KenC's T/R 10 years late

[UTRO]

Yes Victoria's Secret When Lana and were I planning our first meeting in PC, I asked her if there was anything she'd like me to bring to her. Something I might not think of myself, something unavailable to her in Russia. I was thinking perhaps Maple Syrup ............!!
She said, "ah yes, have you ever heard of Victoria's Secret?" An International Woman's Language I suppose!?!
Ken, I was waiting for you to say that the Jazz Club transformed into a Strip Club. 

[KenC]

Yes Victoria's Secret When Lana and were I planning our first meeting in PC, I asked her if there was anything she'd like me to bring to her. Something I might not think of myself, something unavailable to her in Russia. I was thinking perhaps Maple Syrup ............!!
She said, "ah yes, have you ever heard of Victoria's Secret?" An International Woman's Language I suppose!?!
Ken, I was waiting for you to say that the Jazz Club transformed into a Strip Club. 

Utrobina,
Let's see:
maple syrup or Victoria's Secret? :noidea:

Victoria's Secret or maple syrup?  :noidea:
 
I think the choice is clear!
 

All I know is that bringing the catalog was a huge hit with Lena and when she received the clothes, it was even better.  I am sure you could think of some interesting things to do with maple syrup, but we won't go there!
BTW, Lena hates maple syrup!

It would not be too much of a stretch for a night club to have strippers in Russia.  I have not witnessed it first hand, but I understand that strippers in clubs is not all that unusual. 

Just a side note on Vicky's.  On Lena's last trip to Russia, she brought her two best friends in Moscow bras from VS.  They were thrilled with them.  I look at it as just another way America is helping support fine Russian women!
KenC

[UTRO]

Hmmm! Lana loves Maple Syrup, but given the choice, Victoria's Secret wins hand over fist We went to an Uzbek restaurant in her city of Kirov last month. There was a little stage in one corner. Too small for a band. I asked her what it was for and she replied, "Strippers". Not even blinking an eyelash. Okay!?! Unfortunately we didn't stay for the show  
Lana spent some time in Mississippi as an English language exchange student. That's where the familiarity with VS came from!
Sorry to hijack your thread Ken

[KenC]

Hmmm! Lana loves Maple Syrup, but given the choice, Victoria's Secret wins hand over fist We went to an Uzbec restaurant in her city of Kirov last month. There was a little stage in one corner. Too small for a band. I asked her what it was for and she replied, "Strippers". Not even blinking an eyelash. Okay!?! Unfortunately we didn't stay for the show  
Lana spent some time in Mississippi as an English language exchange student. That's where the familiarity with VS came from!
Sorry to hijack your thread Ken

Utrobina,
No apologies necessary, I like the interaction.  One question for you though:
When did they start speaking English in Mississippi?
 
KenC

[UTRO]

I said somewhat the same!! She learned to Rap pretty Good!!    Thankfully she then furthered English at University in the UK!! Hmmm.... same question about English again!!??!! 

[ScottinCrimea]

It would not be too much of a stretch for a night club to have strippers in Russia.  I have not witnessed it first hand, but I understand that strippers in clubs is not all that unusual. 

I recall my first trip to Ukraine.  I took my wife and her 12 year old daughter to a nice combination restaurant/dance club for a little dinner and dancing.  Quite mellow as dance clubs go there.  Several people there with their children. At one pont they stopped the music and an announcer came out to announce the floor show.  Imagine my shock when the featured performer was a topless woman doing a pole dance!  It was all seen as quite normal by everyone there and my wife had more fun watching my shocked reaction than the show itself.

Okay, sorry for the detour.  Now back to the romance story.

[Admin]

Victoria's Secret has nothing on Wild Orchid, Russia's biggest lingerie supplier. Check it out:

[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YFJBxNM7s0[/youtube]

[KenC]

I recall my first trip to Ukraine.  I took my wife and her 12 year old daughter to a nice combination restaurant/dance club for a little dinner and dancing.  Quite mellow as dance clubs go there.  Several people there with their children. At one pont they stopped the music and an announcer came out to announce the floor show.  Imagine my shock when the featured performer was a topless woman doing a pole dance!  It was all seen as quite normal by everyone there and my wife had more fun watching my shocked reaction than the show itself.

