Wife returning to Moscow after one month in the US...

[Momus]

...but only because she found a buyer for her dacha. 

So, Masha arrived here on February 10...actually, I went there and came back with her. I landed in Moscow on the 9th and we left again the next day. Not something I recommend. If you read my report from the Italy trip back in the day, you may recall my perception that she enjoyed a pretty comfortable lifestyle. She paid her own way, did a lot of shopping (Valentino, Versace, etc.).

Well, Masha came to the US with $45,000 in cash. Literally. In her purse. Someday I will have to tell of our adventures with the Russian customs officers at SVO. Add the money she just received from the dacha sale and the value of her Moscow flat (completely remodeled last year), and I suspect her net worth is higher than mine.

Amusingly, while I knew she had some dough in the bank, I didn't know how much until she showed me her purse when we got to the airport. She didn't want it to influence my decision to marry her... Nevertheless, I now insist that I married her for her money.  Well, at the very least, I guess marrying a RW doesn't have to be an expensive proposition...

She's adjusted easily to life in Minneapolis. She calls the suburb we live in "our village," but she rather likes our village. She enjoys the convenience of life here, how clean it is, the service and friendliness, the food. She calls the US "Fat Paradise" on the strength of its food and the girth of its citizenry.

She isn't sleeping overly much -- perhaps even less than she did when I lived with her in Moscow. We've been working on her driving -- she has an international license, but it had been a couple years since she'd driven. Overall, she's doing reasonably well, though she doesn't have that innate spatial sense for the position and boundaries of the vehicle. Parking is an issue. I mean, just angle parking -- we haven't even attempted parallel parking yet. Our only real brush with disaster was when we stopped at a gas station, she took a bad angle pulling up alongside the pump, and hit the gas pedal instead of the brake. There was no Hollywood explosion, thankfully.

She's looking forward to starting a career here, but not really in a hurry. She's always scoffed at the idea of being a "housewife," but she's enjoying it for now. She's infatuated with the dishwasher, George Foreman grill, washer/dryer, garbage disposal, and Jacuzzi tub. She wants to completely replace my damn furniture, even though it's only three years old.

Mostly, we're just savoring our new life together. It took about 10 months to get her K3, and the separation wasn't fun, but it does mean that we won't be taking each other for granted any time soon. We're absurdly happy and both feel like we hit the Powerball in the Lottery of Life. Honestly, when I look back on it, that's mostly what it is. I'm sure I did some things right, did some thing wrong...but ultimately, I just got stupidly lucky.

And for the guys just starting out: At the end of the day, all you can do is get on the plane. It might come down to luck, in the end, but you have to put yourself in a position to get lucky. No one -- on this board or anywhere else -- can do it for you.

[groovlstk]

Momus,

Congrats on the arrival of your wife, I'm glad to hear everything's going well. I'm guessing her adaptation to life here will be much easier than most due to the extensive time you both spent together. Good luck and I hope you'll have time to report back here from time to time.

[catzenmouse]

Hey Momus,

 I'll just mirror Groov's post and wish you the best going forward. Give us a shout if you ever head East into cheesehead territory!

Ken

[BillyB]

Well, Masha came to the US with $45,000 in cash. Literally.

Lucky Guy! I wish I could marry a woman for the money too! Actually Momus, it's a good sign your lady has assets instead of spending every dime she makes. It seems she has a good head on her shoulders. Congrats.

[Serebro]

...but only because she found a buyer for her dacha. 

oh, no, that's terrible, why to sell dachas?!!!!!!!

[Momus]

oh, no, that's terrible, why to sell dachas?!!!!!!!

Yeah, she agonized over the decision. Her grandfather built it himself, and it has a lot of sentimental value for her. OTOH, her grandmother (84) is the only surviving member of her immediate family and she's living in the US now. She can't maintain the place properly, it stands empty, and she found a good family with young children that wanted it.

[KenC]

Momus,
Glad to hear everything is working out well for you and Masha!
KenC

[Gator]

Momus,

Everything sounds wonderful, as if you are in heaven. 

I enjoy the part about her financial solvency.  Any comments on the possibility of finding the same in an AW?  Well, there are those AW who married well and had good divorce attorneys. 

That was risky carrying that much cash through customs.  And the US has a 10k limit.  It is legal to wire the money.

[Momus]

Momus,

Everything sounds wonderful, as if you are in heaven. 

I don't want to come off like an Air Supply song, but it's pretty damn good.

I enjoy the part about her financial solvency.  Any comments on the possibility of finding the same in an AW?  Well, there are those AW who married well and had good divorce attorneys.

To be fair, I've no doubt there are more financially solvent AW than RW. Sadly, there are also far more AW (and men!) that are in debt up to their ears.

That was risky carrying that much cash through customs.  And the US has a 10k limit.  It is legal to wire the money.

Russian customs made her convert all but 20K (10 for each of us) to AMEX traveler's checks. That seemed to do the trick. She didn't want to pay the wire fee. "I am Russian. We like cash." 

[AkMike]

Your 'village' must not be around Shakopee! LOL, Not too bad once you get away from the downtown area...

[Ade]

And for the guys just starting out: At the end of the day, all you can do is get on the plane. It might come down to luck, in the end, but you have to put yourself in a position to get lucky. No one -- on this board or anywhere else -- can do it for you.

Momus,

I've just signed up and read your post; I'm happy for you and it gives me some hope. 

I've just arrived back from a week in Saint Petersburg (my first time in the FSU) where I met a wonderful girl from Arkhangelsk that I've been emailing for the past 2 months.

As you said, the only thing people can do is get on a plane and accept that there is a certain amount of risk and with the right preparation and research the risks can be minimal.

[AnastassiaAsh]

As you said, the only thing people can do is get on a plane and accept that there is a certain amount of risk and with the right preparation and research the risks can be minimal.

Exactly! 

[missmykiska]

nice story bro....wish we could all find a great girl like that.