The World's #1 Russian, Ukrainian & Eastern European Discussion & Information Forum - RUA!

This Is the Premier Discussion Forum on the Net for Information and Discussion about Russia, Ukraine, Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union. Discuss Culture, Politics, Travelling, Language, International Relationships and More. Chat with Travellers, Locals, Residents and Expats. Ask and Answer Questions about Travel, Culture, Relationships, Applying for Visas, Translators, Interpreters, and More. Give Advice, Read Trip Reports, Share Experiences and Make Friends.

Author Topic: One year on  (Read 30747 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
One year on
« on: January 09, 2013, 02:26:01 PM »
We have been married a year now and celebrated our 1st anniversary a few days ago. I don't know how we got through it. The first six months after getting married we were stressed at being apart and the next six months were stressful being together. Have to say, its probably the hardest thing we have ever done, bringing two families together across cultures, languages and nations. Its been incredibly tough going for all of us and it is absolutely true to say that the first year is the hardest. We have had long periods of introspection and doubt but something kept us going.
I dare say the road ahead will have plenty of challenges and hurdles but I am confident that as a couple we grow stronger every day in spite of the difficulties we have faced and no doubt will continue to face together.

To all those who have been there, you have my utmost respect.

DS

Offline GreyScales

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 982
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Trips: 1-5
Re: One year on
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2013, 02:30:25 PM »
Congrats to DS and family!

GS

Offline Muzh_1

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6317
  • Country: tz
Re: One year on
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2013, 02:32:14 PM »
DS, the greatest trip of your life starts with one step.

Happy anniversary and hoping for many more.  tiphat


Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2013, 02:47:42 PM »
Congrats to DS and family!

GS

DS, the greatest trip of your life starts with one step.

Happy anniversary and hoping for many more.  tiphat

Thank you GS & Muzh.

Indeed, this journey is one of many little steps and some leaps of faith...  :BEER:

Offline Halo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4692
  • Country: 00
Re: One year on
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2013, 03:28:10 PM »
Congratulations.
After the fall of communism, the biggest mistake Boris Yeltsin's regime made was not to disband the KGB altogether. Instead it changed its name to the FSB and, to many observers, morphed into a gangster organisation, eventually headed by master criminal Vladimir Putin. - Gerard Batten

Offline Manny

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 19719
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2013, 04:44:10 PM »
Many congratulations.  :party0011:

One year? The hard bit is nearly over.  :)
Read a trip report from North Korea >>here<< - Read a trip report from South Korea, China and Hong Kong >>here<<

Look what the American media makes some people believe:
Putin often threatens to strike US with nuclear weapons.

Offline jamaica_live

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 784
  • Country: ru
  • Gender: Female
  • причиняю добро и наношу пользу
Re: One year on
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2013, 05:14:52 PM »
Congrats!  :party0011:

Waiting impatiently for 2nd and 7th anniversaries.  ;D
People who do not listen to the advice, you can not help.

"В некоторых людях живет Бог, в некоторых - дьявол, а в некоторых только глисты." (God lives in some people, the devil - in others... and in certain people live only worms.)

Online sparky114

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4226
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #7 on: January 09, 2013, 11:54:33 PM »
Congratulations DS  tiphat

As manny says the 1st one is a hard one :coffeeread: but from where i am looking at it from 4+ years on i to wonder how we got here at times but those moments are now very few  :)

Keep going your only a newbie still  ;D
Today is only one day in a life of happiness

Mark

Offline Chris

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14372
  • Country: england
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Chernivtsi, Ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #8 on: January 10, 2013, 01:09:33 AM »
Congratulations DS, yes, hopefully you are over the hump now, it should be all downhill (as in easier) from here  :)
Слава Україні

Offline Brasscasing

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 8299
  • Country: ca
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Committed
  • Trips: 1-5
Re: One year on
« Reply #9 on: January 10, 2013, 02:12:19 AM »
Congratz to the both of you from the both of us, DS.  :)

Brass
“I am a Canadian, free to speak without fear, free to worship in my own way, free to stand for what I think right, free to oppose what I believe wrong, or free to choose those who shall govern my country. This heritage of freedom I pledge to uphold for myself and all mankind."  ~ John Diefenbaker

P.S....Unless you happen to live in Quebec and are subject to the Quebec Charter Of Values, of course.

Offline patagonie

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 753
  • Country: fr
  • Gender: Male
  • Real life is meeting and kissing
  • Spouses Country: ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #10 on: January 10, 2013, 03:49:09 AM »
 tiphat :thumbsup:

Offline rosco

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5939
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #11 on: January 10, 2013, 05:16:54 AM »
Congratulations DS and happy anniversary to you and the good lady. I fully appreciate every word written and pulling the seemingly impossible together and being able to enjoy it means the world. I'm 8 months in and we've had our fair share of ups and downs along the way - but finding love with a wonderful woman is life's reward for all the hard work.

All the best.  tiphat

Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #12 on: January 10, 2013, 03:35:00 PM »
Congratulations DS and happy anniversary to you and the good lady. I fully appreciate every word written and pulling the seemingly impossible together and being able to enjoy it means the world. I'm 8 months in and we've had our fair share of ups and downs along the way - but finding love with a wonderful woman is life's reward for all the hard work.

All the best.  tiphat
Thank you Rosco. I wanted people to know just how difficult this really is but also that there is light at the end and, like everything in life, if you want something, you have to work for it. Is your good lady over yet, I couldn't recall whether her visa had come through or not?

