Food shopping in Ukraine: outlets, prices, dangers

From babushkas catering to transit trains, to modern marts mushrooming over the Former Soviet Union, every vendor has his individual assortment, price and service. Welcome on a tour from extreme to cosmopolitan.

A Russian Wife as a Natural Disaster: “Idiot Savant” on Alien Turf, or Higher Comfort – Lower Gravity

Omission & presumption of “default” routine procedures wreck more international marriages than cultural barriers do. Honest well-wishing care does not inoculate us from screwing up. “She’s a novice – you’re the boss” is but an illusion of control.

Ask Joseph. ) With experience like his in Russian / Ukrainian travels, relationships and business, you won’t need a Buddhist course in tranquility.

Your native Consumer’s Paradise and your woman’s native Consumer’s Purgatory impose different gravity. Former Soviet people may need time to accommodate physical effort they are used to applying to mechanisms, to quit “household tips” on inventive use of handy means, and sometimes to unlearn pushing on people (though unobtrusive politeness is recommended to foreigners in Eurasia, too). Plus they have to master the “space technology” of Western legal regulations and forms where every word, action, or omission has consequences.

The Bride Vendetta: How to Make a Russian Girl “Kill Bill”

Read prior to speaking love, appointing visits, and getting too many women! ) Risks range from bad international record to physical revenge. Just don’t ask me to spill the sources of Insider Information translated…

Army Women: Russia, Ukraine, Figures and Pictures

Parades and routines

In 2007, 70 thousand women were serving and working in the Ukrainian army system. Today’s stats are 50,000. Most positions are, of course, “peaceful”. Medical service, liaison, accounting are top 3 vectors. Many women are in technical operation & maintenance, administrative and paperwork, civil connections, translation, supplies, transportation, cynology.

119 girls are studying at military institutions of Ukraine. Under the Soviet Union, civil universities, in addition to professional education, gave basic military training and reserve ranks to the youth of both sexes. Many secondary schools still have defense lessons, both for boys and girls.

Ukrainian Demographics – Men, Women, Families: Let’s Dot the I’s

2006, printed sources: Ella Libanova, Vice-Director, Institute of Demography under the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Victor Smirnov, journalist

Note: Ukrainian nationals, not ethnic Ukrainians, are discussed.

Big City Girl: Who’s the Man of her Dreams? Russian jocular classification

So different by styles, habits and characters, so alike by dreaming of love’s bliss… Here’s a gallery of most vivid female types – and their potential husbands. Call it a set of caricatures that street artists have been fudging anyplace and anytime, changing only markers, – but so far as this article is published in urban reading, let its author refrain from remorse.

Virgin Village & Smalltown vs. Babylon City? Russian Brides Background Effect

To a Western man searching Russia / Ukraine for unspoiled virtue, health, high moral values, sound family background, top model beauty, unconditional love, and proper mothering of his children, - hinterland is the last area to seek a wife. Post-Soviet specifics of economy and mentality contradict American-based reasoning on the percentage of “sound” or “flawed” women in small communities, of “deserving” or “evil” girls who relocate upscale, and of “fine” or “filthy” city-borns.

A keen observer can discern a range of more specific social types. A psychologist would consider the entire combination of individual factors to make a right match. And it takes a native to detect ancestry & upbringing by manners, speech, style, even by facial features. But let’s now clarify the first-approximation guidelines.

How do major factors of origin affect a Russian or Ukrainian woman’s character? What marriage behavior can a stranger forecast by them?

Here are some trends you need to know. Feels bad to spill – and to conceal.

First mention & counter-arguments

Russian Women’s Professions and Roles Translated: Antipodes to Typical Western Concepts

May not different social realities, giving different meanings to similar words, prevent a viable international relationship or create tensions on the way to one.

“Working girl”, for starters, is “what you’ve thought” only in the Western reading. In Russian, emphasizing work means serious attitude to life (yet not obsession with career – the very word given some negative connotation since the Russian Empire, and much stronger in the Soviet Union).

“Less Talk, More Meaning”: Russian Women’s Reason – User’s Guide

Responding to discussion on this must-read by Master GL, here’s an overview of, errm, “Russian Woman (TM) Communicator”, from home production to foreign handling.

