Heading towards Nikolaev and then bootcamp and A.I.T

[felix8787]

Whats going on folks??? Yup finally here and it's been great, enjoying myself and "E" here. Met an American guy on the bus to the plane from Kiev to Odessa that lives in Niko and met a couple of ladies that live in NYC that used to live in Ukraine. The American guy gave me his number and have a beer while I am in town.

Things so far has been good, just been enjoying my time here and getting to know "E" face to face...funny thing though, she thought I was taller from the pic's that I sent her LOL. I told her with the high heels you have on you are as tall as me and I am sure that she has taller heels to boot!

The drive from Odessa was pretty relaxed, the driver that picked me up asked if we could go get his mom. Sure not a problem. I thought that was an excuse to pick up a female friend but I was way wrong, it was his mom, she only looked about 25years younger and asked if I knew any friends!! Yes, she really looks that young, for someone her age she IS a very good looking lady, far better then any that I have seen back home!

Anyways, "E" and I are going to catch a movie or take a walk tonight, tomorrow, she wants to cook for me and Women's day, well what can I can say, it's her day. I think Saturday she is going to introduce me to her parents, I know her mom for sure and maybe her dad if he isn't working.

Got a nice bottle of "Gentleman Jack" by JD for the father and chocolates for the mom. Well so far no expectations were not blown because we have been talking for a while now, other then she thinking that I was taller but I think she is passed that LOL. She has been coming over to the apt with her friend because her English is not so well, which is fine and she asked alot of questions as I asked questions myself.

It is a slow process, but you know what, that's ok, I like that she is asking questions and getting to know me as I am getting to know her, she asked me that first night, when do I leave for the Army training and I told her. She's concerned about my well being. Monday maybe we are going to go swimming, whoohoo. Had to go out and buy some swim shorts or the closest thing that they sold as swim shorts.

Anyways folks, I will check up later on here in the internet cafe. Oh one thing, when I get back, I will not be putting up a TR report for quite some time, not until I get back from training, so people who are interested to know what happened will just have to wait and I will put some stuff here from the internet cafe.

felix8787

[SANDRO43]

Anyways folks, I will check up later on here in the internet cafe.

Felix, could you please provide the street address of that I-Café in Niko? I have a friend who was looking for one. Glad things seem to be progressing nicely for you .

[felix8787]

Moskovska Str #39 is the address, but they are on the corner of Prospect Lenina and Moskovska Str. Hope that helps you Sandro and thanks.

felix8787

[Diplomacy]

Slow and steady wins the race.  She is going out of her way, to find friends that speak English.  Do not let her fool you, they are going to be giving feedback.  Did you bust out any of the Russian? 

She telling you the right way to do anything?

Do not pee in the pool, they have a dye in Ukraine that busts you for sure.

Be a man, cook for her on Woman's Day.  Just beat her to the punch, tell her to come over at a certain time.  Make a little something, but have your fridge and stove porch ready to make a meal.

Have your clothes all ironed and ready to go, then change into them after you cook.

You do the work on Woman's Day, tell her you are doing.  I have yet to see a woman, get mad when I cooked for her.  It may be a trap    These women are very clever.

[Shadow]

Seems you are having a good time, and meeting friends does make it better...after all opinions of friends are important.
Keep us updated if you can, otherwise happy drilling.

[SANDRO43]

Moskovska Str #39 is the address, but they are on the corner of Prospect Lenina and Moskovska Str. Hope that helps you Sandro and thanks.

Thankee kindly, Felix , all the best.

[mark2353]

Felix,
I just read the whole thread! fantastic hope you the best of luck! Please keep us informed of the progress.
Mark

[felix8787]

Hey everyone, how are things here??? I see that there are some threads here that are...how should I put this quite interesting?

Well, anyways things here are going good, I'm having a wonderful time here. Don't really want to sit hear in the internet cafe for to long. But things are different per say. I have been spending alot of time here getting to meet different people in general and it is great. I would like to post more but unfortunately, drinking some Piva with a Bill does have it's toll and I need to head back to the apt. I will post more tomorrow morning. What I will say is that I had dinner with a very very wonderful lady here (different), we had coffee, took a walk by the river (while it being cold), had dinner (ate sushi).

