Forget more cars. Think like the common Russians...take the bus...the metro...use the feet. Feeling generous...buy her a bicycle.

Your "common" Russian wife isn't so common once she's here. Trust me on that one.

How naive. Tell you what - you come up here and use the bus, the metro (let me know if you find one), bicycle or feet for the winter and see how well you do.

I just wanna see this guy explain to his "common" Russian wife that she can't drive a car here because she should take public trans. I'd pay money to see the look on her face when he tells her how he "generously" bought her a bike to ride around.

I see one has to be careful what they post on the Russian forum. I hear swords being drawn.

My intent was to make a joke with an element of truth to it. Don't think it's naive to look at public transportation where it's available, walking to the restaurant and giving old Nelly Belle a rest in the garage, or getting good exercise and transportation at the same time on a nice mountain bike.

My comment was offered to those living in the "lower 48" and I exempt the 1% who live in the Arctic Circle from buses, trains, trolleys, subways and walking. Just keep loving that jeep as Alaska is one of the places they make sense to drive.

My wife will drive in the America and join the combustion engine club, but we'll share a car for awhile. She has already requested I buy her a bike so there will be no "funny looks." Sorry to disappoint. Bike riding is big in my area so she'll be in good company.

I realize for most your suggestion isn't an option, but my wife and I live in the NYC area and we both rely on our feet and the subway for transportation, 24/7. I have a car but use it only on weekends to visit friends, etc., and every couple of months my wife decides she's going to take the driver's exam but loses interest after a day of studying. If her experience in driving a snowmobile last Winter was any indication, the local driving population ought to be very grateful

Sure, if you live in NYC or another area that has a public trans setup similar to what they have in Russia it only makes sense. If your area is bike friendly, that makes sense too. And of course, the North Pole is not the place for either. It's all about what's "common" in your area and for most of us on here, the "common" forms of trans that our S/Os used in Russia isn't "common" here so it's not an option.




My wife's first job here in the States was within walking distance from our house and she never drove there. Worked great..... for a while. We shared a car (I drove her around for a while) until she finally got one and now walking, the bus, a bike, etc., is all just a distant memory. Except when we go to Russia, of course.

I don't think anyone is drawing any swords. For many of us her taking a bus is not a viable solution. For those who live in a larger city with good bus service it is a good option. For Groov to teach his wife to drive with the idea she would drive everywhere she needs to go would also be foolish. Here we have about 3 or 4 busses a day. You have to walk a long long way to catch one and they don't go very many places.

On the driving front, I think we are getting closer to the day for the big test. The idea of her driving alone still would scare me to death. Too bad this isn't Russia. I could slip the driving test guy a $ 20.00 to fail her. He would probably be shocked since every other driver in Russia would be slipping him money to pass them. I have heard some stories that in Russia you can just buy (bribe) your drivers liscence without ever spending a minute actually learning to drive. One more reason the roads there are hazardous.

Thanks for your advice

Same here I did not pass the road test the 1st time with the female, but passed 2nd time with a male instructor. He was so nice The female was a mean -----!

The "driver's training course" my wife took in Russia prior to coming here was like $250 or something and did a couple of lessons in a car with an instructor and then issued all the trainees an international DL. (With no Russian DL necessary.) I'm not really sure what they taught her, but she said she passed the examination in a stick-shift because she didn't spin out on the ice when pulling away from the car behind her.

Surprisingly enough though, once she got here we had to start all over. (In an automatic because she couldn't drive a stick..... huh? Training, what training?)

Wife took the learners permit test yesterday. There were 2 written tests. She passed one but failed the other on questions about how many points..., how many feet..., etc. Guess I'm off the hook for another week or two and the new car will be safe.

Same with my wife. The points and feet and other "technicalities" were the only quetions she got wrong. I can be partly to blame for that because while studying we focused so much on the driving, signs, etc., I forgot to really push the other aspects; things like suspensions and DUI, etc.

Remember to help your S/O study for the whole test, not just the parts she'll need to drive.

Slim the offer still stands if you and your wife want to come up here for a visit, she can learn to drive from my wife and we can go golfing or fishing. The kid loves to go for a ride in the car and your wife can practice driving while distracted.

