Marriage with a Russian woman has many benefits and if you took your time to find the right woman, it will be very successful. However, you should not underestimate the challenges that the first year of marriage to a Russian woman may bring.
To be frank, the first year of marriage is not easy for anyone. Ask your friends or co-workers which year of their marriage was the toughest for them and most of them will probably agree that it was the first one. No matter how much people have in common and how much they’ve known each other, marriage is a big step, which requires patience, commitment and adjustment.
I don’t think that the first year of a Russian-American marriage is any more or any less stressful than the first year of marriage where the couple is from the same country. It is just different.
Russian women are known for their ability to adapt to their family’s needs and to sacrifice things for the benefit of their husband and kids, so some things may go smoother with a Russian woman, But you also can’t forget that Russian culture is different from American, so make sure to stay open-minded and get familiar with the culture before bringing your Russian bride to the United States.
Here are the things that you may experience during the first year of marriage with a Russian woman.
1. Expect her to miss her family a lot. Russians have closer family ties than most Westerners, so it is never easy for a Russian woman to be apart from her parents, grandparents and siblings. Don’t take it personally if she is down and homesick, During these moments she needs to be reminded that you love her and you are here for her no matter what. She will get used to being apart from her family, but the first year is always the toughest.
2. No matter how fluent she is in English, you still may experience some communication problems. British English is usually taught in Russian schools, so the woman may have a hard time understanding American accent and slang. You can make this easier for her by speaking more clearly and by avoiding slang as much as possible. Her English will get better with time, but don’t expect it to happen overnight.
3. Expect her to dress up, everywhere you go, even if you are just going to the grocery store. Russians love to dress up and even though it is possible that your Russian woman will graduate from stiletto heels to crocks and sweats, it will not happen during the first year.
4. It will take you some time to get her paperwork in order, so expect her to not work for at least a few months. She will keep herself busy taking care of the house, but she might feel lonely if you are at work all day. Giving her as much attention as you can when you are home is going to help.
5. Don’t be surprised if she will be talking to her Russian family and friends a lot. As I mentioned before, Russian women have strong family ties and from my observation, Russian friendships are closer, so she will need to stay in touch with her family and friends. She will find new friends here and she will learn how to cope with homesickness eventually, but don’t be hard on her and encourage her to stay connected with the people she loves. It will make her happier and as a result, your marriage will benefit greatly as well.
Depending on the circumstances, you may encounter other difficulties during your first year, but remember that first of all, everyone experiences them and second of all, this is all well worth it.
Marriage with a Russian woman has many benefits and if you took your time to find the right woman, it will be very successful. However, you should not underestimate the challenges that the first year of marriage to a Russian woman may bring.
To be frank, the first year of marriage is not easy for anyone. Ask your friends or co-workers which year of their marriage was the toughest for them and most of them will probably agree that it was the first one. No matter how much people have in common and how much they’ve known each other, marriage is a big step, which requires patience, commitment and adjustment.
I don’t think that the first year of a Russian-American marriage is any more or any less stressful than the first year of marriage where the couple is from the same country. It is just different.
Russian women are known for their ability to adapt to their family’s needs and to sacrifice things for the benefit of their husband and kids, so some things may go smoother with a Russian woman, But you also can’t forget that Russian culture is different from American, so make sure to stay open-minded and get familiar with the culture before bringing your Russian bride to the United States.
Here are the things that you may experience during the first year of marriage with a Russian woman.
1. Expect her to miss her family a lot. Russians have closer family ties than most Westerners, so it is never easy for a Russian woman to be apart from her parents, grandparents and siblings. Don’t take it personally if she is down and homesick, During these moments she needs to be reminded that you love her and you are here for her no matter what. She will get used to being apart from her family, but the first year is always the toughest.
2. No matter how fluent she is in English, you still may experience some communication problems. British English is usually taught in Russian schools, so the woman may have a hard time understanding American accent and slang. You can make this easier for her by speaking more clearly and by avoiding slang as much as possible. Her English will get better with time, but don’t expect it to happen overnight.
3. Expect her to dress up, everywhere you go, even if you are just going to the grocery store. Russians love to dress up and even though it is possible that your Russian woman will graduate from stiletto heels to crocks and sweats, it will not happen during the first year.
4. It will take you some time to get her paperwork in order, so expect her to not work for at least a few months. She will keep herself busy taking care of the house, but she might feel lonely if you are at work all day. Giving her as much attention as you can when you are home is going to help.
5. Don’t be surprised if she will be talking to her Russian family and friends a lot. As I mentioned before, Russian women have strong family ties and from my observation, Russian friendships are closer, so she will need to stay in touch with her family and friends. She will find new friends here and she will learn how to cope with homesickness eventually, but don’t be hard on her and encourage her to stay connected with the people she loves. It will make her happier and as a result, your marriage will benefit greatly as well.
Depending on the circumstances, you may encounter other difficulties during your first year, but remember that first of all, everyone experiences them and second of all, this is all well worth it.
