For the guys that have been there done that!

I was wondering, is there a flower shop inside the Kiev airport? And is this before customs or after?
Reason: I am meeting my lady there, and she will be one of the ones in the sea of people, I would like to have flowers in hand when we greet, so I need the flowers before I exit customs, any helpful information would be great.

And if the flower shop is after customs, that would make no surprise for her. So another idea would get the flowers in Amsterdam since that is where I will be stopping to change planes, is there a flower shop in Amsterdam airport, and have any of you tried this before?

Thanks in advance,

Tom_TX

... in response to Re: Dumb Question, posted by wsbill on Jul 19, 2002

Sure I don't mind some back ground info..

Started communicating with her back in Jan, this year. I was not in search of anybody, but I was contacted back a scammer in Dec, a girl that is well known in scamming industry (Olga Naumova), needless to say I was not born yesterday, so she got nothing. So I came up with a not new idea to list these scammers with an active database, and to make a long story short it still in the works, has to do with e-mail tracking, and a few other tricks that others are not doing. This project is still in the working.

So in researching information on scammers, I ran across a profile that matched was I was looking for in a lady if I was looking. I called the owner of the site to talk about scammers, and then I asked about this one lady. He suggested I write her. We have been talking via letters and phone twice to 3 times a week ever since. She had no phone, so I put a phone in her apartment for a small fee, no big deal since it has allowed us to communicate more often. The site I found her is a small mom and pop shop, in a small town in Ukraine. I am not going to disclose the site at this time, they have more business than they can handle. But the guy is known in the industry his wife he married two years ago is from this small town they specialize in.

My lady she is 11 years my junior, I'm 40. She has a son that is 7, will be 8 in Aug. which is why I am visiting that month, her birthday is also in Aug. I will be there for both birthdays, this is why there is more gifts than normal.

My lady is a little different than what I here on the boards, she complements me a lot on different things that I do, or if I show her attention in special ways, she does say thank you in letters, and over the phone, that’s her personality. I will be meeting her mom when she comes to Kiev for her sons birthday, she will stay with us for 3 days (Oh we are staying in the same apartment)

This person has had guys come meet her, one was there for 4 days, and they new it was not a match but she was nice and showed him around, she said that he pushed her son away and was not interested in him. 2nd guy came to visit and all he wanted was sex, she let in the middle of the night and left his a?? there, she explained he got upset because she did not put out, and she was not going to go through this again. (A bad past marriage)

I also have a son he is 8, he has been with me since he was 2 1/2, I am single dad that devotes all my time to my son’s activities, and my lady does the same. My lady and I have way to much in common not to take this casually, hence why I am visiting her for 3 weeks. No back up plan, don't need one. Will we so call match, we already have in 90% of everything. So let’s say that 10% is just showing her that I am who I am, and she is who she is, then I see a 100% match. I can't think of a subject we haven’t talk about. There has never been a red flag, never!

Laptop, well I am in the computer industry work for the NewHP or COmpaq as a design eng. on ther server side of the house. So I have a couple of laptops, this one I am giving her is about a year old. I just got in loaded with the Multi-language pack yesterday (Hard to install in Russian) And hey, if all we do is become friend, that is ok to, my expectations are set low, I am on VACATION. But I know that I will meet a nice person and her son and I will show her I am the person in the letters, and the phone calls. I never told her anything that was not the truth. I am 40, good shape, 5'10 170, and 1/2 bald. She knows that and to this point doesn't care, she is more worried about the inside, and how I am going to treat her son, and her. My son has talked to her, and her son they write letters etc. So I kind of feel real lucky, and just waiting for Aug 1 to get here so I can get on the plane and show them I am real, I do what I say I am going to do! One of the things I told her right up front was how much I made, which is average. I offer her a back ground check of me at my expense. No red flags! She is true honest Ukraine LADY!! And I have a friend that has a friend that knows her, she is a lady.

