LenaC's trip to Tver

[Rvrwind]

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

I certainly have & it drives me nuts.
I open a widow & some old Babusha b1tches at me.TFB I say!!!

[AnastassiaAsh]

I am going to Moscow August/September too probably, unless my passport comes earlier.

And me and my husband are going to Las Vegas for his company's conference June 13-17th. Is anybody else going? 

[SANDRO43]

The strawberries were dwarf like (only a quarter the size of American strawberries), but tasted like a much concentrated flavor

Aahh, heavenly flavour . We call then fragoline di bosco (small strawberries from the woods) and they're just in season now . Here's some I bought yesterday (92 grams for € 2.66).

[Gator]

I concur 100% with Sandro - as I was just in his country devouring the berries almost every day.  And this and many other local berries and fruits are on the market in the Russia in the summer.  I recall eating the best raspberries ever in Russia, bought from a street vendor woman without any teeth.  No comparison with the strawberries picked before ripening and shipped 3000 miles. 

[ScottinCrimea]

My in-laws have a huge concord grape vine in their front garden that hangs over the entryway.  The first time I was there that they ripened I tried a few and they were without a doubt the best that I had ever tasted.  I had never imagined that grapes could taste so good. I asked if I could pick some and my MIL said to take all I wanted because they usually just go to waste.  In five minutes without moving I had picked a bucketful.  Later I got a juicer and made grape juice as well.  Now I just need to talk the MIL into making some grape wine to go along with her excellent homemade cherry wine.

[Mir]

And me and my husband are going to Las Vegas for his company's conference June 13-17th. Is anybody else going? 

Is it the annual meeting of the AAMMSW (American Association of Men Married to Slavonic Women) ?

[Bruce]

Zemlineeka around Tver are special.  Glad all is well.

[Serebro]

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

I am surprised that she hasn't found anything new and good, because if compare with Kazan 9 years ago and now there are a lot of good new things.Certain things here are even better  now than they were in the USA when I was there.
Is she a pessimist?!

[KenC]

I am surprised that she hasn't found anything new and good, because if compare with Kazan 9 years ago and now there are a lot of good new things.Certain things here are even better  now than they were in the USA when I was there.
Is she a pessimist?!

Serebro,
It may be difficult for you to understand because you have not left your home country yet, but when and if you do you will go through a transition too.  At first everything different will not be as good as your home.  Later you will learn to appreciate the differences.  But your true appreciation will not be realized until you go back home and can make a valid comparison.  It takes some time to get to that point though.

My wife, Lena is not a pessimist, but in general I think fsu people are more pessimistic than Americans.  She truly is a patriot of her Motherland, but through the years of living here has learned to appreciate the lifestyle.
KenC

[Serebro]

Serebro,
It may be difficult for you to understand because you have not left your home country yet, but when and if you do you will go through a transition too.  At first everything different will not be as good as your home.  Later you will learn to appreciate the differences.  But your true appreciation will not be realized until you go back home and can make a valid comparison.  It takes some time to get to that point though.

I have lived in the USA and I came back and yes, I was shocked at how rude many Russians were and at buses, too and service is awful sometimes, but I noticed many new and good things that had happened.  Maybe she noticed that, too, but according to your posts she is in deep dissapointment.

[KenC]

Serebro,
Lena is not "deeply disappointed" but her intitial reaction was as I posted.  That is only after one day, give her a chance to get rid of her jet lag and maybe she will begin to see all the good things too.
KenC

[Rando21]

My wife talks often about the quality of fruit and veggies and the great difference.

This is mostly nostalgia and far from reality.

Here in Pa I can take you in a week or so to pick wild strawberries and you will swear that you have eaten something from heaven....small concentrated bursts of flavor that compare in flavor to the large tame variety much as a fresh crisp apple would compare to a horse turd.

These girls are simply remembering the best things and forgetting what the tomato's taste like in January in Russia..or carrots ,melon, etc...

Produce that is locally grown in small gardens and is fresh picked is always far better...I can grow a tomato in my garden that will taste as good as anything you can get anywhere.

In fact thats what they are remembering...

When I travel there in January I remember dirt covered carrots (they don't wash and prepare them as is common here) that are wrinkled and tasteless do to a long period of underground storage...the tomato's and potatoes are similar.