Beg your tolerance to my debris of radioelectronics )

• Childhood: Wired as Hi-Fidelity

The first thing that little children are taught here, is to speak truth.

A Different View: Ode to Ugly Women in “Men’s Cult” (Russian e-magazine)

Who said “There are no un-beautiful women”? Themselves the plain? or men who marry them, carry them in arms for life, and hold them as more attractive than star beauties? What’s their hidden power? Says one of such guys, disclaiming himself not handsome.

Scam or Real? First visit to a Russian woman: Who Where

On comment 42 to this post at GL’s. More on scam schemes here

Hi Rob, I can imagine your confusion. This letter appears controversial as well as authentic. Here are some thoughts I got…

First, considerations natural from a woman’s viewpoint, that usually scare men.

How to Survive a Russian Party: Courses, Drinks, Hangover – Medical Advice

“A Russian’s pleasure, a German’s poison”, – a proverb says. Metabolism depends on ethnicity; accustomed guts defer evil outcomes of local habits. Even so, every New Year night “presents” Post-Soviet ambulance with the year’s top yield of patients. Other holidays are lighter yet similar challenge.

“Bad” Body Language: the Filthiest Post on Russian Women & Western Men Interaction

Even if your could-be-bride is a fan of Mr. Bean, – mimicking his manners won’t make you her hero. In the basics of Russian cultivation, grimaces and physiological manifestations fall under certain censorship.

Which makes this post important beyond romantic contacts. However polished the stranger may be…

Slavic norms of public / interpersonal conduct allow much less natural motions than accustomed abroad (especially in America). Some may be judged as, without much exaggeration, crime against civility! And civility’s one of the first virtues which Foreign Men are given credit for.

Growing Own with Partner’s Children of a Former Marriage – Russian / Ukrainian experience

(Life stories and professional advice)

More than two people have to get along! A fact is easy to adopt; real Little Others take more time to love. When they feel it – are hostilities inevitable? How can the new stepfather or stepmother cope with a life-long challenge sooner?

Swear a Sure Way to Screw a Relationship with a Russian Woman

…barely awarely. Just with routine American vocabulary. I mean vulgarisms. Words stemming from the pelvic area or loo, such fu(n)kin‘ crap not worth a rat’s ass. Ain’t “anatomy discrimination”: the rest of the body is subject to non-verbal control (see the following post).

Oscar Wilde said, “A gentleman is never unintentionally rude”. A Russian joke extends: “A gentleman would always call a cat a cat, even if he’s stumbled against it and fell down.” And one more: “Surprisingly, researches have proven that blondes prefer gentlemen, too.”

Family Property, Child Support, (Ex-)Spouse Maintenance: Rights and Obligations

My main professional experience is in Ukrainian law. But it’s easy to compare with the Russian Federation Family Code, with their common Soviet basics, built over the Russian Empire’s civil-law system, and modified towards contemporary European standards.

So, here’s a brief to help you estimate general conditions of a marriage with a FSU woman under the law of her country.

Marriage, Concubinage, Experiment? Legal Choice and Consequences

Surprising stats: more wives than husbands in the FSU. Polygamy?! No, different attitudes to non-formalized cohabitation. A Russian poll revealed: of all partners living so, 92% women identify themselves as married, while 85% men keep feeling bachelors.

Ironically, Soviet people dub non-wed household-sharing unions with the legally illiterate title “civil marriage”, but scarcely guess that such relationships, throughout history, engender more or less of rights and obligations associated with the desired – or dreadful, as all jokes go – status of “legitimate spouses”.

Gentlemen, you’re gonna be more savvy than most locals! ;)

47% Russians don’t observe their weight… who and why?

Poll by Pan-Russian Centre of Public Opinion Surveys, 7-8 October 2006, 1592 respondents in 153 locations of 46 regions, statistical error below 3,4%.

