How to Meet Ukrainian Women for Marriage

How NOT to Meet Ukrainian Women for Marriage

2015-02-23T21:57:00.000-08:00

Living in Kiev has been a nice experience for me. I've learned some things about the men who travel to Kiev, Saint Petersburg, and to other FSU cities to meet Eastern European women. Here are some of their failures. You will note that some of these are also failures when meeting or dating women of any culture, on any continent.

1. Give lots of compliments.
2. Dress to impress.
3. Ask questions about your date; get her talking. Do not dominate the conversation.
4. Kiev is a major international city. Telling your date about the Internet and learning on the 'net will offend.
5. Don't smell like smoke. Smoking is more common in Kiev than in the U.S. But, avoid repeating a jacket saturated in cigarette smell.
6. Meet girls close to your own age. Ukraine isn't a culture where you can buy a wife and she can't leave you.
7. If you use a translator, keep looking at your date, not the translator. To use a translator correctly, you need to sit on the same side of the table as the translator.

Here is what I saw that inspired this post:

A man about 55 or 60 entered the 2nd floor of Shokoladnitsa on Kreschatik Street. He sat with two women. One was dressed in a semi-executive style, blue skirt suit. She had long brunette hair. The other was a blonde. She wore new jeans, heels (yes, even in the snow!), and a black sweater. The sweater was fuzzy and might have been Angora. The blonde was taller than most and was blessed proportionately.
The man, however, wore some old white sneakers. There weren't just a little off color, either. His shoes had deep cracks, deep brown cracks. And, the scuffs were not few, either. His jeans were well broken in, but serviceable. Over this, he wore a waist-length down coat (the kind with ribs). On top of all this, he wore a new, knit cap. It was two or three sizes too large.

He left in the middle of the 20 minute meeting over coffee and dessert. When he disappeared down the stairs, the blonde dropped her head into her arm and laid on the table. Together with the translator, the two laughed. They traded a few comments and continued chuckling after each one.

This man did everything you should not do to meet Ukrainian women for marriage.

Appearance and fashion are important in Kiev and throughout Ukraine. I know ladies who have stopped eating food so they could afford a pair of jeans or some new boots. The man who arrives looking frugal better have the most winning personality and best looks out of a thousand men.

I have heard of men who married ladies from Eastern Europe... and those ladies later divorced them after they gained citizenship. In all 3 of the cases I know, 2 of them involved a large difference in age, and a difference in attractiveness. The other case could have been a normal marriage in America. However, divorce rates between two people of different cultures remain lower than U.S. divorce rates, much lower. But, be mindful of the age gap.

This man sat on the same side of the table as his date. Both of them sat and watched the translator. He had very little eye contact with his date. The eyes are the window to the soul. If you want to reveal who you are and want to see something of who your date is, you really must make eye contact. The blonde would have needed to twist every time she spoke to the translator. Instead, she just looked at the translator.

When the American went out for his cigarette, the bond between the translator and the blonde was obvious. The two of them had sat face-to-face during the meeting. They are the ones who met. The American had really only looked at and spoken with the translator.

Sit on the same side as the translator, directly opposite your date. Your date can easily turn her gaze to look at either of you. But, this positioning makes it clear the translator is the auxiliary component at the table. Or, sit directly opposite your date, and position the translator an a third side of the table, between the two of you. Both you and the lady can then easily swivel your head to look at the translator and then back to each other.
Here is how the pros do it:

Event #2:

In March, 2015, I witnessed two more rules every dating male must observe. So, the list must be expanded:

8. Limit how much you talk about yourself; ask many questions for your date to answer.
9. Never, never ever talk about your ex-girl.
10. Listen like you have no other cares in the entire world.

I went to Oliva late on a Saturday to have a plate of their wonderful lasagna. While I waited to order, I could not avoid overhearing the extremely loud American a few tables away, on the opposite side of the waitress lane from me.
This man appeared to be between 26 and 28 years of age. His date looked perhaps 22, maybe 23. That is an acceptable difference. He dressed acceptably in a rugby shirt over a T and slacks. He had a fresh haircut, trimmed low to his untanned white scalp. He had a shadowy beard of stubble to match his #1 attachment trimmed hair.

His failure was painful, however. First, his loud talking was ruining not just the young lady's date. It was also ruining my dinner. When the waiter informed me the kitchen had run out of lasagna, I was relieved. I pretended to look for another entree. But, really, I wanted to leave. That is how annoying his loud American talk was. To be fair, this is rather common for Americans. My wife reminds me occasionally, "Shhh... You are talking very loudly."
But, Mr 26 or 28 was not really killing his chances with that one. Instead, he was burying his date with a long, too-detailed recounting of his recent breakup. This ex-American-girlfriend had stolen some money from him. She took some music CDs, too. But, why had she not taken his expensive watch? He went into a long retelling of how he confronted his ex by challenging her, "You took the other things. Why did you not also take the watch? Are you stupid?" To him, it must have made sense.
For many Ukrainians, if one of your friends or relatives is short on cash, you help them out. The story of how his close, intimate, female friend needed cash and he was angry she had resorted to taking it... well, that story was surely a red flag to the little lady listening to it.
This is why you never talk about your bad breakup with an ex. All the new lady hears is how you treat women (not good) and how paranoid, greedy, short-tempered, and impatient you are.
Instead, ask lots of questions of your date. Here are some suggestions:

1. "Have you seriously thought about what it will mean for you to move to the United States? (Britain, New Zealand, etc.)"
2. "What kinds of food do you like?"
3. "If you could have your dream life, what would it be?"

Ask easy questions. And, if you notice, these questions will indirectly provide you with information about how serious your date is considering marrying you (or any Westerner at all.) And, by asking about her favorite foods, you provide an easy topic to get her talking. An old interview technique I learned years ago was to ask a lot of questions. This also applies to dating. Get the other person talking and enjoying the sound of their own voice and wisdom and humor. At the end of the conversation, they will be having a great time. And, they will attribute this to you.

Best Ukrainian Dating Sites of 2013

2013-08-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

Best Ukrainian Dating Sites, 2013

1. Allbeautiful.net This site repeats my list for one primary reason: All the ladies on their site are current, real, and known to the operators of the site. It only helps that the allBeautiful agency offers the full line of services you might expect to need: airport pickup, translation, hotel reservation, and travel in town.

2. Interdating.ua Nearly 1,000 ladies on this site, focused on Kiev. This is about a 25% increase over last year’s total registration of ladies. This means a significant number of the ladies on this site are new additions. The advantage of a Kiev-centric agency is the elimination of a need to travel. Kiev is 3 million people. Your odds of meeting a great match in more than 1.5 million of the world’s most beautiful women are better than attempting to travel to three or four cities during one trip.

3. Pairukraine.com Here is a professional site with flawless English (not all Ukrainian dating sites provide that!) You can browse without a membership. The photos of many of the profiles look like real-life snapshots taken by friends. In general, I have a good feeling about this website. It’s free to browse, so why not visit the site for a tour?

4. Elenasmodels This remains one of the best sites. Elenasmodels has been around for more than a decade. Most of the articles and advice on many sites can be traced back to articles first published on this site. Additionally, here, you will find a very large collection of Ukrainian ladies. There are even more Russian womens’ profiles. However, the number of Ukrainian ladies is extensive.

