Way to Russia Community and Forum

Snapster · Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2004 10:39 pm Post subject: Big Hello from Portland Oregon!

Hey all:

just found this forum.

I am happy to report I just got back from my first trip to Russia. I went there for business and was surprised on how much I truly enjoyed myself. I am a single 38 male and do not speak a word of Russian and managed not only to have a good time, but feel I made some life long friends.

I travel a lot and understand you have to practice patience and a willingness to understand that things can/will be uncomfortable. I also grew up in a very ethnically diverse (LA) city and can pretty much get along with anyone. I started my research on the Net about the destination and the local cultures. There was not much, but travel spam so I hit ICQ and went down the line to meet people in the cities I would be visiting. It took me months, but I found three people I could communicate and all good folks. There were others with interests from trying to get me to buy computers with stolen credit cards to women asking me to send them money. I found this very humorous and this tipped me off what to expect on my trip.

I arrived in Moscow and it reminded me of NYC. I would only be there two days and then travel by train to Volgograd to meet my clients. So I call (Olga) my ICQ friend and she came and got me from the airport. She was 35 and a bit heavyset, but the sweetest lady I have ever met. (We chatted almost daily on ICQ for months previous) She works for an American oil equipment sales company in Moscow as an English translator/lawyer. After exchanging hugs and a small conversation she insisted I stay in her flat, but I refused politely and she drove me to my hotel. I settled in and she soon called wanting me to come over for dinner. I was very tired due to the long flight, but knew it was the right thing to do. She soon arrived and off to her flat hoping for a quick relaxed evening…. Or so I thought.

On the way to Olga’s flat I could not believe how many apartment buildings were in Moscow. Anyways, we get to Olga’s apartment and she tells me we will not be eating alone. The door opens and her whole family greets me! After the formalities of meeting the ocean of food soon came. It was wonderful and soon found energy to enjoy the evening. Her family was very warm and friendly and there was lot’s of laughter due to the language/culture difference. It was a brilliant evening and learned that Russian family culture is truly living art.

*I was also taken back on how much stuff you can get in a 2 bedroom flat.

The next day I dart off and see the sites Moscow has to offer. I was impressed and had a great private tour guide. Ivan spoke great English and for a one day site-seeing trip it was nothing short of fantastic. So I bought him lunch and tipped him well and he drove me back to my hotel.

I get back to the hotel and see Olga left 12 messages. As I listened, the messages got a bit concerning. Instead of details, I understood where “she” thought our friendship was going? Olga soon called and I explained very clearly my position and why I was in Russia. She said she understood and was sorry, but then asked if I spent the afternoon with another women.

The next moment I hear the monster in my stomach. The monster proclaimed it is now time to pay in full for the great food and vodka last night or the pizza for lunch. I cut the call short with Olga and dart to the bathroom to exercise this monster. I am not in there five minutes and the phone starts ringing off the hook. Due to being in a think mode I reflect back on Olga’s ICQ conversations. At that moment it dawned on me to be very careful when talking to Russian women and to set solid boundaries in the future.

After being released from my bathroom incarceration I crashed out on the bed only to hear someone knocking at the door. It was my tour guide bud Ivan wanting to know if he could buy me a beer. So we head out and go to many different pubs/clubs and had a good time. That dude was a chick magnate and Russian women are truly beautiful creatures. Being from Los Angeles I grew up seeing hot women daily, but Russian women work hard with what they got and pull it off fantastic. Ivan was soon out of drinking money and was trying to get laid of mine so I told him I have to crash due to leaving in the morning. I get back to the hotel and discover there are more messages from Olga to call her “no matter how late” it was. Crap. So I call her and with amazing Russian finesse she extracts every event that evening. I tell her I am very drunk and need to sleep because Ivor is taking me to the train station in the morning. I told her I will call in two weeks and take her to dinner. She starts crying then asked if she could come over.

