I would like clarification or confirmation of what paperwork  is needed upon arriving in Russia. I have been told that I only need an arrival card/form which is retained by immigration or customs and then I am free to go.

I don’t need any other form to be filled in or stamped etc. (apart from my visa of course).

For registration I only need my passport, visa and letter of invitation - nothing else.

This information came from a reliable source (the Russian Consul in NZ) but I would like to get confirmation from outside if possible.

Comments:

1)

You will need only your half of the Migration card(the other half is
retained by passport control) which the airline gave to you 1 hour or more
before arrival, your passport and your custom’s declaration which was also
given to you by your airline before arrival. If you do not receive the
customs declaration, they are available in the luggage claim areas. There
are no pens so bring your own.

Your hotel will register your visa with only your migration card and
passport.

If you are using a visa service and not staying in the hotel you received
your invitation the new enforcement efforts by immigration officials should
be a serious concern.

2)

I didn’t know about the arrival card, wasn’t given one (I was asleep) and wasn’t asked for one at the airport. Also I wasn’t asked for any customs declaration and just showed my passport and visa to customs, had my bags xrayed and then I was free.  As usual immigration over there would not admit that they had made a mistake, didn’t want to know about me after I was in the country and
certainly didn’t want to help fix the problem  but I was able to get it fixed eventually - for a price. They just said that it was not possible to come into Russia without an arrival card or customs declaration so I was
an illegal alien.

Even though it was their mistake for not doing their job properly I was left to sort it out. I was told that unpleasant things would happen to me if my problem was detected so I just payed up and took it like a man.

I will not say where I went as my host who helped to fix my problem wants to stay alive.

3)

It is not “their” problem if “they” failed to give you some necessary
documentation. It is YOUR responsibility to do whatever the law requires
where ever you are going. Period.

This is a universal process world wide.

Ignorance is truly not an excuse.  The cards are available and you are
required to fill them out and submit them.  You were VERY lucky they didn’t
lock you up.

4)

The worst place to get advice is a consulate, they are often unaware of
policies back home and probably the worst in giving out false information is
the consulates in Australia. Maybe NZ is better, I don’t know.

Getting past passport control without a migration card is quite unusual, but
much more unusual would be the need for fear from your friend. He probably
was exaggerating to generate greater feeling of gratefulness on your part.

There are signs in English all over the arrival area of the airport about
the customs declaration and  migration card, so it would also have been
difficult to have not noticed them. The customs declaration is easily
bypassed however since most airports seldom even man the Red line for
declared items, 90% just take the Green line and there is no one to even
take a declaration form. Leaving does not require the form unless you had
something to declare that you wanted to take back out, it is for your own
protection to prove you brought it in for personal use and are removing it
from the country.

Although there has been no change in the laws recently, there has been a new
effort to enforce the current laws which have been only partially adhered to
by visitors. Immigration is getting more aggressive in expecting visitors to
obey the laws regarding invitations and registration. Many people use visa
services to get visas and for invitations, in fact in many countries they
are required for applications unless you personally visit the consulate to
drop off applications and pick up passports.