5. Fdating.com This site repeats from last year. More than 10,000 ladies and the service is free. That’s something I had to include in the list. Free. There is one caveat, if you are committed to finding a Ukrainian bride: the ladies on this site are from all over Eastern Europe. Of course, most people will consider that a benefit.

6. 100Ukrainebrides.com This site is very professionally put together. The main page layout is informative and the navigation options are clearly presented in the upper right. The photos of the ladies are stunning. 100Ukrainebrides.com is all Ukrainian.

This completes my list this year. If you know of additional quality sites, post a comment!

Learn Ukrainian Free

2013-04-13T01:30:00.002-07:00

Free Ukrainian lessons? It can't be true, right? Wrong! I discovered this somewhat accidentally. I purchased "Beginner's Ukrainian" by Yuri Shevchuk. I bought my copy discounted on eBay.

When I finally opened the book a year later, and I got a surprise. The publisher provides free Ukrainian language lessons. They are audio supplements to the majority of the lessons in the book.

Preparing to move, I studied Russian. Several people told me "everyone in Ukraine speaks Russian." In hindsight, I realize: Those people all moved from Ukraine more than a decade ago. Today, nationalism is growing here in the breadbasket of Europe. Several people have corrected my Russian by giving me the Ukrainian.

So, I boxed my Russian books and CDs and cracked open Beginner's Ukrainian.

Available at Amazon for about $20.

Again, here is the great news: Hippocrene books, the publisher, provides free audio lessons to accompany the book. Here is the link:

Free Ukrainian Lessons

Of course, you should really purchase the book also. It lists for $35, about .0001 percent of the cost of a college course to learn the same (or less, more likely!). And, I'm sure you will be able to purchase a copy for less on Amazon. (They always seem to have some kind of discount, and free shipping, too.)

So far, I am really enjoying the book. Too often, books are a crippling snare. They leave you to guess proper pronunciation. You arrive on site, and people understanding you are attempting their language. But, they have no idea what you mean. Audio is vital to learning correct spoken Ukrainian.

8 March- Women's Day

2013-03-08T02:27:00.001-08:00

8 March in Ukraine

The flower vendor area under a bridge is packed on 8 March

The 8th of March is "Women's Day." In Ukraine, it is an official holiday. National offices and local governmental buildings close for business. It is bigger than Valentine's day is in the West.

Vasimoi Marta, 8th of March, is the first holiday of Spring. Today is 8 March, 2013. And, it is the first day warm enough for me to not wear my gloves (acclimated Ukrainians stopped wearing gloves weeks ago... some go bare-handed year-round.)

There are several explanations of how to celebrate the 8th of March. Ignoring official guidelines, here is how it actually manifests:

This is an opportunist vendor. This is his first day on this location.

Men everywhere buy flowers for all the women in their lives. Today, I bought 11 tulips for my wife, and 3 for all her relatives living in the same building: 3 for mama, 3 each for two sisters, 3 for a niece visiting from Siberia, and 3 for my wife's brother's wife.

Yesterday, on the 7th, a few new vendors appeared in the usual place where the flower sellers are normally concentrated.

This flower kiosk is one of the regular flower stands under a bridge near the regional grocery outlet.

More flower vendor entrepreneurs. The gray mound behind them is snow and ice.


This couple just plopped down a box in the middle of the walking path.

A Nice Place for a Date: National Opera and Ballet Theater of Ukraine

2013-01-21T13:02:00.001-08:00

A few days after New Year, and a few more before the day Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, my wife and I attended a play of the Nutcracker. Our friend Alyona purchased us balcony seats. The seats were located with a perfect view of the stage, and on the lowest tier of balconies as well.

Ticket for "Looskooncheek", aka The Nutcracker

We arrived just as the doors were being closed- 5 minutes before showtime. The show operators had squeezed 8 chairs into a space obviously meant for 6 (or possibly 4). At the break, we asked the people behind us for more room, which they granted. The additional two inches brought my knee off the cold end wall of the balcony, and I enjoyed the second half much better.

The performance was good overall, and the couple who performed as dancers from the middle east were absolutely amazing. And, they received the greatest cheers each time they took a bow at the final curtain call. We attended closing night, so there were several curtain calls which amounted to a few too many.

However, it was worth the trip and we shared a nice coffee afterwards.

A few tips if you attend the theater:

Ignore what they say about no photography. Several people snapped photos with their phones. One woman left of us in the balconies videotaped the entire first half. Nothing happened to them.
Arrive early to get seated. First to arrive gets to adjust the seats!
Check your coats near the door. The main coat check in an inner room gets extremely crowded when the performance is over.
Bring your own snacks and drinks. The prices at intermission were about double market prices.

How to Meet and Marry a Ukrainian Girl Like Elena Petrova

2012-12-26T13:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, Elena Petrova is a Russian lady. And, she's taken. But, she wants you to know how to meet ladies from the former Soviet Union (FSU), and marry them.

The previous blog post review of another ebook received a lot of visits, so I realize readers want to learn more about Ukrainian culture. That is good! Believe me, I am now living here in Kiev. The culture greatly differs from ours!

Elena promises to teach you how to meet Russian and Ukrainian women. This is Elena in the right margin. She looks sharp, right? She has a degree in philosophy and owns
one of the most active Internet sites on dating FSU women.

Here is her blog with description of her ebook and some testimonials of men who
really benefited from her tips: Elena Petrova ebook

Elena Petrova is the best-known writer of information for men from western cultures. She writes about the culture of her native region, of course. After all, she is an expert!

Elena also wrote a book too many men wish they had read before they started corresponding with Eastern European, Russian, and Ukrainian women: Online Dating Scams. Be sure to read the testimonies in the left margin. Too many men get burned. If you think you might be getting scammed, this is the book to read.

How to Date Ukrainian Women (ebook)

2012-12-05T04:10:00.001-08:00

Something American men need to know about women half the world away from them (or at least 10 time zones, anyway) is their culture. Culture affects how each of us interpret the actions and reaction of other people. This is not limited to dress, speech, customs & courtesies, and tone. Culture affects how well we interact with other people in social and business settings.

Most American men, excepting the noble religious type, have dated. One of the most important dating tips I ever received is, "If a woman likes you, all you have to do is not mess it up. Don't make any mistakes, and you won't offend the right girl when you meet her."

It is important you not accidentally offend women in any country or culture. For example, Ukrainian people, men and women both, are very social and open. They love to dine in groups and to meet for activities. They also dress very keenly. If you avoid group settings in favor of the American style of dating- one man and one woman, you might seem odd (but not necessarily). If you dress like the Hawaiians and Californians, you might seem to be without personal fashion, something Ukrainians develop individually and discuss with each other.

To learn more of the important cultural matters that could derail your meeting(s) in Ukraine, consider this book written by a Ukrainian woman. Also read the other posts on this site. I have some good information available for you, free.

"So You Want to Marry a Ukrainian Lady" covers some important issues such as:

Topics you should avoid
How many roses to give, and which quantities are considered offensive
How to use translators and interpreters
Great places for dining and cozy coffee shops that will impress your date

Tip: If you wait, or attempt to leave the page before purchasing the book, the site will offer you a discount.