Ivor shows up the next morning bright and early and I introduce him to Olga and off to the train station we go. So I get my train ticket call my clients in Volgograd and tell my new friends I will see them in 2-3 weeks. I get to my cabin and see an older couple with stone cold faces. Being horribly hung-over I store my gear and pull the top bunk down climbed in and crash hard.

I wake up eight hours later and the couple below sees me and I say hello! They spoke little English, but the lady spoke German and I know a little of German. They probably figured that Vodka might be the culprit of my fashionable paste white look. So the kind old man hands me plum juice…with vodka in it. We go through the “I am an American” tourist routine. I soon learn they are not Russian, but from Kazakhstan. I could not hang with the new vodka shot so I bolted to the head and let loose. On the way back from the toilet I pulled my socks off and threw them out the window and made a mental note to always wear shoes on a train. Then I crashed hard again. I woke a few hours later to find a cold-cut sandwich right next to me. So I ate and felt so much better. I gave her a big smile reached in my bag and thanked her with snickers bars. As we hit the stops to Volgograd more people came in the cabin and one guy spoke great English. So we all exchanged stories as he translated. I read a lot of Volgograd’s history and was looking forward to seeing the sites, but it’s nice to hear a locals version and it sure past the time quick.

Volgograd:

This city reminded me of Memphis Tennessee with lot’s of industry and a beautiful river front.

More to come later..

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:28 pm Post subject:

Funny story Snapster. I am glad you enjoyed your trip sp much. You sound like you really know how to travel and get the most out of it- even more than you bargained for re Olga etc. I am looking forward to hearing more about your trip and how things played out with sweet but confused Olga!

Snapster · Posted: Thu Nov 18, 2004 6:54 am Post subject: Thanks.. cyndy22

I finally get to Volgograd and I am beat. I hook up with my contact on the flat I rented. I am tired and they want to talk about prices we agreed on months earlier. I tell them to forget about it and as I start to leave they honored the original agreement. I unpack, call my clients for our meeting in the next morning, and hit the town for some food.

I hit the local city center market and the game begins. The game is to try and get the “locals” prices on food and not the he’s a “tourist” double price. So I find a little café and pull my Marlboro’s and set them on the table. Sure enough a young women about 18-20 came up and asked me for a smoke. She spoke little English, but we managed to have a conversation. Twenty minutes later we are food shopping and she is haggling prices in Russian for me. Mission accomplished and I gave Luda $10 for her time.

After eating I start to read my travel notes about the city. The history of Volgograd is a WWII historian’s wet dream. So I head out and hit the sites and enjoyed every second of it. More information at http://www.volgadmin.ru if interested. I notice the people in Volgograd are very friendly and nice. They will even look you in the eye as you walk down the street. Not like Moscow. I had a great day and hit the sack to be fresh for my morning meeting.

Tatiana is this 5 ft10’ deep blue eyed man killer. I can’t remember the last time a woman made my knees weak. She also was my client’s assistant. She was very professional and very cold. Her English had a thick Russian accent, but I could figure out most of what she said. I was so turned on and found it very hard to focus on why I was there. I managed to keep a very professional business persona and soon met her boss Boris. Boris and I had a couple translated conversations via the phone and he gave me a very warm welcome.

Boris soon gave me a tour of the office and we ended up in a meeting room and it was game time. It's interesting how Russians do business and it's very similar to how Japanese do business. They do not talk about business at first, but more on a personal aspect. They are very guarded and have well thought out answers. They feel you out and try to find an advantage or weakness in your persona or business ethics. This is a game I have played many times. They quickly understood I could do this all day as I drink black tea and eat all those delicious cookies. Boris asked if we could continue this conversation with his partners in the morning. I told him no due to having another meeting, but I could the day after that. He looked shocked, and he knew I just caught his weakness. I did not have another meeting and I think he figured that, but it was too late because his initial reaction set the tone to come or so I thought.

