The Biggest Problem of Russian Brides

Description: According to Elena Petrova from Russian Brides Cyber Guide (www.womenrussia.com), the biggest problem of Russian brides is that they are not prepared for immigration. Russian women are seeking a partner, not a country, and it means they do not research into the culture and laws of their future country, and they do not pay enough attention to learning the language or making new friends.

19 November 2004, Gold Coast, Australia - According to Elena Petrova from Russian Brides Cyber Guide (www.womenrussia.com), the biggest problem of Russian brides is that they are not prepared for immigration. "Russian women are seeking a partner, not a country," -- says Petrova. -- "This means they do not research into the culture and laws of their future country, and they do not pay enough attention to learning the language or finding new friends."

Most Russian women dating western men are affected by "the grass is always greener on the other side" syndrome and they are looking for a knight in shining armor. They believe that foreign men are more courteous, attentive and loving than their Russian counterparts. "For the most women the country of their future partner is of no importance; they care more for the quality of The Man", -- says Elena. -- "They feel once they have found the right man, their life is going to change like in a fairy-tale: first the wedding, and then they will live happily ever after."

This often results in the situation where Russian women arrive to their new country as total strangers, without the knowledge of the culture or the language, and the only contact they have is with their partner/husband. As the result, the women often find themselves vulnerable and isolated.

Some countries, such as Netherlands, have compulsory programs for new immigrants where they can learn the language, laws and culture of the country. Every new migrant has to attend the courses, which are sponsored by the government.

Most other countries, including the USA, do not have similar programs. In Australia wives-migrants can get 510 hours of English tuition for free, but the courses are not mandatory.

"The immigrants arriving to the USA through normal immigrant channels, such as immigration on the basis of skills and qualification or even after winning the Green Card Lottery, they are prepared for immigration because they were looking for a better country and they research into the vital information and connections beforehand," -- says Elena. -- "Russian girls arriving to the USA on marriage visas are often completely unprepared to the challenge they face."

Russia has one of the lowest men to women ratio in the world: according to the latest Russian census, there are 10 million more women than men, or only 88 women for 100 men. At the same time Russian culture requires from a woman to be married, in order to acquire a respectable social status. Because of the demographics and the cultural notion, Russian women are driven to seek partners elsewhere, if they have failed to find them in a 'normal' way.

As Internet becomes more affordable in Russia, it can happen that the numbers of Russian women seeking partners abroad will soar. This means the numbers of Russian women arriving to the USA and other countries on marriage visas will also increase.

"Until Russia develops a new culture that will not require from women to be married, in order to gain a respectable social status, or Russian demographics change, the situation with Russian women marrying western men can continue its dynamics," -- says Elena. - "To protect women from isolation and vulnerability, something should be done on the government level. If the government offered compulsory courses for new migrants where they could learn the language, the laws and the culture of their new country, it would also eliminate the problem of isolation and making new friends and give women an instant support network that they need so much. This very measure would help to avoid most typical problems in international marriages."

Elena Petrova is the owner of websites Russian Brides Cyber Guide (http://www.womenrussia.com) and Elena's Models (http://www.elenasmodels.com).

Russian Brides Cyber Guide provides comprehensive information about Russia and Russian women, with more than 800 pages and weekly updates.

Elena's Models is a dating agency offering introductions to Russian, Ukrainian and Eastern European women seeking dating, love, marriage and romance with western men. Visit http://www.elenasmodels.com to see photos of happy couples that met each other over the Internet.

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If you'd like more information about this topic, please call Elena Petrova at +617.55787977 (9:00-16:00, GMT+10, Australian Eastern Time) or e-mail Elena at http://www.womenrussia.com/contact.htm.

Additional information can be also accessed online at http://www.womenrussia.com/press

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