My good friend is going to immigration court tomorrow, where I will act as
interpreter. He knows conversational Russian but not the legal terms used in
a hearing. The immigration officials found that he used a visa service to
get a 90 day business visa in the US and had not really been invited to by a
Russian company who was assuming responsibility for his stay, accommodations
and registration. We all know that is the most common and fastest way to get
a business or tourist visa but it is illegal. He is being charged with 2
counts of immigration law violation for using the visa service that the
consulate closest to his home recommends and even requires to be used for
mail in applications. He spent almost $600. It turns out that the company
creating and issuing the invitations is not even in the city they claim to
be, and the visa service has gotten the visa invitations for 6,000 Americans
currently in Russia. The investigators acknowledge the consulate, visa
service and fictitious company all were in on it. Millions of dollars were
gained this way by one of the largest visa services in the world.  I asked
one the immigration investigators why go after somewhat innocent visitors
who are going by the recommendations of the consulate. He replied that they
had no jurisdiction over consulates or out of country visa services. He said
they intend to dry up the customer base for illegal invitations with the
only means they had, to go after the visitor who broke immigration law. My
friend has a new apartment here and a long term girlfriend so being
deported, and suffering a possible 5 year ban from entering Russia is not a
happy situation for him. He does concede that he knew that visa invitations
are only valid when used to visit and be sponsored by the issuer. That means
only hotels which visitors are booking into and are actually staying are the
only ones that allow the visa to be valid. For tourist visas, the law has
been clear for years; only authorized tour operators and international
hotels can provide visa invitations legally. And business visas are only
valid when sponsored by and meeting with the company that issued the
invitation. Nothing new there but few people adhered to the law so it was
surprising to find out there are enforcing it now.
Personally I am sad to see what is happening to my good friend, he tries to
be a good resident and go by the laws but just got caught by believing the
consulate and the visa service. At the same time I don’t mind seeing the
visa services taken to tasks, they often operate illegally and are not
honest with their customers. If you absolutely need to use a service, for
example because you can’t hand carry your application into a consulate, make
sure your invitation was sent directly to you from your hotel that you are
going to stay in. Supply that direct invitation to the visa service, don’t
let them use one of their own or charge you for one. If a business invites
you make sure it is one you have legitimate reasons to visit it and be
sponsored by it. Otherwise you are in violation of the law. I am sure my
friend is going to sue the visa service, which has 20 offices in the US, for
fraud and take it up with law enforcement officials in the US. He is not the
type to accept their greed determining his fate.  Be aware, any visa service
outside Russia promising to provide invitations for business or tourist
visas is doing so illegally and the immigration officials are aware of it.

When we both went to the immigration enforcement office there were dozens of
foreigners with the same problem, some women were crying over their lost and
expensive vacation and others were just frightened. I must say the
investigators did not lie, they knew the law and were quite well versed in
it, and used a strict interpretation and made no exaggerated claims to
frighten anyone, in fact they were relatively friendly and frank in
admitting that although violators, the visitors were also victims of a large
scam.
Adhere to the laws and no one will bother you here. In fact most people have
a great time and want to come back often.

5)

Interesting to hear about the problem with business visas used for extended
tourism. I visited Russia over a dozen times on such business visas, and I
had problems with only one. When I went to register the visa, the authorities said they did not recognize the sponsor company, and they would not honour the letter requesting support. They turned me away, saying it was my own problem, offering no assistance, other than to return immediately to Moscow and deal with it there, where the company was alleged to exist. I did find a way around it (for a fee) but I was uncomfortable about it, until departed from Russia.

Had the same situation occurred today, I would likely be in a similar mess
as your friend. I have had numerous inconveniences regarding visa registrations over the years, and whether rules have significantly changed or have been unevenly enforced, in the end, I was the one inconvenienced.

For this reason, I always retain all receipts, transport tickets, hotel papers, and any other useful documents. I have had to “prove” where I had been in order to achieve registrations.

I have not been to Russia for some time now, and I am planning to go to St.
Petersburg soon. I have received advice on getting an invitation from a hostel there, who will also register the visa. Concerning the paper trail, it is indeed the responsibility of the traveller to obtain the immigration card and customs declaration, and to fill them in prior to arrival. It does seem rather odd that anyone could get past the incoming passport control without a migration card, and it is a serious responsibility to keep track of ones own documents.

I recommend carrying a copy of the passport, visa and migrant card, and even the customs declaration, should the originals become lost. Although that may help facilitate resolving the problems, it will not be an instant solution.(Nor free of costs.) I have quite often wished Russia would make the process easier, but so far, it has only become more complex. But as someone else said, the travellers responsibilities are somewhat universal. Ignorance, whether innocent or contrived, will not be an acceptable excuse.

