My friend Anna in Berlin had an interesting observation that I wanted to pass along.
Hi there!
I am still checking your site everyday and now I understand why you were so impressed when you first came to Russia. In the beginning when I came to Germany I was always asked by my classmates if I had a party or a special event that I was going to because of the clothes that I wore. At first I didn’t understand and I thought.. “Why should I be going to be one?”Now I understand. I am almost the only one who puts makeup on, wears clean clothes, and even combs my hair everyday!!!
These are all uncommon things here. But you know I don’t feel like they are different from me in a good way. They don’t understand why I get up in the morning a little bit earlier to tidy myself up! Strange…
Anyway, I can say now.. YOU WERE RIGHT!
Looks like there’s not much I can add on to that now can I?
Other then the fact that what she describes conjures up images in my mind that don’t look too good..
I think I’ll skip that future vacation to Germany for now and happily stay right where I’m at..
Unless of course they have more Beautiful Ladies like this… Cheers Anna 
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Hey GL, is this a photo you made of from Anna herself? A very pretty lady indeed. I hope the culture in Berlin does not chase away the real woman inside of her.
Canajun
I’m glad that she didn’t do as the Romans do and begin dressing like a slob. Elena from Elena’s models has warned western men that as soon as they bring their Russian brides to their home countries, their wives would get careless about their attire. Elena admits that she herself has done this.
Anna you are a most beautiful woman with a kind spirit. I’ am happy to see a girl who takes care of her self.
Lets just say that I see more western woman not dressed up than I do with the ones who care about them selves. Every guy in the U.S. has seen woman in curlers or robes, even thier pajama’s. Unfortunatly the U.S. is moving backwards…
Hi Canajun, nope this is the only photo on the site that I haven’t taken myself.. much to the minor chagrin of Anna
Wow, Anna’s a stunner……:-)She’s also a very photogenic lady too.
Taras
Anna I love you!
But I have a thing for 1:11
Dont care much for 7
But a TWO-SIX is a pretty good fix!
I can’t speak MANY languages like you,
My head is in a fog looking at your lastest pix
…all I can do is howl like my dog!
AR….OOOOHHHHH!
in DOG Language that means…
AR….OOOOHHHHH!
On 13 october 2006… I made this statement on Page about 2:6 or TWO-SIX
October 13th, 2006 at 4:29 pm
Hey RW_man,
Number two on this page is beyond “SWEET!”
She appears to be nothing less than heaven on earth…
I only pray that I live long enough to find out!
I DO BELIEVE in Russian women… I DO ..I DO..I DO!
Hello EE,
Welcome back
It’s a good thing Anna has a good sense of humor.. I think.. 
Maybe we can convince her to write in and say hello. But you will need to convince her to come out of hiding 
RW_man,
I am smart to bring my dog into it! He is a chick magnet! A beautiful White Alaskan Husky!
He actually stops traffic!A SNOW DOG!
He also has acquired for myself, my last two girlfriends. He was “SO BEAUTIFUL,” they stopped me to ask what kind of dog he was. Then he does his thing…next thing I know everything is way cool!
..hee hee
After all he is named after the famous “Sunny West,” my last dog that was on MTV everyday for a year as the SWATCH WATCH dog!
And he IS the President of my Production Company
Sunny West Productions… he doesn’t speak much, but when he makes a noise there is usually a really pretty girl involved.
So yeah… I want to be just like him!
AR…OOOOHHHHH!
Anna wanted me to make some corrections that I’m finally getting around to now. She says that she doesn’t feel different from them in a good way. Unfortunately the people around her look at her like she’s some strange alien..(not in a good way either.. i know hard to believe)
Also unfortunately she feels some pressure to change to their standards of appearance.. BUT she’s NOT going to do it.. (Thank God)
All I can think of is.. what is wrong with these people!
RW_man,
Remember my comment about Anna months ago? I felt her 2:6 picture stood out! I have lost all data about that exchange of communication, but if you recall I had some good things to say. Also, for many years, being an “air personality,” on some of Americas biggest and best stations…like NINE times Number ONE in the USA WMMS in Cleveland, many times,the audience looked to me to say…what was cool!
I say ANNA is beyond COOL! Looks like Germany is picking up some bad American habits of being RUDE to people they are JEALOUS of.
Any successful business person, and or professional music industry person as myself would give their right arm to have someone like ANNA.
One could only hope… she likes big dogs!
Like my “snow dog” Bubba!
Just don’t tell 1:11 about my revealing conversation with you, about ANNA and how “she shines like a star!”
