In return she will honor you for who you are — a loving and devoted husband. It is the way married life was intended. It is a worthy goal to strive for and reach.

It is a law of nature that you will likely achieve what you think about and what you set your mind to, so it is important that you define your goals properly. (more…)

As Lynn Visson’s “Wedded Strangers” says:

“Both Russian men and women find American women badly dressed. Fashion in Soviet Russia was dictated by the regime. In the Soviet era, trying to look attractive and feminine was not easy.” (more…)

You should have small gifts for all family members you are visiting, especially children. I brought little hand held electronic games for the children of the women I visited. (more…)

For example, you go into the jewelry store and your Russian fiancé picks out a ring. You tell her that it is expensive. You mean that it is overpriced, or that it is more than you can afford.

She thinks you mean that that you cannot afford to buy her a ring and that she is not going to get a wedding ring. Russians think in black and white, not shades of gray. (more…)

“For Russians, the ultimate sin is being stingy. Americans are viewed as being tight fisted.”

Russians and Americans have vastly different views of money. This is understandable considering that Russians were raised under the Soviet system and Americans were raised under a capitalist system. (more…)

Single people live with their parents and even married couples may live with one spouse’s family due to the scarcity of flats and the economics of living on their own.

Family members depend on each other. Grandma may look after the children and cook and clean for the family while the others are off at work. They take care of each other. (more…)

“Russians have a collective spirit. Americans are individuals. For Americans, individualism has a positive connotation. For Russians, it has a negative connotation.”

“Russians are raised to expect a life with difficulties. Americans are raised to expect the best. Americans think a smile and a sense of humor are the best things you can have. They will carry you farther and they don’t cost anything.” (more…)

Russians do not overuse smiling as a way to meet the outside world. Daily life in Russia is difficult. Even small errands require much more effort than similar chores in the west. There is little comfort and happiness. (more…)

“Americans, with a work ethic, grew up knowing they would have to work hard to get a job. For Russians, under the Soviet system, the government found them a job or they got a job through personal contacts.” (more…)