There is not one reason why Russian veggies are better. Only that they are buying locally garden grown variety in season....also you must suspect these veggies as they are likely laden with banned (here ) harsh chemicals.

You are merely experiencing Russian pride rather than a reality based truth.

Russian dairy products are better ..thats because they don't skim off all the cream of milk for a hundred other products....you taste the additional cream in icecream, butter, etc...logical.

Take your RW to shop at your local farmers markets on Saturdays in season...she will be very happy with the taste and quality from produce there.

As far as organic???  Lol  In Russia that means horse shi& and DDT....don't kid yourself...the year round quality is far less because storage facilities are rudimentary and antiquated...they eat a lot of Borscht there because beets, carrot ,  and potato keep fairly long and well.

A trip home is Great for these girls. And yes things are improving there ...but rudeness, boorishness, and simply crazy behavior (windows up in 90 degree weather) remain unchanged.

The shrinking apartment syndrome is quite telling of how we all remember good things from our past....When she starts complaining too much about things here...send her home for a few weeks....reality is the best reminder to reexamine ones status and comfort. 

[Sohkay]

Ken,
The fresh fruits and vegetables I ate while spending the month of July in Sevastopol was very good. I can agree with Rando wholeheartedly that equals can be found in America...except for the cantaloupe. My fiancee' tells me the melons I ate last summer were from Uzbekistan. I have never tasted anything like them. Sometimes orange, sometimes green flesh, with fresh and alive sweet flavors, sometimes mimicking Bazooka bubble gum, and so juicy that the sweet liquid would run down your cheek and leave you smacking your lips from that cool, sweet tender flesh. Ahhhhhhhhh!

But for the most part, if you know where to shop in America, you can find produce here that is equal in flavor, and surpasses that of Russia/Ukraine in the respect that it has probably been subjected to fewer chemicals or polluted groundwater.

[ScottinCrimea]

We use neither fertilizers nor insecticides at our dacha and My bet is that few of the local farmers do.  This may be simply because they can't afford them, but more likely because they don't need them.  I see much fewer insects in Ukraine (I'm still trying to figure out why).  If you have spent any time growing anything in Ukraine, you will see that the quality of the fruits and vegetables is directly related to the incredible soil that they have.  I have never seen anything like it.  As far as the off season vegetables, of course they aren't of the quality of the fresh produce, but you can certainly find "fresh" vegetables in the off season, as they import them from Israel and other countries, just like the US does during its off season.  Of course you will be paying US prices for them.

[rose]

I shouldn't read this thread... I haven't been in Russia for 6 years... Hopefully, next summer I'll earn my vacation time and will be able to go to see my family...
oh...

BTW, I remember when I lived in Russia, not only fruits and vegetables smelled and tasted better, we easily could by a big bucket of them...

Guys, I wish all your wives who went to their motherland have a safe flight, enjoy their time there, and come back home realizing how much they miss you!

[KenC]

Short update-
Unfortunately Lena has the flu and isn't getting around too much, but she did give me some interesting feedback.  She still has yet to see any very attractive women around town.  She says that the style of clothing has changed dramatically over the years.  No high heels and classy dressing any more but American style jeans and sport shoes prevail.  She is also put off by seeing many young (17 to 20) people walking the streets drinking open bottles of beer.

Lena's mom, Olga spent some time at the beach to get some sun.  While there 3 Russian guys show up with a bunch of beer and a bottle of vodka.  They proceed to get sh!t faced drunk.  One of the guys strips naked to go swimming.  As he is running around the beach naked (and drunk) one of the women there yells at him to put his clothes on because there are children around.  His response?  "F#@K you and your children!"  And here in San Diego they won't even let you smoke a cigarette on the beach!
KenC

[I/O]

here in San Diego they won't even let you smoke a cigarette on the beach!
KenC

Same here and that REALLY p!sses me off.

I/O

[BillyB]

Lena has the flu

She must had a cold drink on a hot day to catch the flu. That's what many Russians believe will happen.

[Voyageur]

Since KenC has opened his thread for other's comments about their wives going back to the old country, I thought that I would add the comments my wife gave me to post in this thread. Presently she is in Stavropol visiting Babushska with her eight year old daughter.