Thanks for the offer, but I try to keep my wife away from kids as much as possible. Those things are contagious. You and I would enjoy a nice round of golf followed by reeling in a few lunkers and then the next day I'd wake up with a white stick and a blue + in my face.

Thanks, but no thanks. (For now.)

I'm not so sure that came out exactly as you intended.

Oh, I think it did Vika has no need or desire to drive now, but recognizes that driving is part of life here. I also have a sixteen year old. Hopefully I can find an insurance company with a volume discount.

Oooooo... a volume discount would be nice. My wife and her 17-yr-old son both knew how to drive before they came here. I try not to think too much about how the 17-yr-old picked up his driving experience. He now has his learner's permit and will be going for the real deal (full license) next month. Natalia is driving on her international license with no problems. Both of them drive well although the 17-yr-old scared me a little when he off-handedly commented, "I will show them the meaning of Russian speed!". If you learn about any volume discounts let me know.

Will do - Cheers

Yeah... reading back through there I see it was a poor choice of words, especially among you homo-erotic hounds. Should've said soemthing a little less fruity like "We would've enjoyed a nice day of doing manly activities like drinking beer and hitting things, killing some fish and eating them, drinking more beer. Then the next day my wife would tell me the results of her pregnancy test were positive." (Omitting all references to any sticks in faces.)


If you guys are vets or govt. employees you might want to check out USAA for insurance. They're super cheap. http://www.usaa.com

Just got my new car yesterday, and drove it all the way home from out of town! Driving here in Raleigh is a piece of cake compared to Moscow.

It's a Suzuki Verona, surprisingly. And I thought I was a strictly Honda girl.

Is that like people who are into gay dogs????

That is just too funny!

Big congrats! Have fun and be careful. But if you drove in Moscow you will have absolutely no problem here. (Except all those "defensive drivers" slamming on the brakes in front of you when they have all day to turn. Watch out for those slow pokes.)

Honda, shmonda. You're rolling!



No, it's like people who read waaaaaay into a VJ member's post and extract all the gayness they can out of it. Fabulous!

Heh heh heh heh...you said fabulous.

Fabulous is the one word that no doubt, sets the "fabulous" apart from the unfabulous. If you know what I mean, cake eater.

Umm what about magnificccent!! or fantabulous, or splendiferous?

and why is cake eater an insult, i like cake, its sweet and very tasty. I really like jello poke cake.

If you want an insult try lima bean eater, or 5 day old rotten egg eater. Cake is innocent and pure it should never be used as an insult.

Those are all wonderful words but they don't signify someone on the gaydar the way "fabulous!" does.

Cake eater is an insult, just ask Emilio Estevez, the Mighty Duck man himself. Emilioooooo! Emiliooooooo!

Now thats an insult calling someone Emilio Estevez, why not really hurt his feelings and calling him an almost Sheen

I think when you get down to it, it doesn't really matter which brother you are because either way, life's good!

Drivers of the world BEWARE. Tuesday afternoon she has her first try at her drivers test. The American roads may never be as safe or even the same. She read my previous post about wishing I could bribe the guy giving her the test to fail her and since she is now speaking to me again I won't say much more. Of course when you say something that gets you into trouble sometimes them not speaking to you can be the best thing that can happen. You begin to understand the true meaning of the expression "Silence is Golden"

HELP!

I have a Russian daughter who will be turning 16 within the year, and all she talks about is driving. Her mom (wife, of course) is absolutely the worst driver I have been in a car with.

What I need help with here are some "excuses" (not necessarily honest, BS is okay) as to why she (daughter) may have to postpone driving for a year or two. All suggestions/ideas appreciated.

Just because her mom is a terrible driver doesn't mean she will be. She shouldn't be punished for her mother's lack of skills.

Thanks, Icky. But you missed my plea for help. I'm looking for answers to my query.

no, i answered it. there is no actual reason to prevent her from driving. and if you're the parent, you don't have to give a reason anyway.

I can't believe I'm reading this.
Do you really think a 16-year old is so dumb as not to be able to see through any BS you'll give her? Or are you projecting mother's qualities on the child here, too?

Forgive me, but you sound mean spirited. Perhaps I sound mean to you.
If I asked you to help me select something red, would you condemn me for choosing red?