High Heels and Fancy Women: Russian Stories with Morals

On beauty, prostitutes, good women, gender roles, consumerism and compensation – through the cultural difference of Former Soviet Union countries

• Story 1

I’ve just watched a TV show “Beauty Factory (Made in Ukraine)”, where they take “visually challenged” women and improve their lives with surgery, stylist crafts, psychology backup. Boyfriends fall on their knees to make proposals, bosses promote, children start listening to the Fairy agape… This time even the show team couldn’t hold tears at the happy end, neither could I…

What Makes a Russian Woman Happy?

Russian press loves to poll celebrities as same people, who have something to tell, fortified by the authority of their achievement and attraction. Here is the poll by one of the oldest popular newspapers “Arguments and Facts” on the occasion of the “International” Women’s Day March 8.

“What’s a Woman’s Happiness to you?”

A Russian pop song says that “Woman’s Happiness is to have the loved man near, and nothing else is needed.” It describes

How to Win a Beautiful Russian Woman: The Different Standard and the Art of Compliment

You find her hot and this fact is welcome in her culture. Shall you express utter admiration? Answer: No. When all the kin is bred beautiful, and smart, it’s a minefield playground!

That foreign worship of Slav looks is like Indians’ shock at White Man and his utensils. It is rather uncomfortable to be deified for what has been ordinary. On the other part, it’s rather miserable to take occasional scrap for treasures. And rather dangerous to drink “fire water” after generations of abstinence.

10 More Golden Rules for Advanced First-Time Dating International

A link to send Russian & Western online friends ;)

• 1. If something feels like offending you, it was NOT intended to.

Joseph calls it “Girfriend Rule #1”, I call it “Disclaimer”. Always mind the cultural and linguistic differences, added to individual styles!

Russian (Ukrainian) Men’s Characters. Episode 1

Hitch-lift city drivers are a popular alternative to taxi here. Some car owners earn their living so, some just don’t miss an extra bill on their way to work / home / errands, some even do favors. Though it now takes a too luckless fate to run across a robber or assaulter if you stop that random car in Kiev (you rather beware of criminals when it’s you at the wheel), foreigners are the “risk group”, and are never let enjoy the low-cost price.

So I disadvise this mode of transportation to you, but often use it myself – and learn lots about life and people through chatting the way.

99,99% lifts are given by men, not “auto-ladies” (however numerous), so they add male perspectives to the comprehensive feminine clue-up I witness in local seamstresses and hairdressers (ah, forgot to mention the abysmal abundance of educative stories by home-improvement freelancers, men and women).

Here is this morning’s sketch I’d like to share.

“Forbidden Words” Top 10: Messages and Self-Descriptions Not Recommendable as to get you an “Ideal Partner”

These innocent phrases in a profile, email, talk (yours or hers) – resemble customary markers of “Co-Dependency” infection (as opposed to wholesome Mutual Treasuring). Keep cool, as you present yourself or hear that woman doing so! Are they mere figures of speech, or configurations of thinking?

Big Heart: An exemplar Ukrainian mother, wife, businesswoman, and more! (Part II)

This great small lady is in her mid-40s. A slender brunette, born in a town of 45000 people and educated to be a kindergarten coach (just like her mother). Which turned a starvation job in the surly time of the Soviet Union collapse.

Main problems of traveling to Former Soviet Union: Language Barrier, Service and Safety

The most complained-on problem is “visitor-non-friendly” environment. There IS state-of-the-art “civilization”. And many Russian people DO strive to lend a hand, for the sense of patriotism and dignity. Yet they also see more compatriots of less culture (in terms of language skills, helpfulness regardless of them, order, abuse, and racism) than their foreign counterparts have (the brighter is the well-bred visible minority, highly praised by sophisticated travelers from Europe.)

The rule is: the deeper backwards, the harder (insulation in deterioration, deterioration in insulation). But there are capital exceptions worth a contrary rule! No ounce of justification is given to the woodwork habits of numerous hoards of “centers” dwellers or barbaric newly-rich parvenus moving to capital cities or traveling abroad.

Same is true for Ukraine and other Former Soviet countries, maybe in a way more hospitable and internationally disposed… and less accurately organized.

So, here follow the major bummers. Brought to your attention from a Russian website on tourism (a discussed poll “What irritates foreigners in Russia“) as vaccination against possible cultural shocks.

