Masha introduced me to a close friend from her university.
And the more I learned about Dasha and her background the more I was impressed at her goodness and strength.
She’s about to turn 22 and her family comes from very modest means. And if you’ve read my earlier post about the life of a typical Russian Girl.. then try to imagine a step below that on the Russian economic standard of living and you might start to understand a few things. I really don’t want to get into too much detail but lets just say that where she comes from having running water in your home is not taken for granted.
Not to long ago Dasha started working as a secretary in a travel agency and quickly transitioned into a travel agent position because of her steadfastness in trying to carve out a better life for her parents, a younger brother and herself.
She was able to spend about 6 months in Antalya, Turkey working as a travel guide.
She has years of study with the German language but because of the demands of this position needed to pick up conversational English within 6 months and did it.
Dasha is also a traditional Russian national dancer but she also loves going out when she can to hit the discos every once in a while with her girlfriends.
The rest of her time is spent studying to finish up her diploma in accounting and taking great care of her younger brother.
Here’s the best to you Dasha.
(click each image for larger views)
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Thank you, Dasha, for allowing these lovely images and some of your story to be shared here. And thanks, rw_man for adding another charming young lady to the list of beautiful sights to see and possible reasons for planning a visit to the FSU.
Rw_man, you are blessed to be surrounded by a truly impressive group of people. Because I read two to three newspapers daily, I am often overwhelmed with bad news, so it’s always refreshing to read about individuals like Dasha. Her hard work and the care she provides her brother are very much appreciated.
Dasha, thanks for sharing with us. I hope you understand how inspirational it is for those of us a generation ahead to read about good people coming along.
Happy these ladies can bring a smile to you Sam..
And I think I understand the burden of the news you are dealing encountering thats out there. So true beauty is especially appreciated I know.
This little poem came to mind today;
If all the nice girls
Lived over the sea
Such a sad and lonely
Man I would be
Wow, what a stunning, industrious, intelligent and caring young lady, who radiates warmth like the Sun. I don’t know many American women who can hold a candle to her. She has downright stunning blue eye, like the sea…:-) Many thanks RW_man and to Masha too for introducing us to Dasha, whose pictures brightened my day.
Taras
Awesome!
More then welcome Taras. There’s a real sweetness to her for sure.
It shows in her pictures beyond any doubt……:-)
Taras
Making Ignorance ChicBy MAUREEN DOWD
Published: October 19, 2010
THE NEW YORK TIMES
Casanova’s rule for seduction was to tell a beautiful woman she was intelligent and an intelligent woman she was beautiful.
The false choice between intellectualism and sexuality in women has persisted through the ages. There was no more poignant victim of it than Marilyn Monroe……………
Those are the opening lines in an article by Maureen Dowd found in today’s NYT. In an era when it seems to be fashionable to elevate ignorance in
American society, I want to thank Rw_man for continually praising the “whole” Russian woman. I don’t think a country exists that has done a better job than Russia in offering educational opportunities to women, and the results are obvious. Women like Dasha seem to be the rule, rather than the exception.
Wow for once I actually agree with a far left feminist like Maureen Dowd.
However truth be told.. I don’t think her agenda included Russian Women when she wrote this. I think she’s catering more towards the Oprah crowd with this article.
Haha, Rw_man, I hope this rare agreement between you and Maureen doesn’t mean the sky is finally falling. I spend a considerable amount of time reading the works of both liberal and conservative folks, but like a country writer once said, I tend to ride the middle with my feet in Dixie and my head in the clear, blue North. No doubt, she didn’t have the likes of Dasha in mind when she wrote that column.
Speaking of Oprah, I have never seen her show at all. Though I have kept up with her business through the periodicals I read. I worked in a sales/service region that included her hometown years ago, and I am still amazed that a woman could go from there to where she is now. Fame and fortune mean little to me, but I am impressed with the fact that the sky is still the limit here in America.
I sound like a broken record here, but your perspective is more important than ever, so I keep harping on it. I am deeply grateful that you present these women as a “whole”. You have always emphasized their strong values, desire to have loving partners and healthy children, dedication to parents and siblings, work ethic, intelligence and strong educational backgrounds in addition to their very obvious physical beauty. I am also very grateful that you are not just another arrogant, obnoxious American living in a foreign land. We need more respectful ambassadors around the world. Please keep up the good work, and tell your lovely wife that Sam said hello.
Sam you can never sound like a broken record if there is something you feel strongly about and need to get the word out. Humility is a virtue I can tell that you and I both do our best to follow and I appreciate your recognition as such. And thanks for the greeting to my more lovely half
“Women like Dasha seem to be the rule, rather than the exception.”
You nailed it sam.