Till tomorrow!

felix8787

Diplomacy!!! Call me!!!!

[felix8787]

Little update:
Yesterday after leaving here from the internet cafe...I had to use to bathroom so damn BAD!!! When I was walking home, I really had to focus on walking fast without any delays, the thought even crossed my mind to just go behind a building and water some plants!!....when I got to my apt building, I went to the elevator and hit the button many many times and NOTHING!!! Damn, I was going to freaking burst, I had to climb up 7 flights of stairs before I hit my apt!! Let me tell ya, I was so damn happy to be back to my apt!! lol.

Been seeing a lady here now for the past 2 days and things are going great, we're planning on spending the whole day together tomorrow.

I have 3 more days left here and I am going to use this timely wisely on spending as much time as possible with her. She knows about me leaving for training and school, but I will be back without a doubt!

My experience so far here has been absolutely wonderful, the food (sushi) is great, the people that I have met have been wonderful. I have been a guest speaker for Bill and I was flooded with all kinds of questions, the one that I thought was most interesting and funny is: do I want a wife from Nikolaev. LOL, I responded to all the women in the class and including the teacher..it really doesn't matter what city of Ukraine she is in, I think that all of you are very attractive, but would you in turn look at me, find me attractive and date? It was more of a response then a question posed to them.

They shook their head as in a approving fashion with my response. There are alot and I mean alot of attractive women here, but that is all that I can say about them, except for the ones that I have personally met and they are very normal everyday ladies that work or go to universities.

felix8787

[mark2353]

Felix,
I really happy to hear that you are meeting some great looking ladies and enjoying the visit. That is always a plus plus to any trip. thanks for the updates.
Mark

[felix8787]

Well it's my last day tomorrow. Today, I spent the day at an english club, then I went to a basketball game here, Nikolaev vs Kiev. Man, I was pumped up when Nikolaev started to take the lead. Unfortunately they lost, but damn was it a close game.

"I" stayed at home this evening with her mother, me, Bill and Larisa went and had dinner. Now I am here at the internet cafe.

This trip is by far the most memorable and I know that I will be back. I don't think that I will fully post a TR report when I get back home, just won't have the time. I might give a little bit of a TR tomorrow evening here before I leave. Till then folks poka!

felix8787

[felix8787]

This is not a TR report, but more of a quick synopsis of what has transpired here:
Got here evening of the 4th, met with lady and her friend, chatted for about 2 hours, next day Thursday same thing.

Friday, she had a company event to attend for up coming women day's celebration. So we didn't see each other. Called Bill and met with him and Larisa and their office manager and had drinks.

Saturday I met with Bill in the morning and attended his English club and met alot of nice locals here. That afternoon, met up with lady friend and her friend and went to the movies. Was supposed to meet up with her at 5pm to go to a concert with her and her mom. But she flaked out. I looked at my phone and saw that she called and her friend called but my phone was on silent from the movies. I called her back and she was already at the concert(heard music in the background). I called her friend to find out what happened. She calls me back and says that she had problems at home and I tell her "I'm sorry I just don't believe her." I was outside waiting at the time she says to meet in front of the apt. She hangups and calls her. I get a call back from my lady friend and she tells me something like we meet after. Ok sure whatever. We met up later that evening. And I explain to her how rude it was to say something and not follow thru with it and I reversed the situation and she agreed and she says "Sorry, I am bad".

So we sit there her friend I order tea and her and her 2 other friends order a bottle of wine, we drink and talk. Bottom line is that, there was nothing there as far as chemistry but none the less she considered me a friend, but I was still upset that I didn't see this concert which would of been a treat for me to watch.