Hi EE,
Although everyone on the Internet can read your “confession”.. Don’t worry Buddy! Your Secret is Safe with me..
Oh and by the way..
Those music execs that you talk about.. If they met Anna they would give both their arms and not just one..
Hello rw-man!
The german ladies are only jealous.
That is how the wifes of my friends reacted when they found out that I will bring home a russian wife. They dont like the smell of competition.
So long from the german paul
My father lived in Moscow RU for many years and told me how beautiful the women were there and in the Ukraine. I traveled there two years ago and spent 3 glorious weeks. I got engaged and I am now married. Crazy? No. It is the best thing that has happened in my life.
America has not only forgotten how to take care of themselves in the simple things such as being clean and looking good. They have also forgotten how to take care of family and the elderly.
I am not speaking of everyone, but I am talking about a quite large number of people.
One thing that impressed me about Russia is that in public buildings, shops and stores, they have large mirrors installed for the women to use to fix their makeup and check their appearance.
This is not conceit or vanity. It is that they want to look their best when in public and even when they are at home. Westerners often falsely interpret this as vanity and that is a mistake. It is cultural and it is a good thing.
Thanks for letting me post.
Greg
Hey Greg, kudos for your observations, especially the one about Americans not looking after their own families. I’ve noticed that too.
Its curious when you say that because I am brazilian (our women are also really famous) and since I moved to Canada and met the first russian girl I had a different kind of attraction. They are different, you cant say no to that!
Russian women still know what men expect from them. Western women have become too self absorbed for that.
Believe it or not but I was with a German girl for some time, and she refused to shave her pubic hair!!!
That’s considered a reasonable “demand” these days?
Okay, and this personal choice is somehow wrong, because . . . . . ?
My goodness, and I thought I was controversial!
It’s nice to know that what exactly Western men expect from Russian women.
Kisha,
There are very few Western men (or any men of integrity) who really give a damn one way or another about how (or if) a woman trims her “hair down there”. That portion of personal hygiene is just that; personal. If any man has some sort of “thing” for custom cut pubic hair, I’d have to wonder how he shaves his own. It is utterly ridiculous to think that there is anyone who puts much importance on such a thing.
Well Richard I think you should have commented on Steven’s post not mine, as his the one who dislayed this kind of preferences. And he seems to take it quite seriously. How ridiculous is that?
Sorry, Kisha, you’re probably right, but my thinking was that you are spot on to point out how such a statement makes any man look; as if it were actually a legitimate request. My post was intended to support yours, not criticize it. Real men show the women in their life enough respect that such things as this would never even be mentioned. At least that’s how I see it.
Kisha, those little moustaches that some girls have are completely okay, though!
Really, Sam . . . . . . ?
Where will it all end . . . ?
(insert big grin . . here)
Hi Richard!
No offense to Steven because every man is welcome to his preferences, but it’s great to have some fun, isn’t it? Mustaches aside…….
Speaking of variety and preferences, there’s a roots music festival here every year that attracts folks from all over the world. A goodly percentage of the women attending seem to have thrown their razors away for good. It’s “amusing” to see slender, attractive girls with more hair on their arms and legs than you have, but their boyfriends/husbands don’t seem to mind. Not surprisingly, most of them are highly educated, and they are disarming to say the least. All I can say is live and let live and remember that little mustaches are nothing but mild distractions, really mild.
Sam,
This is all kinda’ funny to me. Growing up and attaining manhood in the 60s and 70s was all about “freedom” and doing away with traditional norms. Girls stopped shaving legs and underarms, bras got burned for a statement or simply tossed aside for comfort, and us guys shouted, “love the one you’re with” as often as we could. It was an interesting point in history, for sure.
However, all that aside, I have never considered asking (or telling) a woman how I thought she should groom herself. A) I never dated anyone who was in need of such a talk, B) I never felt it was any business of mine, and most of all C) if a man made such a suggestion to any of the women I knew, the gal would have made it very clear which direction the door was. “If you don’t like it, go find somebody who does it your way, pal”
If Steven thinks that a woman should trim her hair (or anything else) to his preference, I wish him luck. That’s his thing and to each their own.
Personally, I consider it pretty shallow to make that sort of demands on your significant other. Loving someone would never include such an attitude and if it isn’t love, then what difference would it make; after all it would only be temporary.
For those of us here who dream of a lasting emotional bond, anything like this is irrelevant to the relationship. Long lasting romance never begins with petty demands or a check list. That level of maturity should remain in high school where it begins.
