Dating Advice

First Impressions last

Both men and women are initially attracted by physical appearances. While not all women are looking for a buff body, how you present yourself physically will have a lot to do with her initial level of attraction. Be prepared to put in the work to look your best for your date. Keys to your success are: wearing subtle cologne, being neatly shaven, having clean shoes, well put-together clothing and fresh breath.

Give a gift

Receiving a thoughtful gift from a date will make women feel special and appreciated. As in the USA, Russian women will generally appreciate the gift of flowers. Be careful as to what you give her on your first date if you are unsure of her preferences, it is a good idea to avoid overly personal gifts such as perfume or clothes as you are unaware of her tastes and size. It is always a good idea to give a distinctive gift which will remind her of you in your absence, perhaps a souvenir from your country.

Where to go

A quiet place, where the two of you can talk and get to know one another, is recommended for your first date. A cafe or a comfortable restaurant are good options for this purpose. Try to find either a place which serves a fairly broad menu, or ask her for her preference; a Russian lady will most likely know the city and perhaps have a favorite place.

Never be late

Always arrive on time; it is better to adjust the time of your meeting beforehand than to arrive late, unannounced. Turning up late will send out the wrong impression and make you appear to be disinterested. If you are picking her up from her home, it is advisable to turn up five minute before you are due. Any earlier and you might interrupt her getting ready. Five minutes early is the earliest you should arrive, but never be late.

Respect her

First of all you should ensure that you are able to dedicate ample time to your date; no-one likes to feel as if you have somewhere else that you would rather be. Never tell her that you are going to meet other ladies later, you need to ensure that she feels that she is the focus of your attention; be present, both in body and in mind. Ensure that you do not to schedule too many dates in a day, as this will ruin your concentration and not allow enough time to really get to know your date (or dates).

Be a Gentleman

Open the door for her, pull out her chair, and be polite to her as well as those around you. Women like to feel special and by treating her like a lady she will think you are fantastic. It is very important to remember that if there is an interpreter present, you should extend the same courtesies to them as you would your date. Your date may judge you based on not only your treatment of her, but also your treatment of her interpreter. If you are dissatisfied with the interpreter in any way, avoid confronting them in front of your date; wait until the date is over and contact the agency secretary.

Ask and listen

Do not forget to compliment your date. The more sincere, observant and personalized your compliment, the bigger impact it will have. But remember not to go overboard; too many compliments may make you appear insincere and shallow. Get to know her; ask her questions, but more importantly listen to what she has to say. A woman is attracted to a man who is genuinely interested in hearing what she has to say. As a guide, spend more time asking her questions and letting her talk than talking about yourself.

Taboo topics

Do not discuss your sexual preferences with her on the first date. Do not talk about your exes, even if your date asks. While a sense of humor is a desirable trait, you should be careful with jokes as your sense of humor may be very different due to cultural differences. Try to avoid controversial topics such as politics and religion until you know her a bit better; and finally, do not discuss money matters!

Feelings and Emotions

Be careful when attempting to disclose your feelings on the first date; you don’t want to come across as desperate. Also be patient when talking to her about her feelings; you are both trying to get to know each other, keep emotional discourse to a minimum until you have established a rapport with your new friend. Russian girls tend to be rather modest and are not used to direct questions about heart matters.

Pay for the Date

It’s virtually always appropriate for a gentleman to offer to pay for the date. As in the Western world, old-world chivalry and manners are always appreciated.

To kiss or not to kiss

This is always a tricky question; some women prefer not to kiss after a first date, while others may be disappointed if you don’t try. Body language and chemistry throughout the night may provide clues, but there is no hard and fast rule. If it feels right, then you may want to consider making the move; if not, a friendly hug may be more appropriate.

Another date

Be genuine! Only tell her that you would like to meet again if you mean it, and intend on seeing her again. Do not, under any circumstances, tell her you will meet if you are not sure. If this is the case, when saying goodbye, stick to, “It was nice meeting you” and wish her luck. But, if you really do like her and are interested, you must let her know.