Sunday Womens Day, I made several calls to my friends wishing them Happy womens day and I also called my lady friend here. She asked if I wanted to go to the zoo. Sure why not. I went with her and another new friend to the zoo. Her new friend was cool. After zoo, we went somewhere so her friend could pay a bill or something. After that we parted ways with her friend and we went to the City Center area and I got off and she went home, later that evening I met with bill and had dinner and drinks.

Monday I was at bills school and that is where I met the "I". We talked for a little bit and I asked her for her number. And I told her that I will call her sometime. Later that evening I met up with bill and Larisa, then my lady friend showed up and we talked for a little bit, just as friends. At this point I couldn't stop thinking about "I". But during our talk, my lady friend asked me if I would like to go ice skating the next day, sure why not.

Tuesday, I was with bill all day and that was a real treat for me, because I got to meet a lot of really nice people here who wanted to learn English. Got asked a lot of questions about everything and I got to ask lots of question myself. That evening we met up with "I" and boy what a site to see her again. But unfortunately I had already made a commitment to go ice skating. After ice skating I called "I" because during the whole time ice skating I was thinking about her. But she was getting ready to go to sleep and she says maybe she will call me the next day.

Wednesday I'm hangin with bill and helped fixed his computer. I get a text from "I" asking me to meet her that afternoon. Hell yeah! Great. We meet, we went and had coffee talked, took a walk and went and had dinner. It was absolutely great just having a wonderful time with her.

Thursday we met again, took a walk around the area and talked some more. Then we met up with bill later that evening for a class and after that class I walked her back to the bus stop.

Friday we meet again and we spend the afternoon together, we get a dvd and watch that back at my apt, then we go to her side of town to meet up with her friend for a bit, after that we head back to my side and met up with bill and Larisa and we all go out to dinner. Absolutely great!! Love the sushi!!

Saturday we didn't meet up, she stayed at home with her mom and spent time with her. I met bill with his English club and later that evening went to a local basketball game. After that we meet up with Larisa and had dinner and chatted. I texted "I" and wished her a goodnight. I was at the Cafe checking my emails and reading the forum, I was there with this other guy "P" whom I had met a few days ago, he was meeting his lady also. Anyways this turdnugget started asked "P" about what's the best agency to use, what site to use to meet ladies.

I started talking to the guy and I was absolutely amazed at how ignorant he was period. I ask him what's he doing here in Nikolaev. His response "I am searching for a wife". He looks at me and asked aren't you here for the same thing? I say no not really, I can here and met somebody yes, but not looking for a wife per say before I leave.
He procedes to tell me that he's been here for over 2 weeks and that he has met 4 ladies and just can not for the life of him be able to meet anyone. I think he said that he was stood up 2 times or once don't really recall.

Anyways, he tells me that he doesn't have a job back home in the US but can get a job anytime as a programmer because that is what he does. So he is here indefinitely hunting for a wife. He thinks because of the economic situation he will land himself a hottie because he is American. He says he's living like a Ukrainian, taking the bus or taxi and buying grocery from the grocery store like that's going to improve his odds? Then he tells me that if the women doesn't kiss you she doesn't like you..nah sorry I just don't believe that, because you can go out and meet a lady kiss her and that doesn't automatically mean that she likes you and wants to be with you in a one on one relationship. Sorry, from personal experience, that just isn't true.

Anyways, he asked me what's my technique, I look at him stupidly, I don't have a technique, if I wanted to talk to a person I would talk to them. Then he kept on saying some crap about if the girls lived with a boyfriend that she doesn't have a good character??? WTF is this guy thinking, now I'm at a point where I think that this guy is a real honest to goodness idiot. Basically this guy is looking for a women that is never been married (nothing wrong with that), doesn't have children (personal choice) and has never lived with with a boyfriend? If she did, she would be of bad character.

It is totally obvious to me that this guy is so full of sh*t that he reeks of it from a distance. It's his first time to Ukraine and sorry but this guy is drowning and I'm not bailing him out, he's to ignorant to listen to any useful advice that I offered him.