Working in Kiev

2012-11-26T15:55:00.003-08:00

How to Do Business During a Trip to Kiev

If you are traveling to Kiev to meet some ladies and check your mutual interest, you may have need of business services: fax, scan, meeting rooms, and etcetera. A very cool place to meet, hangout, and send some documents back to the office is Chasopys. Located at 3 Lva Tolstoho in Kiev, it is two floors and several rooms. Each space has a primary function. One room has a large screen and serves as a movie viewing space. Another, equipped with bean bags, was three-quarters filled with youth the day I visited.

On the ground floor, my quick tour led through two large rooms filled with tables, Internet stations, and shelves of books. We passed through a small square room -a node to several others- in which a coffee station and microwave sat (free to patrons). Here, we descended steep stairs to the lower level where the (de facto) youth lounge and several large meeting rooms are situated. The movie viewing room is at the end of the hall.

Visit their site at chasopys.kiev.ua, and be sure to review the schedule of meetings. Many of them will be of interest to small business owners and entrepreneurs.

While almost every Internet cafe in the city will offer fax, scan, and printing services, if you want to sit and do some work, Chasopys is the place. If you want to arrive early before a meeting, and get in some work, this is just right for your needs.

Chasopys, 3 L'va Tolstogo, Kiev, Ukraine

For further reading in business in Ukraine, click here.

How to Marry a Doctor

2012-11-25T03:57:00.004-08:00

How to Marry a Doctor

I was just surfing the website, Elena's Models. I noticed an interesting search option: "By Profession". Under this title, they offer four categories: models, doctors, teachers of English, and creative professionals. I clicked the Medical doctors option.

A few dozen medical doctors, cardiologists, dermatologists, and dentists have set up their profiles. They are interested to meet western men. Honestly, most of them (all, practically) are very beautiful and have the look of professional ladies.

Setting up profiles (yes, for you men) is free at ElenasModels.com, so why not do so? There is a link in the upper right margin of this page.

Does a Russian Medical Degree Transfer to the United States?

A question you may be wondering, and a doctor from Russia or Ukraine might ask is, "Can I work as a medical professional in the United States?" According to Maria Giovanelli of The World, each foreign-trained doctor must pass both the medical board exams and an English test. After passing both of these, she must then apply for a residency and be accepted. Giovanelli reports that 95% of applicants trained in America receive residencies. However, just 40% of foreign applicants are accepted into residency programs. That article is here: Foreign-trained Doctors Kept out of Practice in U.S. (The title is deceptive, many do practice here.)

However, it would be interesting to see the statistics on Russian-trained doctors. Residents of the former Soviet Union, who lived under Communism, are excellent manueverers in bureaucratic systems. My wife is tireless in getting what she wants. She has many friends who are the same.

Moving to Kiev!

2012-11-18T12:40:00.002-08:00

This blog is about to get more valuable. My wife and I are moving to Kiev. There, I will interview some of the local agencies.

In the meantime, packing up my desk, I found a notebook with the following thoughts. These are observations while sitting at a sidewalk cafe on April 24, 2004.

6 p.m., There is a parade on Kreschatik. There is a marching band with it. Also, individual musicians play their various instruments. However, they each stop as the parade approaches and passes. Part of the parade is a set of heavy loudspeakers. Some message in the Ukrainian language is broadcast for everyone to hear. I recognize the first song I hear as an American song. The second song is "The Saints Go Marching In".

The women passers-by become more and more beautiful as the night progresses.

Each woman has her own unique fashion. One has dyed red hair, crimped in small groups, one inch from the root, in short, 2-inch lengths. Most of the ladies have form-fitting tops and pants. They are either tailored, or purchased carefully. Each woman walks straight and tall, shoulders back, head aligned with spine.

Here is a description of one woman: She has bright orange pants. These have faded slightly over time, and end below her knees. Her waist-length jacket is black with orange trim. Her obviously strong legs are covered in black stockings. On her feet, she wears black stilettos.

The jaw lines of women here are finer than those of American women. Necks are thinner, and waists are smaller, too. The ladies greet with hugs. Though they appear svelt to see, the hugs surprise because the womens' frames are smaller even than expected. Still, each woman maintains an attractive, strong, healthy appearance.

Another woman walks past the cafe. Her hair is blondish. She has four pony tails, one on each side of her head and two in the rear. She has a red and white striped shirt. On the front is a large teddy bear logo.

Many of the younger people have cell phones hung around their necks.

Mixed into the crowd are the babushkas, the old women. They share the same ubiquitous attire: heavy communist style jackets, heavy, warm boots, and scarves wrapped intricately around their necks and over their heads.

The waitress brings another espresso. She is attractive in a black suit with white pinstripes. Her collar-length blonde hair is unusually short for Kreschatik. She has it bound together with a black Scrunchie.

Ukrainian Culture

2012-08-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

Ukrainian Culture

The two cultures of America and Ukraine differ about as much as two cultures can. Here are three major differences: income and use of money; social interactions; and interactions with the government.

Income and use of money

In Ukraine, there is a flat tax system. Each buyer pays something like a European VAT tax, a flat 20% tax on all purchases. They also pay a tax on income, taken out of their paychecks. Spending money in a way that benefits a household or business at the end of the year does not immediately register with them.

Saving money can be difficult. The capitalist notion of making money work for you remains a foreign concept in Ukraine. Many entrepreneurs work hard in Kiev and elsewhere. The ruling oligarchy and graft at the government offices and within police ranks can make small business more difficult in Ukraine. The economy is over-controlled by rich power-broker families who maintain an iron fist around prices and wages.

The average income in Ukraine is about $320 per month. That is the official payday. However, many Ukrainian businesses conduct a portion of their business off the books. A worker may be paid $500 per month by paycheck and receive an additional $300 cash on payday.

Social Interactions

Ukrainians tend to have more free time. Americans work more hours each week than any other culture. So, a Ukrainian woman married to an American man often mentions how surprised she was when she learned how hard her husband works.

During my first visit to Ukraine, my future wife’s friends stunned by when they took, “Hello, how are you?” literally. The answer can be a minute long in most cases. These people actually shared their day and week with me. They shared information an American might share only with close friends. Each time was novel. They surprised me every time.

One young man, Kosta, shared with me for twenty minutes. “I have just come out of a year-long depression,” he said in the first few minutes. “I had an excellent manager’s position with a large international firm. But, I lost it due to stress because of my struggle with my sexual identity.” He shared the experience as if we had been on the same sports teams all throughout childhood, worked on projects together, and gone clubbing together in our youth.

Another young woman, Nataliya, sat and chatted with me for almost a half hour. My future wife and I ran into her by chance in the underground market. The two ladies had not seen each other for several months. I was introduced and gave the American, “How are you?” She responded with full details. Her life was abundant and she was an exciting story teller. We spoke all in American. Many Ukrainians speak American. A few have English accents.

Family commitments are much greater than in the west. My wife will find a job, work very hard, and spend almost all her money on clothing, food, and shoes for her brothers sisters, and mother in Kiev. If she is worried about one of them, she will pray for hours. They will call each other to request prayers, too. Ringing phones roused me from sleep more than a few dozen times. “Pray for mama,” a brother would say. And, my wife gets up and prays.

