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Malcolm & Lyudmyla's Story

Part 4

I received Lyudmyla's letter next. It was late in coming because Lyudmyla spoke very little English at the time and had to find a translator to assist her. I was in no way put off by this. What mattered least of all to me was whether she could speak fluent English. It was the type of woman that she was that was important to me.

Lyudmyla afront the 'Sydney Harbour Bridge', Sydney, Australia (2002)

The moment I read her letter I knew that she was the one. I commenced corresponding with her fervently. Two other ladies returned the courtesy of sending me a response to my first batch of introductory letters. I heard nothing back from two others. I politely wrote back to the two ladies who had responded explaining that I was now corresponding with someone else. Thus I continued writing to Lyudmyla.

We wrote two letters to each other per week. I was so excited to receive these letters from Lyudmyla that I checked my email 'in' box at least one hundred times a day.

We corresponded for six months before I arranged to visit her home in Kharkov, Ukraine. Again I had no-one to help me so I had to make all the arrangements myself. I had to find out all the information relating to visiting Ukraine. Lyudmyla helped me from her end, arranging for a required 'letter of invitation' that allowed me to enter Ukraine.

All through our courtship I insisted on assisting Lyudmyla with the expense relating to sending and receiving letters, translator services, English language programmes and other necessary expenses, by sending her money. I also sent her gifts that showed my affection.

Again and again I had to do and arrange everything myself. Very quickly I learned the ins and outs of the process. I learned how to do it and to cope with what I had to do.

Lyudmyla at 'Curl Curl Beach', Sydney, Australia (2002)

I accepted Lyudmyla's invitation and arranged to visit her in October, 2001. I approached several very reputable travel agents, all of whom knew next-to-nothing about travel arrangements to the Ukraine. I think I must have spent over two hours making those plans - which turned out to incorrect in the end due the lack of knowledge of the travel agent about Eastern Europe.

For my second visit, and choosing to ignore the uninformed advice of the travel agent I first dealt with, I set about making my own arrangements, which turned out to be less costly and more streamlined - and more successful. What a learning curve!

On my first visit I arrived at Borispol airport (near Kiev, the capital) - a long way form Lyudmyla's home. On my second visit, which I organized, I arrived at Kharkov - much closer to where Lyudmyla lived. You sure learn a lot by doing things yourself! Lyudmyla met me at the airport and from Borispol we drove to Kharkov by hire car - a six hour drive. From Kharkov Airport it was only a thirty minute drive.

I stayed at Lyudmyla's apartment in the spare room she had set up for me. I met her mother. She is a terrific person. I love her dearly. We got on famously right from word 'go'.

In all I spent four glorious weeks with Lyudmyla. We spent nearly all the time together. We went sightseeing, for walks in the forest, to the theatre, to the huge Kharkov markets and around the city. We also went on a 10 day holiday to the Crimea, which was heavenly.

Before I visited Lyudmyla, I knew that she was the right one for me. I chose to hold back on any talk of marriage until we first met in person. I wanted to make sure that the chemistry was there. It was! I asked Lyudmyla to marry me during my stay. I had bought with me, as an engagement gift, a beautiful necklace. She accepted my proposal. The next day we went shopping for an engagement ring.

My stay in the Ukraine ended all too quickly. When it came time to say goodbye we were both so very upset. We wanted to be together but there were many things to think about and organize. The immigration process is, at the very least, rigid, lengthy and intricate. Also I wanted Lyudmyla to be familiar with Australia before she made a lifetime commitment.

Malcolm & Lyudmyla on our Wedding Day, Kharkov, Ukraine (2002)

From the day I returned home I set about obtaining a 'Visitor Visa', which I'm told is not an easy thing to obtain. There were mountains of paperwork to compile, documents, records, photographs, testimonies etc. It took me months of hard work. Lyudmyla worked extremely hard too, compiling documents, travelling to the Australian Embassy in Moscow etc. After many months of work, much money and three visits to Moscow, we were granted the visa.

Lyudmyla arrived in Sydney, Australia in February, 2002 and stayed for two months (the length of her visa). We had such a wonderful time together. It was like we were already married. Lyudmyla found Australia to be very different from the Ukraine. There was much to get used to. We visited many places such as the Blue Mountains, the beach, wildlife sanctuaries, the many city sights. All in all, Lyudmyla's enjoyed her time in Sydney and was keen to live there with me as my wife.

Just like our parting in Ukraine, the day Lyudmyla left Sydney to return home, it rained. We were both extremely upset that again we had to be separated.

While she had been visiting, we commenced preparing Lyudmyla's fiancé visa application. It turned out to be twice as much work as the visitor visa. I investigated, organized and wrote the documentation myself. As before, Lyudmyla assisted with documentation from her end and undertook many visits to Moscow.

After the final interview for Lyudmyla, which was held in Moscow, we just had to wait. Lyudmyla was so nervous. After several weeks of waiting, and in order to calm Lyudmyla's anxiety, I telephoned Moscow to see how the application was progressing. To my surprise and delight I was told that we had been granted the visa. I was so excited that I telephoned Lyudmyla - but she wasn't home. Finally, when she returned, I told her the good news. She thought that I was joking. When I told her that I wasn't, she was over the moon with joy and relief.

The HAPPY couple! (2002)

We made plans to have two ceremonies. One in Kharkov and the other in Sydney. I once more travelled to Ukraine - this time I oversaw every aspect of the travel arrangements personally. Lyudmyla and I were married in the central cathedral in Kharkov in September, 2002. I stayed six weeks in the Ukraine before having to return by the beginning of November, in compliance with the visa requirements. We were married a month later at my home in Sydney. We had a small romantic ceremony with close family and friends. We have since made Sydney our happy home as husband and wife. Lyudmyla now speaks excellent English and has a vast familiarity with the Australian and Western culture.

Lyudmyla is an experienced businesswoman and financial planner, having solely managed her own business in Ukraine. I am a writer, academic and former teacher. With our combined experience and expertise we have formed HEAVENLY HEARTS©.

Our motivation behind the inception and creation of HEAVENLY HEARTS© has been to allow us to use our knowledge and expertise in a practical way. We have developed HEAVENLY HEARTS© so that it not only offers men and women the opportunity to find lasting romance and companionship, it offers a comprehensive support network that our clients can draw upon for guidance and assistance - something that was not available to me at any time in my efforts to find my true love and perfect wife - my Lyudmyla.

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