6)

You do not need to prove anything to get registered, it I done automatically
by your hostel/hotel when you arrive. As long as you check into and reside
in your hostel/hotel you are covered and it is free to their guest. In this
way the law was changed, the sponsor is the one required to register you not
you yourself. The exception of responsibility is when a person is not hosted
by their sponsor, that is where the violation occurs. For example  someone
posted in the recent thread how to get an invitation from a hotel but not
stay there. That is illegal and would be subject to penalties. I never
encounter that situation because my clients are regular tourists who get
their visa support from the hotel they are staying in. Most of my clients
are referred to me by 2 hotels I work with, only legal tourists would obtain
a guide through a hotel. They never even know that they needed to be
registered, it is automatic at the time of check-in and requires no action
on their part. For regular tourists the laws did change several years ago
making the sponsor more responsible and the visitor less, unless the visitor
violates the rules. The hotel is also responsible for reporting to the visa
and migration service of your departure from Russia within 48 hours of your
leaving. The hotel automatically reports you as having departed at the end
of their sponsorship period.

Carrying a photocopy of your passport is a good idea, it helps the US
consulate identify you if you lose your passport. A photocopy however is not
valid identification in any way when in a foreign country. You need to carry
your original passport with you. If you lose your passport, the old rule was
that you had 48 hours to leave the country, now the visitor is denied exit
until they obtain a new passport. One of the reasons for the change in
policies is that most passport were recovered or found(often passports are
reported stolen when in fact they were left in hotel rooms, in stores or
restaurants) and the consulate receives them within a few days yet under the
old rule, the traveler would have been unable to collect it because they
would be out of the country. It is a good idea also to registered with your
consulate as being in a foreign country so they know how to reach you. I had
a client last year, on a around the world trip, who’s mother suddenly had
become extremely ill and the consulate was able to reach her with the news
because she had registered at the consulate and had advised them of her
whereabouts.

More details here:

• Effects of Georgian conflict on fiancee/spouse visas

A summary of a sort:

These are websites where you pay one monthly fee and get unlimited contact with all the persons listed.  Not talking about any that need translating or other help with apartments, etc.

The first grouping is English based websites that have a monthly fee or are free.  These sites allow for unlimited contact to all persons listed there (after any applicable monthly fee has been paid).  There is no filtering of messages through an agency person.  All messages go direct to the person, either to their external mailbox or to their mailbox within the site.  At least that is my understanding.  Any corrections are appreciated.

Anastasia-international.com
Absoluteagency.com
Club10.com
LuckyLovers.net
FreePersonals.ru
ElenasModels.com
MerryDating.com
bride.ru

As I understand it, the below websites are pretty much as the English
websites detailed above, with the provision that the language of the webs
ite is Russian.

love.bigmir.net
love.mail.ru
loveplanet.ru
 

Source: Russian Women blog

More details here:

• More on General advice and comments about marriage agencies
• FAQ: advice and comments about marriage agencies
• General advice and comments about marriage agencies

I also met a fantastic woman through a Russian only website, and many of those are free and filled with sincere women, you just need to run the site through a translation page like www.translate.ru before reading it.  Lastly though I would like to mention that Anastasia allows you unlimited free chat with your monthly membership, and that is where I met my own wife.

There’s no easy way to search for your future mate, but there are many free or low cost ways to do so without using any agencies at all.  All the women I visited were sincere, great women who wanted me to come, see their hometowns, meet their family and friends, and they were able to arrange for apartments for me by getting a friend to move to their Mom’s house for a week, etc.  Rent while visiting never cost me more that $20 a week.

Like any endeavor in life, you can do it the hard way, or the smart way, pay a lot or pay a little, the choice is yours, the results are the same either way!

Source: Russian Women Blog

More details here:

• General advice and comments about marriage agencies
• Summary:
• FAQ: advice and comments about marriage agencies

First consideration: Do you speak, read and write in Russian and/or Ukrainian?

If you do, it will be easier to communicate without translations. Then you
can use the open contact sites wherein most of the ladies either do not speak English or not sufficiently (including some who think they do) and some who actually do. But, unless you are somewhat proficient, you may not achieve clear and accurate communication. Being able to use a translation
program is not equivalent, and the inherent errors can be damning.

If you do not, then translations on one or both sides may be necessary, unless you are limiting your scope to only those ladies who are already proficient in English. Even then, you may find the need for accurate translations - especially in documentation. And there are no truly “free” translations - if you do not pay, then she does.