Exactly, Richard. Men and women making petty demands typically get their comeuppance, but we all have our “demands”. The only debate is whether one finds a particular demand reasonable or not. I have yet to see a man or woman without a checklist. My hope for those entering a marriage is that those checklists are compatible and sensible.
I don’t know about those check lists any more, Sam.
I began life knowing exactly what I wanted in a woman. Many came close but none filled each point. When I finally ended up married for the first time, my list had dwindled to a very few wants and needs, and she didn’t even have them all covered. The second time around I was going back to “the list” and decided to hold true to every point. Didn’t happen. Every concession I made came back to bite me in the ass.
Next time I think I’ll use “the list” as a Kleenex and marry purely for money. (okay, a guy can dream, can’t he?)
Good idea!!! Maybe she’ll like long, romantic walks on the beach and the heavenly smell of Magnolia blossoms, too.
Thanks,Richard and Sam! Glad to know that Steven isn’t the norm, at least not on this blog …
You are welcome, Renee. Since swearing off television a few years ago, I figure I’ve talked to Richard at this site more than “several”
of his ex-wives ever did at home. The boy’s(Richard’s) only problem is that he wasn’t born down here in the glorious South or over in Omsk. Give him a week or two in Raleigh, Mt. Pilot(Pilot Mountain) or Mt. Airy or a month with Rw_man and he would be hopelessly in love. Hopefully, he’d let us sing at the wedding.
Cheers, Renee. Sam and I might be the exceptions rather than the rule, but at least you can rest assured that some of us guys respect a woman in all of her glory despite her “hair style”.
Men are men and women are women but I think that the proof of dignity must come from life experience. What I usually find is that most young people have higher expectations whereas more mature people have higher standards. Either way, we really need to let people be who the are and if we want to be with them, make ourselves fit them instead of trying to make it the other way around.
Sam, you are probably right about the opportunity for romance in Raleigh or Mt. Pilot (I’ve known people from both cities) and you are most certainly right about the communication between friends verses both of my ex-wives.
Be it an off chance trip to your neck of the woods or taking the plunge and heading for the FSU, I will say right here and now that you and Renee as well as rw_man would be very welcome at any future wedding I might venture to undertake. Singing or just sharing in the moment, it’s all good.
Richard,
Thank you very much for your reply. I appreciate your invitation and hospitality more than you might realize.
This morning I am preparing to visit a dying friend in the hospital. He’s north of ninety and forthright with the fact that hospice has been called in and that his long life is coming to a peaceful close.
Sadly, he’s something of an enigma to younger people, even in this small community. He’s an enigma because despite being wealthy, and well-educated, handsome and well-spoken, he’s lived quietly and modestly and served those around him with no selfish intent. He is of the generation that seemed to have an inherent sense of a larger purpose. Though far younger, I think you understand all that very well, Richard. I guess even a few twentysomethings out there do, too. Well, I need to get going. I want to see Ed one last time. I might add that Ed was married for 50 years or more to a woman named Lib. He’s a man of faith and believes that she is waiting for him in a better place. I am going to tell him to say hello to her, because I believe all that, too. Take care, Richard, it’s always a pleasure to converse with you.
Sam,
All the best to ED as he prepares to reunite with his beloved Lib. You are fortunate to call Ed friend in times like this; where friendship seems to have been watered down to little more than acquaintance. And isn’t it amazing to know people who have lived long and productive lives, leaving a legacy of warmth and generosity. He’s someone who can probably look back on a life without regret.
Celebrate his life now as it winds down, and for years to come. He sounds like a pretty awesome fellow.
Hello chaps. I’m back in old Blighty. I don’t envisage ever returning to Russia again. I believe the values we’ve lost that our grandparents’ generation had are mainly due to the spread of socialist propaganda (starting in soviet Russia) throughout the developed world. I don’t care if I’m cast away for saying it, but that’s what I think. It might even cost me a lost family.
Well Stuart, it seems clear that you have seen whatever you needed to see and have made your decision. However, for those of us here, would you mind giving a bit more detailed account of where you were, how long you stayed, what sort of contacts you had and what you did while there so we can all get a better idea of what brought you to the couple of short statements made? I understand the socialist rhetoric that we are all affected by even to this day, and certainly where most of that came from, but what circumstances in the FSU led to to decide never to return to that region?
Thanks in advance.