Ukrainians and Governments

Under communism, all the power belongs to a select few at the top. I believe that is why this form of government was introduced- to give great power to a few. (Later, search for Karl Marx and Frederick Engels for a surprise).

A comrade of the USSR had to beleaguer government agencies to receive what was due to them. If an expanding family required another apartment, they had to spend years knocking on the door of the minister of housing. Because of this, Ukrainian ladies are very, very persistent. I almost never make promises to my wife any more. Any promise given to her is going to be fulfilled, guaranteed.

“I want to go to Carmel,” she likes to say. She likes the beach. My response now is, “I’m not promising. But, I would like to go, too. We’ll see what my work load is like.” If I say okay, we’ll be going soon, regardless of the files on my desk.

Many of my wife’s friends in California receive stipends for rent. Some received educations at government expense. They know all about various government programs. They consult each other on which government agencies provide what, which churches can help with paper work and visas, and what are the best jobs to get.

Persistence and networking are an art.

Viva, Ukraine

Marrying my wife is the best thing God ever put in my life. Culturally, she is very different from American women I have known. Ukrainian and American culture have large differences. Learn about her culture, and teach her yours. You each will find a lot to appreciate in the other.

To learn a little more about Ukrainian culture, see these photos taken in January, 2013: Kiev winter images.

Best Ukrainian Dating Sites

2012-06-27T10:22:00.001-07:00

These are the best Ukrainian dating sites from a survey in June, 2012.

Best Ukrainian Dating Sites

The best Ukrainian dating sites are not necessarily the ones which appear first in search results. The best Ukrainian dating services are going to provide what you need: service. Finding the perfect woman to match your character and lifestyle requires an investment in time and money.

You may need to join several small sites, in addition to the larger dating sites, to facilitate finding the best match. A good site to find a large number of ladies from all over Ukraine is Elena’s models. Elena’s models hosts women’s profiles from Kharkov, Kiev, Odessa, and other large cities. You will also find profiles from Russia and other FSU nations.

However, the smaller sites may very likely provide you with more personal service. I used one of these services on my first visit. It was a great experience because of the personal service. I met the owner, Alla, a tall beauty with a dedication for business. Most of the first ladies on her site were her friends. Next, they found single ladies who were friends of friends. What this means is that the ladies on small sites are known to the owner. You can ask questions, and they can answer because they know the women.

allbeautiful.net A small agency in Kharkov with just over 100 ladies listed.

Interdating.ua This site has about 800 ladies. The site claims the owners know “most of the ladies” on their site. This site is unique. It promises to do the search for you, saving time for busy professionals.

fdating This site hosts more than 10,000 women from all over Eastern Europe. There are ladies from Poland to Moldova. There are Ukrainian ladies. And, the site claims it is “100% free”.

100Ukrainianbrides This site is very large. Ukrainian women from every major city, from Kiev to Lugansk, can be found on this site. Images and layout are very high quality.

Elena's Models This is one of the most popular internet dating sites to meet Ukrainian and Russian women. Admittedly, more Russian ladies’ profiles are there. However, a large library of Ukrainian profiles await your introduction. And, they use a billing system familiar to westerners: a flat monthly rate.

6. Charming Brides: This is a true Ukrainian dating site. The site notes the ladies are Ukrainian or Russian living in Ukraine. You have to overlook some grammar and spelling issues. However, the site is a real site. They also recently began offering free service to contact their ladies- nice!

7. All Ukraine Beauties This is a site I used. The translator I received through them was fantastic, friendly, and professional. These ladies are all from Kharkov (aka Kharkiv.) I went on a date with a wonderful woman with whom I exchanged emails, and also with another young lady (too young for me), who had a marvelous personality. I met the owner, Alla, a tall beauty herself, with an excellent grasp of business and of customer service.

You will put a lot of time and money into eventually meeting a Ukrainian lady. Be sure to know the culture. I recommend the book, "So You Want to Marry a Ukrainian Lady", a foreigner's guide to Ukrainian dating, marriage, and culture. I provided a link in the right column.

Also remember: Pray about all things, and especially a wife!

After you pray, get some wise counsel from the best source: a woman who worked as a translator on dates involving western men and eastern ladies.

Some ladies speak near-perfect English. Others speak it well. But, many non-native English speakers converse primarily with other non-native speakers. The result is that they can easily understand one another. But, when they meet a native speaker, the speed and greatly increased vocabulary can leave a Russian speaker confused.

Tanya Proidenko is a 30-something Ukrainian woman from Kharkov. She has worked for 15 years as a translator, both for international businessmen and for international dates. Tanya shares the common factors in failed dates, and the ingredients of a successful first face-to-face meeting.

Click here to view Tanya's book's full description: Dating Russian and Ukrainian Women.

How to Meet Ukrainian Women

2012-06-26T23:22:00.000-07:00

How to Meet Ukrainian Women

There are really just three ways to meet Ukrainian women.

Random Encounter

The first way is to meet a woman in the market place or a coffee shop. This is no different than meeting any other woman from the local population. Unfortunately, such women also possess traits of the local population. Ukrainian culture is said to be similar to American culture in the 40’s and 50’s. Much of any culture is handed down generation to generation. However, a Ukrainian-American is not exactly the same as a Ukrainian woman from the breadbasket of Europe.

Digital Meeting

The second way to meet Ukrainian women is to join dating sites. To be honest, you really have to join a handful of sites to learn which are effective. Most men who begin this method chat with a few dozen women, reduce this to a half dozen, then two or three… and finally, none. They imagine how exciting a trip to Eastern Europe is. They fall in e-love a few times. But, they never buy the air ticket. Fail.

The third way is the correct answer to how to meet Ukrainian women. First, you join a few sites, write to a few women, and see the results. Learn to identify scammers. (Hint: they are in love with you by the second letter and their letters are written as if they never read your last communication- because they didn’t.) Next determine a few ladies you like and feel a personal meeting will be valuable. Choose a few ladies, not just one!

Fly to Kiev

Once you have a few ladies who would like to meet you, purchase an air ticket. Meeting the ladies first provides you the information you require to line up your travel itinerary. Purchase a ticket at least three months in advance.

The three months’ lead time permits you to meet and greet more ladies. You will find many more ladies responding to your letters once you have a ticket. Tell them in your letters that you have a ticket. Write something like,

“I will be in Kharkiv from April 14^th to April 18^th. This is just eight weeks from now.”

Many Ukrainian women have been disappointed by men who promise to come, but never arrive. When you have a ticket, they will know you are serious. I spoke with a woman who received “hundreds” of email letters per week. She quickly made a list of requirements for response. One of these was a commitment to actually fly to Kiev and meet her.

This is the simple answer to how to meet Ukrainian women.

How to Date Ukrainian Women

2012-06-24T10:46:00.000-07:00

It seems simple. It isn't!

Ukrainian women expect- and I do mean expect - to be treated like ladies. Every man in their lives treats them like delicate, sensitive, ladies. If a western man arrives and fails to open a door, she is likely to think, "That is strange," and deduct some points from your overall evaluation. The anti-male, anti-family feminist movement never took hold in Eastern Europe, thank God.