So that's my meeting her story, hope it did not bore ya too much, but I am very excited for my VACATION to Kiev. (Computer engineers don't get time off very often, busy solving customer issues)

Thanks for you interest and have a great one
Tom_TX

... in response to Re: Re: Dumb Question, posted by Tom40 on Jul 19, 2002

Tom,
Nice story.  Best of luck to you both.  I met Lena under similar circumstances (after months of phone calls).  There were no surprises when we met.  We both kept our expectations to a minimum.  We now have been happily married for 3 years.
KenC

... in response to Kiev Airport, posted by Tom40 on Jul 18, 2002

Hey Tom from Tejas, here is an option you might consider.

On occassions we have done exactly what you have asked for and I think there are several good agencies you could choose from who could do this for you.

Call ahead and order some roses, 7,9,11 or 15. Send a photo of what you look like as well as your flight number and time of arrival. Once you clear customs and go thru the swinging doors you will be greeted by a loud mob of men yelling taxi and asking if you need a ride. Do not even make eye contact with this group, instead walk thru this crowd for about 12 to 15 feet and then start looking for your lady. You will see her and then embrace. Our people, or the people you use, see you and walk over to you and hand you the flowers. You then present the flowers. Many times the individuals who bring you the flowers can also take you into Kiev.

... in response to Kiev Airport, posted by Tom40 on Jul 18, 2002

This might speed you up even more getting out of that place.

But which line do you take - Red or Green ??...  Does anyone know if you can download the claims form online for entry in to Ukraine ?

... in response to Re: Kiev Airport ...which line to get in..., posted by wsbill on Jul 19, 2002

Not ripping on you just making an interesting observation.

... in response to Re: Kiev Airport, posted by Mark H on Jul 18, 2002

Thanks for the idea, I am in Ukraine for 20 days, meeting her and her son from the 1st thru 20th. Her b-day is on the 4th and her son's on the 12th, so you can imagine my bags are full of gifts. One of the surprises I have for her is I am making her a delicious home made orange cake, since she loves oranges, I have arranged for flowers to be delivered, ballons, I have strimmer, happy b-day sign in Russian, breakfest in bed. I understand they feel this day is more important than any day of the year. One of the fun things I am doing will run a gold silk strimmer throughtout the apartment that has different gifts attached at different places, and it ends at me giving the nicest gift, besides me:) This is just her, her son b-day is on the 12th we will also have some fun. I read some where, and I took this guys idea, and did the same as for as a gift for her son. My lady sent me a pic of her son holding a snake from the zoo, a boa. It looks like he is choking the snake real cute pic, I had this pic blown up and made it into a jigsaw puzzle, I added the word's "Today's Great Snake Trainer" in Russian. I just received it today, it looks great. So I am sure that he will be surprised.

I do like the ring idea, that is unique.

Thanks all for the suggestions,
Tom

... in response to Dude, posted by BrianN on Jul 19, 2002

I can only relate to experience on my first tip to the Ukraine.  I had also had gift for everyone and planed out so much to be just perfect because this is my nature.  Being a caring man with compassion and understanding all bundled together with gifts and such to make it perfect.  I had an interesting time of it.  I found that no one said thank you, as this was custom, so be warned.  I am sure they cared it was just they expressed it in a way I was not familiar.  I also found that maybe they were overwhelmed and though my life might have been like this in some way all the time.  They got the impression I was some big spender.  On top of all of this I don’t think I had the chemistry that I was expecting as the letter were vary different then the actual reality.  

So in saying you must just let this first meeting happen and go with the flow like others have suggested.  Trying to do too much this first trip will complicate so many things.  One last thing is that making any food for them can really blow up as their tastes are different from ours and this takes time, as with many things you will find.  

I guess I am sort of pessimistic here about this first meeting as I just got slammed on my first try.  I made food they didn’t like, I gave gifts that I felt was taken in a strange way, I gave the girl a flower that she simply left on the apartment when we left to travel else ware.  If anything more could have went wrong it probably did.  But you know for some strange reason I still had a good time.  I just can’t explain it…  

Good luck and pleases post when you get back,
Ryan