Let not the surrounding dirt mar the human diamonds you are going to meet, nor upset your plans for a Nice Time on a Comfortable Extreme Tour.

10 Commandments of Dating Russian Women (marriage-wise): Ultimate Edition, Compiled, Revised, Updated & Restored

“Needless for those who’ve understood, useless for those who won’t”…

As the faith, so the reward… World is Mirror, life is what we make & let done with it… He who thinks prostitutes, gets prostitutes. He who thinks noble, gets the noble.

People seem to savor new recipes of food for thought: self-toothed out of mineral tablets, or squeezed, extracted and served with a straw in an occasion-specific glass. So may I entertain you with one more cocktail of playful spirits.

Chefs promise trouble if the vessel is not cleaned. Right. Enroll to this school of international dating, get blacklisted from heaven with virgin angels, and keep spitting into decent people’s borscht. Or listen to Aunt Natalia and take a chance… )

Different writing (From my unended epic on Men, Women, East and West)

Scar Clan Charter reads:The most fierce revenge you can take is turning away and building your own happiness.The most ruthless penalty God has is letting enjoy one’s choice.I dedicate this post to Systemic at “A Prostitute’s Game and a Path to Hell“.

Silicon Jungle, Vacland, 2008

As a Real Russian Man, he didn’t want to go to court. He’d better walk away with a valise, leaving his would-be-ex-wife with “everything”. Namely, their house (“only” three bedrooms, but all paid out), his “parade” Lexus (added to her latest sports Toyota; NOT his dear old Mitsubeast), and the family deposit in the bank. Luckily, they have been childless. She renounced having kids, to his own half-realized relief.

- And the firm, – she demanded naughtily. Despite the Russian name he’s bought into so long ago, Sonya was a true-blue American woman. A beautiful one, whatsoever.

“Playboy” Advice & Fake Orgasms, or Is a Russian Woman a Trustworthy Guide to Russian Ladies

Guys’ eyes are valuable mirrors. But a Russian Girl ™ can bewitch any guy… not another Russian Girl ™. What may let – and make – the latter help, and whom?

Good News on IMBRA Help Your Russian Dating & Marriage Prospects

Honestly, we Russian Women hail the US law on men’s police record disclosure. Just look with our eyes, like you can. In fact, it puts American daters a body ahead ALL other nationals!

Russian People and Materialism: Rich or Poor vs. High or Low

These notes address argument about Money vs. Satisfaction and City vs. Province, inspired with the question, whether Russian women are Worshipped or Depreciated at homeland, and if Western environment and Chivalry can “spoil” them. Original thread here at GL’s. Worth reading.

Russians say, “Not in money happiness is” (well, some jocularly add “but in its amount”), and right they are. Culture is what matters, – in all its meanings, including artistic sources of thought and pleasure, active folklore, patterns and manners of human relations, self-discipline, spiritual ideals and fulfilment,.. goals and values that money’s nothing more than a means for.

Cinderella Code to Russian Women’s Virtues, Expectations, Attitudes and Charms

Pick the role of “Poor Thing’s Prize” or poke into that shallow “Silver Platter To Females”, and you’ll miss a host of differences behind the axiom that

“to Western men, we are all Cinderellas by default; to Russian women, you are all Princes by default.”

It’s high time to anatomize the totem of Russian women.

“Shocking” Stats II: Incomes & Expenses in Russia and Ukraine; So Is There any Middle Class?

Rich, Poor, Who, Where, What For… HOW MUCH?
What attributes define the middle class?
Amounts to earn and spend in capital cities?

Official reports, public polls, press surveys since 2006 to the latest comment.
Dollar amounts rounded, course contemporary to the publication.

Russian and Ukrainian snapshots appear interchangeably.

• 2006 Monthly Employee Income – Russian Federal statistic service

Moscow sampling. For the rest of Russian population, divide into 3.

Why Cooking Is Like [Oral] Sex, and Russian Wives’ Kitchen Manifesto

orks pointed, pans poised! What the matter cooking is, that it provokes so much rattle-battle?