Oh one thing that really pissed me off about him is that he told ME, so you only care about what's on the outside and not the inside? Dude if you only had a clue, is what I'm thinking. He think's that because I said that I don't care wether she used to live a with man or has children (he thinks that's bad character), that I only care about her looks and not her inner self (again, this guy is a tool and desperate from the look of things) I am not going to explain myself to him about life and relationship, he is far beyond reasoning and he is in lala land.

Anyways that is how things how are...interesting isn't it???

felix8787   
 

[Gator]

Felix,

Your trip stumbled out of the starting blocks, and stumbled again once you caught up with "E,"   your primary candidate.  Clearly "E" did not have much interest and even stood you up.  Was she one of those young 20somethings that Bill warned you about?


Failing to click with a primary candidate happens all the time on these trips.  You were wise to move on rather than keep chasing "E"  or walk around in a pitiful mood. 

Look at what happened.  Being free,  you found "I" with whom you enjoyed some good times together.  Plus you had a lot of interesting experiences in meeting people and seeing Ukraine.

You are a flexible yet determined man.  These qualities are needed in dating RW and in serving in the military.

Good luck.

[Diplomacy]

Gator:

E is 31.  We have talked several times during his trip.  "I", is interested in Marco, but had never thought about marrying an American.  He was lucky to have Bill around, that man is a great guy.

Since I know Marco will not have much time for a TR.  Marco gave "E" one chance, and she blew it the second time.  She was not serious, but did not try to take him to the cleaners.  He was polite, and going to the zoo was better than sitting around.  It may have been no chemistry, but "E" clearly did not care to partake in the pride of Russian hospitality. 

He has cut off contact with "E" I believe, and is just getting to know "I" better.  Especially since, this was just a natural meeting.  "I" is well known by Bill, and Bill knows that Marco is a great guy.

I can tell you all, Marco has learned well from everyone.  Anastasia has been awesome, Marco could not say enough nice things about her.  I think "I" knows what she has in Marco, but time will tell how this unfolds.

As we all know, Marco has Medic training with the Army.  He has let her know this, and as of know is ok with that.  We will all have to wait and see.  I do not want to steal any thunder from Marco, so this is as far as I wish to take the discussion.

[felix8787]

Well the conclusion of this:
As of now, I am at home but I leave around 3:45am to go to MEPS. I just got done talking with "I" through skype, only thing is, is that she can't hear me, we can see each other which is a plus!

The last evening that I was there, "I" invited me over at 4pm, I left my apartment around 1:45pm, not knowing how long it would of taken me to walk to her place, which was somewhere across town.
I remembered how to get to her place from the other day. So navigating on foot wasn't a problem. I did manage to get to her place in about 40 minutes. Obviously I was way to early so I checked out the scene a little bit and went and had coffee at this little cafe.

When 4 rolled around, I called her and she came and let me in, wow did she look wonderful! She told me that her mom will be home soon, so I guess that I was meeting her mom. We sat on the couch and she showed me her photo album. Her mom finally gets home with sack of potatoes, I get to go and help her and "I" kept on telling me, no, do not worry, your our guest. Ok I thought, that sack of potatoes looks mighty heavy.

Her mom came into the living and she was smiling ear to ear, she was saying hi to me and of course what little Russian knowledge I have, I told her in Russian "Please to meet you." She was very surprised that I knew some Russian and I say to her that I know a little. She then asked me if I would like some coffee, I gladly accepted to the offer. I go into the kitchen sit down and she makes coffee for the 3 of us. She asked if I could smell the pies when I came in and I said yes. She insisted that I try one of the three that she had made. The 1st one is meat pie. The 2nd is pot cheese pie. And the 3rd jam pie. Of course I tried the meat pie and it was really tasty. After coffee, I then helped her mom take the sack of potatoes to the porch.

Her mother asked if were going to Bill's for dinner and she says yes we just had to call to find out where they lived. Before I left, I had asked her to ask her mom if I could take with me some of those pies with me for the long plane ride. She was very happy to give me quite a bit of those small pies. She loaded me up with 4 meat pies, 3 pot cheese and 3 jam pies. So I had plenty to eat on my plane ride back home.

