Hi all of you.

[dokrog]

Married 9 years now to a FSU with 2 absolutely beautiful children. Spending too much time over there I think. Starting to think too much like them and being cynical was never my forte before Russia. But you know what? I love that place. Love the people. Have a great time. My advice? Get in there and experience the people. They will love you unless your a total butt wipe.

I have learned some valuable lessons from Russia. One. Learn the damn language. At least enough to get around. Takes all of a month using pimsleur. Jeez! Two. Understand that Russian women want a MAN! Not a new man or a modern man or whatever they call super sensitive ben affleck these days, unless your a 25 year old male looking for 18 year olds. Most of the rest of them want someone strong, no a strong MAN, who isn't going to put up with their crap. And oh yes they will test you trust me. Be prepared for the occasional screaming. *grins* I love that part. If you have children and so does she understand that she will always love her's more than yours. Period! No getting around that. Or she isn't FSU. Call me cynical but i've spent a lot of time over there boys. All you can do is adapt and be a man. Lesson three. If you have money in any quantity at all ... never never never ever ever tell them you do. Jeez again. Most of them are so poor they are desperate. If they tell you they are not they are lying and very badly. OK OK. I'm discounting moscow and st. pete. and parts of a few other cities.


Take care all.

[dokrog]

Posting to my own post. How desperate.

Anyone can ask for advice. I may give it, I may not. But It'll be the dam* truth if I do. I'm at ends for about a month and a half until my next trip and the businesses are running somewhat smoothly for now so here I am. *grins widely*

I will admit I'm a bit coarse. Blame that on the Russians. I do like smooth vodka, I was a beer drinker before. *sighs dramatically*

Tip: If a girl stares at you for a full 5 seconds on a city bus with a lovely smile on her face before demurely lowering her gaze befor glancing at you sideways...She wants you!

*dokrog kicks back wondering how long it'll be before the moderators have a friendly chat with him.*

[Lily]

Tip: If a girl stares at you for a full 5 seconds on a city bus with a lovely smile on her face before demurely lowering her gaze befor glancing at you sideways...She wants you!
 

May I humbly suggest that she just finds you interesting There should nbe quite a way before she will want you

To stare at a man who is attractive is the first thing they teach women in love lessons. I consider taking a few before going to the West..

[dokrog]

See now that's what I get for posting at 3am. What I meant to say was she wants to know you  better. Ooops. Funny though.

[Gator]

Welcome dokrog!

I wrote the following to you in another thread.

Dokrog,

Excellent insights.  Please stay RWD around and post some more. We need some experienced members. And 9 years of marriage places you near the top in experience.

Is your wife in Yoshkar Ola and you got some time on your hands? I say that because a number of married men at RWD post more when wife has returned to the FSU for her annual visit.

[dokrog]

Gator, That's the truth for sure. we go a little crazy when our better halves aren't around. it's either post or drink. 

No she's here, we got back a bit ago. I have several business interests and she's working. wants to get her 10 years in to qualify for ssn just in case. That is if it's around in 20 years. We or I will probably head back in march or april possibly as early as january. Would be just me then. Were trying to find a house to buy in the kirov region. So I'm on the look.

My wife is 12 years younger than I am and I think I really straddled the line on that one but it definately worked out. We try to go twice a year but it's usually once a year or so for 3 months at a time. She basically goes her way and I go mine while touching bases every week or so. There's a reason. Russian's are incredibly social animals. They live, eat and breath get-togethers. That is not my idea of fun after the first couple weeks. So I grab a relative and strike off in any random direction.

I've never ever been hassled at the airports. I always get my visa stamped within 48 hours of arrival though. Question. How do you add pics to your post? Trying to figure that out. Wanted to show examples of things these guys can do in Russia.

[Gator]

Dokrog,

It is probably best that you or a moderator put your last post in your Intro thread (which I found too late).

Photos can be added in two ways.  The easiest is to click on "Additional Options" just below the blank space where you type your post.  There you can browse and open from your desktop the photo that you want.  And there is no limit in number, just size.

The other way?  Never used it.  perhpas someone will explain.

[Daveman]

welcome dokrog!

good to have you on board and looking forward to reading more of your experiences, insights and opinions. 

You seem to fit right in 

[groovlstk]

Gator, That's the truth for sure. we go a little crazy when our better halves aren't around. it's either post or drink. 

Or both  

Welcome dokrog, it's great to see another success story out there, I look forward to hearing more of your story.

