Why do Russian women prefer Western men?

[ECOCKS]

There are two sides to the cost of living question.  I recently introduced my wife to the US multiple listing services and taught her there were a few other cities besides NY, Chi, SF, LA, DC and Miami.  She now spends an hour each evening going through them and getting used to multi-story, single family homes with 3-4 bathrooms, garages and, oh yeah, yards.  Last year here in Kyiv we rented a 2BR, 1BA apt.  For that amount of money we can cover the note on a 3000 sq. ft., 4BR, 3BA, 3 car garage home on a corner lot with fence and garden.  Built within the last 3 years.  Housing in Kyiv, Moscow and even St. Pete throws the cost factors way up.   

Then there is transportation.  Cost of living is particularly lower in the FSU if you choose not to own/operate a vehicle (car note, insurance, maintenance, gas, etc.). My wife was horrified when I bought her an annual preznoy (pass card) for 799 UAH (about $100 today). I am laughing myself silly at how she is going to react after a year of totaling up car bills in the states. That pass is good for ANY trolley, autobus, tram or metro in town.  I haven't driven a car in three years (gonna spend a few hours in that parking lot next door to my home myself).

Food is slightly cheaper but cable and phone are higher.  Then there are utilities.  About 20-25% of the cost is my estimate but that varies based upon which US city you compare to.  It could be as low as 10%.  Clothing, GOOD clothing that is, is MUCH cheaper in the US.

Restaurants are about the same, maybe slightly cheaper.  Puzata Hata for instance serves a 4 egg ham and cheese omelet, coffee and bread roll for less than 15 UAH - not quite the volume of a Denny's slam perhaps but then again that is about $3 today.  Does Denny's still serve the Slam?  Does Denny's still exist? (They closed all of them in my home town.)

So, entertainment. Opera tickets (in a real opera house from a professional ballet troupe) are less than $12 each on the main floor.  Coffee and dessert in a cafe after work (or opera) plus a little strolling run about $12 for 2 people.

You look those numbers over and tell me where you think it  is cheaper to live.

Note: This pricing is based on Kyiv for the year 2008.

[Misha]

Food is slightly cheaper

Restaurants are about the same, maybe slightly cheaper. 

Note: This pricing is based on Kyiv for the year 2008.

Let's compare prices from northern Russia with those in Canada. Based on my wife's conversations with her family back in Russia and my own observations, the price of food essentials (milk, cheese, meat, cooking oil...) is the same price as in Canada or more expensive. A loaf of bread is more expensive in Canada, but given that we bake our own bread, our bread is as cheap (or cheaper) than Russian bread.

As for restaurants, they are much more expensive in northern Russia. Last trip to Russia a bit more than a year ago, a cup of real coffee (not the instant MacCoffee) was at least twice as expensive as comparable coffee in Canada. A plate of french fries was maybe the same cost, but the serving was three times as small as what you would typically get in Canada. And, then, you had to throw in some extra rubles for milk (for the coffee) and "sauce" (ketchup for the fries). To make a long story short, going to eat out a restaurant in Russia was more expensive than eating out in Canada at a comparable restaurant.

Clothes? Yes, you can get cheap Chinese made clothing in the local "rynok" in Russia, but for the same price you could get similar clothing at Wal-Mart for the same price (or maybe even cheaper).

Where do Russians save money? Well, they usually don't go out to restaurants and the like and cook their food at home. However, if you choose to live a similar lifestyle in Canada, you can also live frugally on similar sums of money (food wise).

As for plays and the opera, it depends where of course. A decent seat at the Bolshoi won't be cheap. 

[ECOCKS]

A real problem on the coffee is that the only place in town that has a bottomless cup policy is the Radisson. 

French fries, on the other hand, seem to be the same proportions.  Meat tends to be expensive.  Applebees could clean up with their $9.99 steak dinners here.

And yes, the incredible popularity of Nescafe is something that still amazes me.  I have my wife primed to watch for any restaurants serving it back home.  Safe bet.

[Simoni]

A real problem on the coffee is that the only place in town that has a bottomless cup policy is the Radisson. 

And yes, the incredible popularity of Nescafe is something that still amazes me.  I have my wife primed to watch for any restaurants serving it back home.  Safe bet.