On March 8th, "Womens' Day", every man gives flowers and chocolate to the women in his life: wife, girlfriend (not both for the same man!), mother, sisters, and even secretaries and co-workers. It is a day to honor women. The general concept of respect for women exists throughout the year.

To really get a sense for how to date a Ukrainian lady, I give you this one statement. Think about it, and you will begin to understand the collective subconscious of Ukrainian women:

My entire marriage to my Kiev sweetheart has been like dating.

Allow me to translate this into concrete examples:
I hold the door for her. I open her car door first. I close it for her. I surprise her with flowers. I carry her bags in the mall. She never lifts anything heavy- if a heavy object needs moving, she expects me to heroically intercede before she actually budges it a micrometer. She expects a hug and kiss every morning. In short, our relationship is like 1940's dating (but with the obvious benefits of marriage.)

Ukrainian ladies really expect and appreciate a man who does things for them. This includes gifts, and price seems to be important. My wife and her friends will often refer to a perfume by price. Given two perfumes equally liked by the future recipient, purchase the more expensive one. It has triple gift power compared to the less expensive brand.

Ukrainians have a lot of superstitions. Gifts in even numbers are a bad omen. The number 4 (as in Asian cultures) means death. This means a dozen roses is wrong. Give 11 instead for important days, and 7 on other occasions.

To better understand, you need to read some books. Here are some How to Date Ukrainian Women guides:

The Ukrainian Bride Guide This guide to Ukrainian dating focuses on heating up your romance with instructions on how to write romantic letters and how to romance a woman of the former Soviet Union, in general. It also includes tips on how to manage a USCIS application.

So You Want to Marry a Ukrainian Lady This book is the #1 seller in Ukrainian Dating ebooks. It covers dating, marriage, and culture.

Extended Stay in Ukraine?

2011-10-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

What should you do if you plan an extended stay in Ukraine?

After some research and a little reading, I want to share with you my conclusion and two links. The conclusion is this:

If you want to live in Ukraine for an extended time, you need to apply for a permanent residence card in Ukraine. The Ukrainian consulate, American expats, and British expats all render this same recommendation: apply for permanent residence, but not in your native country. Apply while in Ukraine, the land where glory and freedom have not perished.

Here are two links. The first is to an excellent article on applying for residence permits and work permits in Ukraine. The second is a forum with some expat testimonies of applying for the residence permit.

Residence Permit & Work Permit Process in Ukraine

Residence Permit in Ukraine - Forum

If you need to know something else, please ask in the comments section below. If you learned something you want to share, please put that into a comment as well. Remember, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”!

Update: (December, 2012) I moved myself to Ukraine in November. My wife and I are meeting an American expat living here for more than 10 years. She will advise us on getting our paperwork in order.

Update: (January, 2013) Part of the process is getting a visa from a Ukrainian embassy outside of Ukraine. The nearest to Kiev is in Moldova.

Easy & Cheap Way to Learn Russian & Ukrainian

2011-09-19T17:02:00.003-07:00

The most important part of seeking a Russian or Ukrainian (or Latvian, Lithuanian or other former CIS lady) is the visit. You absolutely must plan a visit. May is the best month of the year. But, plan ahead of time. Be sure to schedule many meetings, and even hold the names of some agencies in reserve in case the ladies you planned to meet just don't have the two-way chemistry everyone knows should be present from the beginning.

Once your visit is scheduled at least three or four months after you have begun to communicate with some ladies, you will want also to begin to learn basic greetings, the names of food, how to properly pronounce names, and anything else you can manage.

So, here are my two excellent recommendations for you:

1. Pimsleur basic audio lessons. I speak a few languages myself. Pimsleur truly delivers what it promises- rapid learning by optimizing their knowledge of the processes of the brain in learning. What I also got from Pimsleur was a good base for pronunciation. I received a lot of compliments on my flawless accent, especially on my "nye-eh" (a form of nyet). I am talking about one of Pimsleur's basic products, not the $345 30-CD set.

2. The next thing is an app you can buy for less than $10. Word Power Lt provides more than a hundred categories of words. Each category averages about 20 words each. The app pronounces the word, provides sentences (some of which also have audio), has pictures of most words, and provides several additional utilities and resources. It is an amazing teaching tool for the price. And, as an app, it goes with you wherever you take your iphone or ipad.

3. Buy a focused product applicable to your use: Russian Language for Lovers. This program provides you more than 800 phrases crucial to relationships. The program promises you will be able to ask out Russian women when you have completed the course. Russian language is also the second tongue of all the FIS ladies in Ukraine, Moldova, Lithuania, Byelorusia, and others. This is a great product, the tool that will definitely pedestal you above the other western men competing for the best ladies.

So, start with the Pimsleur. It will carefully teach you the all-important pronunciations slowly and carefully. Second, get the Word Power Lt app from iTunes. Definitely purchase Russian Language for Lovers.

You will earn much more respect when you can introduce yourself and make a few polite exchanges. You don't have to give a speech at the university chemical engineering club, just say "hello" and "nice to meet you."

Dirt Cheap Method to Learn Ukrainian

I went online and bought a copy of Beginner's Ukrainian, by Yuri Shevchuk. When it arrived, I learned the publisher, Hippocrene Books, hosts a free audio page for every chapter. I've learned several languages over the years, and having good audio is crucial to effectively communicate what you want to say. Mispronounce too many words in a sentence, and you'll get a blank stare.
It won't work stand alone. They don't give the English for the word lists. They read the Ukrainian word lists and exercises, but don't give the English meaning. So, you need to buy a copy of Beginner's Ukrainian.

Ukrainian Customs

2011-08-30T15:11:00.001-07:00

Illegal Seizure of Goods at Customs in Borispol (KBP) International Airport, Kiev, Ukraine

My friend Brian flew to Kiev last weekend, arriving on August 27^th, 2011. He always travels light. He had just a backpack with a change of clothes. They stopped him at customs after scanning his bag. “It is the first time I have seen that equipment running,” Brian told me.

They asked him, “We see some pills. Do you have some pills in your luggage?” He said, “Yes. I have some Motrin in there.” They asked if it is in the original package. He said that it is.

Also in the bag were a diamond engagement ring and wedding band set. He also brought two cell phones, one for his fiancée and another for his future mother-in-law (who is a kind woman). The customs agents seized these items.

They held him at Customs for 4 hours. They announced that the phones are worth $1,000 each in Ukraine, and that the ring is worth $5,000. Brian said he paid only $200 each for the phones (his declared value.) The ring, he also purchased at wholesale.

Official Customs Limits and List of Personal Items Allowed at Ukrainian Customs

In the brief time he had, he had to attain an official translation of his passport into Ukrainian and proffer it so he could appear in court and request return of his items. His fiancée pressed the court officials on what needed to happen in order to receive the items. They said, “Nothing but paying the import duty.” They explained that seizures have been down and higher ups are pushing for seizures.

The court assessed 44% import duties, the same as was demanded at Customs in Borispol airport. They wanted $2200 for the rings and 2 times $400 for the cell phones. They wanted $3000 total to settle the matter.

Why this is Illegal

Ukraine joined the World Trade Organization in May of 2008. The WTO is established to normalize and facilitate trade. Rules are clearly set forth. In the matter of importing (which excludes gifts such as an engagement ring!) the value is to be declared by the importer. If Customs officials believe the declared value to be different than that claimed, they may “request additional information.”

