Trip Report - Togliatti Russia

[Ryan]

Just got back from Togliatti a day ago… This was my third visit to this city to meet with my girlfriend that I have had for about 2 years now.  I know now that she is the one for me just as I have always known from the first day I met her.  I wanted to take it slow and make sure she was really the one and now I am starting the paperwork for the K-1 stuff….

I met my fiancé threw the Volgagirl agency I only picked one woman from the agency and I wrote her one time threw the agency and told her to write me from her home computer and just send it to me threw E-mail.  At first she wrote me in Russian and I used online translator programs to translate the letter to English.  I found this to work fine and it was free so cool…  She now writes fluent English and speaks Fluent English as she is into her 4th English class and doing well.  I even got a chance to visit with this class about 3 times when I was in their city.  I have to tell you if you get a chance I would recommend doing this it is way cool, everyone was so nice and we played some cool games and everyone was speaking English so it was a nice change from hearing everything in Russian for so many days. (Except for speaking to my fiancé of course)  
I learned so much from these other students all of them said they do not like Moscow and that they people in this city are stuck-up.  I tell you ya really learn a lot visiting a class like this.  But ya also have to be a people person, none of this information just comesout to ya.

Anyway, I do all my traveling with my fiancé when I am in her country.  She picks me up in Moscow from the plane and we take a train to Togliatti.  I always take the public transportation and seldom use Taxi’s.  I can get from the airport to the train station in Moscow for about $1.25 U.S.  As it goes I save tons of money when I am in Russia.  I stay at a resort outside of Togliatti called Fortuna or Future something like this.  The place is owned by someone high up at the Lada automobile company and my fiancés father is in charge of construction of this place so I get the best room in this resort for about $28 U.S. each day.  I have a huge Jacuzzi in the room etc.  This resort has a Hockey arena, swimming pool, dinner club, café you name it.  This time I stayed two days on a house boat as this resort is on the Volga River.  Anyway I always have a great relaxing time.  This year I went to a Lada hockey game, went to an indoor water park in Summara, took in some night clubs and just eat and drank for 14 days.  (I think I gained about 10 lbs this visit…just kidding)  

I get along great with my fiancés family I made them Taco’s this year as they now have a super market in Togliatti that has some western foods.  We had a great time and everyone had fun making their own taco’s etc.

I went this year on a privet visa I would recommend everyone to get one of these if they can it was cheaper and you cut out all the middle men.  The women at the OVR register office in Togliatti know me well and call me by name so this also helps.  (Must have made a good impression and only after two visits)  

I am so relaxed in Russia today so unlike my three other visits.  The first time I ever traveled to this area of the world I went to the Ukraine and I was a firkin wreck and of course the first time I went to Russia to meet my fiancé for the first time I was again a firkin wreck but now days I feel so at home.  I have to say I have never in my life had any problems with people or service etc in this part of the world.  I even left my camera in a taxi in Togliatti and the taxi driver made a special trip to my apartment and delivered it back.  (I like to take a taxi when I go out someplace special for dinner, one of the only times I don’t use public transportation)

Total this trip I spend $1500 this is including my plane ticket from Detroit to Moscow and all trains, food, lodging etc.  I am so happy that when I started this journey to find a wife in this area of the world I did it by myself with no help from agencies.  Well not by myself but with a woman’s help and advice from agencies.  People that helped me get to where I am today include Jack from First Dreams and the owner of Volgagirl agency.  Of-course so many others here on this board have also gave me some great advice and stuff to think about.  But for the most part I never had an agency get me place to stay or pick me up at airports etc.  I did this with the woman that I was going to see.  I figured if the woman was not willing to help me with getting a place and meeting me at the airport then she was probably not the woman for me.  Yes I was lucky as I never got stood up and never used plan B etc.  

I have been involved in this search for a number of years now and am so happy that I started this and never gave up.  Today I just see so much more scamming going on.  But you know I am not sure if there is more of the scamming going on or if I am just that much more experienced that I can see it better.  I think a good many of the woman in Russia are good people I don’t see it like that are looking for a way out.  Most of the woman that I have met and know in Russia do not want out at all but just want a good family and husband.  They do not care if they are in Russia or the U.S

All for now,
Thanks again to everyone,
Ryan

[Bobby Orr]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

Great to hear things are working out so well for you!

[tfcrew]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

It's true about taxis. They're a rip-off HERE!
All day bus/train tickets in Warsaw was $.45!
I was never asked to show my tickets
May be necessary to get a cab for that early departing flight though.  
Good luck w/the petition.
Karl

[thesearch]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

Good luck to you two. Relative to being in tune with scameers, I think you may be right in that as you get into this process more and more you just are more aware of the scamming although I think that it is also on the rise.

At first, for some of us, we are a bit too trusting and then something happens, our eyes open up a bit more with this process continuing until you get up to speed with it all. Those who don't are in the group that become statistics of the ill of fate.

[RickM]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

Great report Ryan...