I grind the very best and most expensive coffee each morning, but Marina still prefers instant Nescafe!  It's true 

[Misha]

I grind the very best and most expensive coffee each morning, but Marina still prefers instant Nescafe!  It's true 

That is so sad! Fortunately, my wife likes good coffee. I grind my own and brew espressos on the stove top and then froth my own milk by hand to make my own lattes at home. Very low tech, but makes great coffee. Wife loves it and would not go for any instant cr*p 

[HiTech]

Nescafe:

After my first trip to the Ukraine, packing 4 lb's of coffee and a french press became absolute standard equipment.

HiTech

[Simoni]

That is so sad! Fortunately, my wife likes good coffee. I grind my own and brew espressos on the stove top and then froth my own milk by hand to make my own lattes at home. Very low tech, but makes great coffee. Wife loves it and would not go for any instant cr*p 

She does like good tea, but when it comes to coffee, Nescafe reminds her of the coffee she had at home 

[SANDRO43]

After my first trip to the Ukraine, packing 4 lb's of coffee and a french press became absolute standard equipment.

A French press ? Ugh. Do try an Italian caffettiera for a change .

This is the most popular coffee brewer in Italy today and has been for many, many years. Virtually every home in Italy has one, if not two or three of these coffee brewers.
The caffettiera is by far the best value for money coffee brewer available, simply because it is inexpensive to purchase and can last up to 30 years or so if it is looked after properly.
The caffettiera is made of aluminium or stainless steel. Stainless steel is preferable because the aluminium can oxidise or calcify and create an odour and/or awful taste if not cleaned properly after brewing coffee. The reliability of this brewer is exceptional and should brew your coffee to perfection almost every time (as long as you have prepared it correctly for brewing). You must use ground coffee that is ground to a specific fineness - similar to a commercial espresso coffee machine but not as fine. Cleaning is simple, just wash with soapy water, rinse thoroughly and let drip dry on the kitchen sink. No need for heavy detergents, scourers or harsh chemicals, not even the dishwasher is necessary. The caffetteria is easy to operate and comes apart in three pieces - the bottom chamber (to put fresh, clean water into for brewing), the middle filter basket (for the ground coffee), and the top chamber (where coffee brews into for serving). Place on a stovetop to brew (gas or electricity).

www.lifestylechannel.com.au/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=858

Cheap and simple to operate, it produces a far tastier coffee, more similar to a bar espresso (the tastier of them all) for chemical-physical reasons. Your contraption just uses boiling water, a caffettiera boiling water under pressure, bar espresso machines use steam. My 1-cup aluminum caffettiera does its job in 2 minutes flat, is some 6 years old and I wash it just in warm water after use. It cost about €5.

The efficiency of any solvent-extraction process is directly proportional to the temperature and pressure of the solvent used .

We call our caffettiere Moka, probably as a memento of where it all comes from (Mecca, Arabia). Incidentally, the name caffé also comes from Arabic:

قهوة‎ (Qahwa)

[groovlstk]

That is so sad! Fortunately, my wife likes good coffee. I grind my own and brew espressos on the stove top and then froth my own milk by hand to make my own lattes at home. Very low tech, but makes great coffee. Wife loves it and would not go for any instant cr*p 

Not too sad, though - guys should count their blessings when their wives prefer to do something economical  It took me awhile to realize my wife and her Russian friends prefer Asti Spumante to fine wine, which means I can drink a good amarone and let them enjoy their $9.99 Asti, and everyone is happy 

[ECOCKS]

Mr. Coffee and the knock-offs - available almost everywhere, cost-effective, works first time, every time. Strong, weak, vanilla, hazelnit arabica, whatever custom blend you choose.........

[Misha]

Not too sad, though - guys should count their blessings when their wives prefer to do something economical 

LOL. Well, my wife and I are probably as frugal as they come, but even I draw the line at instant coffee. Besides, a two pound bag of coffee beans bought at Costco is likely cheaper than a jar of instant coffee, but I would have to do the calculation to confirm. 

[SilverBUllet]

A French press ? Ugh. Do try an Italian caffettiera for a change .www.lifestylechannel.com.au/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=858

Cheap and simple to operate, it produces a far tastier coffee, more similar to a bar espresso (the tastier of them all) for chemical-physical reasons. Your contraption just uses boiling water, a caffettiera boiling water under pressure, bar espresso machines use steam. My 1-cup aluminum caffettiera does its job in 2 minutes flat, is some 6 years old and I wash it just in warm water after use. It cost about €5.