Here is a key component of the agreement wording (Uruguay Round) of the WTO:

The WTO agreement on customs valuation aims for a fair, uniform and neutral system for the valuation of goods for customs purposes — a system that conforms to commercial realities, and which outlaws the use of arbitrary or fictitious customs values.

So, here is Ukraine establishing arbitrary values for the rings and phones. There is no real basis for their valuation other than their command elements requiring that seizures increase. This is exactly corruption. It can only serve to harm Ukraine. What will result from this practice? Fewer goods will enter Ukraine!

One-sixth of the GDP of Mexico is imported goods- wealth sent to Mexico by nationals working in foreign countries, primarily the largest market in the world: North America. So, here is Ukraine announcing, “We don’t want your wealth! Keep it.” This has been their error from the beginning of Independence in 1992. Officials and men of influence have desired to maintain control so they can skim and benefit from graft.

Unfortunately, the world is staying away in droves. Ukraine is the world’s richest deposit of engineers. Has anyone heard of the great international engineering companies based in Ukraine? No. This is because firms stay away.

Ukraine has come a long way. Those who have been traveling there for two decades report how police stops (for collecting a “toll”) have greatly decreased. Yuschenko, the last president, announced that no graft would be tolerated under his watch, and corruption diminished even more. However, Ukraine remains a very corrupt nation because of greed in those who yet retain power.

Ukraine is such a beautiful nation. Some of the greatest people I have ever met in my life are Ukrainians. I will never forget a Colonel I met in Kuwait. He wept as he told me how beautiful is his Ukraine and how much she suffers because of the economy. I have never seen such passion for America in an American.

It is a beautiful nation. But, how long will this corruption remain about Ukraine’s neck, strangling her?

What Can I Learn from the Photos on Russian Women Dating and Marriage Sites?

2011-04-19T12:35:00.000-07:00

How to Evaluate Russian Women Photos

What kind of woman do you really want to marry? Consider the heart of the woman you want to be with in your forties, in your fifties, in your sixties and seventies? What is she like? She is not 23, this is for sure. She will likely be within a few years of your own age. The thing that will make your life a joy for the next fifty or sixty years is a companion with a loving heart.

How do you ascertain this in the Russian women photos on the bridal club, letter exchange, and marriage agency websites? Divide the sites into two main types. There are many ways to divide virtually anything. Divide the sites into these categories: fleshy photos and professional photos.

The Best Photos of Ukrainian Women

You want the professional photo women. Why not the bikini photos? The answer is simple: the women who want to tantalize you with their flesh are exactly that: fleshly, material women. Russian, Ukrainian, and other former USSR ladies are generally very educated, very feminine, and very professional and responsible. Western thought creeps in via movies, the Internet, and travel. You want the more traditional Eastern European gal. She exudes femininity and character. The aspect of character shines brightly in Ukraine and in Russia. With so many liberties removed in Communism, Russian culture shifted greatly to love and to romance. Looking beautiful, and being beautiful became very important.

How does a traditional Eastern European lady stand out from the crowd? First, she has her own style. She has avoided the bikini sites in order to maintain her integrity. She knows who she is, and chooses not to concede her character to increase her chances to attain a goal such as finding a good man. Very likely, the women who sacrifice their morality in a bikini display are seeking material objectives: a rich man.

Keep in mind that in Ukraine, Byelorussia (White Russia), Romania, and Moldova, the economies remain prisoner to private interests. Russia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic immediately instituted free market economies. In the latter set of nations, per capita income has increased to levels where families and individuals can live comfortably and buy nice wardrobes. In the former nations listed above, most still struggle to put food on the table. A lady in one or two outfits is showing you the best of her outfits.

To be fair, some ladies may be showing their bikini outfits because they simply do not have another photo option. To show themselves in different settings- and still look beautiful –they choose beach photos. In other cases, the dating sites encourage sexy photos to promote traffic to their sites. In general, almost every lady you meet in a visit will be exceptional. All the women and men I met in my two visits have been amongst the best people I have met in my entire lifetime. The same will be true for you!

I traveled to Kharkov and met there two ladies. The first lady worked for a chain of delis, making salads. She earned more than twice the typical monthly income. The second young lady was between college and a trade school. She wore the exact same outfit she wore in her dating site photos. Both women I met were exceptional in comport, conversation and politeness. Neither of these ladies appeared anywhere in bikini photos.

One of the major decisions you must make is this: Do you want to fulfill lust or love?

A lifetime of love, joy and happiness results from choosing a lady correctly: Choose love.

How to Identify a Legitimate Ukrainian Dating Site

2011-01-02T14:49:00.002-08:00

You want a good experience meeting a Ukrainian lady or Russian lady. How do you ensure your experience is real?

There are several steps in the process where you can employ responsible caution.

Skype- See Who You're Talking to
First: Look at the method you are using to meet a woman from a distant country. Are you using every available method? For example, Skype is free. Internet cafes are everywhere in Russian cities and in major Ukrainian population centers. In 2013, most homes have Internet connections. Even small villages have one shop with Internet and/or wi-fi.

I traveled by train to Rischatelivka, a village in southern Ukraine. I saw a still operating German WWII motorcycle, with sidecar, on the road there. The streets were made of cobblestone or enormous concrete slabs. Hay was transported on a makeshift flatbed- a converted rail car with enormous wheels. It was a one-horsepower affair. Literally, one old horse was out front, pulling that cart, several bails of hay, and the driver. Still, Rischatelivka had a grocery store. In a side room, the owner had situated two roughly built tables. Covered with nice red and white checkered cloths, computers sat there, available for use. Dial-up, of course, provided the only connection.

Download Skype for free

Second: Ensure that the agencies you use filter their results. Some agencies rise up quickly. They fill their ranks with data from other sites and allow anyone to post a profile. They make money from the western men. They need a large database, and so do not care about the women.

Here is a good sign on the Elena's Models site: "This profile was suspended by admin. We are checking on it." This lets you know that they are self-reviewing their members.

Third: Travel to Kiev, Kharkov, Odessa, or wherever live the women with whom you have been communicating. Maximizing this travel requires that you plan to meet women from cities close to each other. If you use an agency, this is all coordinated on your behalf. If you intend to travel alone, and plan your own visit, consider the time consumed sitting on trains and riding in cars. You will want to rest and visit sites and meet ladies while in Kiev.

Whatever you do, travel and meet the women with whom you correspond. Schedule this trip soon into your efforts. Having a time frame when you will be in Eastern Europe makes the relationship and adventure more real to both you and to the ladies. You will view the process more seriously if you have a plane ticket and reservations. The ladies will also be more interested in you as a serious and responsible suitor.

Use Face Recognition Software:

So, you think a girl is coming on too fast; she's asked for money to help her sick mother get a surgery; or given you some other reason to validate her before you actually send her cash. Here is an article covering three different ways to search the Internet for faces. If you find her in other places with different names, that's a certain sign of a problem.

Search for her Name

Insist on sending money by Western Union. To pick it up, she must give her real name, exactly spelled as it is on her passport. If she has used a fake account, this will be a problem for her. Once you have the real name, search for her name in quotes "Olga Barracuda", or whatever name she's given you. If her name is attached to several different pictures, she's busted. And, her name might just appear on scammer websites like russian-dating-scams.com. The site lists links to several online lists.

