Nyet English

[Russiangirl]

Thay say the language and cultural differences are insurmountable.

They are right. Unless either she or you learn each others language, there's no future for you. However, if there's willingness and ability to learn, anything is possible.

As for trust, it depends on a person. There're scumbags in America, and trustworthy women in Russia, and vice versa.

[Ooooops]

Thay say the language and cultural differences are insurmountable.

I would really like to see the list of "insurmountable" cultural differences...   

[OlgaH]

you certainly need to motivate your girl to learn English - she will have to if she wants to have a normal life in an English speaking country

That's interesting. How will he motivate her? If a woman is serious about finding her foreign soul mate and going to live with him abroad that is her main motivation to learn English or any other foreign language. 

[Chicagoguy]

I just returned from 13 days with my friend/fiance. Moscow - Turkey - Moscow. I can't believe how well it turned out. Her English was noticeably improved and she will begin lessons soon. Zero disagreements but only time will tell on this.

She has been exactly the same person from the first e-mail to first visit to 6 months more of daily understandable e-mails to this last visit.

Met her daughter last week who lives in Moscow and she is a wonderful young woman. Like many of the younger Russians she speaks English. We went out for dinner and before I knew it her daughter had paid.

My Siberian/American friends still believe I am wrong but have toned down their voices.

On 8 July I go to JFK and pick up another friend who will be visiting from Siberia with his adopted 16 year old son. They both met my friend when I was in Moscow in January so I hope they will have more input.

It is both interesting and frightening that there are these differences of opinion on this board even on straightforward subjects. And in the end we all have to make our own decisions but others opinions are certainly helpful.

[groovlstk]

My Siberian/American friends still believe I am wrong but have toned down their voices.

It's good that you have such friends and to understand them you need to realize that for many Russian expats living in the US, any mention of an American filing a K1 for a RW will be cause for deep suspicion. You're fortunate they're close enough to you to be honest as most will keep their misgivings to themselves. I sometimes think it's a Russian instinct for initial distrust, but over time I've concluded the real reason for such distrust is that most of the time they're correct.

[ScottinCrimea]

Zero disagreements but only time will tell on this.

This tells me that either she is not a real RW, you don't know her very well yet, or you really aren't communicating as well as you think. 

But seriously, I believe that you really don't know how well you get along with a a woman until you have had your first real fight.

[Chicagoguy]

Thanks Scott.
Both funny and true in any language or culture.

Chicagoguy