Traveling to Kaluga end of March

[Daveman]

This trip will give me a small taste of what it will be like for the women who come to our countries, Olya will during this trip have to do the 9-5 work thing and depending on the weather conditions (if it is good weather and not cold or storming) Olya's mother and Igor will be at the Dacha (we will visit them at the Dacha on the weekends) so I will be left alone in Olya's apartment to fend for myself while she is at work.

Yes it will.  Especially since you'll be left to fend for yourself during the day.  My longest visit was just under three months in Kharkov.. and while that relationship ultimately did not work, I wouldn't trade that experience (or any of the others) of "living there" for anything.  The little hops for a week or two at a time just are not the same.  Your eyes will open in ways which will surprise you.  Definitely get out and prowl around on your own and enjoy mingling with people.  You'll be surprised how much you will learn on an extended trip - about your lady, about yourself, about life.. it'll be an eye opener for sure, good and bad, and even in some aspects you think you already understand. 

Good luck and enjoy the trip!
Dave

[Chillidog]

Yes it will.  You'll be surprised how much you will learn on an extended trip - about your lady, about yourself, about life.. it'll be an eye opener for sure, good and bad, and even in some aspects you think you already understand. 

Good luck and enjoy the trip!
Dave

I am one of those that tries not to dwell on the future, and take as it comes. meaning I do not try to anticipate every possibilty and how I should handle it or act. But I do expect this to be an "eye opener" a good "test" of me as a person and also our relationship. Though even one month cannot be viewed the same as a woman saying "goodbye" to her country because at that point for the woman this "goodbye" is for life and not a short 1 month sojourn to a different country

this will put our 24/7 face time at 2 months just as you said the other 1 or 2 week meetings are great and you learn much, I suspect with this trip we will both learn more about each other, possibily learn a thing or two about myself. I think what I will learn most is about this little "piece" of Russia. I am really looking forward to having this experience, some extended time to mix and mingle with the country, the people and the culture.

[Faux Pas]

Schladke!  That route from O'Hare to DME is my preferred flight. I always found it cheaper on the AA site than the discounted search engines. It is usually more expensive on the AA site if you try to book too far in advance. Usually inside the 28 day window it is cheaper than all the others.

I envy you and the month long trip. Thats something I am never able to do. Stretching it past 2 weeks is generally my limit due to work commitments. I think earlier on that would have been a tremendous benefit. Hopefully it will be for you.

[Chillidog]

Faux,

Thanks, I very much am looking forward to spending so much time together. I'm taking a "hit" with work, But felt it was very important for us to be able to spend this much consecutive time together. Any time together regardless of length is always a good thing.

[Chillidog]

Hopefully the Russian ladies who also have some knowledge of American "laundry products" and would be able to know how the "Russian laundry products" compare to the US can help me out. or even any of you guys who might have paid any attention when shopping in a local Russian supermarket.

I'll try to keep this short;

I have sensitive skin/alergies so I cannot use "normal laundry" detergent and must use the detergents that are "Dye Free, Perfume Free" the one I have been using for years is "All-Free & Clear"

I'll be in Russia for a month so I will need to do some "clothes washing" even 1 wash in the wrong type of detergent will make my skin begin to feel as if it is on fire/itching. after about 2-3 days wearing clothes washed in normal laundry detergent, I am ready to rip my skin off and I will begin to have "rashes" appear in places on the body that are prone to sweat such as the underarms, behind the knees and yes you quessed, it the "private area" certainly do not want this

so hoping that someone knows if I can purchase while I am in Russia some laundry detergent that would be the equivalent to "All Free & Clear"?

 

[2tallbill]

Chill,

I wouldn't risk it, I would recommend bringing a zip lock freezer bag of your
detergent with you if its a powder or a shampoo bottle if its a liquid.

Udachi!

