianized RW returning to Mother Russia. 

Please keep it coming; rather, please ask Lena to keep describing her impressions. 

Of course she sees life differently than when she left 9 years ago. The rudeness, aggressive male behavior, etc. are examples of what she now dislikes that she probably took as normal 9 years ago. 

There are some aspects of Russian life that have changed over the 9 years such as the economy, shopping choices, traffic, etc.  How about those?   

[Daveman]

This will be an incredibly interesting report, KenC... Looking forward to it.  Definitely an interesting perspective thus far. 

Dave

[KenC]

Gator,
I will try to get her impressions on your suggestions, but for now she has been in Russia for only 12 hours and 8 of them sleeping!  

I do recall her last trip to Tver over two years ago.  She stood in her parents home defending America and American ways to her staunch (pro communist) family.  This is the same woman that, much in the same manner, debated with me and my adult children just the opposite viewpoint when she first arrived here.  That is why I always advise those guys new to this that they have to have very thick skin once their woman arrives.  It takes time to undo all the propaganda accumulated in their minds.  Not to say we don't have to rethink some things too.
KenC

[Simoni]

Nice idea to post Lena's TR, KenC.  I'm glad she suggested it.

It seems like a lot of us guys are bachelors now...My Marina is in Ukraine, LenaC is in Russia, Start2's wife is in Ukraine...the list goes on.

Beer and poker, anyone?     LOL

[Lily]

KenC, do I correctly understand that this is her 1st visit home after 9 years in the U.S.?

[KenC]

Lily,
No Lena has been back to Russia before.  Her last trip was maybe 2 1/2 years ago.
KenC

[Gator]

It seems like a lot of us guys are bachelors now...My Marina is in Ukraine, LenaC is in Russia, Start2's wife is in Ukraine...the list goes on.

 

Do not expect any sympathy from a bachelor for the past six years.  Don't remind me - it is my own fault (or choosing if one is fastidious - hopefully not me).

[AnastassiaAsh]

Oh wow, Ken, this is so great, wonderful idea!

I am planning to go to Moscow at the end of this summer some time too and I think I may have the same impressions. Last time I thought our 3 room flat 'shrank' considerably too. 

[KenC]

After Lena's first full day in Russia, she has come to the conclusion that everything in Russia is old.  The roads, the trolley and the buildings.  She kind of ripped on the trolley saying it was so old and slow that she would had been faster walking!

Lena said that Tver might be "fished out" because she has yet to see a good looking woman on the street since being there.  Or maybe, she thought, all the good looking women are now driving or being driven in cars!  A lot more women driving and a lot more American cars on the road too.  She also guessed that any body that was somebody moved to Moscow any way.

The food is much better than in America.  Lena raved about the fresh fruit and vegetables.  She said she has not smelled or tasted anything in America that comes even close to the strawberries she bought.  (Note that Lena buys only organically grown fruits and veggies here too)

[I/O]

Lena raved about the fresh fruit and vegetables.  She said she has not smelled or tasted anything {Edit} that comes even close to the strawberries she bought. 

Interesting.  That was my lasting impression after my first trip to Russia way back when also. (And I live adjacent to a highly productive F&V growing area here)

I/O

[Gator]

KenC,

I agree with Lena about fruits and vegetables that are in season.  How are they in January?

Essentially, the produce is locally grown and locally picked akin to an authentic farmer's market.  Strawberries are avaiable for about 2-3 months, not 12 months as in the USA.

[philb]

Another temporary bachelor here.  My wife would agree about the in season fruits and vegetables being more flavorful etc. in the FSU as compared to what one typically finds in the stores in the USA.  Although she is still amazed at the variety we have here.

One of things she has mentioned to me is how she finds the mashrutkas pretty intolerable.  She is staying with her son and he lives about 20 minutes by minibus from the nearest metro station.  As I am sure many of you know Kiev has had record high temps for the month of May.  She has mentioned a couple of times how awful it is riding in these buses.  I cna almost smell the oders as I type....

The thing is though she had a car with air con for many years when living in Ukraine, so she had not ridden the mashrutka on a regular basis for a long time.

This Saturday she is having a big barbecue for her family at her son's house.  She told me she does not know how she will be able to get everything she needs without a car.     

[SANDRO43]

Strawberries are available for ... 12 months ... in the USA.

Here as well, they are grown in hot houses. They smell right, but their taste is far less than their smell makes one expect. Must be some clever OGM variety, by the time you put them on the table, your money's already gone .

[START2]

Ken,
  Great idea for a thread. The trip back through the womans eyes. I think many of the wives have changed their way of thinking after the first year or 2. After that, maybe the homesickness wears off and they see and realize that their new home is actually where their husband is. Even after 2 years my wife feels like she has lost a measure of the connection she had with her girlfriends.
  So far, what she misses. Me, her car, good roads, and yes, all the fresh food. I swear when I'm there, even the processed catsup tastes better. Val would live where I would. What she made a bee-line for after arriving...her hair dresser and manicurist. They actually make house calls.
   Keep us filled in on Lena's daily routine. It's very interesting.
  Simoni,   we can add a new name to that list soon. Catz will be batchin it soon.
  kenC, what do you find yourself doing in the empty house? Did you pace the floors the first few days?  Not natural is it? Maybe we should start a new thread about what the husbands do when the wife's away? Or maybe not. this or this  or    or   or  Hmmm. 