So I get back to my flat after my morning meeting and see my landlord Nina. Thinking she might want to re-negotiate our rent agreement I tried to give her the slip, but failed. Nina is 40-ish very heavy set with leopard pint spandex, heals, very thin cotton shirt, black bra and everyday is a bad hair day type of woman. She started speaking very bad English and I was putting on my best “I do not understand” performance when her son came to translate. Anyways, I got my flat and laundry cleaned once a week for $10.

I decided to head out and explore the city and get a well deserved drink. I ended up in a bar with a great river view. I hear loud English laughter and found a group of Americans. This group was on a tour to meet Russian women for possible brides. Never wanting to waste good whiskey I decided to have a little fun. I was teasing them on what’s wrong with American ladies pitch. I felt very sad for many of them because they molded this delusional perfect Russian wife. I found this ironic because none of them even spoke Russian. Most were looking for a 1950’s type American wife and some even convinced themselves they would be saving a woman from a hard and destitute life. Go to any small town in the south and start with Arkansas if you want to “save” someone. I left with the feeling they were chasing the gold at the end of the rainbow. Matter of fact, I also felt disgusted.

More to come later………………

cyndy22 · Posted: Sun Nov 21, 2004 5:27 pm Post subject:

I am enjoying your story. You are quite astute about people and funny at the same time. Your comments regarding the American men in search of brides are right on target. There is a whole lot of this delusional thinking and behavior with a few guys on this forum. I have to wonder just how successful these marriages are. I don't buy that young Russian women fit into the june cleaver image of a woman. it is down right laughable.
please do continue...

Snapster · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2004 1:56 am Post subject: Thanks again..here you go.

I leave the bar with my lonely American friends and decide to enjoy a walk back to my flat. I am the type of person that enjoys traveling and it never feels “old” to me and then the whiskey kicks in and the conversation with the Americans. I start to ponder why at 38 I have never been married or why this does not even interest me. I have had some very long term relationships with beautiful nice women, but never to the point of a life long marriage. I tend to view women as art, but don’t want to wake up next to a Picasso everyday. Anyways, the whiskey was working well and it was time to try and find some food.

I find a restaurant and walk in with a great inebriation grin. This restaurant served Polish food and I could not decide what I wanted to eat. The restaurant was set up in a buffet style and you tell them what you want. So I pointed at what I wanted and went down the line and paid a whooping $2 and sat down. The lady shows up with four plates of food and I soon learned a Polish restaurant in Russia will not serve different foods on the same dish. It was delicious with many types of meat, meat, and more meat wrapped in a dumpling with veggies, cheese, and potatoes topped with a MEAT sauce.

Figuring a good beer would top the evening after a fine meal I go in search for a pub. I pass a few pubs/clubs in the city center, but I was underdressed and could tell the tourist price for drinks would be at a premium. I find a little out of the way pub that looked to cater to locals. Plus it was three blocks from my flat. I walk in and point at a beer on tap and take a look around. Yep, all locals with some in work clothes and the women came in all various shapes and sizes. Two guys pull up a seat and we all try to communicate. It has always amazed me in foreign countries people’s perception of what American life is all about and vice versa. A good 20 minutes goes by and we have covered everything from Britney Spears to Nike clothes as best we could. I noticed the drinks have been empty for a bit and figure it was time to pay for the cultural education.

The next chain of events is all I could remember. Four bottles of Vodka, losing my shirt, polishing my shoes with Polish food, watching two new Russian friends kicking the crap out of each other as I try to break it up, spending and hour trying to get my key in the door of my flat, and Nina my landlord laughing and smothering her boobs on me trying to get me in my flat. I then commit the ultimate man sin. I should be flogged and my “man card” pulled for life…I find my phone book and try to call Olga in Moscow.

I awake the next morning to Nina shaking me. I tried to collect myself and wonder why she was in my flat. I soon figure out I tried to call Olga and was too drunk to dial the right numbers and passed out. Also, the people in the building share the same phone line and due to being off the hook they could not use it. Nina mumbled some thing in Russian hung up the phone and left. As I went down the list of last nights events I check for my wallet and papers. All good accept the money and a shirt, but an $80 loss was my dumb ass fault. I take a shower get some food in me and call it a day and crash out swearing to myself never to drink again on this trip.