RW thank you for sharing these images of such a beautiful lady. She is a pleasure to look at and I imagine she would be even more wonderful in person. I hope that she finds the life she dreams of, wherever that may be.
Thank you RW…sincerely! C:
-Ken
Ken you are more then welcome and I’m glad that you may have a starting point of inspiration from this.
Well guys, I don’t think we have to invite Dowd into the men’s locker room just yet. I am still quite suspect of what she was really trying to convey in that piece and to whom she was primarily speaking.
If she is trying to win points somewhere, what group is she reaching out to? If she is merely attempting to show her open mindedness, when did that start and what caused it?
My old school, farm boy upbringing still reverts at times to, “birds of a feather” or “if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck . . .”, et cetera.
Her two or three opening lines of the article in question are (to me) a set up and the statement about Marilyn Monroe, “Men who were nervous about her erotic intensity could feel superior by making fun of her intellectually” seems to carry the familiar stench of a staunch feminist.
I think Miller’s quote about Marilyn, “a poet on a street corner trying to recite to a crowd pulling at her clothes”, goes a long way to sum up the sad reality of the desires felt by this beautiful actress.
The basketball ‘pivot move’ Dowd makes from Monroe to Palin has a bit of a broken statement feeling for me, but I guess that’s just creative license. On both comparisons of the two women, one being their relative “beauty with glowing skin” and the other apparently being their overall lack of intelligence, I’d have to call ‘foul’.
An actress of the 50s who had her career entirely devised and constructed to maintain the ‘dumb blonde’ image is hardly in the same ilk as a woman who has gone from housewife to state governor, to vice presidential candidate, has led some of the most powerful legislation in Alaskan State history and has authored two books.
(by the way, I do not speak as a ‘Palin Power’, ‘Clear the Shelves in 2012′ political pawn. I simply respect what she’s done in and for Alaska and her belief in a better and stronger America)
Grammatical and oratory blunders aside, Sarah Palin should never be balled in with Marilyn Monroe as far as their intellectual prowess is concerned. That’s just not a valid comparison in my mind.
I like how her eyes match the blue pumps she is wearing in the first few pictures. Stunning.
I wonder how womes of such modest means in FSU can afford such nice clothing?
Thanks for the compliment Anonymous.
In Russia even women from the most modest backgrounds will do everything in their power to minimize this fact not for deception but for self-respect in herself and how she presents who she is to the world.
Its wonderful how all these beautiful lovely ladies you write about come from such humble backgrounds and strive to achieve the best in live.
I am sure if I get a chance I would love to meet women like them and probably even marry one of them.
Great Work re_man. Keep the words and pictures flowing.
Thanks Karn.. Glad to hear that you are inspired.
I have no words to describe my thoughts right now.
Great Work re_man. Keep the words and pictures flowing.
Karn,
I know exactly how you feel!! Dasha is a real doll isn’t she.
I also plan on marrying a lovely lady from such a suitable culture.
I would love to meet and court such a lady!
Dasha smiles?
Dasha is really very sweet
In fact Serbian girls are always sweet. This is what I think. This is my experience.
Beauty in simplicity… Amazing Dasha
Those very blue eyes seem to me to be a Siberian trait. I’ve heard the women of Iceland have them too sometimes. Any story behind them genetically? Theories?
I am seriously considering relocating to Russia. Would that be a better way to meet these fine ladies?
personally I think u should try! u know u could try by emailing someone u can find on facebook or dating websitess. or u can get to now some russians who live in ur area. they can take u to see their relatives and friends in russia. or u can book a course in a language school for a month naybe. then u can find local girls and invite them for sight seeing))) I recommend find genuine russian friends who would introduce u to some really good down to earth girls
Lisa, you wouldn’t happen to be a genuine, down-to-earth Russian girl would you?
Kisha, congratulations!!! Fantastic picture.
Thank you very much, Sam.
You are welcome, Kisha. In all seriousness, I felt a tremendous amount of pride when I saw it. What a dress, and what a glowing beauty was captured there.
I think I’m missing something here…
Sam is just shamelessly complementing me on my wedding look.
Aww that’s very sweet of you Sam. Hubby was pleased with my efforts as well. So I guess it was all good despite me doing my *bridal beauty* myself.
Saved us about 500 bucks!
Smart and thrifty Moscow girl there, guys. A practically- minded, pretty engineer with a sense of humor to boot! Kisha, I agree with your husband, and I admire your efforts. I don’t know what one calls a dress that exposes the shoulders, strapless, I guess, for one thing, but the design was awesome. If you two ever make it to North Carolina, please come by.
Sorry to leave you in the dark, Wolverine, but I wanted to publicly praise Kisha without revealing too many details and embarrassing her more than I already have.
Sam,
You have to be careful with your invitations as we normally take it all literally.