The efficiency of any solvent-extraction process is directly proportional to the temperature and pressure of the solvent used .

We call our caffettiere Moka, probably as a memento of where it all comes from (Mecca, Arabia). Incidentally, the name caffé also comes from Arabic:

قهوة‎ (Qahwa)

NOW YOU ARE TALKING! I already have one in my kitchen in Kyiv and my Miss likes it very much. Do it the Italian way, and by the way don't forget to bring Illy's coffee to go with it. They also come in stainless steel which I trust more than the less expensive aluminium ones. Something to do with metals making it into your coffee. There were problems with aluminium pots and pans in the past. Same concern about teflon covered pans and pots too.    Not in my kitchen, only stainless steel. SB

[Simoni]

LOL. Well, my wife and I are probably as frugal as they come, but even I draw the line at instant coffee. Besides, a two pound bag of coffee beans bought at Costco is likely cheaper than a jar of instant coffee, but I would have to do the calculation to confirm. 

Each to their own.  Whatever she loves is what she gets    And Nescaffe is what she wants.

But on the other hand, she LOVES caviar!!!

[SilverBUllet]

Each to their own.  Whatever she loves is what she gets    And Nescaffe is what she wants.

But on the other hand, she LOVES caviar!!!

Simoni, What about Jacobs Coffee instead of Nescaffe? In Ukraine (Kyiv and Odessa) Jacobs is the brand you see in supermarkets and ads. Perhaps different in Russia? SB

[Simoni]

Simoni, What about Jacobs Coffee instead of Nescaffe? In Ukraine (Kyiv and Odessa) Jacobs is the brand you see in supermarkets and ads. Perhaps different in Russia? SB

You see Nescaffe at the greocery checkout stand in Ukraine, in little one serve envelopes.  They come in three varieties --  black, with cream, and with cream and sugar.  Just add boiling water.  But all taste like Nescaffe :-)

There is also a Nescaffe cafe in the underground mall near Independence Square in Kiev we frequently go to.

Here, Marina does not like the coffee I get at Starbucks, but does like some of the flavored coffee they offer.  She thinks we should open a Starbucks in Kiev!  Anything to move back home 

[ECOCKS]

I am betting my wife will also not be impressed with Starbucks.  I was always a Deidrichs kind of guy - more mellow and laid back.

Those damned Nescafe machines are everywhere though.  All the cafeterias like Puzata Hata and Domashniya Kuknya have them, plus a lot of offices buy them or have the larger Nescafe vending machines.

For coffee in Ukraine I really prefer McDonald's.  I know, sacrilege, but everything else is just too weirdly bitter-tasting.  Need to try a Goria Jeans whenever I am downtown and able to spare the change (like 30 UAH) for a cup.

Ed

[Misha]

You see Nescaffe at the greocery checkout stand in Ukraine, in little one serve envelopes.  They come in three varieties --  black, with cream, and with cream and sugar.  Just add boiling water.  But all taste like Nescaffe :-)

Nescafe is still pretty high class when compared to MacCoffee: http://www.maccoffee.ru/  They offered this 3-in-1 coffee in Russia with the old packaged featuring a very cheesy looking eagle and an American flag.

[Simoni]

Nescafe is still pretty high class when compared to MacCoffee: http://www.maccoffee.ru/  They offered this 3-in-1 coffee in Russia with the old packaged featuring a very cheesy looking eagle and an American flag.

But their models look good! 

[SilverBUllet]

You see Nescaffe at the greocery checkout stand in Ukraine, in little one serve envelopes.  They come in three varieties --  black, with cream, and with cream and sugar.  Just add boiling water.  But all taste like Nescaffe :-)

There is also a Nescaffe cafe in the underground mall near Independence Square in Kiev we frequently go to.

