How (not?) to Find a Travel Partner
After my wonderful test pilot trip to Mexico, I decided that one major thing I was lacking was a travel partner with whom I could share all the wonderful scenery and to make the overall experience more fun, like when I was traveling through Bulgaria and Europe with a previous girlfriend of mine. After all, it is so much easier to meet people when you have a nice female with you.
A rather nice and innocent intention I thought, but rather naive, I guess.
Perhaps a sleazy approach, but when I used to hire the occasional secretary, beautiful girls would come to ME for an interview. Since my business was going rather well at the time and I needed help anyway setting all this up, and since I figured a travel companion would want some means how to pay their way, it seemed a perfect solution to put an ad in the local classified ads, roll up my sleeves and go through a long, drawn out, but not painful interview process. At least so I thought.
Other times the girls would be a bit reassuring, saying, “Really, I wouldn’t say it is such a preposterously hopeless suggestion, as you just mentioned, it’s just I’d rather get to know someone a bit longer before crawling into a truck with them.”
And 98% of the time I basically decided within the first half second I wasn’t interested, but for politeness I’d go through the interview process, listening to myself repeat myself with my ridiculous proposal, watching their expected expression of disbelief in a rather awkward and somewhat embarrassing atmosphere.
Well, after trying out that approach for several months, screening girls over the phone by the tone of their voice, I decided it was not the method I wanted to pursue anymore. Although my first interviewee was the best of all and we are still friends now. But she was a typical Moravian who hates the smugness and pretentiousness of Prague people, didn’t want to stay in Prague anymore, didn’t like the computer work I offered, and scoffed at the idea that she would actually have to work to come along with me.
Well, I’m pretty picky I admit, but I’m also shy when it comes to approaching girls I don’t know in a bar. Seizing up like a block of ice and intimidated when I see a girl I like. So that approach was basically out of the question.
Finally, out of desperation, and since I would be driving east anyway, thought I’d approach some less economically affluent countries where the girls might be more willing to break out of their bondage to poverty and weltering doldrums of their dull village life. They looked pretty enough on the internet, although it later occurred to me that it would probably be a problem dragging a Ukrainian or Russian girl across various European borders and that I might be quickly railroaded into doing horrid something like marriage!
Nevertheless, I like communicating with attractive girls, even if nothing will come out of it.
And hence, the theme of this page…
My Conversation With a Russian Program
Or perhaps they really genuinely were looking for someone in the west, perhaps 10 years ago. Now they are happily married and the agency translating for them at the time continues to use their pictures and love letters. Or you are talking to some Russian script program that automatically sends you responses, putting your name in key spots, with occasional meddling by a human. Probably a guy for all I know. So I am copying correspondence I had with two girls, filtered down to make it not so drawn out…
Hello Karel!!! I was waiting for your letter and I am very glad that you replied me. It’s wonderful. How I promised I send you my photo. I hope you’ll like me. It’s very important for me. Many my acquaintances consider that I’m very nice and beautiful woman. I hope your opinion about me will be such. =) Ok! I am sending you some 2 photos. Soon I’ll select and scan few photos. Then I’ll send them for you. It’s mean you are interesting in me. =) If it is not very hard for you, please send me more your pictures. It’ll be very interesting to look. Yes, I’m in Russia, in Moscow. Have you ever been here? I’ve been to many Russian cities, but I never have been to abroad. More correctly, in 1985, when I was 9 years old, I’ve been to Latvia. It was time when Latvia was in the composition of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (U.S.S.R.) And all our family travel there. Although I was very small girl, I’m remembering this time very well. I was in Riga. How many places you visited Karel? Now I’m 29 years old and I’ll be 30 years old in August. My birthday will be at 23rd of August. My symbol of zodiac is the Lion. And when is your birthday?. I hope success will accompany you and you’ll have nice day. Good – bye Yuliya.
[I don’t have a copy of my outgoing emails, but I remember something like this] Well Yulia, you certainly are pretty, but can’t you find a nice Russian boy in Moscow, one of the most expensive cities in the world? Love your pictures though!
Thanks for the nice pictures, always appreciate getting them. But you didn’t really answer my previous question. You know, I’ve read about these Russian scams where they try to get money out of you and I can assure you I would never send money deep into Russia like that. Nevertheless, it is nice chatting with you, and it would be nice if you’d respond back to me in a way that I know I am talking with someone and not get these copied emails.