Btw, 99% of the gowns here in Russia are strapless. Every girl needs her Scarlett O’Hara moment!
sure I am) but I live in europe
Thanks, Lisa. I have been comparing and contrasting cultures and trying to get some understanding of just how much influence culture and various faiths can have on human nature for several years now. I find it very interesting to analyze people I know personally that are down-to-earth and above the fray, so to speak, and try to ascertain how much of it can be attributed to genetics and how much of it can be attributed to nurture/culture. Though my contact with people is somewhat limited, I have only known ten people or so that I feel were oblivious to the ways of the world, and were truly honest and sincere with themselves and those around them. Whether rich or poor, these people had(have) a grasp of what is truly important, and had(have) a remarkable response to the simple pleasures in life. One thing they all had in common was(is)a strong interest in the lives and welfare of those around them. They were(are) inclusive and always acknowledged those they came in contact with. Anyway, that is a very long-winded way of working around to a question for you: Do you see significant individual differences between the people you are with now, and those you grew up with? If so, why do you think those differences exist? Thanks for your response.
Dear Sam,
i worked in Vienna and Germany, and I can tell you that people in Austria and Germany are much more indifferent than Russians. Its very hard to find friends here. In Russia when I worked with somebody, they automatically wanted to get to know me better. Here it takes ages to get to know someone. Many ppl are prejusted against russians
What I notice is that women here are a lot more independent and dress alot more simple. they dont really care to imill press the men
many ppl in austria and germany study in their 30s while most russians have a degree at the age of 22 and are ready to start a family. in russia the boys are forced to go to college at the age of 16-17 to escape the horrible russian army service. often after college they go to make their phd – for the same reason. in russia u meet 25 y.o. men who have a phd, in austria u meet 25 y.o. men who just started college
on the other hand the families are amazing. mommy, daddy and the kid riding their bikes down the roads or hanging out together – in russia u see mainly moms with kids. and there r no bycicle roads in russia as weel(
Hi Lisa,
Thanks so much for taking the time to post such an interesting and informative response to my question. I hope others found your experience and impressions to be as educational as I did. I have to say I was saddened to read that you found it hard to make friends at work in two countries, and that you experienced some prejudice and perhaps bigotry. The world is data driven, maybe rightfully so, but anecdotal evidence or personal experience speaks most directly to us all.
Though I very much enjoy the present, and look forward to each work day, I grieve over the passing of the open, trusting, never-meet-a-stranger, hospitable world of my youth. People that carry that sentiment still exist, of course, and even some communities could still be described that way, but they are few. In my 20s I lived in two towns in the states of Louisiana and Georgia and recall being asked out to lunch at least once per week by families and individuals I had never met before. Their questions and attentiveness assured me that their interest in me and my welfare was genuine, and it was deeply appreciated. I lived in the Louisiana town for almost two years, so I’m talking about a bunch of lunches and suppers. Naturally, many of those people had nice daughters, sisters, female friends, etc. that they faithfully introduced to me.
A successful old Louisiana attorney told me that economic, social and political life runs in distinct cycles and I have a hunch that he will be proven right. When I was a boy and out with my dad, he would stop and engage people in conversation for 15 to 20 minutes or more. When we finally moved along, I would always ask him who the people were. Many, many times he would say that he had no earthly idea. So, you see, despite my shyness, I thought it was perfectly natural to strike up a conversation with anyone within earshot. That approach gets me in trouble constantly now, but the day will come when that’s a common thing again. I want to believe that, anyway.
Thanks again, Lisa. I wish you were here, so I could pat you on the back and thank you personally. Take care.
Sam,
I like the story about you and your dad and how he would have complete conversations with people he didn’t know. My daughter, about to turn 12, is always asking about the people I stop to talk with and every time that I tell her I didn’t know them , she says, “Then how could you just talk to them like that for so long?” to which I reply, “Because” or “Well, why shouldn’t I?”.
My upbringing was similar in those rural areas and small Midwestern towns. Everyone said “Hi” to people at gas stations and grocery stores. My parents (mostly dad) didn’t do that as much as some folks, but I always chatted up strangers and it led to many new friends. I also hope for a return to that sort of thinking, one day.
Thank you, Richard. Your daughter is getting an invaluable education. Maybe, like the girls from the best families here in the Southeast of a generation or two ago, she will be quick to acknowledge people and treat them kindly. Graciousness is a rare thing, indeed, but when it is genuine, it has a profound effect on people.
rw_man Thanks for this beautiful images about Dasha, so tell me, I wanna know if is possible to contact her or see more pictures of her, here in México apreciate the beauty of Russian women, and we have a real frienship when they come to our beaches in the caribean, I´m talking about Playa del Carmén & Cancun. Regards from México. I´ll hope you come soon to show you the mexican caribean. До свидания!