As regards the avoidance of agencies: if you can navigate through your process in Russian and/or Ukrainian, then you can probably get by without an agency. But even then, a good agency can be rather helpful and convenient. I have had both good and bad experiences with agencies, and I will say that bad agencies are best avoided, but it can be difficult to determine how good or bad an agency is without a recommendation (or warning).

Scam warning websites and black lists can be useful, but they are also fallible. Just because someone was unhappy with the result of their impossible requests, an otherwise good agency may be reported while a horrendous agency may never be reported, or they may keep changing their
name to stay ahead of the reports. The name of the agency owner may be a better clue.

The free websites, as well as the low monthly fee sites are also better for the scammers and game players, since there will be no background check and very little monitoring. If nothing else, they may be a waste of time. Or, they can be good for gaining a bit of experience in learning to sort out who
is real from who is not.

Basic match engines are also fallible. Some sort by sex, age range, country
of residence, and little else. They are only as good as the data provided to
them. Some have multiple choice questionnaires which can be rather helpful,
or misleading. Some answer honestly, some sarcastically, some lie. Smoking
is so common amongst RW/UW that I always ask how many cigarettes a day they
smoke, whether they answered “nonsmoker” or not. Many answer as they think
we wish to see.

Detailed match engines are usually not on free sites. Those allow you to define desired characteristics - height, weight, build, race, religion, a
ge range they desire, and so on. In my experience, those who focus too closely
on specifics often exclude their better matches superficially. To each their
own. And again, the data is only as good as provided.

Good agencies also provide matching, and because the actually interview the
ladies personally, the details are more accurate. Those who do background
checks prevent most scams, but unless the lady is honest with them about who
they seek, there may still be mismatches. (Assuming you are honest with yourself and them about who you seek, and assuming you actually know.
Sometimes what we think we want is not truly satisfactory.)

Good agencies use good translators, but there will always be a chance of
misinterpretation of intent, because even the best translators cannot read
minds. So if you, or the lady, choose the wrong words, you may get inaccurate communication even if the translation itself is perfect. Many
still blame the translator for this, inappropriately.

But, agencies may also filter communications, or reinterpret letters, even
with the best of intentions, to facilitate matchmaking. Sometimes it works,
more often it fails. Another type of filtering occurs if an agency gets the
impression that a man may be bad for their client, even if you passed a background check, or they may determine their client is bad for the man.
Better to keep the agency reputation in good standing.

Of course there are indeed bad agencies - those whose short term profit
motive is their only concern. In which case both the man and the ladies
waste their time and resources. It may be difficult to ascertain when and if
you are involved with them before going abroad. This is where recommendations and warnings come in. But be wary of the contents of those
recommendations and warnings. Better to decide based upon several than just one.

I have had good success in simply meeting women face to face while abroad, or making contact shortly before a planned foray or while abroad. Their
photos and profiles are just a starting point, and I quickly determine whether or not to spend time corresponding, within a few letters. And soon
after making that decision, I get a telephone number and make a call. (I do speak Russian.)

Many ladies are accustomed to men who make contact, write letters, seem serious, and never show up. Or if they do show up, they are like a different person (this goes both ways). For that reason, I find it better to make contact when I already know I will be going, make a firm appointment, and
show up. Since I am as honest as I can be, even a bit blunt, they are not
surprised at the initial meeting, but they may imagine me differently inspite of my efforts. So, I always have a contingency plan. If the meeting
is unsuccessful, I still enjoy my time in country.

Good luck to all on this quest. What works for me may not work for you.
There is more than one route to success. Agencies can help or hinder, but most of it is on you. Research everything before committing to anything.
Seek good advice, and listen to your instincts.

Source: RWBlog

More details here:

• Summary:
• More on General advice and comments about marriage agencies
• General advice and comments about marriage agencies

Any information about agencies that sell addresses or charged by the letter to send messages, etc.
Please provide me with any general advice you think I might
need and argue your case why I am wrong about not wanting to deal with agencies.