“Shocking” Statistics on Russian Women – I: Social Situation & Values

This is the overall picture that a local person can observe. A foreigner should keep in mind that “potential international brides” (women he would likely meet or notice) are a specific sampling, with their peculiarities and differences I’m trying to describe.

Miss Faithful vs Mr Chastity Belt: Why Needn’t Have Jealousy for a Russian Wife or Bride

Do Russian Women Cheat? It depends. Female adulteries need a special post, as deflections from norm. Now let’s discuss Russian cultural norms. Before an encouraging conclusion, I must address the part that some Western men interdict as treason (discrediting their reason).

Beauty, the Russian Women’s Cult: A Moral Category and Value Added

“Beauty will Save the World!” To Russian (Ukrainian) women, it’s a slogan for high personal standards, as well as demands. Beauty is a valuable asset, precious to sustain as well.

Ukrainian Slave Wife the Ruler of Islamic Empire: The Story of Roxelana (Roksolana)

The reign of Sultan Suleyman known as “the Magnificent” in Europe and “the Lawgiver” in the Islamic world (1520-66) represented the height of the Ottoman Empire,.. which was successfully influenced by a Ukrainian woman, who raised incredibly from a harem slave to the Sultan’s Chief Wife & Advisor and Mother of the Heir.

Suleiman’s domain let him call himself “Caesar of all the lands of Rome”. But the love of his life was a lightsome avatar of a “Cleopatra”.

Down-to-Earth Goddesses: A Real Russian Woman Secret Oath

Behold in Awe you noble Stranger, for you’ve got the luck to be admitted to the heart of the Mystique of Russian Women!

Happy Husband, Children and Career: How Can a Russian Wife Manage it All

Russian women are famous as resourceful, enduring, energetic and dependable. In the Soviet and early transition economies, they carried their families (and the society) on their shoulders, homemaking AND breadwinning, while most their men lay mazed with Communist limits and market challenges. New opportunities didn’t add accountability to Russian men… to women, they did.

Actually, the youngest generation of Russian (Ukrainian) Brides, entering the marriageable age of 17 next year, would be the Fourth Generation of Children Raised by Working Mothers.

Why, how, with what results and feelings have Russian Women been carrying out double responsibilities, – here are the facts from our social history and breathing stories of the women I immediately know.

Traditional-vs-Feminist Dispute: a Compromise by Russian Woman the Peacemaker )

“No matter what the feminist-wits do, they cannot alter NATURE. And if they try, primary selection will exert its force and suppress and exterminate these aberrations. Feminism is a societal aberration against NATURE.” (kzarz)

To agree with the general message, and dare on details…;)

Russian Princess Syndrom in a Russian Woman’s poetry

“Princess-in-Tower” way is a ponderable issue with Russian Women’s dating roles & love manners. It is timeless passive poise awaiting genuine courtship, arousing romantic instincts, and bashing hasteful lovermen. Also it may be concealing feelings like a prisoner under examination, with resistance and evasion ranging from movie-style joky grace to queer hostility.

You may be facing it for quite a long time, because there are no gaming games here. All our impersonal friendliness or protective skittishness evolve from the famous axiom that we Russian Women are a relationship-serious clan. What are the implications then?

Paradox Relationships in Paradox Society: Men & Women in Russia or Ukraine

Now you can finally outline and explain the paradoxes of this land, so astonishing to strangers! Watch the symbol of the Orthodox religion, fundamental to the Russian, Ukrainian, Belarus and largely Soviet culture that reaches from private desires to the order of government. A cross is like a reference frame stretched between the extremes, – contrasts at the ends of axes, varieties between, and balance in the intersection.

So whatever you wanted to know… Yes, every tiny peculiarity. Did you notice that the Orthodox Cross has buds on ends that make each branch crossed once more? ;) The posts below would show how major conditions of the region’s geography, economy and history have shaped the daily life of “Russian” people and their way of thinking.

Happy & Friendly ! ? Russian Ladies’ “Keep-the-Face” mentality

3 Key Rules of Russian Girls: Be Nice. Be Nice to Men. Be Nice to Strangers. No hypocrisy, – an attitude. Still more care and caution you should take, dealing with these beautiful Eastern women who smile so peacefully.

