I'm a little late here....off to Belarus in 4 days!!

[Chris13]

I just found this site... a little late I might add.
So I met a girl on Elena's Models. She gave me here e-mail and we chatted over the last 2-3 months and I decided just to pull the ripcord. I have her address but have never spoken to her on the phone. Other than that she seems to meet legit criteria.

She lives in a town of 20,000 people near Gomel (Homel). Apparently it was an area affected by some Chernobyl fallout...if anything the radiation has made her super attractive. Otherwise I don't know if this should concern me.
 
She says she is picking me up at the airport in Minsk and has arranged an apt for me in her town. I also don't know a lick of Russian. Any survival tips at this point would be fantastic.

PS...The flight to Minsk was bloody pricey

[GreginGa]

Enjoy the ride my friend. Enjoy the ride. My first bit of advice is to never hand over your passport to a police. Always carry a copy. Once they have that thing in their hands,well like I said just make a copy. Dont over pack. Keep us informed. Nothing like hearing stories of men going off to brave the unknown in search of their soul mate.

[Todd]

Hello Chris and good luck.

I just got back from Minsk a few days ago, and I posted some observations in the trip report section if you are interested.  I am concerned that you haven't spoken with her yet.  I asked my wife, and she said that even people in small towns should have cell phones.

My wife said that Gomel and Mogilev are the two most economically depressed and least advanced areas in Belarus.  My wife says that these towns would still be better than similar size towns in Russia, but I don't wish to touch off any fights with anyone from Russian small towns.  If you disclose the name of the town, my wife can give me more information. 

Regardless of the town, very few people will be able to speak English so bring a Russian phrase book with you as this will be the common language.  Also, the most important thing is to bring cash as credit cards and travelers cheques will not be accepted.  The currency must be new.  Insist that the bank provide you with clean notes without smudges, writing, or other stray marks.  Also, some people are now only taking Euros and NOT Dollars.  Thus, I would recommend at least half your money be in Euros. 

Finally, I would like to repeat that you should really talk to her on the phone before flying to Minsk.  If anything, you need to have a number to call in case you don't link up at the airport.  (BTW, the airport is fairly small so don't worry about missing her after customs.)

If for whatever reason there isn't a connection, you might want to have a Plan B in place.  (Remember, you are essentially going on a blind date.)  At the very least, you might want to compile information on activities/agencies you might want to use while you are there. 

One  positive observation:  The fact that she is willing to come from her town speaks a great deal of her commitment.  Be sure to thank her for coming to pick you up.

Best of luck,

Todd

P.S.  I second the passport observation...especially in small towns AND the fact that the US Consulate is intermittently closed.

[Kuna]

Hello Chris and good luck.

I just got back from Minsk a few days ago, and I posted some observations in the trip report section if you are interested.  I am concerned that you haven't spoken with her yet.  I asked my wife, and she said that even people in small towns should have cell phones.

My wife said that Gomel and Mogilev are the two most economically depressed and least advanced areas in Belarus.  My wife says that these towns would still be better than similar size towns in Russia, but I don't wish to touch off any fights with anyone from Russian small towns.  If you disclose the name of the town, my wife can give me more information. 

Regardless of the town, very few people will be able to speak English so bring a Russian phrase book with you as this will be the common language.  Also, the most important thing is to bring cash as credit cards and travelers cheques will not be accepted.  The currency must be new.  Insist that the bank provide you with clean notes without smudges, writing, or other stray marks.  Also, some people are now only taking Euros and NOT Dollars.  Thus, I would recommend at least half your money be in Euros. 

Finally, I would like to repeat that you should really talk to her on the phone before flying to Minsk.  If anything, you need to have a number to call in case you don't link up at the airport.  (BTW, the airport is fairly small so don't worry about missing her after customs.)

If for whatever reason there isn't a connection, you might want to have a Plan B in place.  (Remember, you are essentially going on a blind date.)  At the very least, you might want to compile information on activities/agencies you might want to use while you are there. 

One  positive observation:  The fact that she is willing to come from her town speaks a great deal of her commitment.  Be sure to thank her for coming to pick you up.

Best of luck,

Todd

P.S.  I second the passport observation...especially in small towns AND the fact that the US Consulate is intermittently closed.

Excellent post and good advice!


Chris,

The most important thing to do on your trip is to enjoy yourself.  Don't rush yourself and drink in every new experience - there is NOTHING like the first trip!

btw...  we LOVE trip reports in here. *hint hint*

Good luck on your trip!

Kuna

[GreginGa]

Very good advice by Todd here. You really do need a contact number. If she gets there and is real and things go well,buy her a cell phone. One more but of advice,wear shades. Maybe then you wont get caught looking at other girls.

[Todd]

Shades are a good idea.  I found the sun to be surprisingly bright in June vs. September.  Remember that yesterday was the longest day of the year, and it was light/twillight for about 18 hours.  If you are sensitive to that sort of thing, you might want to bring a mask as it starts to get light around 3:30 a.m.. 

Todd

[msmoby_ru]

I just found this site... a little late I might add.
So I met a girl on Elena's Models. She gave me here e-mail and we chatted over the last 2-3 months and I decided just to pull the ripcord. I have her address but have never spoken to her on the phone. Other than that she seems to meet legit criteria.

Well if she is with EM then she should be "real".. but you must ask her for a contact number for when you arrive at the airport.

She lives in a town of 20,000 people near Gomel (Homel). Apparently it was an area affected by some Chernobyl fallout...if anything the radiation has made her super attractive. Otherwise I don't know if this should concern me.

Not for the amount of time you will stay.

She says she is picking me up at the airport in Minsk and has arranged an apt for me in her town. I also don't know a lick of Russian. Any survival tips at this point would be fantastic.

Get hold of an electronic translator Eng -Rus if you can, today, for delivery tomorrow.. Does your lady speak any English ? If not how do you intend to communicate?!

Make a list now of tel nos. for the US Embassy - are they still represented in Minsk?! - and get phone numbers for a local translator.

Who has paid for the apartment you are staying in?

PS...The flight to Minsk was bloody pricey

Might be cheaper to fly to Kiev and take the train

[Todd]

Remember to register within 72 hours of arrival in the country.  The overall process will take a couple of hours and you should bring along your friend to help.

Also, the radiation issue shouldn't be too much of an issue.  The incremental additional radiation in the environment today for the next 20 years is less than a single CT scan.  Here is a link to a 2006 UN study if you are interested.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs303/en/index.html

[AnastassiaAsh]

Oh, sorry but how in the world can you travel half the world and pay such expensive tickets and not talk to her on the phone? 

Don't you want to? Very sorry, but you are going too soon IMO.

[GreginGa]

Oh, sorry but how in the world can you travel half the world and pay such expensive tickets and not talk to her on the phone? 

Don't you want to? Very sorry, but you are going too soon IMO.

I certainly hope the trip turns out well for the ole boy but I'm with Mrs Ash on this one. A simple phone call wouldve been nice. Who knows? He may be ok.

[Billgreen54]

I agree with Miss Ash.....Why didn't you at least phone her?  Just take your time and know that love takes time.

[msmoby_ru]

Well Chris

you should be there, now.. I wonder how things are going?!