But if I were to go to a CIS country like Ukraine I would not have the same level of expectation if I were ever in London, which I have not been. If I were to go to India, I would expect my experience to be different than if I were to go to Denmark. In India or Ukraine I would expect a more rustic vacation but not less refreshing.

Forgive my departure however on economic issues, peace and love but I guess I see the world different but maybe not and maybe I do not understand you.

But I guess I see the world different a bit. I mean survival? Do the Amish just survive?

Do not take the Westerns world so serious. In eastern Europe I read. Books actually and star gaze and take picnics etc, something I had less time for in the USA. I have lived here in Eastern Europe with a modest life for almost a decade and life has never been sweeter. I think there are a lot of really messed up people in the West, getting involved in all kinds of things and depressed. I live in Poland and see a lot of people who find trust and faith in God not money or material values and this is their happiness. So survival a matter of perspective.

But your advice is right on about women. Just go up and flirt with them.

I am curious you have lived in Ukraine for 3 years? This is great. I love Ukraine. It is one of my favorite places on earth. Where will you guys live?

OK now for the economic conversation, I respectfully disagree.

Your joking right? 300 dollars is what some people live on for a month in Eastern Europe. In fact it was the average in many places and in Ukraine might be above the average at least in the countryside. Since I have lived in Eastern Europe for about a decade I can tell you 300 dollars is a lot of money. One month of life on this.
OK this is how it is done. You take a train, a basic train. My friend hitchhike but we took a train, a Ukrainian train not a fancy one or International and sleep on the train. It was fun and an adventure. I think it was round trip maybe less than 30 dollars round a trip for the both of us. Then you rent not a hotel but a guest house with people. Not a big cost. Some people sleep on the beach or camp out, a lot actually. This is fun, but we got a guest house. Then you have your fill on pasta and potatoes and we caught some things in the Black Sea and cooked them. It was great. While walking though the mountains we collected while fruits. I love fishing and collecting fruit in Poland we gather all kinds of things from forest. But my wife’s family are farmers and my family in Ukraine is also.
It was one of the best trips of my life.
I think 300 might be an over estimate actually. We walked everywhere and read books on the beach and went diving and my wife cooks gourmet meals with garlic and pasta and some herbs and sea food we caught. It was very romantic in fact on another part of this website www.claritaslux.com/blog/ you can see us there in Crimea and we do not look to unhappy – it is in the left sidebar near the top the photo of us.

Olga is Russian not Ukrainian right? Different standard of expectations maybe I do not know. Ukrainians from Western Ukraine are a different level of expectations than Russian girls I have found but maybe I am totally off on this. Not anything against her at all, you hit the jackpot a beautiful doctor and from Eastern Europe, but Russians I think have a world view different?

But I am American and went to an all boys English boarding school and lived with the Brahmins in Beacon Hill Boston but life in Eastern Europe is best spend in a retro fashion rather living like a westerner, it has a sweeter quality that way.

In the west, in the USA I am very careful of anyone that has expectations of a standard. Lucky in Eastern Europe the girls do not have high expectations. It is not that they are poor it is they are humble. I mean most of my friends in Poland grew up 5 to 8 people in a room, My wife had six people in one room growing up. My family in Ukraine does not have running water and you know, they have no expectations and are happy with whatever God gives them. 300 dollars is a lot of money and with it you can give very well and have a good life.

Price is subjective based on supply and demand but mostly subjective, so I have seen people pay 40 dollars for a fancy pizza and my wife will make one with flour and water and some herbs and it is out of this world.

Look up the diamond water paradox in economics.

I also have found there is a slight inverse correlation between what I spend on vacation and my happiness. And as you know that applies to women. I recommend a nice girl from Ukraine like you are meeting than a London high expectation career woman.

It all sounds crazy but the crisis in finance in the west is all fake. It is a crisis of expectations.
It really upsets me the world is like this. So explain to me how people live on less than 300 dollars a month with buying clothes food etc, Some on 200 dollars but you can not take a trip in Ukraine for this?