Richard and Sam,
Mainly because I’ve seen a general view of Russians not wanting to move away from being ruled by a corrupt leader and an authoritarian system, preferring to play the game of gangster-style big business mentality. I’ve seen too much of who people really respect and look up to and I don’t like it. I’ve been my old-fashioned self and found that most people don’t like it. Maybe if I had lived in a remote region of Russia, out of the Moscow region, people would have been more like human beings and not the patriots I’ve encountered. Yes, the women are very pretty and some agreed to spend time with me, in the role of English practise, but not much else. I must tell you that I just didn’t hit it off there. Other men would perhaps be different and tell them what they didn’t really think or feel, but I was honest and paid the price. Never mind. I’ve learned a great deal whilst living there, but I’ve been perplexed by Russian people and still feel that they, in a sense, have the life that they deserve. That’s all for now. I wish not to offend anyone and wish you well. I’ll write again soon. Bye for now.
Hello Stuart,
I’m thankful that we have the freedom to be respectfully honest. Informed personal opinions are helpful and I appreciate yours. My only regret is that your experience was mostly a negative one.
I can sympathize with the citizens of Russia and the surrounding countries. They are treading new ground in extraordinary times. America’s dearth of personal responsibility and unregulated financial practices have not helped matters. Russia will find its way. Hopefully, America will shed enough of its hypocrisy, and find enough strength and honesty to move forward again, too.
As I have said many times(and this is not a reference to you at all, Stuart), generalizations are helpful, but probably unfair to the individual. I am forever amazed at how different people are that grew up in the same household. One of my favorite quotes is attributed to the late Duane Allman, a sweet man with a difficult streak, I understand. Anyway, Duane said, “There are nice people and a..holes wherever you go. Just try to spend the most time around the nice ones.”
The recognition of social trends is helpful, too, but also unfair to the individual. I do know that it is difficult for an open-minded individual who is friendly by nature, who enjoys humor and who maintains a natural interest and curiosity in others to navigate this world without creating misunderstandings and generating negative reactions. Are people becoming more cautious, less open and more suspicious of others? Is that a trend with many exceptions? I don’t know, but social interactions remain a challenge.
My late friend, Royal, used to say, “Live and let live, Sammy”. I try to carry that advice with me. Stuart, please keep in touch. I want to read more of your thoughts. Take care.
Stuart, I believe in the remote regions people are sometimes even more patriotic. And I sense your frustration with Russians not wanting to move away from a corrupt leader and authoritarian mentality had caused rise of those patriotic feelings in them.
Russia and England are immensely different in most possible ways foremost cultural. Small talk and most English communicating skills don’t do much for a Russian. And in general Russians and Englishmen have different ideas about what is rude and what is polite. Just my Russian 3 kopeeks.
So what kind of people did you find that Muscovites look up to, Stuart? I’m interested. An American and French journalist were having this discussion online about Russia (this was a few years back, so I don’t remember the names), and one said that Russians definitely are not really like Westerners. That on the surface, they may seem so, but scratch that, and one quickly found a combination of peasant and thug. I don’t mean to sound overly critical, repeating that. I’ve never been to Russia, though in my experience with Russians in America — well, they aren’t like us. I’m sure that’s a good thing, in some ways. And I can believe the ’90s must have been terrifying for them. But they do seem to remain very attracted to the “strong man.”
Hello Stuart,
Considering your unhappiness in Russia, I think you have made a wise decision. Hopefully, you will find that facing the challenges of life from a familiar place will be easier and that the joys you have will be more exquisite.
A couple of days ago(see post above) I sat with a dying 95-year-old man for over an hour. Though his heart is failing, and he had to stop to catch his breath at times, he retains his considerable intellect and speaks clearly and wisely. I know all the facts about him: born in 1916, member of the Davidson College class of 1937, worked in the family business until he was drafted into the Air Force in 1941-1946, attained the rank of Lt. Colonel, mostly in the Asian theater, when his wife died in August 2008, he had been married over 66 years, etc. What I was curious about and remain curious about is the rationale of the decisions he made, and why with all the opportunities and resources he had available, he chose the path he did. He’s a modest man and not one to dwell on himself, but he did answer some of my pointed questions. The fact is that many of his cousins, uncles and close friends of similar circumstances led very different lives. Regardless of the influence of economic, social and political systems, a man still has the power to be the kind of person he desires. He can put himself in the middle and live a selfish existence or he can deny himself to a degree and find satisfaction and fulfillment in helping others. He can choose to be loyal to his wife or satisfy his lust with acquaintances and strangers. He can strive to educate himself on matters of importance and speak with some authority and conviction or he can join the ranks of the loudmouthed ignoramuses.
You’ve made some decisions, Stuart, and you are plotting your path. It’s a cliche, but I trust you are part of the solution and not part of the problem. Best of luck in old Blighty.