Visiting my honey in Sochi

[irish44 0]

Interesting city.. I did put up a small website if anyone cares to look, of my trip.

I put up some pics, sounds, and impressions. http://irish1.startlogic.com

Thanks all for the great board and warm welcome!

[slim 1,514]

Cool website!

When I returned from Moscow I was wanting to show something like this to my buddies that were like, "So what was it like over there?" (I knew what they really wanted to see... you've done a nice job of showing us!)

I've gotta get my Quicktime player updated. Couldn't watch the movies. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for sharing.

[irish44 0]

Cool website!

When I returned from Moscow I was wanting to show something like this to my buddies that were like, "So what was it like over there?" (I knew what they really wanted to see... you've done a nice job of showing us!)

I've gotta get my Quicktime player updated. Couldn't watch the movies. I'll see what I can do.

Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Slim. Weird, but they play sometimes, and sometimes not. If not, download them and play locally.

Glad you enjoyed the site! You know, I was thinking of putting a few people's photos and stories on it as well.

Are you interested?

[eekee 182]

Interesting website! I liked reading your thoughts on Russia, although I must admit I am always compelled to defend the Russian male.

[irish44 0]

Interesting website! I liked reading your thoughts on Russia, although I must admit I am always compelled to defend the Russian male.

I did not mean to offend, eekee! Please let me be clear that this applies to Sochi only. Tanya has told me that this does not apply for the most part to the men in Moscow, St. Petersberg, or other larger cities! It is that Sochi is a tourist town and thus is a bit different than the others and Russia as a whole.

[eekee 182]

Interesting website! I liked reading your thoughts on Russia, although I must admit I am always compelled to defend the Russian male.

I did not mean to offend, eekee! Please let me be clear that this applies to Sochi only. Tanya has told me that this does not apply for the most part to the men in Moscow, St. Petersberg, or other larger cities! It is that Sochi is a tourist town and thus is a bit different than the others and Russia as a whole.

Oh, I'm not offended--I am definitely acquainted with several Russian men for whom your descriptions are right on the money. But I also know a lot of really great ones.

[Satellite 1]

How did your fiancée let you take so many pictures of other girls?

I also remember reading your had an interpreter "Irina" with you? How does that work? Does she like hold the candle and translate when you propose?

Edited February 9, 2008 by Satellite

[irish44 0]

How did your fiancée let you take so many pictures of other girls?

I also remember reading your had an interpreter "Irina" with you? How does that work? Does she like hold the candle and translate when you propose?

As I said, this was just a 10 minute walk around the plaza. I took many hours of Russian lessons, so I could speak enough to be able to propose on my own.

In fact, out of all the days I was there, Irina only translated for us very few times. On our first date, I told Irina that I wanted to be with Tanya on my own. We definitely couldn't talk to each other very well but with the help of a piece of paper and a pen to draw, it worked out fine. It was also a means to see if we had that spark that no language barrier could stop. Fortunately, we really had a great time and laughed with each other over the language thing. She has been taking English lessons since September and is doing great. The problem is since we talk on the phone every day, and as her English is improving, our conversations are getting much longer and the phone bills are growing!

[slim 1,514]

Are you interested?

Sure. I'm not really a page builder but I can type like a mofo and have a few photos. Not too many good "crowd shots" but a few general photos.

Plenty of stories too since I was there with my "single" buddy. He and I arrived three days before my then fiancee and we also got the kitchen pass to go party while she and her sister were hanging out at home. It was a somewhat taxing trip because my buddy wanted me to party with him all night (and strangely enough, she was OK with that) and she wanted me to sightsee and hang out all day.

Still though, one of the best two week periods of my life and I'd be willing to share it.

How did your fiancée let you take so many pictures of other girls?

I also remember reading your had an interpreter "Irina" with you? How does that work? Does she like hold the candle and translate when you propose?

As I said, this was just a 10 minute walk around the plaza. I took many hours of Russian lessons, so I could speak enough to be able to propose on my own.