Bill

[Chillidog]

Passport with Visa stamp has arrived. Made certain of course that the "dates" were correct. Stamped for August 4th (04/08/09) arrival and valid thru September 2nd (02/09/09). I depart Russia on August 31st so even barring difficulties leaving, I still will have a couple of days before they throw me in the Gulag

all set, bags packed (a first usually I am still packing the day of the flight) only thing left to do is translate a few of my favorite recipes into Russian and wait for my 5:30 pm flight on American Airlines (ORD direct to DME) on Monday August 3rd

[Faux Pas]

Good Luck Chili! I am envious of your month. Hope all turns out as you hope it will. Looks as if you've taken my preferred flight (ORD to DME) as I know much of the crew by name. For long layovers there are worse airports to be than DME. Enjoy yourself!

Paka

[Chillidog]

Good Luck Chili! I am envious of your month. Hope all turns out as you hope it will. Looks as if you've taken my preferred flight (ORD to DME) as I know much of the crew by name. For long layovers there are worse airports to be than DME. Enjoy yourself!

Paka

Faux,

no long layover! no layover what so ever 

I am even truly more lucky then you think  because DME is also my "final" destination airport. Olya will be waiting at the airport for me and all we will have at this point is a 2-2.5 hour taxi ride to her apartment.

Yes, it sucks to be me 

one drawback Olya's "local taxi connection" that we have used the last 2 visits is TOO busy this time so I have to pay more $$$ for the transport. Instead of 2000 Rubles (for the 2.5 hour ride) I will have to pay 2300 Rubles plus 200 Rubles (airport parking)  that this new guy is charging. Still 2500 Rubles to take you 2+ hours (and this also includes the 2+ hour ride for Olya to meet me at the airport) is not bad at all

A month together, really is for most of us a "fantasy", it is something we (Olya and I) have hoped that we could do from the very begining of our communication 9 months ago. It cannot tell completely what our life will be like together in the future, but it is about the best we both could have hoped for under the LDR circumstances.  I am really psyched and excited!!!

[Faux Pas]

Faux,

no long layover! no layover what so ever 

I am even truly more lucky then you think  because DME is also my "final" destination airport. Olya will be waiting at the airport for me and all we will have at this point is a 2-2.5 hour taxi ride to her apartment.

Yes, it sucks to be me 

one drawback Olya's "local taxi connection" that we have used the last 2 visits is TOO busy this time so I have to pay more $$$ for the transport. Instead of 2000 Rubles (for the 2.5 hour ride) I will have to pay 2300 Rubles plus 200 Rubles (airport parking)  that this new guy is charging. Still 2500 Rubles to take you 2+ hours (and this also includes the 2+ hour ride for Olya to meet me at the airport) is not bad at all

A month together, really is for most of us a "fantasy", it is something we (Olya and I) have hoped that we could do from the very begining of our communication 9 months ago. It cannot tell completely what our life will be like together in the future, but it is about the best we both could have hoped for under the LDR circumstances.  I am really psyched and excited!!!

Even better! Layovers are a bummer but unfortunately for me required. 2500 rubles isn't a bad rate for a 2.5 hour drive. Go with it and enjoy! I'll look forward to your update when you return

[Chillidog]

I arrived back home on August 31st after 28 days spent with my lady. I am feeling a bit lonely without her, and it was very diffuclt for all to have to say "goodbye" for me to return the the States.

I arrived on Tuesday August 4 at around 1PM Moscow time at DME. My beautiful Olya was waiting for me at the airport w/transport for the 3-hour car ride to Kaluga. It has only been 5 weeks since we were together in Thailand but when I saw her I was again “blown away” by how beautiful Olya is. I had to pinch myself to make sure I was not dreaming I am truly one very lucky and fortunate man!

During our ride to Kaluga Olya and I look thru the 500 picture photo album from our vacation in Thailand (this album was a gift for бабушка) and it was very nice to be with Olya viewing the photos and remembering together these good times. During the 5 weeks between our meetings Olya kept talking about taking a “trip” up to Saint Petersburg or as Olya (and most Russians) refers to it as ПЕТЕР. She wanted to do it know because she can arrange for it so that I am “billed as a Russian” and not as a foreigner. She was “booking’ this on one of the “Russian tour groups” and the only disappointment was that we would not get to see the inside of the Hermitage.  Olya stated that it was “closed”  (this is what the Tour company told her) my feeling was that it was a “cost saving measure” and to include the Hermitage for the whole group would have caused the price of the tour to be more expensive and probably reduce the number of participants in the tour.