A nice story and full of interesting views and opinions...
My mother-in-law was born in Togliatti.I remember it distinctly from when I was doing my wife's K-1 and asking her about the area and if she'd ever been there...It's one of the more "remote" areas and I agree 100% with most of what you wrote about staying away from the larger cities and about the fact that "most" RW don't even want to leave Russia,all they want is a good husband and family of their own.That is "not" true for the girls living in the large commercialized cities like Moscow and many parts of St.Petsbrg.etc,those gals are tough to please...Ukraine,I have never been there,can't say anything...

I had my luck (coincidently,in hindsight,in Kyrgyzstan,a former Republic of Russia.My wife had on a "whim" posted a profile with a girlfriend of hers at a local marraige agency in her city Bishkek and the agency posted her profile and to her surprize she was receiving 30 to 40 letters a week but nobody was "arriving" to her despite many professing their undying love to her in the letters...(Then I came along and arrived there for 1 month)...She had a girlfriend from work helping her with translations and using the computer at work so she got away from the agency quite quickly as I remember it and I kept in contact with the agency for help with everything when I arrived there (and to validate that my wife really existed and was not a scam...).My wife thought the agency was a rip-off but she didn't understand business is business and I was very happy to be met at the airport with transportation both ways for $30.00 and provided with a flat-rental furnished 2 bedroom  in the center of Bishkek for $350.00 a month.(Natives could probably get it for $100.00 but to me it beat paying $100.00 a night for a hotel room...)

One of the best things I did to help her English skills was to purchase and leave with her an electronic handheld language translator with over 1 million EnglishEnglish words,sentence structuring etc...6 months later she was speaking and writing English with no problems at all.I find most Russian woman to be very ambitious and very intelligent...I believe Russia's school system is way ahead of our school systems here in USA...

It "does" take a special person to venture out to a remote part of a non-English speaking country in search of a woman to marry and spend his life with.Knowing what I know today,I wouldn't do it any other way...Most RW and their families are "great and wonderful" people...And if you make some effort to learn some of their language so you can understand a little of what is going on in their world when you arrive there it is a world of difference in how you will perceive things...

Since that "first" trip to Russia I've been back 3 times now and each time to a different part of Russia and some pretty "remote" areas where the people living there had never actually even met an American person before my arrival there with my wife.It's like you don't even exist there on the streets and there are virtually 0,nol,zippo,people around that speak "any" English.THAT'S WHERE I BELIEVE YOU WILL FIND THE BEST LADIES IN THE WORLD TO CREATE A FAMILY WITH...If your looking for something different...Bring yourself and "fat wallets" to the larger cities and you will find and pay for all you want but if it's a wife you are truelly looking for,someone who can become your best friend,your intimate lover and mother of your future children,I think places like Ryan went to on the "off-beaten tracks" are where it is better possible...

Ryan...Best of luck in everything...

[Ryan]

... in response to Re: Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by RickM on Nov 28, 2003

Thank you and great post...
I have to agree with you about the going to remote areas and being the first American that some of these people have ever seen.  I would go into grocery stores in Togliatti and I would get all the service in the world these women would almost flock around me like I was some super star...  My girlfriend was just laughing as I am standing at the cash register there were 4 other service representatives just standing around and looking at me.  First thing my girlfriend said when we walked out, and it was funny as we were both thinking the same thing... We look at each other and said … you think they never saw an American before…..  So it makes you feel special for a few moments, its cool…   But yea, I mean for the most part even in this city it was very Americanized, with the shopping mall with very American products (I mean made in china) and advertising.  They watch our T.V. shows I mean I can tell ya righ now no one is standing in bread lines and wishing for a pair of Jean anymore everyday they are getting farther and farther away from that ever having had existed…

As for the schools you hit it right on the head..  I spent 3 days at three hours each day with these students and teacher in an English class.  I was impressed with how well that teacher kept that class together.  We played these little games in the beginning getting everyone involved (If you were a shy person you would have a tuff time) she would show discipline when others were screwing around or talking to others around them by just saying their name and asking them to please stop.  She would just make everything so enjoyable to learn and in a way that you could put it all together.  It was a great experience.   Oh get this it is a good one…  They were learning the song by the Beatles “Back in the USSR” they learn the song by listening to it then going threw the words and what they mean or they are saying.  In this song the last verse is a metaphor…  Ok threw the song they talk about how the Ukraine girls really knock them out etc.. The song is about fine looking women from the USSR..  The last verse is special,it says..  Let me explore your mountain peaks, and down in your valleys, take me to your fathers farm and let me hear hour bellylinka singing out..   Anyway I asked the teacher I said, “you know what this really means don’t you?” she said yes they like our country and would like to see more of it..  I laughed and said no they like the woman.   I want on in a nice way and explained how they would like to explore a woman’s breasts and down under and go to her home and make her scream… In a good way… The teacher (Of witch was about a 8 on the scale of looks) started to blush… We moved on rather quickly from that subject….lol
Thanks again,
Ryan

[tim360z]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

Very nice to hear that you are doing well...with everything.  Best, Tim

[mudd]

... in response to Trip Report - Togliatti Russia, posted by Ryan on Nov 27, 2003

Wonderful trip report, im jelous!!!!!!!! i am also impressed, finaly a person who took there time, and didnt get married on the 1st trip. im sure your marriage will last because you took your time, found the right women, and  you didnt rush everything, like so many men do here. hope to hear more about your trips and future stories.