In fact, out of all the days I was there, Irina only translated for us very few times. On our first date, I told Irina that I wanted to be with Tanya on my own. We definitely couldn't talk to each other very well but with the help of a piece of paper and a pen to draw, it worked out fine. It was also a means to see if we had that spark that no language barrier could stop. Fortunately, we really had a great time and laughed with each other over the language thing. She has been taking English lessons since September and is doing great. The problem is since we talk on the phone every day, and as her English is improving, our conversations are getting much longer and the phone bills are growing!

It is possible to take pictures of more beautiful girls in 10 minutes in parts of Russia than all day here. Hell, just walking through the Metro terminals was better for me than nightclubs here.

I wish I would've had an interpreter. Maybe she and I could've ascertained what happened to the girl I knew way back when, back when my wife and I first started dating. Because that woman that showed up to Moscow, and the one that lives here now.... they're all different, and who knows who they are! Come to think of it, a translator probably wouldn't have been able to help anyway. That's all I need is another woman trying to tell me what I'm saying.

[Satellite 1]

In fact, out of all the days I was there, Irina only translated for us very few times. On our first date, I told Irina that I wanted to be with Tanya on my own.

So did you have to pay for the interpreter to fly with you to Sochi or is your fiancée from Sochi to begin with? Also how does one find a job as an interpreter for these kind of things. My wife is interested. I can do it too if necessary Any kind of interpretation work from emails to dates. It's good money I take it, since wealthy Americans are paying. Edited February 10, 2008 by Satellite

[irish44 0]

In fact, out of all the days I was there, Irina only translated for us very few times. On our first date, I told Irina that I wanted to be with Tanya on my own.

So did you have to pay for the interpreter to fly with you to Sochi or is your fiancée from Sochi to begin with? Also how does one find a job as an interpreter for these kind of things. My wife is interested. I can do it too if necessary Any kind of interpretation work from emails to dates. It's good money I take it, since wealthy Americans are paying.

Both of them are from Sochi. I met Tanya through an excellent agency and that was part of their service. As Tanya also works, there were many hours that Irina and I would just sit and chat together and we became good friends. Irina speaks English like an American with almost no accent as she studied English in Russia for over 8 years.

I think that if you both are bilingual in Russian there are opportunities. I think that translating phone calls and letters to/from Russia would be good. You could offer to chaperone for the whole trip I suppose, but I think that it would be very expensive and would be a small part of the business. If I were in your situation I would look at the phone/letter translation service and also to help with sending gifts to Russia, which are things that most folks would need help with. Also, finding decent hotels or apartments can be difficult and that is something that might be an opportunity for you. Perhaps offer some literature for a specific trip. Maps, advice, and help with cultural differences, are things that would ease a trip for an American in my opinion.

Good Luck!

[lirachadsbaby 0]

just lovin it

[Gordon 0]

Sounds like you have been on a wonderful adventure. My fiancé' lives in Kerch and I have been there a few times. It is definitely the wild west. I enjoyed every moment of it. It is always great to get back to the states for the comforts that we are use to.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

I think Sasha would have my nuts if I had so many photos of random Russian girls I captured plenty of Russian ladies walking by while making films, but it was because I was interested in the fashion more than anything. but even then I felt a bit guilty. Also, my Sasha is one of those girls that men would probably try to photograph as she passed.

Edited February 12, 2008 by Jason-Sasha

[Chris Parker 10]

Interesting city.. I did put up a small website if anyone cares to look, of my trip.

I put up some pics, sounds, and impressions. http://irish1.startlogic.com

Thanks all for the great board and warm welcome!

Ok, that's a creative website to be sure...

Russian has indeed adopted the word "supermarket", and even in Sochi, you will see such stores occassionally. In downtown Sochi, the biggest supermarket's name is "Paterson".

Sochi needs a lot of work to get ready for the 2014 winter olympics---all the broken traffic lights have to get turned back on to eliminate the traffic congestions this causes daily (such as on the road along the Riveria park), and the Adler International airport definitely needs to build a completely new terminal building. I'm still holding my breath waiting to see a commercial airline to begin offering a regular flight into Sochi from somewhere outside FSU.

Edited February 12, 2008 by Chris Parker