(side note; in the past I always have kept a “daily log” of events and thoughts when I traveled but this time with my visit being for a month. I did not keep a “daily log” and so now I must rely on my feeble memory for this TR)

I had only Wednesday (5th) to recover from the flight, but I have never really had any difficulties with “jet lag” on Thursday evening (6th) we are off on what Olya has informed me is a 7 hour bus ride to Петер. This first week Olya has arranged to take off from work but starting on Monday 10th she will be working and for the next 2 weeks I will be home alone in the apartment, as Игорь и бабушка are staying at the dacha until the last week of August. Olya feels it is best to get Игор back on a normal sleeping and daily schedule the week prior to returning to school.

Olya and I head to the meeting place for the tour at around 6:30 PM (it was about a 10 minute walk from the apartment) there is around a dozen people (including us) but I soon find out the Tour bus stops at a second location (in Kaluga) and around another 20 or so people get on. All told there is close to 40 people on the tour, and a diverse group, some couples in there 30’s and there 40’s, grandparents with there “late teen” grandson, 4 single guy travelers, a group of 3-4 бабушка and a group of 4 girls also in the very late teens or possibly very early 20’s. One of the 30 year old couples brought with them there daughter who was around Игорь age (9) and for the most part the girl acted very good but there were moments when she was a bit disruptive and other moments when you could see she was completely bored with this whole trip, it was at these times when Olya commented this was the reason we did not bring Игор with us.

Well, I do not know how Olya came up with the 7-hour bus ride from Kaluga to St. Pete? According to my calculations) we leave Kaluga at around 7PM and arrive in St. Pete at around 7 AM. The route is along the “M3” from Kaluga to Moscow, and then picking up the “M10” at Moscow and taking this thru Tver up to St. Pete. I comment on this ride taking 12 hours and Olya says Нет семь часов, it is not important to argue the point (but in my mind I think, this is what she was told by “authorities” and so this is what she believes). The first day of our Tour is comprised mostly of a “guided Bus Tour” of all of the points of interest. There are on a couple of occasions when we stop for “outside photo opportunities” and at the end of our day we take a tour along the river Neva and some of the tributaries. At this point in time (the river cruise) I am exhausted, have been sitting in a bus for pretty much 24 hours straight, probably the 10 flight from 2 days ago along with the 9 hour time change has all conspired against me and I feel absolutely miserable and like a “bobble head doll” Olya keeps nudging me every time my chin slams into my chest. All I want right now is to go back to our “Russian style” hotel and lay down.

More to follow in the coming days.

[Silver Birch]

HEY, CD, how's it going, *now*? 

Take care, mate

EM S m0w b

[Chillidog]

Silver,

other than being "apart" things/relationship is GREAT! Olya has already started the countdown to our next meeting. it's not as soon as either of us would like, but we both are trying to look at the "Big picture" and not sweat the small thinsg

[Chillidog]

As I have already said my memory is feeble (the body is sound-- well almost, but the mind is shot ) if it weren’t for the photos and following them in chronological order I would not have a clue as to what we did on each day in Петер. As it is I will most likely still screw the TR up. In this “tour group” I was the only native speaking English person, so everything by the tour guides was spoken in Russian, Olya did her best to translate the important moments, but it would be impossible for her to translate every conversation or every moment. My Russian has improved but not to the point of keeping up with the speed at which it is spoken and I find myself realizing and understanding what is spoken 5 minutes after the conversation has ended and they have gone on to the next topic, as they say in Drag Racing I found myself constantly “in the dust”.

I would like to point out now even though these events happened 2 weeks after we returned home (to our apartment in Kaluga) from Петер, something I found very very interesting. Бабушка (Olya’s mother) does not refer to Петер as Петер, Баьушка refers to it always as “Ленинград'. In following conversations I wondered how she viewed or called “Volgograd” if this was referred to her still as “Stalingrad” or if she named it “Volgograd” Бабушка responded that this city’s name was “Volgograd” and I was left with the impression that there was still a bitter taste in her mouth for Stalin, where Lenin is much revered and viewed as a “Hero” of Russia even with some of the new movements of recognizing Nicholas and the last Tsar of Russia.

