Well, I think I can say that I had the trip of a lifetime! It all started around the beginning of December 2005 when my oldest brother and I were talking about being single and all the things that are wrong with American women. I had told him that I had been communicating with a few Russian women on a dating website but, they were all trying to scam me into sending them money for their “Quick Visa” to the U.S. The problem was that I knew that Russian and Ukrainian women were good people, I just didn’t know of a way to get to know any of these women without being taken for a ride. There are several honest sites out there that will nickel and dime you to death, just to write the girls. And even then they don’t guarantee a response. So, after discussing this with my brother, he smiled and said, “A friend of mine knows of this web site called Marianna’s Marriage Agency….” Of course I smiled back and said, “This friends name wouldn’t happen to be the same as yours, would it?”  He emphatically said that he was referred to Marianna’s by someone he worked with and that several years ago he had written several women on the site but, because of some unexpected life events had decided to put things on hold.

After discussing things for a few hours, he showed me the website and immediately, I was hooked. Of course the first thing I did was go straight for the pictures. Forget reading about Marianna’s and all the services they provide if you aren’t going to be interested in the real reason you are there. Right off the bat, I saw at least 10 women that seemed really nice and beautiful. But, there was one that really captured my attention. She is 23, beautiful red hair, big green eyes, and a mischievous smile that showed some serious thought in what she was doing. Not to mention, she is drop dead gorgeous and sexy…I decided right there that I would write her and a few other girls, just to see what happened. Guys, I would strongly suggest taking Marianna up on the special - one intro letter to 6 women deal…Anyway, the first reply I got was within about a week and it was from my beautiful red headed Ukrainian Angel, Anna. She said that she was excited about receiving my letter and that the more she read the more interested she became. Another suggestion to those of you who are not quite sure where to start in an introduction letter; be honest, show your humor early on in the letter, write like you are talking to her, and try to talk about some things in her profile. Most importantly, be your self! These ladies are smart and they know a BS’er…Back to Anna now…Her letter to me showed a woman who loved nature, was kind and thoughtful, a woman who saw beauty in everything and most importantly a woman who wanted to build a family together with a good man. Notice I said a good man, not a great man or rich man, a good man! I say that because most of us guys are good men, we have our faults and have done some wrong things however, we are good men because we have learned from our mistakes and don’t wish to do anyone wrong. Our main goal is to love and learn to be loved in return…

Let me fast forward a little bit because this will take a week to read…I continued to write several women, including Anna but, I had sent Anna some flowers in which she took the candy basket because, I didn’t think about this before then, they would freeze before she could get them home. Most all Ukrainian women don’t drive and either walk or take public transportation. Find an American woman that does that and isn’t interested in what you drive and I’d say marry her…Anyway, I decided I’d go to Ukraine over Valentine’s Day because it’s a good romantic time of year and I was looking for the love of my life. So, I contacted Cecil and spoke to him for about an hour. We had a good discussion on life, women and love…It just confirmed everything that I was feeling. Of course, he’s a business man and wanted to do business with me however, I could tell that he didn’t care as much about the money as he did my happiness and more importantly, the ladies on his website. After our discussion, Cecil immediately sent me everything that I needed to know because I had about a month to get tickets and get on the plane. Another suggestion, don’t do something like this if you are making a major career change and moving half way across country…I lost most of what was left of my hair…

I had no problems getting to Chernovtsy and even met Bo (another very satisfied member of Marianna’s engaged membership) on the plane. He had written a great testimonial that truly convinced me to take the chance. We even flew back to the states together…He’s a good man and I am so happy that he found his love through Marianna’s….Good luck Bo!!! Once I arrived, I was met by my interpreter and Vadim, Marianna’s Uncle and co-manager of the Ukrainian office. They were friendly and funny. They made sure I got settled into a hotel for the night because someone was leaving the next day and they were still in the apartment I was going to be staying in for the rest of the week. Sasha and Vadim also made sure that I knew some rules and they understood that my trip was long and I was tired. The next day they picked me up and I began interviewing some of the women I was interested in. Which I must say, they are all great women. I was so amazed at how honest these women were. If they didn’t feel a connection, they would tell Sveta, who knows these girls like they were her daughters. All I could think about was getting to my interview with Anna. I was so interested in seeing her in person and seeing how she responded to me. Fortunately, she was later in the day and I was a little more comfortable however, when she walked in the door, I was both nervous yet oddly at ease with her. I can’t explain it but, it was like I knew her all my life…Sveta had tried to tell me and I listened to every word Sveta said, that Anna was really picky. If she wasn’t interested in me, that was it, no second chances. Well, after the interview and after Sveta spoke with Anna, I felt like I could walk on water. We were both very interested in each other and I knew right then that we were going to get engaged.

The next night Anna and I went out on our first date and it was awesome. We laughed and joked around and had a generally good time. Not once did I feel the need, like with American women, to try to be something I was not.  I felt comfortable just being myself, making little mistakes or just being goofy. The whole time, I didn’t feel like she was judging me to see how perfect I was, she was simply seeing what kind of a man I was.

The night I proposed to Anna, I was nervous because Sasha had me write out in Russian and practice all afternoon what I would say to Anna. We had set up a way for Sasha to get the ring to the waiter and for me to have a few minutes alone with Anna. When the waiter brought in the ring on a platter, Anna thought it was some kind of desert…She had no idea that I was going to propose to her. I then got down on one knee, took her left had and began trying to speak Russian. I ended up getting stuck on a word, and had to reach in my pocket to pull out my cheat sheet. When I looked up, Anna was crying and laughing at the same time…It was at that moment that I truly knew she was the one for me and that I had made the right decision in going to Chernovtsy. Later that evening, we were sitting on the couch at the apartment when Sasha came to pick us up. Sasha ask me a question and I stumbled with the words for a second when Anna picked up the English-Ukrainian dictionary and began going “Ummm, Ummm, Ummm”…while she was flipping pages….Obviously making light of my proposal to her a few hours earlier.

Words can not ever accurately describe Anna. She is truly an Angel to me. I know she’s not perfect, none of us are but, she has brought out the best in me. There is nothing that I want more in this world than to be Anna’s husband and for us to build that family together. I thank God everyday for the joy of knowing Anna and the privilege of being her fiancée.

I have been back in the States one month to the day of this testimonial. It has been both exciting, thinking about all the things Anna and I will discover together, and extremely long and lonely waiting for the day she can come home to me. However, I would not trade the loneliest day I’ve had in the last month with the happiest day I had when I was married. Because every lonely day is now filled with hope and thoughts of someone with whom I am falling ever so deeply in love with. After all, that is what we are all seeking isn’t it? Love!

Thanks for reading my long winded testimonial. I wanted to write more because it makes me feel physically closer to Anna but, I won’t.

Thank you Cecil, Sveta, Sasha and Vadim for everything you have done for me. And I would especially like to thank Marianna for all the extra things she is helping Anna and I with…

So what are you waiting for? Write that letter and get on a plane….and find the happiness you’ve been seeking!

Rai

P.S. My oldest brother is now planning his trip to Chernovtsy, just don’t have a firm date yet…

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