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Blane and
Lyuda's Story
Index
I. The one chance in a million first contact
II. The
first emails
III. Our first meeting in Moscow
IV. First visit to
Cheboksary
V. Lyuda
Arrives in Chicago
VI. Wedding
Bells
The one chance in a million first contact
 In
1995, I was 26 year old school teacher with 7 years experience. One day
I was talking with my girlfriend about many things. I showed to her some
of my recent pictures. She was amazed by one picture but I did not like this picture. For me
I did not look like myself. She
said 'Lyuda, this picture of you so nice, believe me, why don't you
try to sent to some marriage magazine and see how people would like it'. I
didn't like this idea and did not have
any idea of process of sending pictures, filling out form. I did not know English for that.
Of course I knew some English from school and
university but
when you do not use a language you forget it. She offered her help, she knows excellent English .So, after much, much convincing we send my picture and
profile. My picture was published in magazine then magazine went out of business and sold
pictures to company on the Web. The
words mentioned my interests in nature, friends, books and
classical music. Much time
went by and I had all but forgotten about this.
 Meantime, in the
US, September 1996, I was a confirmed bachelor of 40, searching the internet for
"classic car parts" for my 1968 GTO. After of looking at many
sites. All of a sudden
the incredible picture above dominated the screen. At first, I just
snickered, noting that this was no car part and got on with my search. In the space of the next several days
though, her picture returned again, and again and again. First, I thought one of the
hacks from work was playing a trick on me. After the frequency
exceeded that probability, I thought "Is someone
else trying to tell me
something here?". After over a week of this, I decided to
write and ask her if she knew why my computer liked her picture so much. Over the next few days, I
actually caught myself looking for her picture.
After receiving a partial address, I decided to hire
an interpreter in Moscow to help find her. Through internet email Lika from Moscow
agreed to help me. Within 3
days Lika had located an old friend of hers in Lyuda's home
town. What surprised me was that knew exactly where Lyuda lived.
What was the probability of this
!
Was someone trying to tell me
something here?
My first letter was on it�s way.
The
first emails
After half a year
I had received many letters from American men. Some
told me about their dramas, most said about money, cars, houses, material
things. Many of letters were nice but I did not feel I could
find my type of man.
One day I had phone call. It was lady from Moscow, she introduced herself
as Lika- interpreter of Blane Land. She told me he saw my picture he wants
to send email. I did not know what to tell. It was unexpected call
with news about man who like my picture and felt he had to
send email. Who is he? Email? I did not have email assess? I did talk for a while with this lady asking who is he, how he found my
picture, why did he hire you, why did he not want to send regular letterset.
She was very tactful and answer my questions. She arranged phone call to her friend
in my city who had email access
so I can get email from a Mr. Blane Land.
Lika's friend Natalya first gave me the letter from
Blane. When I read this
letter I felt something unusual and on same time something familiar and
warm. The letter was Lika's translation but I heard Blane's
words from heart not mind. I read many, many, many times because it was so
unusual to see similar thoughts and point of view in life. I couldn't
believe how 2 people from different country, from different cultures can
have same thoughts.
I did not answer this email right away .I was still thinking about amazing
similarity of thoughts, about sincere words of letter.
After 5 days I send email back.
Well after 4 days, I was pretty sure no reply was
coming. On day 5 there it was.
Who was this woman from the other side of the world,
that could write such a letter. This was someone with all the
wonderful qualities of my great-grandmother and grandmother. I had
certainly never met anyone like this in 20 years of dating American women.
Was she for real ? How could I know ? After several letters I could not
put them down. I felt compelled to attempt to meet her.
After several wonderful letters he told me that he
was coming to Moscow and asked if I would meet him and Lika in Moscow.
How? It had been very short time since we started correspondence. I
did not know him well! But more important I did not know English! How I am
going to communicate? Through interpreter? I have never done this before!
What am I going to discuss? I had hundreds questions!
Finally I was able to think and decide about further steps. After
thinking long time
I got train ticket and went to Moscow.
Our first meeting
I was
very nervous. (and serious in the very
first picture) I , Blane and Lika met at the park I prepared
some greeting words but when I saw them coming I lost all of them. Somehow, I got comfortable easy.
We spent 3 wonderful days
doing many things.
After only 3 days
and after a tearful goodbye at the train station, Lyuda left Moscow.
I was
so taken by her and I needed more time. I knew if I left Russia, it might
be a long time before I could return. I convinced Lika (the interpreter) to call Lyuda and
ask her permission to visit her city.
First visit to
Cheboksary
 He flew to my city and met my family. We spent 5
more days in my city. It was very romantic time. I showed to him all my favorite places. We had very wonderful time with my family. That
special day we had our
first dance. Nobody felt
language barrier. We talked about same values in life, discuss many
interesting things. He said that he had 7 important questions to ask.
Before he left he said that he had answered them and that he would like
for me to visit the U.S. and his family.
After I left Russia we were connected through email.
I
had an email computer built to my specs for her parent's apartment.
This allowed us to correspond almost every day. It took 4 months to get the visa
and make the other arrangements. On top of this major transition, I
also changed jobs and moved to Chicago to work with Deloitte Consulting as
a manager in the technical architecture group.
Lyuda
Arrives in Chicago
 Lyuda
arrived after a harrowing trip to this country due to a few bus detours in
New York. I had spent much time considering the right place and
environment for her transition to things in this country.  I
picked a house in the country 1 1/2 hours north of the city as our first
home. As I found out almost 2 years later, this was a very important
choice as the surroundings were very similar to her own home in the same
season. and
the house, set in 10 acres of forest was a perfect isolated place for her
to study the language and and other important things, like the "rules
of the road". In Chicago, she also met a few Russian friends
which was extremely important at that time.
 I
swear I had no grey hair before the driving lessons.  My
father says its karma.
Of
course, I am always so very serious
In April 28 we
were married in Pensacola.
We are always
together. He helps me and support me all the time.
He is very wonderful person.
I am really happy I have
family with him.
We
hope you enjoyed the story of the first 3 months together
Look for the book and movie to follow !
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