I do not want to start any (at least in my “Kaluga” thread) political debates on Lenin or Stalin and there impact “good or bad” on Russia. Just stating what I felt was something of interest (to me) and that Бабушка still referred to StP as Leningrad even to this day.

I mentioned earlier that Olya booked us on this tour, and this was a “very” guided Russian tour. That she was able to without showing any passport (internal Russian passport) of mine to book this for me at Russian prices. This (me not being native) never came into play, but there were a couple of individuals in our tour group who I knew took some offence with this situation. I did not need to keep up with all conversations to know or see the “distaste” they felt for me when they realized I was not Russian and was not “fluent” in their language. They caused no problems for us, but I did at times know they were not speaking so kindly of me behind my back. At all times during our time on the tour bus Olya and I sat in the front of the bus across from the “tour leader”, her Husband and what was her asstiant and the 2 drivers. They also came to know I was American, if we (Olya) were to get in trouble it would have been from these individuals. They did raise some questions with Olya but to her credit she spoke the truth and it was accepted very well. On a couple of occasions we did sit during meals together with the tour leader and drivers, we are able to just speak “off the cuff” ask questions of each, them in English and me responding as best as I could in Russian. All told the tour leader and the both of the drivers made me feel welcome and did there best to speak what English they knew so I could also have some knowledge (outside of Olya translating) what was going on.

I will say that this tour was “very structured” it did not leave much time if any to “dawdle” or “lag behind”, on a couple of occasions 1 or 2 individuals (not us) kept the group waiting which was not well received. This type of “rush-rush” I am not all that used to and so Olya was constantly pulling me by the hand and speaking “поспешить, поспешить' (hurry, hurry) and I felt as if a fish out of water, not knowing what was going on or what our agenda at that moment was 

some pic's of "Peter"

[Chillidog]

It has been a long time since I posted, so will be brief in trying to get "up to speed"

I am now 9 months into my year in Iraq.

since our 1 whole month together in Auguats, I have had 2 additional meetings with my beautiful Olya (2 weeks in February and 2 weeks in June) during my stay in Iraq. Now for the Good news

our K1/K2 was received (NOA1) on Febraury 24 (we just happened to be together) so this was one very joyous day

On July 1 Olya and her son "Completed their medical examination"

and on July 12 at 10 am Olya will be having her "INTERVIEW"

I do not know why but I am "nervous" and have no reason to be. We have met already 6 times and been together during these meetings for over 3 months during the past 1.5 years. But we are talking about our Government and anything can happen.

I do already know that the night before the Interview Olya will not be getting any sleep, she will just be too nervous to get any decent sleep

[Turboguy]

Everyone gets nervous about the interview.  You have lots of face time and enough of a real relationship that it should go easily.  I have seen times when the only question they asked was "How are you today" and other times the did a real grilling but there is nothing in your situation that would prompt a real grilling so expect a few easy questions and a glance at your paperwork and a visa in the passport soon after.

Make sure she knows a lot of details.  Sometimes they just ask about when you have met and sometimes they may ask things like your home address, phone number, the names of your family members etc.  There are some lists of questions at VisaJourney.  Print them out and make sure she can answer those.  That list is a little hard to find sometimes but a search should pull it up ok.

[Boethius]

Hey, Chilli, I am happy to see you here!

Per Turbo's post, I googled and found the list of questions -

http://www.visajourney.com/content/exampleq#k1

[Chillidog]

In our last meeting (June 16-29) Olya was able to meet my twin daughters from my previous marriage. and we spent a lot of time together trying to prepare for any various questions they might ask. What I worry th most about is that as far as working "abroad" most of my money earned (up to $91,700) is "Tax Exempt" so this portion ($91,700) is reduced from my "Federal Tax Return" and if the "Interviewer" does not pay close attention to my actual "payroll stubs" showing "Gross earnings" and the I-134 where I list the actual "Gross Earnings" and the rest of my financial holdings. If the interviewer is not "sharp" they may just look at the "2009 Tax return" which gives an incomplete picture only see my "after deductions earnings" on the this return, though this figure is still over the "Poverty level" that the Government uses.