You do not know anything about the qualities of my wife, except for what I have said about her scaring the crap out of me when she drives. By the way, she too is scared to death about the prospect of our daughter's driving.

Do you and Icky not have something else to do instead of picking at and disagreeing with the ideas of other people on this site just because you do not agree with their view?

If I asked you to help me select the best whip for whipping my kid, would you calmly give me relevant advice?

You didn't ask for help with something neutral; it's disrespectful toward your almost-adult kid and I hate to see people being disrespectful toward their grown children. Here's my advice: my husband drove since he was 15, though I'm sure his mom freaked out just as much. As of today, he's never been in an accident. Give your kid a benefit of a doubt.

How are her grades? If her grades are not great, then a perfect and legitimate excuse is that the insurance will be too high until she gets her grades up. That gives her a target to shoot for, and gives you time to adjust to the fact that eventually she will be driving.

Capital idea - just tie grades to the driving. Actually driving the car is a priviledge completely independent of her getting a license. This seems a win-win, but won't delay her driving if she is already a good student.

Just tell her she has to prove she's better than mom.

Sure, Hickory is a good choice, or if you are wanting something with less thump and more sting, a good willow branch. Nothing off the ground either, only broken straight from the tree.

How about "not until after you take drivers ed"?
That's what I did with my kids.

For the question about BSing the daughter about not driving, how about a good, stern, "NO". Parents all too often avoid this route now and it used to be the best way to go. Works every time and there's no way around it.

Along with a good solid "NO", how about "allowing" her to drive once she's earned enough money to pay for driver's ed, purchase a car, pay for insurance, gas, repairs, etc. That's usually a good enough delay until it's no longer your decision to make for her.




TG, I know where you're coming from! One of the first nuggets of Russian wisdom I learned after my wife arrived was "Tishina zolota." Works extremely well when she's x-tra pissed off. "Honey, it's so nice that you're not talking to me anymore. Tishina zolota." (You may get some words after that.... not so nice words, but it's worth it because then you can learn some more Russian language!)

She makes good grades in school. However, she is loud and obnoxious; and, she handles a car and riding mower like they are play toys rather than with any skill or control. She knows only one speed, and she thinks it's normal to run into things. I realize that just saying "No" is one way to handle it, although she always asks why in such situations? Somehow, telling her she can't drive because she stinks at it, doesn't seem like the approach to go with, even though it is most accurate. I plan to hire a professional instructor for individual driving lessons sometime after she turns 16. In our state, one that age must first pass a written exam then wait 6 months before taking the actual driving portion of the test. If I feel it is necessary, I plan to manipulate this timeframe a bit, extending the overall time period. I have also thought about using the driving age in Russia (age 18) as a requirement, but her older brothers and many of her friends were not subject to that. I will probably lay down some stringent rules, combining the satisfactory completion of driving lessons with the necessity for her to share in the costs of financing (car, insurance & gas). Thanks for the suggestions.

No way! Not a young Russian woman!

Well the last post I made about my wife was that the "first try" at her drivers test would be yesterday. That was a proper guess. The next try will be the 24th.

First off, being a Russian woman she went to the test in heels. She can't drive in heels so she wanted to take her test barefoot. The instructor had a fit. Finally after 10 minutes in the office he came out and said it was illegal in the state he used to live in but there is nothing in PA regulations against it. In the meantime she had put my shoes on and I was standing there in my stocking feet.

Well she pulled out, made a left and went up the wrong side of the road. Instant falure. She aced the paralell parking but did not use turn signals in our out, so that was another black mark. She also just glaced back when pulling out. In the test area she knew no one else would be coming so did not look as thoroughly as they wanted. They skipped the road part since she had already failed and she was there in tears.

Sorry to hear it. She will do better next time

Well, at least there were no porches involved!

We made several trips to the BMV as well, it's all part of the process. She will get it after the fourth or fifth time.

The good news is... it gets better. My wife's been driving daily now and she's doing quite well. Not to the point where I'm excited about "riding" in the car with her (I'll drive, sweety pie.) but I don't really feel like I'm taking a chance with my life anymore. Upping my probability to be invlolved in an accident, sure, but not a life-threatening accident any more. More like a fender-bender.

You'll get there someday TG!