If you catch a scammer, or bust a site, you have a (however modest) duty to protect your fellow man. Post information in one or more places.

Life in the United States

2010-12-25T16:13:00.000-08:00

What should you expect when your new wife comes to the United States on a K-1 marriage visa?

Living with your new wife will differ from marrying a western woman. Things in the former Soviet Union ran differently. Hot water is not a given. My wife returned from Kiev last month after a two-month visit. The first thing she said when we arrived home was, "Do we have hot water?"

PAYING FOR HEAT
Russia, Ukraine, White Russia and other former communist nations built one gigantic hot water plant for an entire city. The government decides when the hot water comes on and when it goes off. When the radiators come on in October, and there is a warm spell after that, the heat keeps coming. The central hot water utility turns on once per year and shuts down once per year. To regulate temperature in their apartments, Ukrainians and Russians open windows or close windows.

In summer, the hot water plant stops operating for two weeks. During this time, government workers perform maintenance on underground pipes and the production factory itself. It's hot enough to take cold showers. But, most people boil water on the stove, dilute it to a good temperature, and pour water on themselves with a measuring cup or other kitchen item.

When my wife moved into my apartment, now our apartment, she employed the same procedure. If she felt too hot, she opened a window, and let the heat continue to run. I explained to her several times, "We pay for the heat. It comes in our bill." Several months later, showing her the bill, the kilowatt hours, the rate, and the total, she finally understood: It costs us money.

Your wife will not understand the operation of a thermostat. You must show her.

LAUNDRY

Most eastern Europeans do not own washers and dryers. My wife's family has a small, compact washing machine. They hang the clothes to dry on a rack in their living room. When the spin cycle finishes, out comes the drying rig. It looks like an old military Yagi antenna, a kind of horizontal spider web. The clothes get laid out across the lines of the web. Both sides are exposed to air and the clothes dry quickly.

I had to teach my wife how to use a washing machine. Though she bought the unit in her family's Kiev apartment, no one taught her to use it properly. Just two weeks ago, we had our four year anniversary. Two days later, a load of lime green towels appeared in the linen closet. I have several too-small sweaters. Black things sometimes returned matted up with little white balls after being washed and dried with towels.

Most sites I visited talked about the challenge of learning English for your wife, and the communication challenge for both of you. My wife taught herself English before we met. But, we still had some miscommunication and language barrier issues. Mostly, this produced some good laughs.

However, I still help my wife with spelling, official forms, and uncommon vocabulary.

Be prepared with patience and understanding. Some things we do daily without a second thought are entirely knew adventures for our new wives.

An Example Letter to Potential Brides in Eastern Europe

2010-12-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

This is a letter I used to send to women I contacted in Eastern Europe. After the letter, I post some comments, which may be more useful in drafting your own letter.

Hello!

I read your profile a few weeks ago. I like what you wrote about yourself, and also your photos. ;-)

I write to you from California, the west coast of the United States. I live in Modesto, a city in the San Joaquin Valley. This is an area of rich farmland and good people. We even have a few very good churches here. The church I attend is all Russian & Ukrainian people, except for me. Modesto is less than 2 hours from snowboarding and skiing, and less than two hours from Santa Cruz, one of the most popular beaches in California. We are also close to Yosemite Park, San Francisco, and Sacramento. This is a wonderful place to live.

I have learned a little Russian. I am enjoying this new language. It is easy to learn a language when it is the key to communicating with wonderful people.

I read your profile. I certainly meet all your (few) requirements. I hope we can exchange some letters and determine if we are well suited. The most important thing in a relationship is a close personal relationship. This closeness should be greater and stronger than a requirement for words. I believe this is a necessary ingredient in a recipe for a good relationship. This kind of connection between two people is not even possible without two things: first, both people need to believe it is possible to know each other this way. And, second, both people must want this connection.
I have this connection with many of my good friends. If a friend is ill, upset or just troubled, I can feel it. I even sometimes call them to talk. It is good to have friendships like this. I am so glad you also value this!

I am looking for a woman to marry. I hope this is also your goal. I only say this to assure you that I am not wasting your time. I already have purchased a ticket from British Airlines to travel to Eastern Europe / Russia. I will travel when I have met someone who wants to meet me, and who has dreams of a beautiful life. I plan to visit in May or June. (We people from California hate the cold… we are spoiled by wonderful sunshine almost all year long!)

God is the most important thing in my life. Nothing comes before my love for the Lord! With this, all the real needs are provided. I hope you agree.

I will answer some questions I see many ladies asking in their profiles: I am financially stable. I work in a family-owned business. I am an engineer. I only drink socially (a night out for dinner or drinks). I have never used drugs (praise God!). I do not smoke cigarettes. I have smoked a pipe 6 times, and 3 cigars. (It’s only fun to do with a friend or two. It kills my mouth!) I do not have any kids, but I do want kids. I definitely want children.

I do like to dance. However, I am only an OK dancer. You will not win a dance contest with me. But, you will have a lot of fun! I also like to joke and to laugh. I am well known for this.

It has not escaped my attention that you have a very beautiful smile. I hope and suspect that your inner person is equally warm, or warmer. If so, you are a very beautiful lady!

I hope to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

PS – If you are not interested, please delete me from your “admirers” list. Thanks!

Notes:

1. I identify that I have read her profile, and understand who I am writing.
2. I identify that God is an important thing in my life, and that there is a Russian/Ukrainian Christian population here in Modesto. The church reference lets women who are not interested in Christian men know that they should not waste their time- or yours.
3. I tell her about the place I live. Remember the perspective of the woman. She will leave everything she knows and take up an entirely new culture and lifestyle.
4. Personalize the letter. Mention something from the profile in introductory letters. Many of the ladies send out stock letters. They suspect that some men will likewise use form letters to check interest. Since you are genuinely interested, Take your form letter, and modify it to mention specific items from the profile. This lady mentioned she was sensitive to the needs of others. So, I mentioned that this is also true for me. Mention similarities between you and the lady.
5. State your purpose. If you have honorable intentions, say so! Eastern European women are much closer in morals and customs to our grandmothers from the 1940's and 1950's. They expect respect and courtesy.
6. Make a plan to visit. Tell your ladies that you will visit, and tell them when. Many men write, and then just cease writing, without explanation. This can be a rejection for the ladies. So, be clear about what you are doing. This separates you from irresponsible suitors. You are much more likely to receive a response if the lady knows you will visit.
7. Answer questions that are frequently asked. This saves time and effort. Some ladies have disqualifying attributes. Smokers want to marry other smokers. A woman who enjoys drinking on weekends does not want a teetotaler. A woman who prays every morning is not interested in an atheist. Atheists don't want to marry Sunday church goers. By answering common questions, or otherwise incorporating them into your letter, you save yourself time by weeding out those who want something different. Don't exaggerate or cloud the truth. Be honest. Remember: you want to establish something to last a lifetime!

Acronyms Common in Searching for and Marrying a Russian Woman

2010-10-20T11:06:00.000-07:00

Men who seek a wife from the former Soviet Union (FSU), will quickly realize that some phrases get typed a lot in discussing the process. Here are some common terms, below. If you know others, please post a comment. Help others to have an easier experience when seeking a RW to marry.