I awake very early the next day and plan a strategy for my meeting with Boris and his partner. I get all my ducks in a row and call to confirm. I arrive at the location they provided. I meet Boris and his partner Lev and Tatiana translating our conversation. I soon noticed that after I answered questions Lev would speak in Russian to Tatiana before she could translate what I said. I turned to Lev and spoke in English and when Tatiana tried to translate I put my hand up to stop her. The game was up and old Lev spoke and understood English perfectly. He also has a bit of an east coast accent.

We played the high low came for a few hours with all the BS excuses and all was moving along nicely. We came to a tentative agreement. That was enough for them and planned for a business celebration dinner that weekend. What surprised me is they asked if I had a cell phone. They noted it was difficult to get a hold of me and then provided me with company phone free of charge. How nice of them.

I get back to my flat and decide to try and find an Internet Café and meet up with a friend I met on ICQ months ago that lives in Volgograd. I have day and a half off before my business dinner and wanted to kill some time. I get online and Tanya is there and I give her the surprise “I was in town” IM. She did not believe me so I gave her my new cell phone number. She called 10 seconds later and I soon discovered her English was poor at best. After my experiences with Olga in Moscow I wanted to meet her somewhere other then my flat.

We meet at a café and I can tell she is a bit nervous. I know a lot about Tanya due the many conversations we had on ICQ. She was 32, tall, Blond, good looking, single, and in desperate need of crest whitestrips. Tanya can read and write English fair, but is very nervous to speak. As our conversation progressed she got more comfortable and her personality was feisty like a red head. She was also lighting fast with that pocket translator.

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2004 6:12 am Post subject:

I am engaged but I think you selectively leave some important parts out such as the time span between the 4 botles of vodka. Whpo were you with and more importantly why did you drink so much? Perhapsayou were feeling a bit lonely after your self-questionning re your bachelor status? Or maybe travel brings out the free sp[irit so to speak. I am still wondering about Olga. And by the way, I think with some editing you have a good foundation for a no0vel. Not kidding. Just call me Dr. SVETLANA, I have always liked that name.

Snapster · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:59 am Post subject:

cyndy22 · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:10 pm Post subject:

I know all of the toasting that goes on in Russia. You know it's great that you make the effort to meet people and find things in common. Makes for an interesting life. Looking forward to hearing more.

Snapster · Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 10:22 pm Post subject:

So Tanya and I set a date for that evening. She wanted to take me to a new popular Disco that just opened. I was a bit apprehensive due to not being wild about Disco Techno music. My ecstasy popping days and raving all night was over 10 years ago, but why the heck not? I did tell her I would meet her there incase I had to make a quick exit. I then went back to the flat and crashed out.

I put on my best nightclub wear and headed to the address Tanya gave me. I soon get lost and was running over an hour late. Also, my cell phone was ringing off the hook, but I did not answer trying to be fashionably late cool. There was a huge line out front and you can hear the electric vibe from the music beat. The people in line looked cool and important, but the meat market game was on. I did notice a few odd things. Most people were over 35-ish and they dressed very well. The men had suits that would rival any Wall Street broker. The women looked stunning and it was hard to keep my eyes off of them. I did notice a lot of the guys with young arm candy and I tried to soak it all in as I waited in line.

Tanya told me when I get to the front door ask for Mary. The doorman was the biggest white guy I have ever seen in my life. I ask in my best English for Mary and he just stone cold ignored me. Feeling a little embarrassed I asked again and then he pushes me from the front of the line to the side to let other people in. Being from Los Angeles I have little patients for rudeness or worse someone touching me. My ego soon lost to logic and felt it was a good idea to leave. My cell phone starts up again and this time I answered it. It was Tanya screaming at me asking why I am not there. Bingo, old Hercules doorman just became my excuse for being late. She puts her friend Mary on the phone because she spoke better English. I tell her the deal with the doorman and she tells me to comeback. I told her I don’t want any problems and laid it on thick. (God I’m empathy whore) So I get back to the door and I see Tanya and her friend Mary. They grab my hand and said some thing in Russian to Hercules as I gave him a big grin and went in the club.