After we say our goodbyes to her mother, I asked "I" if we should bring something to dinner. She said yes, I said how about a bottle of wine? That sounds good, so we head to a little shop that sold wine and we got a nice bottle of some sweet cherry wine. I take the umbrella from her and she takes my arm and off to the bus stop we go.

When the bus finally arrived, we head off towards bills and Larisa's place. We get there and bill was already cooking, got the sauce going, garlic bread being made, it was great. We all sat in the kitchen for a while and talk. I was telling bill about this guy that I ran into the night before. Told him what I was told by this guy and he agreed that this guy was not all there. After a while, the ladies went into the living room and we stayed in the kitchen. We talked and I finished my glass of wine and "I" didn't finish hers so I finished it for her.

I stepped out of the kitchen to see "I" and Larisa goes into the kitchen and helps bill. So I stayed with "I" in the living room and we talked. Which BTW is great because I can actually have a 2 way conversation with her. Larisa comes out and starts preparing the table and after everything was done, bill comes out with the plates of food, everything looks deliciously and tasted even better!!! I served up the sweet wine that "I" had chosen. She chose wisely, it was a sweet cherry aroma wine. We all talked had a great time and then bill serves up blini with apple filling and chocolate syrup on top with chocolate pudding. WOW, that was real good!!!

After we got done eating, bill showed me some stuff on the computer and after a while, I turn around and "I" and Larisa were waving saying.."HELLO""We're over here guys!" Oops, I'm sorry to have neglected her and I immediately went back to her and bill came back to the table. We talked some more and sometime past 9 we decided to call it a night. We say our goodbyes and we headed back to my apt for a bit.

When we were there, "I" asked me why did I come for only 1 women? I say "because that is who I am, yes I came to see one women but nothing became of it and then I met you." We talked some more for a little bit, it was getting late, she gave me a very big hug for a while and then I told her to call a taxi, it would be much faster for her to get home then the bus. I walk her downstairs and waited with her, while standing outside, I start taking pictures of her in her winter coat (she looked so damn cute all bundled up). Anyways the taxi came she gave me another hug and then I forgot to write down my skype info to her, so I just texted it to her. I can't wait to see her again via skype!
 
Now, when I left Niko at 4:58am, I arrived at Odessa Central at about 6:45am. The driver was quick to get there which was cool. Got there early, it was cold and damp. Finally it's time to get on through security and check in, the security guy decided to make a funny comment when he saw my name. He looked and says "marco polo", I look at him and laugh, yes marco polo, we both get a chuckle and I move on to get my boarding pass.

Finally get on the plane, I knew that I was cutting it close with the time between lay over terminal a and terminal b. When we finally leave, the flight left 20minutes late.. Damn, that is not good. When I get to Kiev, I arrived at 10am and my other flight leaves at 11:10am. But by the time I get off the plane and get my luggage, I haul a$$ over to terminal b and get to check in, it was already closed. Holy crap, what the hell am I going to do now???

Stress factor just multiplied 10 fold, I pleaded with her, I was only 10 minutes late after check in closed (@ 10:10am) and I didn't even get my luggage until about 10:10am. Damn! What now, I head over to Delta info and waited for the person in front of me, he missed check in also, because of a late taxi, but my situation was much worse then his. When I spoke to the lady I told her what had happened and she talks on the phone to someone and then she tells me that I had to change ticket to Thursday and pay 300.00US. WHAT!! Oh hell no!! I wasn't about to do that, I call up my friend Sveta and told her the situation and then called up another friend to try and help me out. I asked Sveta, that if I couldn't get a flight out, if I could stay with her. She tells me "Marc, you surprise me!" LOL. Now, I just have to figure out what the hell to do.