Congratz to the both of you from the both of us, DS.  :)

Brass

Thank you Brass & yr rarebit..:))


Congratulations DS, yes, hopefully you are over the hump now, it should be all downhill (as in easier) from here  :)

Thanks Chris. Was that a freudian slip??  ;D

Congratulations DS  tiphat

As manny says the 1st one is a hard one :coffeeread: but from where i am looking at it from 4+ years on i to wonder how we got here at times but those moments are now very few  :)

Keep going your only a newbie still  ;D


Cheers Sparky. Dunno about being a newbie..feel like a vet now.


Congrats!  :party0011:

Waiting impatiently for 2nd and 7th anniversaries.  ;D

Thanks Jamaica, I'd rather be the tortoise rather than the hare. :laugh:

Many congratulations.  :party0011:

One year? The hard bit is nearly over.  :)

 :travel: Could do with a bit of this....

Congratulations.

Thank you Halo.

 

Offline Vinnvinny

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5674
  • Country: england
  • Gender: Male
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #13 on: January 10, 2013, 04:04:18 PM »
Best wishes to you and your good lady DS.

Offline MBS01

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1025
  • Country: ca
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #14 on: January 10, 2013, 04:43:59 PM »
All the best from our family to yours.  You continue to show that this lifestyle can work as it has for many more of us.  So congratulations!

Offline rosco

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 5939
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #15 on: January 11, 2013, 06:39:39 AM »
Congratulations DS and happy anniversary to you and the good lady. I fully appreciate every word written and pulling the seemingly impossible together and being able to enjoy it means the world. I'm 8 months in and we've had our fair share of ups and downs along the way - but finding love with a wonderful woman is life's reward for all the hard work.

All the best.  tiphat
Thank you Rosco. I wanted people to know just how difficult this really is but also that there is light at the end and, like everything in life, if you want something, you have to work for it. Is your good lady over yet, I couldn't recall whether her visa had come through or not?

Yea she's been here for almost 3 months now but will return home on Wednesday for exams at the end of the month. To add to weight to your point on how difficult it really is, my wife's visitor visa runs out in Feb. As you may recall, the new UK settlement rules only recently changed and her spouse visa was rejected on the basis that 'they weren't satisfied that I demonstrated that I met the minimum income level'. This all came around due to difficulty comprehending an income packing made up of salary and dividend, and bank statements, pay slips, tax codes, a dear Biff and Chip letter, income portfolio and dividend vouchers showing earnings massively above £18,600 weren't enough to satisfy our new friend.

So.....she returns home for exams not knowing when she'll be back. We got a really nice letter on Xmas eve saying that it could be July/August before an appeal hearing, but I've read that the ECO will first reconsider his original decision and take into account the document from my accountant which clears things up beyond any doubt. Fingers crossed her visa is granted soon but I've contacted my MP and complained in the mean time. Even with a backlog of illegal overstays and people fighting extradition, our case could easily be cleared up in half an hour and if it wasn't for her having a visitors visa, we would be apart for 14 months after marriage.....BS.  >:(

So there you go, chapter and verse but thanks for asking.  tiphat   

Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #16 on: January 11, 2013, 08:10:48 AM »
Rosco sent you a PM

Offline vendelo

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 663
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: USA/Hong Kong
  • Status: Engaged
  • Trips: 5-10
Re: One year on
« Reply #17 on: January 12, 2013, 11:45:28 AM »
Congratulations dog! Your success gives me hope that I can also make my relationship succeed. Keep us posted!

Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: One year on
« Reply #18 on: January 12, 2013, 02:00:46 PM »
Congratulations dog! Your success gives me hope that I can also make my relationship succeed. Keep us posted!

Thanks. All the best to you, too.

Offline Dogsoldier

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4184
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Україна
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 10-20
Re: 2 years on
« Reply #19 on: January 04, 2014, 06:07:44 AM »
Our 2nd anniversary is looming a few days hence. 2 years on the battles are fewer and the compromises easier. We've celebrated 4 christmases together. A lot has changed and things are still changing but we are more settled together as a couple.
The unchanging motto is; you have to work at it every day.

Online sparky114

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 4226
  • Country: gb
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Russia
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: 2 years on
« Reply #20 on: January 04, 2014, 06:42:48 AM »
Our 2nd anniversary is looming a few days hence. 2 years on the battles are fewer and the compromises easier. We've celebrated 4 christmases together. A lot has changed and things are still changing but we are more settled together as a couple.
The unchanging motto is; you have to work at it every day.

Congrats DS

Today is only one day in a life of happiness

Mark

Offline ECR844

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 7142
  • Country: us
  • Gender: Male
  • Searching for the word I will become
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: Resident
Re: One year on
« Reply #21 on: January 04, 2014, 06:46:13 AM »
Congrats DS

Offline MBS01

  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1025
  • Country: ca
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #22 on: January 04, 2014, 09:13:27 AM »
All the best to another couple who are making the Western and FSU relationship work.  You two carry on in the tradition of many of us here who have done as you and those still seeking to make it happen.  Again have a great celebration with many more to follow.

Offline Chris

  • Moderator
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 14372
  • Country: england
  • Gender: Male
  • Spouses Country: Chernivtsi, Ukraine
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 20+
Re: One year on
« Reply #23 on: January 04, 2014, 09:58:54 AM »
Congratulations DS and Olga!   :party0011:
 
Chris & Ira
Слава Україні

Offline NS1

  • Supporting Member
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6890
  • Country: ca
  • Gender: Male
  • Status: Married
  • Trips: 5-10
Re: One year on
« Reply #24 on: January 04, 2014, 10:30:40 AM »
Congrats, Mr & Mrs DS, wishing you many more.
First class people:)
There is nothing permanent except change.