Russian women are probably the most popular topic in Russia, and it would be strange not to talk about it. People end up in Russia for a variety of reasons. One of the most talked-about phenomena of Russia is certainly the women, especially among male expats. There are jokes in every Western country about mail order brides, overly materialistic women, and high divorce rates in Russia. Where is the truth in all of these stereotypes?

The U. Embassy receives reports almost every day of fraud committed against U. Typically, the Russian correspondent asks the U. Embassy has received many reports of citizens losing thousands of dollars through such scams. American citizens are advised never to send money to anyone they have not met in person. Please keep in mind that, the U. Embassy in Moscow does not have the authorization to initiate investigations of these scams.

Tatyana, a good-looking blonde, leans across the table. The subject of her advances, a British Moscow Times business reporter, blushes with embarrassment. It is Saturday evening and we are nearing the end of a foreign-friendly speed dating session in a central Moscow restaurant. Even though only two expats are in attendance, organizers clearly think the "foreign" tag is a crowd puller. Russia is entering its second year of crisis, widening the lifestyle gap between Westerners and Russians.

In this post she shares about her experience as a woman dating in Russia while learning the language. This is a topic I have a lot to say about personally as I had a Russian girlfriend during my time in Kazan which I partly credit with helping me learn the language so quickly links to my story below. Russia is portrayed to the West as a cold, hard place with some magical architecture, myriad vodka shots, and a leader who dances with bears and who, for some unfathomable reason, never wears a shirt.