My wife has been in the US since August 2005. We were married in September 2005  and she brought her daughter over in January 2006. Babushka misses her grand-daughter, so this summer we are sending her back to Russia for a 3 month visit. My wife will come back after a two week visit. Our whole family went over for Christmas and New Years six months ago, for two weeks.

My wife says that she also sees a big difference in the prices in Russia these days. The prices for clothes have gone much higher than she was used to. She shops on the Internet now and gets some great clothes at great prices. But the prices in shops that she is seeing now is much greater than she expected.

She also noticed the differences in customer service. She now prefers the customer service attitudes in the US compared to that in Russia, and can really see this difference now that she has lives in the US for a while.  Generally, I think that customer service attitudes in the US s*cks these days, - it was better in the past, IMHO - but apparently even this crummy attitude is better than the customer service now in the FSU.

Finally, she also sees a decline in the quality of clothes worn in everyday life by people on the street.

It is the first time we have been apart for so long since we were married. She will fly home later this week and I will be quite glad to see her. 

[chivo]

Some things

I think its great to get a perspective from someone coming back home after an extended time away. Everyone needs to keep in mind that she's comparing Tver to San Diego. Not exactly a fair comparison with all due respect to Tver. Hell, there are not many cities in America that compare favorably to San Diego.

You have weather that's 22-25C (72F) year round. A quality of life with regards to health, excitement, beautiful women and scenery (think Mountains next to an ocean), cool people, great nightlife, Mexico minutes away, etc., etc.

I've been through Tver and, well, again I seriously doubt anyone would chose to live there as opposed to San Diego given a choice without any prejudice being involved.

I've mentioned the change over the years in dress as well, and have mentioned this in others threads. It has become as she described, very casual, but they still know how to dress to impress when they have to.

Also, about the fruit. Without getting into what tastes better and the such, I happen to like the fruit in both places, meaning Russia and America. One big difference IMO is the price though. In California (where I'm from), I can get in season a large basket of blueberries for example, at around $1, or about $4 out of season. Here in Russia (albeit Moscow) this same basket will cost around 400-600 ru. depending ($15-25)...thats right, its not a misprint. Its easy to see why many grow their own, and yes, unfortunately, I have had to cut them mostly from my diet . Strawberries, Blackberries, plums, etc. are far more expensive here, and at these prices they better taste like they're from heaven.

All in all, its interesting to get her point of view, although I think she knows that talking up California will not get her anywhere with most of the Russians.

Voyageur,

customer service in Russia...stop it you're killing me . ciao

chivo

[Gator]

Did LenaC eat too many strawberries and get an allergy?  We have not heard any more from her in this very interesting thread.  I hope all is well.

[KenC]

Gator,
Thanks for asking.  Lena has been down with the flu so not much to report right now.  I think there will be some interesting things in the near future though.  She will be spending time with her actress friend in Moscow where her friend and husband are rather popular actors.  A trip to St Pete is also in the plan.
KenC

[catzenmouse]

Serebro,
Lena is not "deeply disappointed" but her intitial reaction was as I posted.  That is only after one day, give her a chance to get rid of her jet lag and maybe she will begin to see all the good things too.
KenC

When I talked to Elena last evening she was feeling the same way. I could tell she was tired and still stressed from the trip (24+ hours traveling with a 7 year old has a way of straining your energy and nerves to the breaking point), the weather was cold and rainy, and she already missed being at home.

I told her the same thing, get some rest and take your time to get used to things again. We'll see how she feels after she's been there a week.

Ken

[Simoni]

My Marina has been in Ukraine two weeks now, and is bored.  She has seen all of her old GFs and can't relate to them as she once did.  She is tired of her mother bossing her around.  All in all, I think this trip back home will be GREAT for our marriage.

And Chivo....same thing....she has talked about and bragged about St Pete Florida so much that her friends have told her A) you should be their PR agent!; and B) shut up!     LOL

So this is a major change for the girl who a year ago saw nothing good in America...

KenC:  I hope Lena is feeling better now.

[RK]

She must had a cold drink on a hot day to catch the flu. That's what many Russians believe will happen.

lol! I just put it all together and realize that is what my fiancee seems to think!