AOS- Adjustment of Status. After time of residency requirements are met, and all interviews and a physical exam, the AOS, form I 485, is filed.
AW-
GC- Green Card
FSU- Former Soviet Union
MOB- Mother of Baby
RW- Russian Woman
TB- Tuberculosis. In the FSU, vaccinations for TB were administered. So, the TB skin test shows a postive. It may be a true positive, or a false positive. Chest X-rays are taken to confirm whether a true condition exists.
USCIS- United States Customs and Immigration Service
VAWA- Violence Against Women Act. If things go sour in your marriage, RWs and other former communists are expert at using the government powers to get it done. That was the only way to get anything in the USSR. Important reminder: Chances of an excellent marriage when marrying a foreigner are far above domestic marriages. If you are careful, honest with yourself, and do not rush, you will most likely never need this acronym.

Scammers

2010-10-19T18:26:00.001-07:00

Every person seeking a bride over the Internet- women you may not meet for many months- needs caution. Some sites are plagued with scammers. They post photos pulled off hair color boxes, from magazines, and from other foreign women dating sites.

While I was looking for an Eastern European wife, I encountered a few of these. There are some common factors:

Common Scam Indicators:
1. Within two or three messages, they are in love with you.
2. Within three messages, there is a request for money.
3. Their questions show that they have not read your letters.
4. The initial request is small. It opens the gates and starts funds flowing. Later, they work for larger and larger amounts.

Defenses to Scammers:
1. Use common sense and ensure you investigate every thing that feels suspicious. If there is a check in your spirit, there is a reason. Be sure you have answered corporeal uneasiness before progressing.
2. If money is requested for English lessons, send it directly to the school. Say this has a financial savings for you to pay directly to an agency. (This is true, risk has a value. You reduce the risk of being scammed by paying directly to an agency.) You will need to verify the agency before sending money.
3. Include answers to basic questions in your letters. Mention your city of residence, age, occupation, family, attitudes toward travel, languages you speak and any plans to travel to Eastern Europe. Those are common questions. Scammers send out form letters. They don't read responses. Their letter to you is the same one sent to a dozen others on the same day. So, it will be clear they did not read your letter when the content of the response asks for information you already sent.
4. Copy a portion of the email. Paste it into Google, and search. Many form letters will be found on scammer sites or complaint blogs. You may catch a scammer this way.
5. Pray for God to give you wisdom. Ask God to select a wife for you and lead you to her. Ask God to block scammers and any other women who simply seek a sugar daddy, who desire to use you.

The best (only??) book on how to beat Russian (and FSU) scam artists is here: Anti-scam manual Read the quotes in the left margin of the site. You'll be glad you did.

Be prepared, and enjoy your travels to Ukraine and Russia!

Cheapest Tickets to Kiev

2010-10-03T21:32:00.003-07:00

Each year, my wife flies to Kiev. She visits her mother and helps care for her. Ukrainian women are very family oriented. My sister-in-law lives there year-round and cares for my mother-in-law. My wife provides some relief each year.

Kiev KBP Terminal B

So, we purchase round trip airline tickets to Kiev Borispol Airport (KBP) each year. My wife really prefers KLM, Dutch Airlines. KLM's prices are typically close to those of Delta. Together they compete for the lowest prices from San Francisco to KBP. Though we are about equidistant from SFO and Sacramento International (SMF), flying out of SFO is always cheaper. This is true even after allowing for $20 to park in short term hourly parking at SFO.

My wife prefers KLM because of the great service provided and because the meals are not stingy. However, this year, we paid $13 extra for the KLM tickets over what Delta was asking. However, my wife had a terrible experience. She had a male steward in her area, who managed to offend my wife, another woman in the next set of seats, and an older woman a few rows ahead of my wife. So, next year, she will fly on Delta.

If you want to learn how to get the cheapest tickets, buy this book written by an insider in the airline ticket sales industry. He got fired and spilled the beans. AIR TICKET SECRETS

Search carefully for your tickets. There are two main connecting airports when traveling from the states to Kiev, Ukraine. These are Orly in Paris and Schiphol in Amsterdam. On my first flight to Kiev, in 2004, I flew through Orly. The French kicked all the Americans off the connecting legs. We sat in Orly while our seats were sold to others. The French member of Delta's SkyTeam network, Air France gave an incoherent obfuscation about Delta not transferring funds to Air France or some such babble.

Basically, I will never fly through Orly, and neither should you. Additionally, the French charge an international airport tax on behalf of the United Nations. They are setting the standard for international governance through international taxation. None of the African Kings, White Russian dictators, South American presidents, English prime ministers or anyone else in the UN has a right to tax me. So, I refuse to fly through France.

The other hub airport, which you are likely to see in ticket search results, is London. This will most likely happen if you originate in New York, or if you are willing to endure more than one stop en route. If you take multiple stops, you will likely save about a hundred bucks in exchange for a few hours extra travel time. And, you have a decent chance of then going through New York City's JFK.

Beware of London flights. The English like to make a little extra money by creating flights which require 23 hours layover. This means you will almost certainly pay for a hotel room, meals, and some shopping. Pay attention when traveling through London. The time of departure may be the following day.

My wife also once flew through Orly. The officials, she felt, were very rude. They wanted her to speak French. She only speaks four languages and none are French. And, when she arrived, they told her she missed her connecting flight already. So, she sat several extra hours in Orly waiting for an open seat to Kiev. While waiting, she inquired and learned she actually could have made the next flight- if not for the bad information. After this, she refuses to travel through Orly.

In conclusion, best departing airports are San Francisco (SFO), Kennedy (JFK), and Atlanta (ATL, not mentioned). For the European hub, choose AMS Amsterdan Schiphol, and maybe London's Heathrow (LHR).

Watch the length of flight time. It is possible to find 15 hour and 16 hour flights from San Francisco to Kiev. This includes layovers. However, it is easy to get 23 hour flights with long layovers and even flights which arrive to destination after more than 24 hours. Most search engines warn when tickets are for flights arriving after more than 24 hours.

Best Search Engines

The best sites to search, from our experience, are these:

bt-store.com
travelzoo.com

The first, bt-store (best travel store) was recommended to us by a Texas friend who eventually married his Kiev sweetheart. We have bought tickets through this site ever since. I always check Travel Zoo because it is so easy to check multiple sites after entering my information just once.

Update (December, 2012): I purchased three tickets in the 4th quarter this year. Each time, I found the best cheap tickets at bt-store.com. One note, however: I got a really good value on Lufthansa. However, I wished I paid the extra $87 bucks to fly KLM. They have much more leg room.

Share Your Experience with Ukraine Women Site!

2010-09-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

Visiting Ukraine, Russia, Moldova, Lithuania or any of the other former Soviet states is very exciting. Most of us enjoy sharing our travels with others.

After your visit, please share your experience for others. We will post your comments and story here at ukrainewives.blogspot.com. Please include the important details: anything another man would need to know to have a better experience, to save some money, to make better use of time.... anything you feel will help.

Let us know which agency or agencies you used and your opinion of their service. Let us know how you found lodging, and what you paid.

Hope to hear from you soon!