New and eager to learn

Hello All,

Just wanted to drop a line and say hello.

I should tell you right away that I think I know 4 russian words
and a phrase or two. Neither of which will allow me to ask where the bathroom is if I find myself in Russia!

With that being said, I am seriously thinking of travelling to Odessa.

Yes, I have been smitten! She knows very little english and I know very little russian. We are both 99.9% sure we are in love with each other.
Our meeting now has been boiled down to a mere formality

However, I cannot just pick up the phone and call her (or can I?) whenever I want. 1, due to time zones and 2 cost :(

So I am going to attempt to learn Russian and stay in contact with the young lady, whatever it takes.

So for your future help, I thank you all. You will see plenty of posts from me trying to figure out which way is up.

I already have a few books and and a Pimsleur basic Russian CD
so, if i can stick to my studies, I should be ok.

Once again thanks in advance to all who help. If it works out the way we plan, you're all invited to the wedding!!

-Jeff

You and emad lol :D

welcome to the forum.

LOL yes I saw his poll.

email->meet->love

Love however does not necessarily mean children.

Why can't a couple be happily in love WITHOUT children?

-JJ

Does your girlfriend want children or something? :wink:

I would say having children doesn't add to love but rather it puts a huge burden on it.

We have talked about having children and yes, she would like to have them someday. But it is not at the forefront of our relationship.

I was actually just commenting on some of the answers to eMAD's poll

JeffJ: yeah, you actually can call her whenever you want :)

If the cost is an issue, you should contact your phone company and ask them what sort of rates theyhave for eastern europe. I know that for my landline at home, I pay $10 / month and can make calls to Russia where the first ten minutes are free, and after that it is ten cents / minute. Also, Cingular has a plan where you pay $3.99/month, and your calls are 23 cents / minute to a mobile, and i think 15 cents / minute to a land line. Calling cards also work too.

tdk2fe, Thanks for the info!

But at this point in time I would DEFINITELY need an interpreter or translator. The conversation would most definitely be short-lived.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

...
Yes, I have been smitten! She knows very little english and I know very little russian. We are both 99.9% sure we are in love with each other.
Our meeting now has been boiled down to a mere formality
...

---

If you guys can't understand each other, how would it possible you both fell in love? Have you guys met already and spent some time together?

We met via website that has interpreters for her ;)

No we have not physically met, but hopefully soon

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

However, I cannot just pick up the phone and call her (or can I?) whenever I want. 1, due to time zones and 2 cost :(

---

Have you tried Skype? I've found it to be a most excellent way of communicating via voice.

If your lady also has Internet, you can use Skype for free to speak to eachother.

If she doesn't have Internet, I've called Russia for $0.048 (land) or $0.049 (mobile) per minute using Skype's optional "SkypeOut" service.

It might be the solution you're looking for. http://www.skype.com

I hope you and your lady are well. :) Good luck!


Edit:
For an entirely land based solution, USA Datanet has rates as low as $0.17 per minute. http://www.usadatanet.com/international.html

OK guys, I promise to be nice.....No jokes about the Green Card Express or about Roosky love scams...........

Save yourself some cash JeffJ and get a phone card
www.justphonecards.com

Biancca...your avatar is upside-down...but I assume it's inentional. And no Valkyrie hemet?! :wink:

Jeff...yep, Skype is a no-cost option, if she's got a computer...but you'll still need an interpreter...where do you live in the U.S.? Any Russian community nearby? You could probably find someone to translate, and there are certainly lots of translators available on the net. Are you going thru an agency?

As for learning Russian, Pimsleur is a good start for pronounciation and basic words/phrases...but you're going to need a native teacher if you want to achieve some measure of fluency in spoken Russian. A book won't cut it, I'm afraid.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JB

OK guys, I promise to be nice.....No jokes about the Green Card Express or about Roosky love scams...........

---

JB's feeling benevolent tonight. :wink:

Why are all these love-sick puppies attracted to OUR forum :lol:.

JB,

OMG :o

Thats totally awesome!! THANK YOU!

Yes, I have to admit it, I paid dearly on that website.

They were however very helpful in translation and phone connections, but
wow not those prices!

Which is a decent card? How does it all work? Do I pay for a card, call Russia and get dinged for a connection fee plus the card plus time spent connected?

Anybody have a translation table I can download to my brain?

(lol green card express, I like that)


Dobry,
I am located in Wisconsin. Russian community in this area? More German than anything, with a sprinkling of Chinese.

Yes I was going through an agency, but their site is always being eiter repaired or upgraded that I have gotten frustrated and left. So right now, I have been trying to use that site to call her, but their site keeps stopping at the billing info page without errors. (Not gaining any confidence with me).


Thanks, -Jeff

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

Yes I was going through an agency, but their site is always being eiter repaired or upgraded that I have gotten frustrated and left. So right now, I have been trying to use that site to call her, but their site keeps stopping at the billing info page without errors. (Not gaining any confidence with me).


Thanks, -Jeff

---

I've got a feeling I'm going to regret asking...but Jeff, have you spoken to her before? Or only letters thru the website/agency? You've got her email? How long have you been corresponding?

(I'm already seeing the gears turning in JB's mind) :lol:

Seriously though, Jeff, has the agency been a 'middleman' in all of your communications? We're just trying to be protective, that's all.

Yes, the site has been the middleman throughout our correspondence.

(Ducking out of JB's way.... here it comes)

No I have not been able to contact her via phone becuase their service is not functioning.

-JJ

well i wonder if you have ever given money to any nice nigerian businessmen :)
but good luck...
btw there are russian communities pretty much everywhere...

Yes Actually I have is that bad thing??


