[cripplecreek]

My wife and I helped a Russian woman immigrate here (LEGALLY)last fall. We knew her from e-mail and phone calls for about two years before we were willing to help her and we brought the subject up.

Now that she's here she explains that most Russian women aren't seeking to "escape" Russia or anything. For the most part they're just like American women and want the same things but those things are becoming pretty common in Russia anyway.

The only reason our friend came here was because she wanted to start over after the death of her mother and her boyfriend. She had no one left so we asked her to come here and we've made her part of our extended family.

[Aliska]

See, it can sometimes work out. I'm thinking what if he would bring someone like that here? I'm the only one in the family who knows anything at all about Russia, have met two gentlemanly Russian men in my whole life, they were here on a business trip. I was invited to come meet them but I was much older than they, it wasn't anything like I wanted romance or anything.

You know my first thought when I started kicking it around in my mind after going through years of agony with him and the way he got burned by his beautiful wife.

She might get homesick, and that would make me feel bad for her. That's what I was worried about.

[Aliska]

The only reason our friend came here was because she wanted to start over after the death of her mother and her boyfriend. She had no one left so we asked her to come here and we've made her part of our extended family.

I'm sorry I neglected to respond to this, then I'd better let it be for the night.

What you did for that woman was a very kind and loving thing to do. And sometimes you do have to take a few risks along the way. But you do have to exercise extreme caution.

To everyone who has responded thus far, I appreciate very much the input. Several heads are often better than one.