This disco was fantastic and I was completely taken back. The lighting, layout, people, and sound system could rival any NYC or LA nightclub. I needed a drink fast! I buy the girls a drink and I get my usual to the tune of $60 with tip. Yes, that’s correct boys and girls three drinks cost $50 and I now understand why guys in their 20’s stay away. We head to a patio and I am properly introduced to Mary. I find out that Mary is dating the brother of one of the owners. Tanya was dressed as a 21 year old and just could not pull it off for her age, but I still told her she looked good. I was soon introduced to many of her friends and it felt a bit awkward? Anyways, Tanya’s friends bought more drinks and we all started to loosen up.

The time flew after many dances, drinks, and soon it was time to leave. I was feeling good, but hungry and Tanya suggests we go to a restaurant. So we head out to this great little place that severed crawfish. We ate and chatted and then asked if I could see her again. She said “of course”. I tell her about the company dinner and she tells me that would NOT be a good idea, but we can do something else at another time. Rejection! (I am starting really like this lady). At this point she was looking real good and I knew dumb things would soon be coming out of my mouth. So I called it an evening and she drove me back to my flat. She did plant a very nice deep kiss on me and told me to keep in touch.

The next day I am in a great mood to soon have it turn horrible. I open up my laundry packages and all my whites look grayish/yellow and my cotton dress shirts look two sizes smaller. I start cussing myself due to taking Nina $10 a week laundry deal. I need to find a shirt before tonight business dinner party. So I head out to a men’s clothing store down the street and find a shirt priced reasonably well. I head to an Internet Café and do some research on what to bring to a function like this. There was nothing. I get an idea and head to another store and buy two Mont Blanc pens.

Tatiana calls to confirm the driver will pick me up for our business dinner this evening. The time arrives and I collect my thoughts as the driver brings me to the restaurant. I head into the restaurant that is small, but is very classy. I meet Tatiana, Boris, Lev, and about 10 other people. All looked nice, but I was feeling a little pressured. We had a great traditional Russian dinner of borscht and piroshki, a meat-filled pastries type thing. We toast each others future success and after dinner we toast again. I sign the contract and give Boris and Lev the Mont Blanc pens I bought. Lev breaks out a bottle of vodka and some beautiful looking caviar. We proceeded to get drunk as they educated me on how Americans have not a clue about good caviar. I asked where most of the Russian exported caviar goes and that killed the subject. We talked about business stories, jokes, and the evening rolled very late. They told me to keep my cell phone, but hinted to limit the long distant calls. I told them I would never call long distance and I am grateful for the kind gesture. I mentioned I would stop in before I leave and we said good night for the evening.

I have done business with many different ethnicities and feel strongly I made a good business choice. Contracts don’t mean a thing outside the US and signing a business contract in Russia is more a symbolic good faith concept at best. I knew they will try to the best of their abilities to honor our agreement and so shall I.

AliceFromMoscow · WayToRussified Joined: 10 Jul 2004 Posts: 411

Nice

cyndy22 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 2:53 pm Post subject:

You really have a flair for witing. I think you should seriously think of submitting this story to a mens magazine such as Esquire. It's great fun to read!

Snapster · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:24 pm Post subject: thanks..

I enjoy writing it. There are some very intersting events that happen after this and might bend the rules of the forum. I will keep it as clean as possible, but it is great stuff. There was so much I learned and so much to tell...

Thanks ladies.