Hello Karel. Thanks for your letter. Really my english is not very ideal. I was honours pupil at school. And I finished school for golden medal. I learnt English at school. … When I write you letters on English I can to be concentrative and I can recall every word and set them correctly. But when I’m speaking I can’t do it very well. I never have practice of personal contact. … How I already told you I had born in Safonovo. It is placed in 1500 kilometers from Moscow. Safonovo is town with 72000 inhabitants. My mother is 53 years old. Her name is Avgustina. .. They had born in Safonoovo. And my parents consider this place is the best on the world. I’m not only child in our family. I have oldest sister called Veronika. .. My family is very good. And I left my home very hard and difficult when I was 17 years old. I studied at school number 7 of Safonovo town. I’m remembering this time very good. I wanted to be adult and started independent life. But now I understand that school’s years are the happiest years in my life… We always were together with my sister Veronika. We were the best friends. And told everything to each other, we hadn’t secrets. .. We have been living in one room of The Moscow State University’s hostel for 5 years. It was very cheerful years. .. Do you know The Moscow State University is the most celebrated university in Russia? I’m sending you his photo. I think you’ll know this building without fail. Let’s image you on my place. 17 years old girl arrived to Moscow and started to go this huge building. It is wonderful impressions. I felt clearly that I’m becoming adult. We learnt in enormous auditoriums. And we were learnt by famous, well-known teachers. I’m happy that I learnt at this university. And I am not feeling sorry that I left Safonovo. I can tell very interesting stories from my student life. If it is interesting for you, I’ll tell you without fail. Now my friend Elena is living in Moscow, and Tatyana left from Russia. I wrote you about my past completely not much, but these happy recollections were enough for raise my mood!! Bye Karel, I will wait for your answer and then I will write you. Good luck Karel! Your Yuliya
Thanks again for your email, but again it seems you are not really addressing me. Besides, I want to travel around Europe and I’m not really interested in settling down, and I think it would be difficult for a Russian girl to cross all these borders. But I enjoy your letters!
Hi Karel. Now I’m on the work and I can write letter for you. I work on the 12th floor of building with 20 levels. I work in design section. We are four in one room. Do you remember I tell you that I really like my job? Our company is very good. Everybody has a computer. I know computer sufficiently good. Many of my projects are made on computer. Unfortunately my computer isn’t connected to Internet. I need to write letters and copy them on floppy drive. Then I need to go in other room, where I can send letters for you. My English is not very ideal. I have friend on my work. She knows English not bad. She helps me to write letters. My English becomes bad without her help. Some day I’ll write letter without her help. I think you’ll laugh on me. =) I would like to know your opinion about my English. Now I’m engaged in the interior of flat with 78 meters square.
Cool, you look in great shape. But I still feel like I am talking to a program or something…
[Subject of email: “Only for you Karel”] Hello Karel. Hurrah! I did my work. I finished putting into shape the next in turn flat. It’s so grate. When you finished your work to the end and your clients like your work you experience shocking feelings. I promise to send you the pictures of flats. The summer is very a pity that so warm weather has quickly ended and terminated.
Well, you certainly look like a nice interesting girl, but I can’t imagine why you’d be writing like this to me. Especially since you aren’t really responding to my emails.
Dear Karel.We already communicate more than two weeks. It’s wonderful! At alive dialogue two weeks are such big time for which is possible to know much practically all about the person. I have already written much about myself and I know much about you. But all the same I would like to know you even better. You write about yourselves so well that you seems the fine person to me. I would like to hear your voice. Let’s speak by phone!!! I think it would be delightful!!! I didn’t communicate yet with foreigners by phone. It will be interesting to know your opinion about my English! We went to cinema yesterday. Film calls “The Click”. Did you look this movie? In general Moscow is night city. I have been surprised yesterday when I have seen so much people in the evening in the street. But in other way there is very cool and fresh in the evening. And every body wants to for a walk… Moscow has changed very much for last years. I remember when I have arrived to Moscow, here is all was in another way.
For this time the city became much cleaner, has appeared more trees, have built new beautiful houses and small shops. Posters with advertising give more colors to night city and the city comes to life. And how your city looks at night? Is there noisy? Ok Karel. I shall wait with impatience for your letter and your answer to a question on telephone conversation. Bye-bye. Yours Yuliya
Well, I could consider Skyping you, but that would be difficult since I’m traveling and don’t get to an internet cafe too often. And when I do, I got lots of work. But I certainly wouldn’t call some 900 Russian number, no siree. Ever heard of Skype? I might consider that. But please address me so that I know I am not talking to a computer.
Hello my dear Karel How are you? I’m Ok. Yesterday I had a very good day. Yesterday I worked on an apartment all the evening long. I have had time to be tidied up in at home. I have cooked a pie and much a lot of tasty. I like sweet and consequently I know many recipes of tasty dishes. And what’s your favorite food?