I certainly could not stay here, as I have other obligations of high importance to attend to back home. Think, think!! I head back over to the Delta rep, then this other lady shows up, apparently the manager. So I tell her my situation and it is of great importance that I get a flight out of here and be back home no later then the 17th. I tell her it wasn't my fault, that Aerosvit was late taking off and getting here. She asked if I had my ticket from Aerosvit and I say yes and gave it to her. She tells me to wait. I wait a bit and she hands me this itinerary and tells me that her employee has to confirm it! Hell yeah!!! I tell her thank you! The other guy that missed his flight wasn't to worried about his flight, because all he had was a phone conference, so taking care of me was more important, god bless that man!

My ticket was confirmed but I had about 1 minute to get checked in before they close too!!! Damn, that's all I need is to miss my next flight because of being a minute late. So when I get to the check in line, the lady remembers me and processed my ticket and finally got me a boarding pass. I had about 20 minutes before boarding so I stepped outside and got a cigarette and called Sveta and told her everything is alright, that other guy who was coming was half way there to borispol. I went and got more refill cards for my phone and went to customs. Damn! it's 12pm and the flight takes off at 12:30 and there is a long a$$ line through customs. I'm just thinking, I'm going to be late again because of customs. I'm getting anxious now, the customs line is moving way to freaking slow and I'm looking at my watch every 30 seconds counting down the time for when boarding will be closed!

I'm trying to wave this customs lady down but she just turns around and walks off.....this line is moving way to slow. Then this lady steps into another booth and opens up a customs lane. This one Russian steps forward and I tell him he can be the first. I'm second and this shouldn't take long. WRONG!!! This guy doesn't have his customs paper and he didn't know where it was or where his buddy standing behind me had put it. Jeeze can anything else happen???? Finally buddy boy get stamped and leaves the booth, I step up and 3 minutes later I'm through, thank goodness, I step over to my gate and get in line to board. Whew!! Finally, that crazy ordeal was over. Now it was time for the long flight home and the stupid layovers. The flight from Kiev to Paris was fine with about a 4 hour layover.

I get on the flight to go to JFK and it's smooth sailing from there...WRONG again DAMN! This short young Ukrainian lady that sat in front of me, as soon as we pulled away from the gate let down her chair, damn near crushing my knee's and making it really uncomfortable plane ride back to the states (9hrs). The whole time pushing against the foot bar closing the gap between the back of the seat and my knee's. I could barely move my legs. And then during dinner, she did the same thing and damn near spilled my wine all over me! Man, could barely could sleep on the plane.

Finally get to JFK, and I have a long night in front of me. Good thing I got those pies to hold me over. I took a seat next to a power outlet and went to sleep on a bench. Wake up some 4 hours later and pretty much just waited to leave JFK and head home. Finally get home, make some calls to bill. He was in an English class at a bank. "I" was there too! He puts me on speaker phone and I got to talk with "I" and the rest of the group, I imagine that bill told them my situation and they were happy to hear from me and that I finally made it home. We talk for a little bit longer and I tell "I" we'll talk on skype. I used the info that she gave me and searched for her and found nothing, hm, I search again but left out a couple of digits and found her, I think. I wait for her call and it never came?? I call her and she tell's me that she will call in 10Min's. I wait and nothing, waited 30Min's wondering what had happened. I call her and she tells me that she couldn't find me? I asked her some questions regarding skype and then she finally finds me!!! Well, I tell her that I think I found her but it wasn't her, somebody different. Oh well, I got her on now. We talk for a while and then she goes to sleep. I tell her that I will call her tomorrow before I leave and she says "I wait for your call." So nice to her that from her.

Anyways that is what has transpired, now I got some stuff to do and then I'm off tomorrow morning.

felix8787

[felix8787]

What's going on people. I know that you guys and gals missed me  Done with the 10 weeks of BCT and now I am at the airport here in San Antonio, Texas waiting for my meal voucher  .

I did try and keep communications with the lady from Nikolaev, it was hard but I did manage a few phone calls here and there. Anyways I would be happy to answer any questions about my experience and what has transpired. I don't know if the base that I go to will take away my laptop and phone. But if they do, I should get it back within a week or 2 depending on the commander.


felix8787