Dr-Fauste · Site Admin Joined: 23 Nov 2004 Posts: 654

Interesting is how your business dealing is the reverse fom the USA. Pleasure first then Business.

cyndy22 · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:10 pm Post subject:

Many people bend the rules on this forum. You stand out to me anyway as a literary writer. You should have poetic license to write. You are a very modern, keen and comedic observer and participant of what it means to be a VISITOR IN rUSSIA. The fact that you are single, very intelligent, are open minded and playful, and not looking forRussian bride makes you shine. I think you are my favorite on this forum. PLEASE I want to hear more...

Snapster · Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 3:57 am Post subject:

The next morning I was thinking if I should leave Volgograd and head back to Moscow. I am well over a week ahead of schedule and decide to call the company that hired me to consummate this agreement. I head out to the Internet café and contact my employer and go over every detail. I fax them the new contract and the banking information on where to send the LRC. They ask when I will be coming back and I told them I want to check the competition out for a bit. I had no intention on checking the competition, but wanted a few more days of fun due to being well under the travel budget. Also, after doing business in eleven different countries in eight years I know the real problems start when the money arrives. My employers were happy with this idea so I just got myself a mini vacation. <Grin>

Its mid morning and I wanted to see more of Volgograd and the history it had to offer. I left my cell phone in my flat and headed out to see the sites again. I have seen “Enemy at the Gate” a few times and enjoyed the movie, but the coolest part was viewing Vassili Zaitsev sniper rifle in person. This simple piece of wood and metal killed over a hundred German solders in the battle of Stalingrad and change the tide of the battle and eventually the war. I just could not stop staring at the rifle as it etched a visual life time memory.

http://www.enemyatthegatesmovie.com

http://www.russian-mosin-nagant.com/Zaitsev_story.htm

I get back to my flat check in with Nina and tell her I am leaving in the morning. As her son translates she thought I would be staying a little longer. I tell her I found a better place for a lot less money. We negotiate and my rent is now 30% less. When in Rome? My grey/yellow two sizes smaller shirts just plain pissed me off and a little extra touring money never hurts.

The whole time I was in Volgograd I could not get Irene off my mind. I met her on ICQ months before I came to Russia. Her English was very good and she works as a Media producer for a local political candidate. We established a very personal relationship and eventually started calling each other. She is 10 years younger, but like most Russian women very mature for her age. She is definitely not the best looking women, but she had charm, tenacity, and charisma. My favorite qualities in a woman. In the past we’ve discussed many personal things and a few things that would normally cost you $4.99 a minute. Irene has red flags written all over her and I just could not figure out her angle. She never asked for money, loved her country, and did not want to live in the US. I have been around the block more times then I care to remember, but my inner voice was telling me to stay far a way from this one. I need to mention she is also very married.

I sat in my flat with my phone and her number in my hand and I started to play a mental game. The game is to trail back mistakes in your life to the mental decision point that took action. I called her number and I could hear the joy in her voice. We ended up talking about my journey, business, and Volgograd. She mentioned that I was a bit guarded and felt distant. She was playing a perfect hand and anteed in with “when can I give you your present”. At this split second I knew I had to make a decision and my mental game went to action. Damn. I live for adventure and told her “any time”. She then asked me for my flat address and she would be over after work.

I start picking up the flat and hop in the shower thinking of a few of my friends back home that have different lives with kids and wives and all that goes with that. I was franticly trying to get some reasoning why I would spend time with a married woman with no positive answer. Irene and I have had many conversations and most lead back to her intimacy problems. Was this her hook or her platform for a setup? I had so many different scenarios going through my head, but I was very turned on trying to figure out who was the cat or mouse.

She soon arrives and I meet her and she is far more beautiful then her pictures. She was wearing a very nice office dress with her hair up. She was a little bit smaller then expected and a tad bit heavy, but wore it very well. We hugged and I could smell her hair and her perfume and felt an instant attraction as it was reciprocated. She had a basket of wine cheese and canned goods that was soon opened and started the conversation rolling. She started steering the conversations to very personal ones we had via our phone conversations. The flirtation started and the mood was set and I could start to feel the build up and she took the moment and leaned over and got very close. The signals of her feet pointing towards me, her wine glass next to mine, fondling her hair, and her staring at my lips as I talked was my cue it’s time.