Here, Marina does not like the coffee I get at Starbucks, but does like some of the flavored coffee they offer.  She thinks we should open a Starbucks in Kiev!  Anything to move back home 

Simoni, In Kyiv there is now Double Coffee which i find to be much better than Starbucks in the US. If you were to open a Starbucks in Kyiv there would be tough competition  . Have you been to the American style, Gloria Jeans Coffeehouse in Kyiv? Not far from Arena Citi and next door to Reprisa and Puzata Hata? I must say that Gloria Jeans was a disappointment to me, but run the American way. They ask for your first name and get it right.  A Starbucks however would do well compared to that place in my opinion. So you Miss might have a good business idea to bring to Kyiv after all.  What was the biggest difference or challenge moving from Kyiv to the US for her? Just curious since I have a Miss in Kyiv. SB

[Simoni]

Simoni, In Kyiv there is now Double Coffee which i find to be much better than Starbucks in the US. If you were to open a Starbucks in Kyiv there would be tough competition  . Have you been to the American style, Gloria Jeans Coffeehouse in Kyiv? Not far from Arena Citi and next door to Reprisa and Puzata Hata? I must say that Gloria Jeans was a disappointment to me, but run the American way. They ask for your first name and get it right.  A Starbucks however would do well compared to that place in my opinion. So you Miss might have a good business idea to bring to Kyiv after all.  What was the biggest difference or challenge moving from Kyiv to the US for her? Just curious since I have a Miss in Kyiv. SB

Yes, we have enjoyed Double Coffee too; coffee and desserts, too.  We have never been to Gloria Jeans Coffehouse.

The biggest challenge was adjusting from a society that walked everywhere and used public transportation, in contrast to many of our cities that are business centers and deserted at night.  She missed the big crowds and people being out on the street.

Three years later, she had pretty much made that adjustment.  Why walk when you can drive?  LOL

[SilverBUllet]

I am betting my wife will also not be impressed with Starbucks.  I was always a Deidrichs kind of guy - more mellow and laid back.

Those damned Nescafe machines are everywhere though.  All the cafeterias like Puzata Hata and Domashniya Kuknya have them, plus a lot of offices buy them or have the larger Nescafe vending machines.

For coffee in Ukraine I really prefer McDonald's.  I know, sacrilege, but everything else is just too weirdly bitter-tasting.  Need to try a Goria Jeans whenever I am downtown and able to spare the change (like 30 UAH) for a cup.

Ed

Ed, PH coffee is not bad for 6 Hryvnia per cup. You can have a coffee party at PH for what you pay next door at the Gloria Jeans Coffee place next door. The most funny part there is that they ask for your first name even if there is no one else waiting to pick up their coffee. I prefer Double Coffee instead, 1/2 price there. The best is however Illy Coffee, 3rd floor at Arena Citi, still no more expensive than Gloria Jeans.......I like Reprise too, the pasteries there are excellent but as you also know, can have a few PH's meals for what one visit cost me at Reprisa. Good ProCredit Bank has an ATM next door that likes foreign PayPal ATM cards free of charge to get my Hryvnia. SB

[ECOCKS]

For clarification, Puzata Hata has both types of coffee machines.  The simple Nescafe unit in the main serving area, along with a coffee house section (usually located on the floor above or otherwise distant from the serving area) which has one of the standard large, complicated coffee makers.  And yes it is reasonably priced for the (sub-)standard cup here.  I just miss bottomless coffee cups and attentive service with the refills.

[Shadow]

I just miss bottomless coffee cups and attentive service with the refills.

That brings me back memories of my first trip to NYC.
As I decided not to use the hotel breakfast, but get it in Manhattan instead, I walked in to a donut shop and got a medium coffee and donuts. I was happy not to have ordered a large one, as the medium size seemed already like a bucket to me. 

[M_Diva]

This question must be a joke...right?

Why would anyone assume that Russian women prefer western men at all, let alone asking WHY they prefer them?

There is no justification for such an assumption. Of the millions of marriages, a relative handful are with western partners. There are easier ways of getting citizenship to other countries than marriage for example The vast majority of Ukrainians who went to the US did on claims of religious persecution grounds through the Lautenberg Amendment and not marriage, once there they either stay with their Ukrainian husband or find another in a insular community.

I must be right, it was a joke header....right?
Or maybe it is an attempt by agencies to attract western men who are unsure of the practicality of catalog shopping  for a wife.

Marina
In beautiful snowy St Petersburg

[ECOCKS]

You apparently lose a little something in the translation Marina.

In this context, it can be generally interpreted that there is an implied "some" omitted before the word Russian.  It is not stated definitively as an all inclusive and it is common knowledge that not all RW marry WM.