How westernized is the East?

[EnergyAZ]

Last night I was doing a bunch of websurfing.  I saw some concert footage of American rock band Linkin Park playing in Odessa last summer to a crowd of about 12,000 - many of which were singing along in clear english.  You could have told me the footage was filmed in the US and I would have believed it.

I hear Madonna had a show up on Kiev a couple months ago. I have read a few articles talking about how many FSU girls are more or less little different than their western counterparts..materialistic, self centered, and ignorant (Paris Hilton wanna-bes)

That there are McDonalds and TGI Fridays and Louis Vitton handbags are saught after.   I imagine most women under 40 are familiar with Lady GaGa and iPods.

Heck, I also read how obesity is becoming an issue. 

 So..for those who have been there, were you disappointed to see some things you had (in a sense) looked to leave behind you?

I remember walking around in Playa del Carmen Mexico feelling it was a lovely and quaint Mexican sea side village, until I rounded a corner and saw a McDonalds & Hooters restraunts.  That popped my little 'Viva la Mexico' bubble some.  You want to experience a different culture, not their version of your culture...ya know?  (not to imply the east lost its identity..I am sure I can get a taste of the local flavor!)

So..how quickly are they westernizing out there?  Do you find you went 1/2 way around the world only to meet women who remind you of girls back home?

[Muzh_1]

I think you will be surprised.

[Vinnvinny]

I think you will be surprised.

... or even shocked. 

[EnergyAZ]

I think you will be surprised.

Good surprised or bad?   

I would be going out there primarily as a traveller and I am sure I will get plenty of real taste of a different world.  I am just curious how quickly they are changing out there.

[Larry]

I imagine most women under 40 are familiar with Lady GaGa and iPods.

iPods?  Those are for pikers.  If the girl is under 35 you'll need to bring an iPhone, like WWII GIs brought chocolates and nylons to give to the European girls.

Heck, I also read how obesity is becoming an issue.

God, I hope not.  Where will we go to find slender girls then?

[Vinnvinny]

I imagine most women under 40 are familiar with Lady GaGa and iPods.

iPods?  Those are for pikers.  If the girl is under 35 you'll need to bring an iPhone, like WWII GIs brought chocolates and nylons to give to the European girls.

iPhone?  Those are for pikers.  If the girl is under 30 you'll need to bring an iPad.

[Larry]

  If the girl is under 30 you'll need to bring an iPad.

The arms race has heated up. 

What do you bring for an under 25 year old girl?

[Muzh_1]

  If the girl is under 30 you'll need to bring an iPad.

The arms race has heated up. 

What do you bring for an under 25 year old girl?

A Mercedes.

[Vinnvinny]

  If the girl is under 30 you'll need to bring an iPad.

The arms race has heated up. 

What do you bring for an under 25 year old girl?

One of your sons ...... 

[Muzh_1]

I think you will be surprised.

Good surprised or bad?   

I would be going out there primarily as a traveller and I am sure I will get plenty of real taste of a different world.  I am just curious how quickly they are changing out there.

AZ

Lots of Western businesses. Lots of Mercedes, BMWs, SUVs. Supermarkets everywhere. Also lots of European Boutiques.

Now, wander away from the city.

[sashathecat]

My wife and her friends are in their mid twenties. In some regards there is not much difference with the women in that age range here in the US. Some of her friends seem to be more materialistic than the women here and are exactly the type of girls WM are running from.

Things are changing fast but I feel the many of the women still have certain traits that I personally prefer in a partner. I would nudge my brothers and most of my good friends in the direction of the FSU if they are serious.

[EnergyAZ]

Crap!

So these girls have become 'Scottsdale east'?

(Scottsdale being an upscale community in the Phoenix are ripe with materialism..BMWs, Prada, etc)

Are they starting to get cartoonish breast implants and spend too much time in tanning booths as well? 

[Muzh_1]

Yep, so that means you have your work cut out for you. 

[EnergyAZ]

Yep, so that means you have your work cut out for you. 

Its a little disappointing to know there may be some unpleasant familiarities.   But always have our work cut out for us..they are women after all!

[Manny]

Things are changing fast.

They are. Across the FSU. I saw it markedly in Estonia the last few years. In the past, you almost never saw an overweight woman there. I mean like never. If you did, she was probably a British tourist.

Then some affluence happened. More driving and less walking happened. Fast food became affordable, etc.

Now there are fat arses everywhere. 

I noticed it in Russia in 2008 which is what led to this post.

Poorer places get fatter last, because the money is slower to arrive.

The MOB industry is a fluid thing. People are going further away to get what they want. This is the tail end of a bubble.