So then after being there in Odessa for 3 days, I needed to go to the agency where I was renting the flat from (it was not Jacks agency but an agency called "Adam and Eva" run by a Natasha..
(ADVICE)- When you are going to a place and renting a flat, give no more than a couple of days deposit in advance. When you get there, they will pressure you about paying for the week or however long you are THINKING of staying, in advance... Don't do it! If you decide to go back to another city or anything and leave early, you will not get your money back. So you stall them a little, telling them you are not sure exactly how many days you will be staying, that you may want to view a few other flats etc.. You pay a couple of days at a time. I had determined that if I didn't meet a special girl in Odessa in 4 days, I would go back to Dnepropetrovsk, but the flat agency wanted me to pay for 8 or 9 days, as I had told them I MIGHT be staying that long..
So I go to this agency "Adam and Eva" and it's on Deriboska Street. Legitimate agency, nice owner. I think reputable. While I am there paying a couple of days for my flat, I stop and look through a couple of their catalogues.. Not too many girls to choose from but Natasha seemed to know most of them personally and could usually tell me about the girl if I had a question. Well, it was $15 to set up a meeting with any of them. I had not intended to meet any girls in agencies, I had gotten all my girls from internet sites like American Singles and Absolute Agency etc.. But since I was there I figured I would take a look through the catalogues.. So I did and I found a couple of girls I thought might be interesting.. She said that one was on her way to the office right then to pick up a letter from a guy so I would be able to meet her in about 20 minutes, so I said sure.. She showed up and was very attractive and so we went and just got some coffee at the Irish Pub, a pretty regular American hangout. She was very attractive but just not much personality. She spoke no English so my interpreter was a big necessity.. We did ok, but again, not much personality. We went dancing the next night and same thing- hottie with no personality.. Met one other girl through the agency but nothing came of that.
Then I met a woman (Anna) I had corresponded with the longest of any of the girls I had written to. She was cool.. Taller than Alyona at 5'9", nice figure, also with a 6 year old son. We had a nice time together and saw each other for some time most every day for the time I was in Odessa. She was definitely attractive, but I found that I liked her more as a friend than as a romantic prospect. She speaks great English and has a good sense of humor but I found her quite moody. Real up and down. We went dancing and had a great time. Well, I had been there for for 5 days and had met all of the girls I had gone there to meet, with Anna coming out the best. But I was wanting to go back to Dnepro and spend more time with Alyona, but Anna was very upset and wanted me to stay.. So I decided to stay one more day.. The minute I changed my train ticket, something inside of me said, "You blew it"! I immediately wished I had gotten on the train! And sure enough, spending that evening with Anna and all the next day, I realized that I just didn't have it for Anna and I almost became a little panicked to get back to Dnepro! It was pretty weird!
Anyway, Anna was very upset I was going back to Dnepro and really wanted me to stay but I was firm and said I really needed to go back there. I had told her about Alyona early on and she was NOT happy! I never lied to any girl there, I just won't do it.. Many of the girls there are very possessive and easy to become very jealous. At first, you think it's kind of cool that they get so into it, but it can get old very fast because they just can't let things go! Anna really started giving me the 3rd degree and of couse it just made me want to leave all the more!
Then I called my interpreter in Dnepro (Galina) to arrange for her to meet me at the train station the next morning. I asked her if she had heard from Alyona and she said yes, that Alyona had called her to see if she had heard from me as to whether I was coming back or not. She said that Alyona had told her she had not been eating or sleeping well since I had been gone and that she was worried about me and was really hoping that I would be coming back!! That did it for me! I was bummed that I hadn't gone back the day before.. It would be a LONG train ride back! Anyway, Anna took me to the train station, she was not happy.. and I have to say that I was kind of relieved to be going! Another lady I had written to that I met my first day in Odessa made it very clear that it was ok if I wanted to meet a few other ladies the first 2 days I was there but then I WAS HERS FOR THE REST OF MY TRIP and I would be spending all of my time with her.. Well, I didn't like that too well!
So I got on the train and tried my best to get some sleep as now I had a bit of a cough and hadn't slept too well.
Quick side story- When I went to this Adam and Eva agency in Odessa, there was another guy there, I don't remember his name now, but he was a nice guy, I think 52 or 54 years old. We talked a while before he had a meeting with a lady. He had been in Odessa for a solid week and had not met ONE girl! When he had gotten thee, he had gotten really sick with a temp of 105 and he had been in bed for a solid week! LOL! I felt so bad for him!! Hope he came out ok!
Part 5, Back to Dnepropetrovsk!