Okay, sorry for the detour.  Now back to the romance story.

Scott,
Please, I welcome discussions like these. 

There is a different mind set about nudity and sex in the fsu countries than here.  I have always thought it had to do with our Puritan roots.  Lena and her family are no where near as modest as I am. :hairraising:  It just takes some getting used to a naked woman walking about the house!  But to be perfectly honest, I think their outlook is healthier than Americans.

What did your wife have to say about her daughter watching the show?
KenC

[ScottinCrimea]

My wife saw it as more of ann art form, admiring the woman's dancing ability and nice figure, not as an invitation to commit unspeakable acts.  Her daughter was rather bored with the whole affair and didn't see it in any negative context at all.  I do applaud their more healthy idea of modesty but it still takes some getting used to sometimes.  My wife and daughter will walk around the apartment with me or her father in nothing but bras and thongs and no one gets excited about it.  Of course her daughter will not be topless or nude around me and my wife won't around her father, so there are some reasonable limits.  And of course if company is present the appropriate clothing is worn.  It's a far cry from many American women who refuse to even get undressed without the lights off.  But then, comparing the bodies, I guess it makes sense.

Unlike Lena, for some reason my wife is not so into lingerie.  I've bought her some things in the past, but she never wears them.  I guess that's fine because it saves me money on what to me is pretty much just wrapping paper anyway. 

[Ade]

My wife saw it as more of ann art form, admiring the woman's dancing ability and nice figure, not as an invitation to commit unspeakable acts.  Her daughter was rather bored with the whole affair and didn't see it in any negative context at all.  I do applaud their more healthy idea of modesty but it still takes some getting used to sometimes.  My wife and daughter will walk around the apartment with me or her father in nothing but bras and thongs and no one gets excited about it.  Of course her daughter will not be topless or nude around me and my wife won't around her father, so there are some reasonable limits.  And of course if company is present the appropriate clothing is worn.  It's a far cry from many American women who refuse to even get undressed without the lights off.  But then, comparing the bodies, I guess it makes sense.

Unlike Lena, for some reason my wife is not so into lingerie.  I've bought her some things in the past, but she never wears them.  I guess that's fine because it saves me money on what to me is pretty much just wrapping paper anyway. 

These attitudes are typical of continental Europe generally speaking although there are exceptions. The UK is still not so relaxed about nudity and sex as their mainland cousins but they are getting there. I think America's almost puritanical view on sex is rather amusing and certainly not very healthy; we find it strange here that during the daytime we can watch a man getting his head blown off on CNN but a butt crack on MTV is pixilated out.

[dneid]

Hey, Ken,
Hmmmm, a VS catalog?  Need to remember that one.  Of course, I will never complain about anything out of VS   Sorry, I have not replied to your continuing TR.  I have been so busy getting a couple of projects at work to the point where my absence for 2 weeks in April will be as painless as possible.  That and getting everything lined up for the pending trip.  Damn, I am getting excited!!!  A little scared (like, what the hell am I thinking!!!), but I still can not wait.
I am enjoying your continued postings as this is just a great way for me to learn.  Please keep them coming.  You, jet, and groov have set a high bar for me with the TR of my upcoming trip.
Thanks for the time you have invested.

[mspanky]

 I think the younger U.S. ladies are pretty open minded these days about nudity. Talk to many young guys and they'll tell you the girls are just as willing to get naked at a pool party or a hot tub as they guys. The girls are also as sexually aggresive as the guys.

  On a side note everyone is different about nudity. I once knew an American girl who'se mother was a nudist and she was raised as one too. She told me she hated it and especially hated the leers from the older men as she grew into puberty and a nearly 5'6"  DD cup with a 22" waist(no lie here the girl was a living Barbie doll). Now she hates being nude go figure.