[UTRO]

Welcome Dokrog! You are looking for a house in the Kirov Region? Does that mean your wife is from there? Just asking because my wife is from Kirov city

[dokrog]

Thank you all for the kind words.

One thing about me is that I get impatient. You'll never ever hear even a half truth out of me. I actually love being in Russia. Go figure. So you'll hear from me current stuff. I prefer the smaller cities or villages and have little use for moskva or st pete. I love talking to the old men. I'm telling you what. I saw an old geezer shoot an antique rifle. One of those old Russian rifles made in like 1928 or something. Shot a hand loaded round through a 2" bullseye at around 600 meters every time. unbelievable. iron sites. They have all the stories trust me and if they like you your absolutely golden in a village. Pay attention to them they've been around a lot harder times than any of us. I love the old people. And they love us. They really do. If you are getting vibs that russians don't like you there's something wrong with you. Readjust your attitude.

Utro..Yep. looking for a house with a wall around it, lot's in kirov but complications mostly. will probably buy a lot, have the current house torn down and rebuild. Good houses are pretty high but prices are coming down. Kids have a hard time adjusting to an outside toilet (outhouse) even in the middle of a city. LOLOL. Depends but yes. Looking in Kirov city. probably north west side but still unsure. still looking. The problem is so much paper is in limbo and much isn't secure. Soooo.

One thing you newbies have to realize also. If you buy a house. I don't think any russian family has less than a hundred relatives and yes they all know each other. If you have a house you don't have to worry about company. You'll have to worry about kicking them out of your bedroom when you stay there.

[dokrog]

My wifes family is from Taotova in the Kirov region but tons or relatives in Kirov. Need a decent sized lot besides the standard 30sqm of garden space and a dry basement which is really damn hard to come by.

Back to my previous post. If you buy a house in the city, you'll almost instantly have house guests. Family from the villages. City life is preferable you know. You won't be alone and you won't be lonely. *grins* Don't be scared or alarmed when in the morning all the women are walking around in their bra's and panties. That's quite normal and as part of the family your not supposed to look too hard.

I'll be back in kirov no later than march probably. will continue looking. Russia's economy has lowered with the price of oil so who knows.

[UTRO]

My wife has a flat a block away from Theatre Square off Karl Marx. Very convenient. Have you seen the Canadian housing development on the way out to the airport? BTW, there is finally an airline, Kirov Air, flying every weekday to Moscow and back

[Simoni]

Married 9 years now to a FSU with 2 absolutely beautiful children.

Welcome to RWD, dok.

We look forward to learning more about you and your family and all your adventures.

And yes, that is a great looking family you have! :-)

~Simoni

[SANDRO43]

The other way?  Never used it.  perhpas someone will explain.

Phil, I assume you mean using the "Insert Image" icon next to the Youtube icon. It's basically the same concept - a link to something NOT on your PC, but on some other Internet website, to be embedded in your post, not attached to it - saves some RWD disk space, BTW .

For example, here's a photo from ABC News (http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Apollo11MoonLanding/story?id=8113235&page=1):

You right-click on the photo there, choose "Copy image address" and paste that in your post. Then you select it and click "Insert Image". Voilą  .

[dokrog]

Thank you again for the warm welcome everyone.

Utro. I know the airport but wasn't aware there was a daily to moscow now. interesting. It's a bit of a way from Kirov but in Russia you need that space so the buzzed pilots don't land on kirov instead...(Psst! I wonder how many out there think I'm joking).

I know theatre square, so she's in one of the apartments there huh? nice area actually. I'm not familiar with the canadian housing development though. There's a group of semi private dacha's on the north side of the road going out of kirov towards the airport though, is that them? Or that other group of white buildings that I saw over there last year maybe? I honestly can't remember. I'll have to ask next time I'm there.

I was really hoping to find something closer to the river though yet not on it. Walled to keep the riffraff out. LOL. When i left a few months ago though properties inner city were still pretty high although coming down slowely.

[dokrog]

Yep. Just kicking back with the wife, kids, grandma and greatgrandma along with sister in law and husband. sweet tea and vodka to drink. Just like god intended. Were sort of stingy over there so we don't let the kids have any of the vodka...

[UTRO]

Thank you again for the warm welcome everyone.

Utro. I know the airport but wasn't aware there was a daily to moscow now. interesting. It's a bit of a way from Kirov but in Russia you need that space so the buzzed pilots don't land on kirov instead...(Psst! I wonder how many out there think I'm joking).

