... in response to what are these 'big cultural differences..., posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

Hey Stan,

Glad things are working out well for you from the start.  Count your blessings-even some of the best marriages here involved somewhat rocky beginnings.

As far as the cultural differences, my wife did come with a pretty full complement of superstitions and beliefs.  Most of them were amusing, and some even make sense.  I would now sit quietly for a minute before going on a trip, even if she didn't make us.

On the other hand, you may run into some differences that are a little harder to handle when you get into things like medical insurance and doctors.  Many are used to easier access and less hassle, plus a lot of common medicines over there are only available by prescription here.

Probably some of our worst fights early on were over sickness, so make sure you follow her lead the first couple of times your daughter gets sick.

Anyway, despite these things we have been married for more than a year, and loving it more all the time.  Hope for the same for you and yours...

Steve M.

... in response to what are these 'big cultural differences..., posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

For me it had nothing to do with food, transportation or choices of entertainment. It was more what each of us expected from each other in different situations, how we reacted in different social settings, the subtlties I was supposed to be picking up on and was totally oblivious to, and vice versa. Maybe some of it was typical man/women misunderstandings, but these facets of my foreign wife are vastly different than those of my (American) mother and sister.

-- Jeff S.

... in response to what are these 'big cultural differences..., posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

Well I guess I should start at the beginning, breakfast. If we don't have eggs or pancakes, we have yougurt, toast and maybe some cheese. For lunch we either have just a sandwich or we have a full meal depending on my work schedule or our plans for the day. As for dinner, I like raw and smoked fish more than she does, otherwise we take turns cooking and we haven't found anything that the other doesn't like. Yes she does use mayo more than I ever did, but she never over does it and after trying our different kinds of salad dressing, she has stopped using mayo on salads.
As for leaving stuff out, she doesn't. We have a big frig. and its full. As for plastic bags, we had a drawer full when she got here and I'm sure that made her feel right at home :-)
As for the no cold drinks, when she 1st got here she would drink them, but she tried not to let Katya have them, the sore throat thing, but that is what Katya is used to and prefers.
As for money, she never had much of it, so that is my thing and I also do most of the shopping, as I did own a restaurant and I do know what and where to buy. Otherwise I give her fun money for when I'm at work, but since the pool, gym and beach are free, she doesn't need much.
As for other superstitions, she doesn't seem to have any, and I have whistled in the house and gone back for something I've forgotten, so I seem to be safe there.
What differences I do see compared to the AW I dated are the way she really cares for me, her willingness to do more than her share and the almost constant smile on her face. And the way that even the smallest things and gestures please her. In other words things are great...aloha

... in response to I guess I'm really lucky then, posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

..."you will get a sore throat.  You will get a death of a cold."  Blah! Blah!  "Have some nice hot tea with lemon."

  Now thats my Ukrainian great-grandparents and grandparents talking.  Even though quite Americanized---they held on to many customs.  As a kid,  as much as I loved them I would look at them and think,  " Grandma's outta her ever lovin' mind."  Its 98 degrees out!  But food alwys went into the fridge.

... in response to I too had Ukie grandparents, posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

they became.  And without any problems or cultural junk at all.  They accepted both worlds.  They loved their roots to the old world---but they loved the economic goodness which America offered them.  TV?  I am told my grandfather got the first TV in town,  back in 1948...I saw it in the basement.  They did not throw it away.    I think it had an 8 inch screen with a very hi-tech magnifier(for the time).  I have not been sick in maybe 15 years.  I follow my UKrainian grandmothers cure,  if I feel a flu or something coming on.  " Go to bed,  plenty of blankets,  stay warm,  sleep,  and drink hot tea, some chicken broth and a little toast."  It really works for me.

... in response to what are these 'big cultural differences..., posted by Stan B on Dec 19, 2001

I have seen a good number of the cultural differences and I have only visited the country for 10 days.  I stayed with friend that I met on the net and her family.  We didn't have anything hot and heavy going on we were learning about each other and all the differences.  

For the guys that go through agencies and go on the meet and greet tours your not really getting the know these people.  I mean you want to live the rest of your life with them but you know little about them...  Good luck with that...

I feel guys will start waking up and realize that most all agencies are really not the way to go.  Their very interests are in conflict.  As soon as an agency looses a girl who is going to get married.... they loose her revenue stream.  The agencies are really for new guys whom know nothing and get suckered in while they are still playing with themselves or guys without any imagination.  And it is a little difficult to get around not using an agency…  but with a little imagination and patience...you will  (Statement taken from a friend of mine sure he would not mind).

In the near future I will put together a web site that will inform people on many issues and or help them get around the agencies or use them for specific things.  As some offer expectable prices for one thing and rape you on other things.  I have to get some more experience under my belt but I feel I am going in the right direction.  

The agencies are just getting everyone on the wrong page from the get go…
 
Ryan

... in response to A good lesson for new guys searching, posted by Ryan on Dec 19, 2001

Ryan,
A whole TEN DAYS and you're an expert?  LOL.  A few posters got pissed off at "mis-information" being posted here, but some how your BS slipped through.  Tell the newbies just how successful your methods worked for you.  Tell them how much money you sent to a woman that didn't want to be in the same room with you, let alone have a relationship.  Wasn't it over $4,000?  You have the nerve to call agency owners "pimps" when the best you could do is buy your way into a few BBQ's?  LOL  Now your going to create a website to help other guys get screwed like you did?  You're a joke.
KenC