Now cleanliness and the order are in my flat. =) Now will the turn of my girlfriend to cleaned and prepare to eat at home. We have divided these duties. By the way my girlfriend communicates with the guy from other country too. He lives in Italy. They know each other a little bit more than ours. But my girlfriend as well as me was grasped with this dialogue. She seems has grown fond it Italian. She speaks that he is a nice guy. I like you very much too and also I want to ask you to be fair and sincere with me. You seem very good man in your letters. But there are no ideal people! I hope you speak the truth about yourself. Please don’t disappoint me. You seem to me the cheerful person with whom is interestingly to spend time. I hope that I am attractive and interesting to you too. We are so far apart but you is always with me in my mind. And it seems to me that you somewhere near of me. I till now can’t reconcile that I didn’t see you in person and didn’t hear really from you. You already like me but nevertheless keep an atmosphere of mystery. It’s very interesting! Your girl Yuliya.
Well, sorry but I still am not convinced. But it occurred to me a few days that we can resolve this once and for all: since you have such a ready access to a digital camera, how about you draw on a piece of paper the word KENAX, hold that in your left hand, then raise your right hand, holding up THREE fingers, and tilt your head a bit to the right, and give me one of your cute smiles? :o)
Hello Karel! Today I have excellent day! But now I’m boring a little bit! I’m stay alone at work. All workers from our room already go home earlier. And I was need to finish my
job today without fail. I already safely finished it. I asked you to be sincere with me, it is actually very important for me. Yesterday I thought for a long time about our relations. And I want to tell you that I like you. And … I love you. Yes! Yes! You
haven’t misheard; I really told you that I love you! It’s new for me to admit to someone in love by the Internet… I always write you the truth about myself and my feelings. Therefore I’m asking the same from you. Well, I have admitted to you my feelings. =) I’m worried. But I must to tell you about it! Now it would much easier on my heart. I’ve never communicate with somebody by Internet. And it’s really disturbingly for me. I decided to start writing trying the success like many of us. And I find you. I’m really carried! I feel as 200 years ago when the love novels started from the letters. In those days there was no communication facility except for letters. It’s so romantic! But now we can speak by phone and hear the voice of each other. I will wait for your letter with especial impatience my lovely Karel.
____________________
Okay, but that letter was after the one below, when I reaaaally started to suspect something fishy in the air. But I must say she got my hopes up a bit, stupid male that I am! (there were a bunch of other pretty girls but these two were my favourite.
Hello, my dear Karel! Thank you so much for your response. I am very glad to get your message. Hope, next time your message will be more profound as I really want to know you better:-) I want very much to get to know you and for you to know me. It is difficult to try to explain everything about myself in an email but every journey must begin with a first step. So, as you already know, my name is Tatyana. I was born November,21, 1979, so now I am 26.
(picture named “Loving smile”)
Hello my dear Karel ! Today when I was checking my mail and was sure that I’ll find there your letter. Karel, thanks for telling me more about yourself, I really like your personality. I think that I start to feel you. I am so happy to know that you choose me! I really hope that we will be together. I want to be the raindrop to touch your face. I need you like desert needs rain, like flower – air and sun. I want you not to be player I want everything to be real! My aim is to understand what love is and means. You know I loved ones I felt that I live but not exist but that was my mistake because my heart was broken. I don’t want to tell about it because it is not an easy for me. The only thing that I want to say is that my heart will not stand one more time. Please don’t hurt it! Do you still want to know more about me? I don’t smoke, don’t drink alcohols and I hope my husband will not too but even if he does it should not be his everyday habit. I have a lot of friends I like to visit them and when they come to my house. My favorite actor is Bred Pitt and Bruce Willis. I like comedies because I like to smile. I like to listen to listen to Sting and our Ukrainian singer I don’t think that they are popular in your country.
I hope to find a man who will be my support through the whole life. Kind man with a great heart. I want to enjoy each minute that I’ll be with him. The only thing I want form him is love. You know it is very important to know that there is a person in the world who loves you, not your parents or your friends but a man who will share all your life. With whom you’ll seat in the evening, looking at each other eyes drinking wine and I’ll be happy! I want to trust to my man, I want him to be confident and sincere. How do you think can it be you? There is one more thing I want to tell you about myself. I can speak just Russian and Ukrainian. So to communicate with you I use service for translation and also they provide me with Internet. But you don’t have to be disguise in your feelings because other way we will not know what we feel to each other. I want honesty in our letters! I don’t want you to be embarrassed by this. I hope to learn even some English before you’ll come here to meet each other. By the way, I want to add that one of my best friends found her mate with the help of this very translational firm. She lives now abroad and very happy. I dream about the day when the same will happen with me. I think my letter is pretty long and I want to ask you how do you see me in your life? Please be sincere. Hope to hear from you soon! Kisses and hugs from Tanya!
