I am planning my first trip to UA and need some advice.  Here's the deal.  I've been talking to a couple of girls in Lugansk (not currently on any of the antiscammer sites I've seen) and want to go visit.  One I'm a good bit more interested in than the other.  I'm also emailing one in Donetsk and may go there from Lugansk.  Having been on blind dates in US, I know how reality can hit when you actually meet someone.  How do you all feel about making the trip to meet only 2 or 3 girls?  What about only 1?  Should I have a backup plan with an agency?  I've been searching agencies and have found a few interesting girls in Kherson (of course not all in one agency).  I could fly into Odesa, go to Kherson for a couple of days, and then go on to Lugansk (if they even have transportation between those 2 points).  But I'm really only interested in the one Lugansk girl, and I'm thinking Lugansk is so far out of the way that on my first trip I'll only have time to go there.  Without her, I don't know if I'd be making this trip.  Or am I too naive?  I need the benefit of your experience.  What path do you recommend?

... in response to collective wisdom solicitation, posted by rwnovice on Sep 19, 2002

I was involved with a lady from Lugansk. She was not a scammer just had emotional problems - overly sensitive type with end result being an end product of repeated abuse from Ukrainian men.

Absolutely gorgeous lady.

However, what I want to say is that she told me that she would never let me travel to Lugansk unescorted by her. She said she would meet me in Kiev and we would travel together.

I would not go to Lugansk this first trip. Have her meet you in Kiev or somewhere else. Just pay for her train ticket and a place for her to stay. If you really like her, you can have plan B to go with her back to Lugansk or go there your next trip.

How did you find those ladies in Lugansk. My lady from Lugansk told me that several of the ladies she rubbed shoulders with at an agency clearly were not looking for a husband but a green card. She told me that it was a dangerous proposition for an American man to find a sincere Ukrainian woman from what she could see by the type of ladies that were using the agency services.

... in response to collective wisdom solicitation, posted by rwnovice on Sep 19, 2002

Wow! RWNovice, you come across as pretty insincere...

... in response to collective wisdom solicitation, posted by rwnovice on Sep 19, 2002

I have never traveled outside of the states (except for the Bahamas and NYC) but have traveled extensively alone in the US.  I'm a lawyer who handles cases in port cities around the US.  I know it's going to be culture shock.  Don't know Russian or Ukrainian (BTW, I'd rather learn Russian as it is more widespread-what are your thoughts?)  I'll approach my girls about the possiblity of meeting me in Odessa or Kherson and check their reaction.  To save me the time, I would gladly pay their $79 autolux bus fares both ways.  I'll have to be really slick about scheduling to pull it off without overlap-maybe feigning a departure for one of them.  If things go unbelievably well with one of them, I might make the rest of the trip to Lugansk to check out the family.  But if they are not receptive to meeting me, I believe I can get valuable info from trekking to Lugansk and meeting the families.  I would need insight into their backgrounds if things would develop.  And if they didn't, I would be stuck in Lugansk looking for transportion to another city where I have previously established leads.
 I'm not big on meeting a lot of girls at this point-the aforementioned target confusion.  The whole motivation for the trip is this one girl. . .she seems quite down to earth, humble, sweet.  Met her on matchdoctor-she's not with any agency.  So, I'm leaning towards the very few girls approach this time out with a backup plan.  Next time out, if this doesn't pan out, I can cast the net wide.  BTW, I've seen Firstdream, and the site is pretty vague about prices.  I might contact him to see if he has any assets (no pun intended) in Lugansk or Donetsk.

... in response to Re: Thanks for the benefit of your exper..., posted by rwnovice on Sep 20, 2002

Stuff like flats, translators, girls, etc???  I know you strongly recommend the wide net cast at least as a backup. . .Thanks!

... in response to Re: collective wisdom solicitation, posted by Ramblin on Sep 20, 2002

I agree with Zink that you should also bring with you a list of internet sites and e-mail addresses so that you can write to ladies from an internet cafe.  But keep in mind that once you tell a lady that you are in her city and would like to meet her, it could take her two days to schedule you.  And it is very rare that a local agency can get you a date for the same evening that you show up.  So you will need to get the ball rolling on your back up plans ahead of time.  I think whenever you can get to the point that you don't need an agency or an e-mail but can just call the girl up yourself or with your interpreter, then you have your back up plan covered.  But for new ladies, you will need the agencies and internet.

... in response to collective wisdom solicitation, posted by rwnovice on Sep 19, 2002

Watch out if you start the one woman versus many discussion again! A few times a year we go through that one. The last time it was fairly friendly. I'm not very familiar with Ukraine as I chose to focus entirely on Russia. Just bad luck when I wrote Ukranian girls. The Russian ladies seem to like me better.  But maybe my thoughts on the matter will help.

Go to meet as many girls as you want. I prefer to only meet a few each trip(I went to Russia several times for just one), others want to date half the city. It's up to you. But make a back up plan. Find some recommended agencies in your chosen area or make a list of secondary contacts yourself. Meet the girls that you contacted before you went and then decide where to go from there. If none suit you, go to the agencies or an internet cafe and write/meet some from your back up list.

As for Lugansk. Why not have the girl come to meet you somewhere else if you don't want to go there? If you can fly half way around the world to see her, then she should be able to make a shorter trip for you. It all depends on how strong your attraction is to this girl. Is she worth it to you to make that trip?

Just keep a positive attitude and try to enjoy your trip even if you don't find what you're looking for quickly. You seem to have your act together so far, so don't worry about being naive.