Do you expect unlimited translations and unlimited mail-forwarding
(printing&mailing) as well? Do you imagine how much does it cost then?
I just don’t know any agencies in Ukraine that work with only english
speaking ladies having own emails and computers.

I believe you risk  to find an agency composing  letters instead of ladies
because of your requirements. In the end you will come to a lady who never got your letters and never saw
your photo.

Usually clients are “charged by the letter to send messages” not because
they want to to take advantage of you, but  because every letter has to be translated and/or
printed and sent/given to a lady.

Nobody will do unlimited translations and mailing for $50  per month  if
they have more than 200 ladies in their database.

Of course, if you are fluent in russian, you can try dating sites where
russian and ukrainian people register online and have own internet access.
love.mail.ru
loveplanet.ru

But don’t expect much credibility from any site where people can register
online with no personality check.

More details here:

• More on General advice and comments about marriage agencies
• Summary:
• FAQ: advice and comments about marriage agencies

Too often have I seen or heard of viruses and other problems, but mostly - for me - I am not into bypassing intellectual property rights. Russian artists usually do not get royalties, so they lose nothing, but “Western” artists do. Just my bent.

I had one DVD movie nearly confiscated by Customs, because it was a US film,
but then returned to me when I showed them that it was a licensed Russian
translated version and with a receipt. The totally Russian DVDs were barely
glanced over and not questioned. The MP3 CDs which were in an album case were similarly ignored.

For those who are considering such products, I would suggest testing them at
the shop or kiosk, when possible. I have also bought discs which were labeled but not recorded (or perhaps defective). There are risks.

The items for which I shop are those of Russian artists, which are either unavailable or difficult to find in USA.

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What is amazing is that the US market crashes, with tales of financial
crisis, yet the value of the US currency increases. How does that work?

This affects many Russians personally — as for myself — where the monthly
payments will increase for our new flats when the value of the US currency
increases over a specific exchange rate. As for myself, I’ve lost 2,000 USD
per month in the last 3 months just because of the decline in the value of
the UK currency. These changes are not trivial — for anyone.

While some may whine about the prices of things in Russia having increased
over the past 10 years — Russians are not so pleased considering the
inflation has increased prices of some items not from $50 to $80 (price of
apartments per night as stated on the list here), but TEN TIMES what they
were ten years ago.

So, while you may gloat about having your currency increase in value over
the last several months — (as opposed to the previous 5 years where it
decreased) — think that many prices in the FSU are linked to the value of
foreign currency.

Having lived in the FSU for over 12 years now, I’ve seen a lot of changes –
some very drastic, like the financial crisis of 1996 where many people lost
everything they have as banks folded up — to now, where exchange rates are
so volatile that you don’t know where you stand from month to month.

Considering the value of the US dollar, and how prices have been increasing
everywhere in the world, is there anywhere still left that Americans would
consider ‘cheap’?

When our family was travelling around the US last year, I regularly paid
$100 to $120 per night for rooms at the cheapest and shitiest motels from
New York to South Virginia. We were not picky, but hoped to have a place to
sleep where we could get to the beach at least.

In the US, it is not uncommon to hear people being murdered in the next room
and be afraid to leave the room after dark. (Having served in the Canadian
Armed Forces for 10 years, I’ve noted that there is a rather distinctive
sound to a semi-automatic handgun pumping 10 shots into somebody.) So, why
should you complain when you have to spend $100 per night to stay in a nice
city in the Ukraine or somewhere else where you are completely safe and have
a much nicer room? You expect to spend $50 per night to stay in Europe? GET
REAL.

The world has changed a lot in the past 10 years — I think some people need
to get out of their cheap-ass mode of operation and wake up to the fact that
they can no longer feel the ability to take advantage of other people just
because they have US dollars in their pockets instead of something else.

Yeah - things are tough all over.

I’m a businessman and have to quote prices. I honor my price quotes.
I provide service at my client’s office. If gas goes up or whatever, I don’t
change my price even if I have to drive an hour or two to do my job and
it actually costs me more out-of-pocket. I have more integrity than than to nickel and dime customers. Of course, we only use dollars here in
the US so there isn’t the issue of two currencies.