[Zhena]

[ Strawberries are avaiable for about 2-3 months, not 12 months as in the USA.

I tried those non-seasoned strawberries and I absolutely hate them. Not worth any money.I absolutely agree that you wont find anything that tasty in america as at my motherland(means fruits and veggies).

[KenC]

I/O,
My MIL brought us some homemade strawberry jelly once.  I have never tasted anything as good before.  The strawberries were dwarf like (only a quarter the size of American strawberries), but tasted like a much concentrated flavor.  Amazing, really.  Funny think is that Lena will eat more while there and still lose weight too.
KenC

[Simoni]

and realize that their new home is actually where their husband is.

Start2~ Marina told me today that she talked and talked to her girlfriends about our life in the USA....one friend said to her "What are you, crazy?  What are you doing here? You should be in America with your husband!"  I liked that advice   Already, Marina is wanting to cut time off her trip and return sooner....this after ten days in Ukraine.

One of things she has mentioned to me is how she finds the mashrutkas pretty intolerable. 

I hope that will also be the case for my Marina.  She has been here almost a year now....and still complains about our buses and that they won't just STOP for you anywhere....saying the mashrutkas is much better.  Me thinks that perhaps she now is missing our luxury, air conditioned buses...  I hope so 

KenC:  Absence makes the heart grow fonder~  So get ready for a great home coming!

[KenC]

Ken,
  Great idea for a thread. The trip back through the womans eyes. I think many of the wives have changed their way of thinking after the first year or 2. After that, maybe the homesickness wears off and they see and realize that their new home is actually where their husband is. Even after 2 years my wife feels like she has lost a measure of the connection she had with her girlfriends.
  So far, what she misses. Me, her car, good roads, and yes, all the fresh food. I swear when I'm there, even the processed catsup tastes better. Val would live where I would. What she made a bee-line for after arriving...her hair dresser and manicurist. They actually make house calls.
   Keep us filled in on Lena's daily routine. It's very interesting.
  Simoni,   we can add a new name to that list soon. Catz will be batchin it soon.
  kenC, what do you find yourself doing in the empty house? Did you pace the floors the first few days?  Not natural is it? Maybe we should start a new thread about what the husbands do when the wife's away? Or maybe not. this or this  or    or   or  Hmmm. 

Start2,
It is funny because Lena had always maintained that I was the only reason for her being in America.  Through the years I think that changed.  She loves San Diego now.  She has a great group of close friends and has experienced great success in her educational efforts.  This is now her home, not Russia.

I don't mind being alone......yet.  I joked with Lena before she left that the first week will be great, the second OK and the third will suck.  A little break is good for the both of us, but three weeks is too long.  I keep very busy with my work and do all that I should but usually do not when Lena is around.  Truthfully, I organized the house a bit since she left!  Lena keeps things very clean here, but I am a bit neater and much more organized than she.
KenC

[KenC]

Simoni,
The first trip back is usually an eye opener for the ladies.  It kind of puts things in the proper perspective.

Hey guys, I think it is great that we can all share our thoughts here and our better half's thoughts while they visit their motherland.  Have at it and please feel free to join in!
KenC

[Simoni]

Hey guys, I think it is great that we can all share our thoughts here and our better half's thoughts while they visit their motherland.  Have at it and please feel free to join in!
KenC

That's very nice of you, KenC!  Thanks for opening up your thread for others to share, too.

Catz...better get ready! You are next! 

We look forward to more from Lena, KenC.

[wxman]

I tried those non-seasoned strawberries and I absolutely hate them. Not worth any money.I absolutely agree that you wont find anything that tasty in america as at my motherland(means fruits and veggies).

I prefer the fresh tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon and sugar snap peas out of my garden over anywhere else for taste.   Such a bias I have.    Can pick and eat them right away.  Plus it's the only produce I know for sure that are grown without chemicals of any kind.  

[groovlstk]

My wife will be headed back to Moscow in late Aug. or early Sept. for her first trip since arriving in Dec. I'm (half-heartedly) trying to talk her into staying for a few weeks but she insists she doesn't want to be apart for more than a week. As much as I dread it I know she really needs to see her family.

Ken, next time let's schedule these things at the same time so we can all meet and share a bottle of Jameson's or two.

One of things she has mentioned to me is how she finds the mashrutkas pretty intolerable.  She is staying with her son and he lives about 20 minutes by minibus from the nearest metro station.  As I am sure many of you know Kiev has had record high temps for the month of May.  She has mentioned a couple of times how awful it is riding in these buses.  I cna almost smell the oders as I type....

Phil, have you ever noticed that no matter how hot it is in a marshrutka, NO ONE opens the windows???

[KenC]

Ken, next time let's schedule these things at the same time so we can all meet and share a bottle of Jameson's or two.

Hell, if we were smart, we would coordinate our wives trips and all meet in Vegas!
KenC

[philb]

Phil, have you ever noticed that no matter how hot it is in a marshrutka, NO ONE opens the windows???

I did not mention this in my post, but that is exactly what Alla said to me "the windows are all closed".  It is almost as if it is a matter of principle to them.  Maybe like not turning on you windsheild wipers during a rain shower until you  can no longer see the road