Rich Man and Russian Brides: Poor-Guy-Good-Girl Test Failed

Russian & Ukrainian media teem with plots of “Rich Men Disguised to Find True Love”; in reality, it’s no good way to outwit Hunter Girls and catch the Bliss Bird.

Is There Feminism in Russia (Former Soviet Union)?

In the global village, Former Soviet women have access and exposure to all Western baits, long-banned and currently-imposed. Yet

Behind the Russian Beauties’ Photos

Before penetrating into the curves and crinkles of face-reading, let’s linger on 3 most disputed Russian-Brides-Online photo issues concerning “Is-She-Real-and-Good”.

Russian Girls to Unhappy Men: A Poisonous Remedy

When you are broken-hearted, angry or annoyed at women, disappointed with your marriage or unsatisfied with other things in life, it fancies so sweet to find consolation at the breast of some kind, patient, lively, thoughtful, interested, understanding beauty who believes in true love like you believe you do. And here we are the “Russian women” grown as Soothers, Healers and Supporters. What a promising prospect for an acute or chronic injured one… a prospect leading to nowhere… at best.

(DISCLAIMER: What I am hereinafter telling to a “sore” man, is vice versa applicable to “sore” women one can often meet among Russian brides, – with the only difference that women fancy hanging all their problems on a “strong shoulder” that a real gentleman is so longing to provide. And “baggage” is a red flag problem with a woman just like with a man. GL please drop me the link to your post quoting Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lecture to his fiancée!)

Why So Many Beautiful Women in “Russia” (Eastern Europe)?

In the Former Soviet Union, beauty is a MUST for women. The multitude of reasons have History, Survival and Dignity in their common denominator.

Genetics

There’s an observation that best genes come up when different races match. (So do less viable genes, to be sifted away more quickly.) For ages, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus (to some degree) and Eastern regions of the Former Soviet Union have been witnessing different peoples’ migrations, invasions, forced relocations, as well as massive missions for trade, work and education.

What hasn’t worked with the New World?

The Top Must-Read to understand and enchant a Russian Woman

I hold my breath and sain myself. What I am sharing now is Absolute Ammunition targeted to win a Russian Woman’s heart. I hope it never gets into evil hands and would be only used for peaceful purpose. )

East + West > Marriage + Relationship > Psychology > Expert Counseling + Personal Secrets

Here he comes, passionate, intelligent and confident. We chat hours away, and then I see his inner boy. His shining armour is like chocolate’s foil to the teeth of some “bunny girl”. He’s about swording down princesses he takes for witches. Starving for human connection, orphaned from feminine care… And once again I turn Aunt AskNatalia.Ru to help one more soul rather than seek for the soul mate for myself. )

Thus began my e-counseling practice in psychology. Many times I felt blessed with friendship to a missioned professional analyst / therapist / coach lady I mention here and there as Dr. Tamara… as well as with my Ukrainian / Russian origin.

These Men have learnt stabbing their male rivals, juggling with big money, playing chess with the world, – yet feel lost at managing their personal lives. Yes, business and relationships are different disciplines, though not as incomparable as we are taught to think. But indeed, how should one operate in the world where definitions have fused?

“Manly” and “womanly” – “Western” and “Eastern” – “traditional” and “modern” – we are just too much alike… even though so different.

Luckily, Russian Women are seasoned soul-divers. ) Moreover, today’s generation of brides has been learning Men largely by foreign examples of. Which means, checking themselves through the eyes of foreign men – prevalently Western European and American.

How could it be?

The “Russian Woman” / “Russians” brand: Geography, Philosophy, Patriotism

Should I parenthesize “Russian” everywhere on this blog? Any Russian-bride-savvy knows this indication concerns several, mostly Eastern European, countries of the Former Soviet Union (FSU): Belarus, Russia, Ukraine (kin Slavonic / Slavic nations), to some extent the Baltic region (West-wise), Georgia and Kazakhstan (East-wise). What stands behind the “brand name” then?

These Strong Weak Russian Women

It took me a long path of fun and sometimes pain to recognize the magical balance that makes a “real” woman of the Russian fashion.