This is a warning to anyone thinking of saving money by switching to DirectTV and getting the Russian Direct Package....
I have not seen one american television show in 4 days, no hockey, no basketball, no baseball, no news no nothing. My wife( I love her very much) will only stay on the 5 channels of Russian TV we have, I keep telling her there are 200 others out there to watch but nooo this is more interesting. I will have to put my foot down when the second round of the tournament for the most hallowed trophy in all of sportsdom begin(for the uneducated that would be Lord Stanley's Cup). Someone help me!!!!

Well gee, if it is such a big problem get a second TV.

I've thought about getting direct TV, but I REALLY OBJECT to the notion of giving up my SSN or signing a contract for *watching TV*. This has kept me away for at least 4 years. I also don't want to have to have a land line at my house to hook the DTV thing into either.

That said - what's your actual cost, terms, etc.

Thanks!
akd

My Masha likes to watch Kultura and the chanel that has the Russian version for Married with Children
(Dasha is very good looking ) On the other hand, I don't have cable and only watch PBS, Deutsche Welle (weiss nicht warum) and Third World Mexican Soccer (golazo! )... all for free (well, I should be paid to go through those Spanish stupid comercials ). So, I got the shivers to think I have to pay in order to get Russian TV but so be it . Direct TV seems the last thing I want to do. There are some Russian TV Packages on the Internet. Does any of you, most honorable people, have any experience with them? I will appreciate any advise. Spasiva valshoi and Forza Zenith!

Get eMule or bittorrent.

Verizon FIOS has Channel 1.

Or just have your wife start watching the American shows. Sure it's nice for her to see some Russian TV shows, but, she's in America and TV is one of the main things that's going to help her with language and assimilation issues. Russian TV, not so much.

I don't really agree with this. Unless you're in an area like Brighton Beach or something, she's going to be assimilating all day long. When I first went to Russia I didn't bring any dvds with me because I figured that watching russian tv would help me with my language skills and it ended up making it far more difficult to adjust to Russia. When i went home for vacation and came back with my DVDs, having all six seasons of Sex and the City improved my quality of life and happiness/stress level greatly. (although I am sure it lessened my guy's quality of life.) Russian TV won't help her language skills, but it's nice after having to deal in a second language all day to be able to sit in front of the tv and watch something in your own language. It's really exhausting to have to speak in your second language all the time.

Por supuesto ... sorry... of course But I think both of you are right. For me it was definitely very difficult when I came to CT from Mexico at a time when there was not Mexican TV (There is still NO good Mexican TV ) so it was always nice to speak Spanish at the end of the day. On the other hand, when in Russia, I didn't miss either English or Spanish. I just submerged myself in the Russian maelstrom and allowed Masha to take care of me. I think Love makes a whole lotta difference... I think I'm about to cry...

Thank you always.

How long were you in Russia for? for me a maelstorm is fine for short periods, but after a couple months...

I agree that it's nice to have a few DVDs or some taped shows or whatever. But, the majority of language; on TV, DVD, the radio, etc., should be in the host country's tongue. If it's not, it's going to be of no help, especially when the wife sits at home (with the new baby) all day doing nothing but watching old country shows.

10 days in August plus 29 in October. You have a point there ...

Actually she has assimilated quite nicely. Lets see she likes to shop, she finds many things wrong with the way I do things and act. She speaks English very well.

But other than that
200 channels for 39.99
5 russian channels for 29.99
New DSL line 30

So Im saving 20 dollars a month dumping comcast. Plus if I ever need more equipment the directTV field office is right behind the building I work in so I have that going for me too.

That is primarily why I did it. She is enjoying herself I just hate missing hockey games. One of my coworkers told me that I should just tell her that I want to watch something else, this is after I told them I watched the inauguration of Medvedev. I laughed and replied "You have never been in a relationship with a Russian woman, you dont order them around, in my house it starts with begging and pleading and then I go to groveling.

Dude, I know you've got a DVR!

Have her (or you) record the shows you wanna watch and check them out later. And Lord Stanley's Cup always takes priority over some political dude's speaches.

Svetlana is not much of a TV watcher, but I will probably get the package when she arrives. Anything to make her feel a little more comfortable. I only recently discovered there are many Russian stores in South Florida. She was thrilled when I told her she could buy a dozen varieties of Kvas here.

And there are a lot of Russian restaurants and clubs in the Miami area too. Went to one a few weeks back for an evening of dancing and entertainment. Live band playing Russian music and everyone in the place was from Moldova, Ukraine, or Russia. Wife and I and another Russian/American couple had a great time.

We have not gone for the Russian TV via dish. My wife likes the American TV programs, many of which she watched in Russia (like CSI). She spends more time online reading Russian newspapers and Russian tabloids. She also has several Russian friends, some former VJ members, that she speaks to regularly in her native language. I am totally amazed how many Russian speakers, mostly members of the former USSR, there are in my city. Before my wife arrived I had no idea there were any at all.

Just from anecdotal evidence, it seems like Miami is the 2nd most popular place for Russiasn to immigrate to in the USA.

Yeah, back before I got married, I used to hang out with Anna (that tennis player) down there sometimes. She gets really clingy though (calls ALL THE TIME, always want's to "hang out", sends me messages like, "I miss you... who are you with and why aren't you with me?" Etc., etc., etc. I just got old. She called more than Beyonce.) so I had to break it off with her. Plus, all those hockey goons kept eyeballin me whenever I was around. I aint tryin to go back to jail for puttin some hip-checker back in his place.

There were a lot of Russkayas down there though. Ever seen Reno 911 The Movie? There's a part on there where this girl is saying something in Russian and posing on the beach.... one of the best scenes of the movie.

OK. Happy mothers day to all.

Yes happy mothers day to all who are or will become mothers.