(pictures named “Red dress” and “bikini”)
Wow, you really are beautiful, but I cannot imagine how such a beautiful girl would be talking to me. Lliving in a truck and all. And that picture in the red dress, looks like a palm tree in the background, no?. You do some traveling? Never heard of palm trees in Russia. You must be fairly well off, no? But your pictures are certainly great!
Oh, by the way, I’ve read about these Russian scam things where they try to get money out of you in different ways. I’d like to assure you that I’d never send money like this to Russia. But I do enjoy receiving your letters!
My sweet Karel ! I was waiting for your reply like a flower waits for the sun in cloudy days. To be honest I was really glad to see your letter it is like waiting when someone will determine your destiny. But now I’m sure that it is really you! Karel, and it is really me on that photos!!! For such short period of time you become the most important person in my life. I don’t want to tell you how I need you, how I wait for you every day and especially every night because you know it by yourself.
(Picture named “Hot body”)
Wow, what a passionate and great letter, and thank you again for the beautiful picture, but I really cannot believe that a girl such as beautiful as you would write to me like this. It would be great, I’m sure, but I don’t even know if I’d want to go to Russia. Kind of scary, driving there with my truck and all. But thanks for the great pics!
Dude, get a real job will ya? I own a translation agency and these cheesey approaches are rather pathetic…
Dear Karel, this is not a scam but a serious translation agency….
Well, think I’ll just totally give up and not even try anymore. Maybe something will land in my lap like it usually does, without even trying. Get the occasional look from locals, and lots of nice girls everywhere I go. Too bad I’m so pathetically shy, now hampered further because I can’t speak the local language. But that is just another excuse…
(picture named “bikini”)
I’ll finish this page off with one of the last emails from one Russian girl from the Tartar region and with whom I was communicating for quite a long time. I was just being friendly and perhaps helping her with her English. Wasn’t really impressed with her pictures and told her I wasn’t interested in anything past friendship, but found her letters rather entertaining, and her pictures how she would be lying in bed, or faithfully pouring coffee while in the kitchen. Somehow none of her poses as a faithful wife enticed me enough to send a blank cheque for a greyhound from deep within Russia, but it was an interesting exchange nevertheless.
(picture named “stripping” – still the previous girl)
Hello my dear Karel.
I have decided to write to you one more letter as I express the big feelings to you. I always present you, i think of you. What now you do? Whether than you are engaged also all perfectly at you? I hope, that to you are interesting my letters. In them I express feelings and ideas, which beginnings to test last days. I do not understand, that with by me it is created, probably it is love. What fine word “love”. That pulls you to other person, sweeping away on the way all barrier. That with her do not do, and she always exists in your heart. She may hide from our reason in such depths human soul, that about her hidden presence the reason does not guess at all. You agree with me? Sometimes she is hard for experiencing, sometimes joyfully. Sometimes she are tears, at times – a smile. Love – natural Condition oppress. Oppress for some reason does not want and may not live in loneliness, she aspires to loneliness together. To feel itself as unique essences on whole light what may be more fine? The person aspires to the person. It is fine and impossible to estimate all charm of this feeling, feeling of “Love”. Two persons loving each other Feel also enjoy this maximum gift sent to all people from heavens. Up to time up to time we do not know him. Our time yet will not come to like and be loved. We shall catch a sight the friend the friend. Light which has flashed in shares of second in our eyes will be swept up only to us, he will begin to sparkle penetrate in our souls and hearts, penetrating bodies, forcing one instant to stop, stiffen, become eternity for two Two souls will dip each other into the sea of pleasure, in lake of love, the river of eternity, OCEAN OF LOVE on which they will be to be floating and after life, through centuries, finding the embodiment in other lifes, other cultures, in other bodies, divided cold spaces, which kilometers will rise for their way to be pass, divided customs,traditions and the social installations prospering in a society.
Created by art not that can not prevent magics of love. The source, beating a key in soul is primary and eternal. he will wait always for the hour. I of you always shall be to wait. I hope, that you feel too most, that I feel. My ideas always only about you. Now I precisely can tell, that I I love you and want to be with you. On it I want finish to you this letter and I shall wait from you for the answer.
With love Yulia.
My Other Travels Through Europe
Hey, and if you really are serious about traveling with me as a travel chick,
have I got a travel job for you!
In case you think I’m a madman in a truck,
these travel testimonials might convince you I’m a
safe and sympathetic madman!
Back to My Life – The Gypsy Traveler
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