[KenC]

Hey, Ken,
Hmmmm, a VS catalog?  Need to remember that one.  Of course, I will never complain about anything out of VS   Sorry, I have not replied to your continuing TR.  I have been so busy getting a couple of projects at work to the point where my absence for 2 weeks in April will be as painless as possible.  That and getting everything lined up for the pending trip.  Damn, I am getting excited!!!  A little scared (like, what the hell am I thinking!!!), but I still can not wait.I am enjoying your continued postings as this is just a great way for me to learn.  Please keep them coming.  You, jet, and groov have set a high bar for me with the TR of my upcoming trip.
Thanks for the time you have invested.

Dneid,
I have got a news flash for you:We all felt that same way before our first trip!  You will do just fine I am sure.  But prepare yourself, because once you "go Russian" you are ruined for life (no lesser woman will do).
KenC

[catzenmouse]

Dneid,
I have got a news flash for you:We all felt that same way before our first trip!

That is for sure!!! I will never forget the mini freakout I did in my head the first time someone spoke to me in lightening fast Russian and everything I had learned before my trip went "Whoosh!". All that nervous excitement is normal and to be expected.

But prepare yourself, because once you "go Russian" you are ruined for life (no lesser woman will do).

This almost needs to be listed in the 10 Commandments just so guys can be a bit prepared for the brick wall that is going to fall on them and ruin (in a good way) their life from that point forward.

Sorry for the off topic.

Ken

[KenC]

That is for sure!!! I will never forget the mini freakout I did in my head the first time someone spoke to me in lightening fast Russian and everything I had learned before my trip went "Whoosh!". All that nervous excitement is normal and to be expected.

This almost needs to be listed in the 10 Commandments just so guys can be a bit prepared for the brick wall that is going to fall on them and ruin (in a good way) their life from that point forward.

Sorry for the off topic.

Ken

Catz,
Please, I keep telling you guys (and gals) that I do not mind the interaction in this thread as long as the posts are on topic.  I look at this thread as a learning tool for the newer members and hopefully some entertainment value for the more experienced.  Without your input it seems like I am just talking to myself.
KenC

[Gator]

Dneid,

IMO, go there with the spirit of discovery.  Keep your expectations reasonable - a notch or two higher than a blind date in America yet not so high as to expect the woman of your dreams is there waiting only for you. 

A man can get so worked up that he easily could:

-  fall prey to the insincere woman,

-  be thought of as odd by a sincere woman, or

-  hook up with a sincere woman who is not compatible.

Let it happen.

[KenC]

Day trip to Tver
Lena spoke to her Mom a few times while we were in Moscow to assure her that I was not holding her daughter hostage!  We decided to take a day trip to Tver to have dinner with her parents.  I was excited to meet her Dad as we had not yet met.  We decided on the good old Hotel Osnabruck.  We took the train to Tver and hooked up with her parents at the restaurant.   I wondered how Pops would take to the idea that a man almost his age was dating his daughter.  But to be honest, I really wasn’t too concerned because with Lena’s head strong ways, no one was going to tell her what she could or could not do in regard to such things.

This is a girl, who at 5 years old punched her kindergarten teacher in the nose for abusing another student!  :hairraising: After Lena smacked the old bat, she grabbed her coat and left the school.  After some panicked calls to Lena’s Mom, Lena was located and taken home.  The next day Lena was taken in front of the kindergarten Administrator for discipline.  The intent was to kick Lena out from the school for being incorrigible, but the end result was that the teacher was dismissed from her job for abusing students.

When I finally meet Lena’s Dad, I am impressed with him.  He is much more simple than Lena’s Mom.  He immediately struck me as kind of the "salt of the earth" kind of man.  He is about 5 years my senior but aged greater than those years.  In good physical shape, but looked as though he had had a hard life.  He is a driver for the city government and he is in charge of delivering and picking up city workers from various job sites.  A very good job but not a prestigious job like his wife’s.  The Mom, Olga, defiantly wears the pants in this family!

Everyone is happy and friendly to the max.  Lena is acting as interpreter for the group.  I do the ordering via Lena. We order champagne and a couple of the small bottles of vodka.  We also order many many appetizers.  Lena explains that we should have a long and leisurely dinner over a few hours.  We have many toasts with one person trying to be more sentimental than the last.  I know I toasted Lena’s parents and thanked them for raising such a fine daughter as Lena.  Between the appetizers and the entrees, Lena and her Mom went to the restroom leaving Pops and I alone.