I know theatre square, so she's in one of the apartments there huh? nice area actually. I'm not familiar with the canadian housing development though. There's a group of semi private dacha's on the north side of the road going out of kirov towards the airport though, is that them? Or that other group of white buildings that I saw over there last year maybe? I honestly can't remember. I'll have to ask next time I'm there.

I was really hoping to find something closer to the river though yet not on it. Walled to keep the riffraff out. LOL. When i left a few months ago though properties inner city were still pretty high although coming down slowely.

Lol! gotcha' about the pilots I like the two hour flight vs the 12 hour train ride from/to Moscow. Even if the interior of the plane smells of fuel Spoiled cappy I am
No, not the dacha's... You wouldn't miss the development. It's on the right side heading to the airport. It looks right out of a typical middle class north american neighbourhood, along with driveways. Very different to anything else there.... and not like the ugly massive walled homes you see in Moscow. A condo along the Vyatka river embankment would be nice
Sveta's Papa has a dacha about 20 minutes outside of Kirov. Sorry, bad with my directions. There is a Russian army radar post right by it.

[dokrog]

I think I'm getting old. I remember when we would toast (yes with vodka) the pilots successful takeoff. then again clapping and toasting a successful landing. shrugs. one tradition i loved was when the pilot would walk down the isle and everyone would shake his hand after landing. Like they were really damn glad to be alive. We that have done that can joke about it but a lot of those plains are pieces of crap. I don't fly much in russia just into moscow then the overnight train to kirov. yeah I know. bumpy and all that and your luck if your window will slide down all the way. Maybe one day i'll tell the story of how I broke into the engineers locker and stole enough tools to lower all the windows in 3 cars before they caught me. true story. and i didn't break a single window. I like talking to people and I have a good time. Take plenty of hard candy with you and jellybeans because there's plenty of kids to give them away to. A good way to meet women also btw. That thought just occured to me. crap. *sighs theatrically* been married too long. I always take a 4 person sleeper and tip the conductess handsomely so she'll share some of her secret hoard of coffee (not tea) with me in the morning.

I honestly don't remember the development. Not sure if i've ever seen it and i was there 3 months ago. LOL. but train and city only. There are several military installations outside kirov I know quite a few of the officers stationed there.

I want a low wall with decorative iron fencing and a gate. Actually it's what olga wants. soooooooo. you get the picture. they do need more lawnmowers there though.

[dokrog]

That was  a pic of my wife left and her sister right. almost twins in apt in kirov. I'm searching right now for a pic of my 3 year old son being chased by a rooster at my mother in laws. It was hilarious. HE WAY FLYING he was running so fast and that rooster had it's neck out caus it was going to get a chunk out of seans ass for whacking it with a stick! It was soo funny. Needless to say he left the rooster alone after that. One night we couldn't find him and after much searching found him curled up with the baby pigs in the shed fast asleep.

[dokrog]

Lot's of good looking girls out there fella's

[Lily]

What a wonderful thread dokrog! 

I appreciate you posting a picture of dacha. This is exactly how they look like. The lane is almost the same as it was near my own dacha in Samara that I sold a few years ago.

Being a Russian, I can only confirm what you said.

And yes, the normal looking girls here may probably be counted as beauties in North America. Quite an upgrade in 10 hours of an intercontinental flight!

The sisters on the pictures are very pretty and similar to each other  May be you post some other pictures where we could also see the lucky you dokrog?

[dokrog]

Lily,

You know what? the sad part of carrying the camera is that few pictures get taken of you but yes indeed there are some. LOL. My problem is I concentrate on getting the image and everyone likes their picture taken. So no one asks me for the camera. In fact. Im usually referred to as the official photographer. too funny.

[dokrog]

I'm throwing this one in there. Needless to say It involves a dangerous substance that was taken from a round ball and a couple of drunk but very good and dear relatives are trying to ingite it. Typical Russian's. LOL

Ahhh. No need to ask how any substances were acquired.

[myrddin]

one tradition i loved was when the pilot would walk down the isle and everyone would shake his hand after landing. Like they were really damn glad to be alive.

Just curious how long ago that was.  Any plane I've been on, the Ukrainians always applaud after landing.  On the way over, it's just one little sign that I'm going somewhere special.  Last time they applauded after taking off, too.

Oh, and welcome dokrog!    I've been so busy trying to catch up on your posts and almost forgot!  Did you explain your nickname in the "Join or Die" thread yet?