I like to think I am better then average looking, but no way am I a Tom Cruise. My inner voice was telling me things are not adding up. She had no wedding ring on, her purse was not even big enough to hold a cell phone, her phone was not with her, and her office clothes did not look like she has been in them for eight hours. Also when she put her keys in her purse I noticed the alarm and Audi insignia on them and her shoes were very expensive. Lot’s of red flags for a women who said she only made $230 a month in our previous conversations. She was just too collected for a woman who would be cheating on her husband for the first time.

I decided to pass and give her the Russian women boundaries pitch. She did even flinch or show any sign of retreat as I mentioned I was uncomfortable about her being married. I told her I needed time to soak this in because the fantasy change to reality is too “real” for me at this moment. She kissed me on the cheek and told me she was feeling the same way and said MAYBE fantasies should be kept just as that. This lady was damn good and god was I in love. She started to collect her things and I offered to walk her to the car and she refused.

I have to admit I was hot and bothered and wanted a good drink. So I called Tanya to see what fun to dig up this evening. She told me she was going to her niece’s birthday and I’m more then welcome to come. I declined due to not wanting to put on the American tourist routine and headed out the door to the pub down the block. I sit down order a drink and Tanya calls me back on the cell phone. Russian people are masters at guilt and Russian women can’t grasp the concept of the word “No”.

Thirty minutes later Tanya and I show up at the birthday party and I meet her sister, niece, and the rest of her family. I soon settle in after a few drinks and I really did have a good time. After all the drink, cake, and songs it was time to leave. I knew Tanya had to work in the morning so I had her drop me off and I gave her a passionate kiss. This time she did not let me go and we got down to some serious necking. We soon cool off and as we sit there she asks me my plans and I tell her I will be heading to Moscow in at the end of the week. She mentions she will cook me dinner before I go and then I give a quick kiss goodbye and she drives off.

Warning MY personal thought:

I awake late the next morning and decide I really was not in the mood to do a thing. I turn off my phone and dig out my i-Pod. As I lay in bed listening to Dave Mathews with my LA Raiders sweats and jersey I start thinking about Country and culture of Russia. So many people warned me and that I should pass on this project. Yes, there is a lot of poverty and a social cast system that could soon rival India. After all the research on the Internet and viewing it in person I can say Russia is going to be a very exciting place in the next 10 years. They are very patriotic proud people and I admire them for this. The “Evil Empire” is dead and the buzz of a good life is in the air everywhere, but this is puzzling for so many. The best way to describe it is if a person who’s been incarcerated for sixty years is suddenly released. They just don’t know what to do and in a way I feel sorry for them. The strong are getting wealthier and forging a larger and larger social cast gap. The Russians as a whole are far more educated in a higher learning capacity then we Americans will ever be, but I feel this is where the problem starts. In America we are too stupid to understand it won’t work and prevail out of ignorance. In Russia they are so intellectually educated they will beat to death a concept and call it a failure before it even starts.

The despair or hopelessness you can read on many of the faces as you walk down the street or the rampent alcoholism is a bit confusing to me. I saw so many fantastic opportunities it felt like I had a blank pardon in a women prison. I guess you have to come from a country where every thing “is” possible to see and understand these opportunities. Anyways, I was enjoying my afternoon of doing nothing…

cyndy22: I did not have time to edit this sorry........

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Way to Russia Community and Forum

If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page. We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive. If you have a question, please, post it on Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page

Recent Site Activity:

Recent Blog Activity:

If you have a question or want to help someone, please, go to
Way to Russia Forum on our Facebook page.

We also invite you to join our Facebook community, where you can meet other travelers and read interesting news on topics ranging from visa regulations to culture and music.

We are currently moving the old forum to Facebook, so what you see below functions as an archive.

If you have a question, please, post it on
Way to Russia Facebook Discussions Page