Even with the language barrier, he asked me if I loved Lena.  I communicated back that I did love her.  He then asked me if Lena was going to be going to America.  I answered in the affirmative.  This hit him like a ton of bricks and his eyes welled up with tears.  I told him that I understood and gave him the best man hug I could muster.  It ended with him slapping me on the back and shaking his head yes.  When Lena and her Mom returned, Lena asked me what had happened while they were gone because it was obvious that something emotional had transpired.   I told her it was just “man talk.”

An interesting thing happened during dinner.  Some Russian guys came into the restaurant and I could see Olga’s composure completely change.  She went from happy and all smiles to a stern much more serious look.  Who were these guys and why is your Mom acting this way? I asked Lena.  Lena explained that they were local mafia guys and that they were as leery of Olga as she was of them.  They had tried many many times to bribe Olga for this or that because of her position in the city government, but were always refused.  Olga got a lot of flak from fellow employees and even her superiors for not just going with “the program” but Olga could never comply.  Fortunately, the guys were only stopping in for a drink and they quickly left.  Or maybe Olga’s presence made them uncomfortable, I don’t know.

After deserts and coffee with Baily’s for Lena and I and tea for her parents, it was time to pay the bill which I would have wrestled a bear in order to pay.  Get this; it was a whopping $42!!!!!!!!  After an emotional farewell, Lena and I headed back to Moscow.  Everything went very well and I was beginning to get more comfortable with the idea that Lena and I were a couple now.

[Faux Pas]

Ken,

I feel like I supersized and look in my bag and found a happy meal.  Give me more please

[Lily]

KenC, I am particularly impresed with the 'men's talk'.

I am especially impatient to learn how do you manage to get Lena immatriculated to an American school as student.

If a Russian is willing to learn in the U.S. without taking part in any U.S. govt sponsored exchange programs, it would look really tough for him/her.

How did you select specialty of studies and school? How did you arrange Lena's TOEFL, SAT, what was her admission essay like? how the admission process went at all?

[KenC]

KenC, I am particularly impresed with the 'men's talk'.

I am especially impatient to learn how do you manage to get Lena immatriculated to an American school as student.

If a Russian is willing to learn in the U.S. without taking part in any U.S. govt sponsored exchange programs, it would look really tough for him/her.

How did you select specialty of studies and school? How did you arrange Lena's TOEFL, SAT, what was her admission essay like? how the admission process went at all?

Lily,
Lena never took the Toefl or the SAT and she had no admission essay.
KenC

[KenC]

Ken,

I feel like I supersized and look in my bag and found a happy meal.  Give me more please

I'm confused here.  Did the recent post make you happy?  Or were you just disappointed with the portion? ???
KenC

[Lily]

Lily,
Lena never took the Toefl or the SAT and she had no admission essay.
KenC

Did I then correctly remember from your posts that she came as a student under a F visa to U.S.?

[pitbull]

Did I then correctly remember from your posts that she came as a student under a F visa to U.S.?

Lily,

I am not sure if Ken did exactly that, but there is such thing as "language school", and anyone could come as a "student" long as he is  willing to pay (or has someone to pay for him/her). The school gives you the official invitation for visa application then. Well, you need to  get a visa, of course, which could be the most difficult part of the process.

I may be wrong in details, but that is how the process looks generally 

[Lily]

pitbull,

that's interesting, I don't think I ever heard of such schools. Probably that could be an option to come to the U.S. for some people.

[KenC]

Lily,
Pitbull is exactly right.  Lena's student visa was issued under the terms that she was coming to study English.  Most universities have a foreign student program for ESL classes.  The intent of these classes are to educate the student to pass the TOEFL.

To be honest, I do not know how Lena evaded taking the TOFL or the SAT.  When she switched from taking just English classes to regular college classes, she transfered those credits allowed from her Russian studies and just signed up for regular classes.  English was a huge obstacle for her and she could only take a class or two in the beginning, so her progress was very slow then.  I remember her working on a simple paper for 8 to 10 hours solely due to the language difficulties.
KenC