Still it will be enough to cause a sleepless night


Thanks,

have been doing a bunch of "reading" on here today and will do some more with your link and  have a look at this list and see if there are any items which we have not discussed.

[Chillidog]

Olya received the K1/K2 on August 23!!!!

Starting to finalize our plans now. I will end my employment in Iraq on October 29 and be in Kaluga, Russia on October 30. The 3 of us (Olya, Igor and myself) will fly to America together on November 11.

I will be bringing with me a big “Military footlocker” to Russia, where we will be able to pack up a bunch of Igor’s toys and things, Olya’s English language books, music CD’s and some clothes and we will ship this to America (via DHL) ahead of our scheduled departure. So it should arrive in America around the same time as we will.

Before I depart Iraq I will also use a footlocker to send all of my things home, except for some essential items and a few clothes. But as far as my clothes go I will not need to bring much to Russia because I already have some clothes there, left from previous trips.

Since the footlocker that I will bring with me to Russia will e empty I will place inside of this my suitcase and therefore Olya will have this additional suitcase to use for her and Igor as well. So even though I know we will not be able to pack and bring everything with us to America, I am certain we can make a good size dent in Olya’s  and Igor’s clothes and other items they will want to bring with them.

We have already been in discussion as to what will be some of the first things on our “to do” list when we get to the States. The biggest priority will be in checking out the public grade school and also the Catholic grade school and trying to decide on which to enroll Igor in. My preference at this time is the Catholic grade school, but of course Olya will have the final say so on where Igor will go to school.

[Lily]

Congrats Chillidog! Finally you have done it! 

[dogspot]

Congrats Chili!

[Admin]

Olya received the K1/K2 on August 23!!!!

Starting to finalize our plans now. I will end my employment in Iraq on October 29 and be in Kaluga, Russia on October 30. The 3 of us (Olya, Igor and myself) will fly to America together on November 11.

I will be bringing with me a big “Military footlocker” to Russia, where we will be able to pack up a bunch of Igor’s toys and things, Olya’s English language books, music CD’s and some clothes and we will ship this to America (via DHL) ahead of our scheduled departure. So it should arrive in America around the same time as we will.

Before I depart Iraq I will also use a footlocker to send all of my things home, except for some essential items and a few clothes. But as far as my clothes go I will not need to bring much to Russia because I already have some clothes there, left from previous trips.

Since the footlocker that I will bring with me to Russia will e empty I will place inside of this my suitcase and therefore Olya will have this additional suitcase to use for her and Igor as well. So even though I know we will not be able to pack and bring everything with us to America, I am certain we can make a good size dent in Olya’s  and Igor’s clothes and other items they will want to bring with them.

We have already been in discussion as to what will be some of the first things on our “to do” list when we get to the States. The biggest priority will be in checking out the public grade school and also the Catholic grade school and trying to decide on which to enroll Igor in. My preference at this time is the Catholic grade school, but of course Olya will have the final say so on where Igor will go to school.

Hearty Congratulations CD (and Olya and Igor) !!

The REAL work is just starting 

- Dan

[Boethius]

Congratulations, Chili!  May you and Olya have many years of happiness.

[Faux Pas]

Heartiest of Congratulations from me too Chili! You're a good guy and deserve all the happiness coming your way! Dan makes an excellent point, the real work is just about to begin but, I am sure you'll do fine.

[Chillidog]

Thank you all!!!

It will be "work" as all marriages/relationships are, BUT, I think I can speak for all of us (Olya, Igor & myself) and say this is "work" we all are looking forward to and are all excited at finally being able to be together, never again having to be apart months on end. And enjoying life, the good times and the not so good times TOGETHER as a family.

Only 3 more weeks and we will be together at last.