1.  She can TOTALLY understand why I looked for a wife in the Ukraine after seeing American women here (in Ohio)!  She is shocked with the way American women who are extremely overweigh seem to 'flaunt' their fat in everyone's face by wearing clothes (if you want to call them that) that reveal practically every fat wrinkle.  She thinks they need to go home and put on some 'civilized' clothes.  She is also shocked at the sparseness of seeing a pretty girl/lady.  The only ones she has seen is when we go to church.  I told her 'yeah, and many of them think they are gorgeous!'.  She understands my meaning when I said that if I was stranded on a desert island (with the typical type) that I would draw a line in the sand and tell her to stay on her side!

2.  No one walking and everyone in a car - how do we ever meet or get to know anyone?

3.  Step-son was shocked at the relatively small amount of books in the school library and with the food they expect kids to eat.  Also, he was totally shocked with the lack of many dress codes for children, and was flabbergasted when his 6th grade math teacher started handing out calculators for students to use on a test!  Other than these, he likes his school.

4. My wife doesn't like American cartoons for children.

5. She can't believe we don't have more choices of fruit juices (100% natural types).

6. She doesn't like 'synthetic' food (for her, anything that has any preservatives or taste enhancers added to it) - and almost everything here does.  Did you know that ALL food you buy from fast food places has chemical flavor enhancement done to it?  Even McDonald's french fries.

7.  She doesn't like the tone of voice that women use here when they say 'HI! How are you! Oh, its so nice to meet you!'.  She says that it sounds so 'put-on' and fake.

More to come...

2) Vacuuming.

3) People thinking that Ukrainians are Russian.

4) Lack of public transport.

5) Wearing of shoes in the house.

Manual tranmission? I always though automatics were more popular with folks your side of the pond, except for sports cars.

My wife's still learning to drive, and lessons at £16 a time twice a week for I've forgotton how many months now, an automatic begins to appeal.

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Just kidding.

- Dan

I kept a detailed journal when I went over in summer 2001, and it helped me when I put together my trip report, to remember all the vivid details. That, combined with the 1500+ pictures (NOT an exaggeration) I took while there really helps me to recall all the sights/smells and feelings experienced, even now. It almost inspires me to write more.

Recently I've toyed with writing the end to my first trip report, but now I'm too strapped for time to work on it. Last night I went through my journal, and I realized I have enough material from my journal, my trip report, and our letters to write more than half a book on "my story". If I were just to add in the rest of the experiences I didn't put to paper, I'd have the makings of a book. Not that it'd sell well though, hehe.

I'm leaving for Crimea in about 2 weeks or so, and I'll be there for 5-10 months I think. I plan on keeping another detailed journal on events/experiences. I should have some interesting stuff by the time I come back.

Maybe when I get back people will have some interest in me writing something up again like last time.

And yes, I *am* about to go on a trip of a lifetime... if it's anything like my last/first trip. I'll keep a log.

-Deckard

She's been patient considering how long we've been apart, but after 18 months of being apart so far, neither of us is very patient anymore! She wouldn't hear of me coming to marry her, have a honeymoon, and then watch me leave again while we wait for her visa. I asked her what she wanted: I keep my job, come visit and marry her, but stay with her only 2 months before returning alone to the states, or, I can quit my job, stay with her until she gets her visa, and we'll be almost completely broke, having to cook all our meals at home, and having to pass up going to movies, dance clubs, cafes, etc. Her response: "But at least we'd be together!". She wants the latter. She's willing to "tighten the belt" so to speak.

I'm prepared to stay there up to 10 months. We won't be able to go out on the town and spend money very much, and we'll have to carefully ration our tour bus excursions.

Any longer than 10 months, and I fear I'll *have* to return and look for work, for lack of funds to remain there. Hopefully it won't come to that.

By the way, he got married and had twins while living in Eastern Europe.