My original post was about getting price quotes. And the “surprise” of having the prices change upon arrival. I have gotten a price quote for an
apartment in Ukraine and, when I arrived (within a week or so), was told “the dollar went down - you have to pay more”.

Now, the dollar went up, so I have to pay more. The argument, apparently, is based upon the hrivna going down and inflation. Frankly, I am tired of all the whining about the poor conditions in the FSU and that I should be more sympathetic and just open up my wallet and be happy to pay the surprise increase.

The economy in Ukraine or anywhere else is not my fault. OK - through an accident of birth I was born in the US, but still … I understand that
Life can be hard but I am talking about business and the prices of services that are quoted.

My problem with all of this is people not honoring their quotes and taking every opportunity to change(raise) prices already agreed to. So you arrive, tired from traveling, need a shower, whatever, and BOOM - you must pay more for the apartment. I only suggested that anyone traveling to Ukraine get quotes and try to avoid being gouged as exchange rates have been more volatile recently. Good advice, I think, but hey - if you’ve got tons of money and don’t mind these surprises, fine. Don’t worry about it. Don’t even get a quote. Pay more and smile about it - but don’t tell me to get real.

More details here:

• Exchange rates in Ukraine are exceptionally good now

I received the following private email:
“What do you think of a man 55 having children with a younger foreign woman
? Have you heard of any success stories ? ”

And decided to post the text to the list anonymously as well as my answer:

In each and every case it is an individual matter. What I think or say has
little to do with ones own opportunity for success. IF a suitable man and a
suitable woman agree and are committed to each other then the matter is
between them.

I know of several large age gap couple with children.

We have Paul Eastman with a significant age difference with his wife
(I think it’s something like 28-32 years difference). This is something he’s
publicly written about before so I’m not “outing” him. Paul and his RW wife live int he
USA and she is pregnant with their second child. (his fourth?). They are
quite religious and made a good match.

There was once an active poster named Art O’Leary. I’ve never met
Art, I have corresponded with him and know him through correspondence to be
a good guy. He has two young children with a much, much younger wife. I’m
not certain about the age gap, but it is apparently large. They live in
Ukraine. Art has not been active on the list of late and may or may not
choose to reply.

I have two small children with my RW wife of four years (my 4th and 5th
children). We have an 18 year age gap. So far, it has not been an issue. But
I tell you what, I get up and run around all day like a 30 year old, not
like the 48 year old that I am. It’s important to stay in shape, eat right,
have a good positive mental attitude, and stay on top of things.

I know another couple, we are friends. He is 62+ and she is 35. They have
twin boys together (age 2) and she has a daughter from a previous marriage
(age 16). They are both religious, he was an AM minister in Ukraine.  They
live here now.

I know an AM 75 with a 50 year old Latina (Mexican) wife. They’ve been
together 25 years. No kids. They live in Mexico.

I know an AM 85 Dr. With a Latina (Cubana) 60 year old wife. The’ve been
together 25 years. No kids. They live in USA and Mexico.

Parting thoughts: This isn’t a game. It’s real life. Nobody can do this for
you so therefore all other examples mean nothing and all bets are off. It’s
strictly up to you and the lady. The odds don’t favor success. Let me repeat
that: The Odds DON’T favor success.

Yet even in Vegas there are winners. I like to play Craps from time to time.
I also invest in the market and have a few entrepreneurial ventures too. So,
you might say I’m a bettin’ man, or at least a man willing to evaluate the
situation and make up his own mind whether or not to take a risk.

I submit that a man needs to know himself, have a basic plan of action, be
willing to put in the time to make an appropriate search, spend time with
the woman, AND ESPECIALLY IF the man has significant assets or desires
children to go slowly and make sure he and his new lady are right for each
other. What’s slow? I know a guy who was a one-week romeo, they have a 24
year age gap and have been happily married for 5 years (no kids). I visited
3 times (about two weeks each time) but was in total daily
correspondence/telephone/web communication etc with my wife for 18 months
before we got married and a lot of the senior guys on the boards told me I
was going too fast.  They gave me good advice. That’s the thing about advice
though, only you can filter it for your own situation.