You would be stone faced as well if you were on $300-$400 a month. They don’t have life in Ukraine, they have survival. Don’t place any emphasis on angry voices and facial expressions, not a lot actually meant by them and these type of women are usually completely different to what you think they are. I speak only about 100 Russian words, but have managed perfectly well in Crimea for the last 3 years, and it is 10 times harder to find English speakers here than in Keiv or Odessa. Don’t flirt or make eye contact. Jyst go over and talk to them, when they hear an English voice your in BIG TIME. Smile, laugh, talk a lot.Do not bum about how much you have, or how much you make, as they don’t give a toss about that. Just be you. But if your the serious poker face type don,t expect them to smile and be all over you.

Smiling is infectious remember that. Also Crimean women are much much different than Kiev or Odessa girls. Here in Crimea you will really find the old fashioned type you seek. So go for it Drew amd do not be afraid to approach them. Speak, Smile, Make faces, Joke, even though they havn’t a clue what your saying or you what they say, they love it and soon you’ll have loads and loads of friends and women who want to know you.

I’m a 63 year old man from Scotland. Coming now 3 years to Evpatoria in Crimea. I met 3 years ago a 54 year old Cardiologist and Olga and I will marry next year. Just be ” You ” Drew. Stop to think. would you smile if you were on $300 a month. Want to see smiles then make them smile. They’re just as human as you or me, and the girls would make far better wifes than ever you’ll find in States or U.K. Believe me.
Eddie

I stay in Evpatoria, my woman Olga is a Cardiologist and lives local. Even she could not do this on $300 and tells me also a Westerner has no chance as prices are laid on as soon as they hear your voice. I am Scottish, and we are renowned for being mega careful with money, and I certainly am, and have been from the start 3 years ago. I quickly caught on to letting Olga carry out all price arrangements (renting fiats, rooms, finding cheap hotels etc. ) But a place to sleep for $ 3 ” come on ” get real Admin . Perhaps $300 for 1 person for 2 weeks is only JUST possible but only just. Bear in mind also that is with Crimea being about 30 – 40% cheaper than Kiev.

Kiev, Odessa and the like is definitely not any cheaper than Spain Italy, or any other place in Europe, and much dearer than Turkey, Romania and the likes. Admin I’m not having a go at you, but your miles out on prices and it gives people false hopes. Stay away from Yalta Balaclava and the likes as they are most expensive places in Crimea to go to ( due to Historical past ) West coast is much cheaper ands every bit as nice. Next year I will marry Olga and then live the rest of my life in Crimea.

The language barrier is the biggest problem. if you spoke some Ukrainian you would have a totally different experience. But even with English, you should have Hollywood status by now. I, nor any of my friend have ever had a problem. In fact my friend last night who has lived in Eastern Europe for ten years was visiting the USA and wrote me, America men have little hope in finding a decent girl in the US of A. he said for all American men he has two words.

U
Kraine.
You have to get away from the primitive smoking people of Odessa. Man if you were to go to New Jersy in the USA and think this is America you are wrong, similarly in some bad section of London. Go to Trenopil and Lviv and flirt with the students. Interact with educated spiritual and intellectual people, that enjoy high culture, art etc.

1.) The language barrier is very high and although I realize I am very far from home and cannot expect much in this department, it is prohibitive to having any serious conversation with anyone I meet.

2.) I am observing Ukrainian people and I must say they are just as rude as Americans and perhaps more so. They have a chaotic way of living.

3.) I see the same cultural elements in effect here as elsewhere in the west.

4.) Most all the girls smoke cigarettes constantly

5.) There is little or no receptivity to flirting, eye contact, etc. The girls have/walk around with a stone face without showing any emotion.

6.) I have observed that many of the females yell and talk loudly and angrily lot. I don’t have to understand what they are saying – it is written on their faces and in the tone of their voice.

I was hoping to find sweet and old-fashioned, but this is not what I am encountering. I have been to Kiev and Odessa so far. (I know you do not recommend Odessa).