:P

NO, I did not. The website is Anastasiaweb.com. Is this a site not to be trusted?

http://www.anastasiawebscam.com/
http://www.antiscam.net/modules.php?nam ... le&sid=371

Hmmm ? :)

:o

That last one is very disheartening.

Am I to believe I have been duped?

Should I continue correspondence or break it off and let it go?

I have not contacted her yet outside of the website yet.
Am I wasting my time? Have I wasted my time?

Dunno, do you have her email address? If you want, we can send her a letter, I'll translate it for you!

Check this one out too : http://agencyscams.com/Alert.htm

And this: http://www.russian-women-forum.com/view ... -SCAM.html

Oh, and this: http://www.agencyscams.com/Complaints/Anastasiaweb.htm

Here is a counter web-site... http://www.acutabove-onlinedating.com/r ... scams.html

:dunno:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JeffJ

:o

That last one is very disheartening.

Am I to believe I have been duped?

Should I continue correspondence or break it off and let it go?

I have not contacted her yet outside of the website yet.
Am I wasting my time? Have I wasted my time?

---

Jeff, relax and step back a minute.

I think the point that's being made is that a red flag goes up whenever one of these agencies does not allow direct contact...that you must go thru the agency for everything. I think reputable agencies would give you her direct contact info.

I would be very suspicious about the phone stuation and billing.

I know nothing about Anastasia agency, but good work vinnie finding that scam info!

But here's another problem...I've heard that some of the "antiscam" sites are in fact scams themselves, designed to destroy competitors, and some are simply "opinion sites" without actual proof, from men who believe they've been scammed because the relationship didn't develop for whatever reason, including legitimate reasons.

The "lawsuit/FBI" website I'm slightly concerned about because that's not how attorneys, or the FBI, usually operate...advertising legal actions/investigations and posting notices on somone's private website. That's a "civil" suit, not a "criminal" prosecution, so the website is slightly misleading, making the whole matter look extremely serious and officious, especially with the frankly unrelated "FBI Notice" that mentions NOTHING about Anastasia, or any other agency....a very general FBI request for info about dating scams.

I just hate smoke and mirrors...except in magic shows. :lol:

So who to believe? Which agencies or antiscam sites can you trust? There certainly are scams out there, but not every agency or woman is a scammer, either. And every antiscam site is not necessarily giving the complete and whole truth.

Jeff, you could try calling the DOJ in Southern California and talking to this SA Rankhorn personally about your situation, see if he knows anything about Anastasia. Most SA's will talk to people who call. Just think you're talking to Mulder or Scully. :wink:

If you know her full name, then you might be able to track her down in Odessa, and bypass the agency.

Barring that, I would be a wee-bit concerned about heading over to Odessa for someone you've never spoken with, don't know her full name, number and address.

Anyway, my other concern is how long have you been corresponding? How many letters before "love" came up? Honestly I think most sincere, intelligent women would not fall deeply in love thru mere correspondence, with someone they've never met, seen, or spoken with. This is the other red flag to me.

And don't worry Jeff...JB will probably come at me first! :wink: :lol:

Loved that last link, how to "FEEL" if you are being scammed :lol: (and of course anastasia site "FEELS" honest!) :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Dobry,

Thanks for all the great information!

We have not actually told each other we love each other. and we both agree that we must meet first before we can actually release our feelings.

So I do think she is real, not an automaton spitting outlies.

Yes, I have her full name and address. But, the site will not allow
phone numbers and email addresses. So I am forced to work through the postal system (wonderful :roll: ). I have a letter ready to go for her, but I am not sure how to address it? Is it the same way there as it is here? I mean name, address, city, state, zip?

I am determined until I am shot down in flames.

on envelope;

top line= city and zip
next line= street, house, apt#
bottom line= her last name followed by first and patronimic
under all this I write RUSSIA in big letters (so our postal service immediately throws it in the out of country bin)

take this to post office and send airmail (about 80 cents per ounce)
Don't send money, presents, jewelry etc. It's safest to send all cards and letters in a cardboard 5"x7" photo mailer envelope sealed with clear packing tape. (Russian postal workers love to slice open leters from America looking for cash.)

Going down in flames will be painful. Is a "girl" (or Nigerian,or Russian guy) you don't know worth it?

I have to know.

Once I know, then you can scatter my ashes :wink:

Is she worth it? If it is truly her behind the letters, then yes

Anastasia International is listed as a memeber of the Bangor, Maine Chamber of Commerce. You might try calling them to see if there have been any complaints or reports of scams. Also check with the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia, the FBI, and any other police agencies that investigate mail and internet fraud and crimes.

Geez, nothing like the warm blanket of depression!

Welcome to reality.

Man, people suck.

(not all, just the assrims)

I'm just the messenger. But you knew that love over the internet with a person you can't see or talk to, coordinated by a service that charges you to send and receive messages through them, was kinda fishy. You knew this before you joined this forum. Now if you want to meet a real Russian girl you have to do it the realistic way. Learn Russian, join a Russian church or community group in America, or study or work in Russia.

If I were to run a dating (scam) website, I would find the most beautiful women and post them on the site, I would charge a lot of money for letter translation, I would not allow the clients to communicate outside my website, I would give bonuses to the women who drum up the most business, and I would dump the women who get the least business.
Hey, that sounds like Anastasia :o

Well, It _may_ be legitimate. Their business model is suspicious and I am sure that even a legitimate agency would often serve as a medium for a "professional bride" :) but many real girls are doing this, too.

definitely write that letter and ask her for an email and a telephone #. i think there probably are some translation services that would help you for less than the agency charges, too.

Too late to change my name to: эвфемистическое упот ?