As much as I’d like to think it, not every woman is good and pure. Nor is
every man. You’ll have to ask yourself: What are your motives. Why do you
want to be a father at 55? Are you willing to spend the time and effort to
meet, court, and engage in a relationship with a younger woman who is in her
child bearing years. Are you willing to live overseas? Are you in a
financial position to undertake the quest? Can you provide for your new
family?  Will you accept a woman with a child or children? Will you provide
any financial assistance to her family? Are you a pigheaded stubborn mule or
a doormat or something in between? Are you a control freak? Can you handle
rejection or betrayal? The list is endless. Ask yourself these questions and
more. I can assure you that somewhere in this world there is a young nubile
woman ready willing and able to carry your seed. Are you ready willing and
able to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve that end? And if you do
will you be happy with the simple act of procreation (is that all you seek?)
or do you desire more (like a loving relationship). Are you prepared to be
an involved husband and father? There are a lot of younger men after the
same woman you seek. You must find a way to differentiate yourself and be
“better” than them (at least in her eyes). Finding a woman is easy. Finding
the “right” woman is the challenge.

Are you prepared to “prepare” her both emotionally, spiritually and
financially on how to carry on after you are gone, for it is almost a
certainty that you will depart the earth long before her. Do you want her to
continue her life and possibly find another partner? Will it be okay with
you if he (her new partner after you’re gone) spends “your” money? What if
he swindles her? or your child? What if they have an other child or several
and they use the money you left behind to help support all the children? (to
use Swampy’s term: your “provisioning”). BTW, Don’t worry about Swampy, he’s
a swell chap and all but he wouldn’t be interested in your woman after she’d
already had a child. Too bad, so sad… He might miss out on a great woman
and kid.

Maybe you’d consider a woman with a small child and give that child a lot of
love so that he or she could have a chance at a wonderful life with two
loving parents and a good education. If your answer is no to that, consider
that you might die while your child is still young and if that is your
attitude towards another man’s child, do you think karma would allow a kind
and loving man to enter your widow’s life and fill the void? If the answer
is no, then I ask you point blank: What’s the purpose of brining a child
into the world if you can’t won’t or have lower odds living long enough to
take care and raise the child the way you want (or would want it to be
done).

Oh, so many questions, no simple answers. These questions also apply to
younger men, but are rarely answered because younger men have the youthful
illusion they are gonna live forever.

More details here:

• International married couples: Age Gap discussion

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Today I have exchanged 100 USD for exactly 1000 UAH.

With some old priced, and reduced through the crisis - foreigners are
allegedly richer Tickets, food, some services are still charged in
UAH - which means you pay half the same price in USD.

UAH becomes just a piece of paper…
Best time to come over and save on your trips!

My US friend’s comments I absolutely agree:

It is rumored that the 16 billion in IMF loan money has been wasted in
corrupt deals, like selling large quantities of dollars to rich Ukrainians
at below the official exchange rate.
MIG News said the gov’t of Ukraine has lapsed into hyperinflation.
So, it might get worse fast.
On the other hand, the U.S. gov’t is doing more or less the same.  Euros
might be better than dollars.  Maybe Japanese Yen is the best.
It’s hard to guess, because the dollar has been strong on speculation that
all the $US printing will save the U.S. economy, while other countries will
have a worse recession.  That strengthens the dollar since a better economy
means more profits for investments.
But, the U.S. Gov’t has printed Trillions of dollars.  There is more than
50% more dollars of money in circulation than just a few months ago,
globally.  (We can get away with this, more than Ukraine, though…)
The dollar has been dropping against the Euro in recent days and Hryvna
drops even against the dollar. It’s a good think Ukraine is a bread basket
of the FSU, because Ukrainians might not be able to afford to import any
food soon…
The inflation might not be a bad idea in Ukraine, if only those UAH were
used productively to help the economy, instead of wasted on corruption.

More details here:

• Russia & Ukrain: Exchange Rates, and Exchange habits