Dear Yulia,

Thank you for your detailed letter. You have obviously done a lot of research and work to try to make this trip possible. You must have been very busy gathering all of this information. I appreciate that, and I can sense how eager you are to meet.

I read your letter this morning and have been thinking a lot about the situation with COVID, and about this trip. I also did some research today to see if it would be possible for me to visit you in Russia instead. I thought that this might be easier, since I already have a passport. However, due to COVID, Russia is not processing tourist visas at this time. I also wasn’t aware that you do not have a passport. This might take some time to process as you said, and a visa will take even more time. I have heard that it is difficult and expensive for Russian citizens to get tourist visas to the USA. This is unfortunate. I read your letter with much interest in all of the aspects that are involved. I think of course that it is not impossible… but it seems that getting all of the documents in order to visit the USA will take patience and time. Yulia, I think it would so great to meet you in person, but I also think that perhaps it is not wise to rush preparations for such trip. I know that you have vacation time to use soon, and yes, in a perfect world it would be great if it was possible to use this vacation to visit the USA. But, perhaps it is better if we plan for you to visit the USA at a later time. I know this is disappointing, and I know you wanted to use your upcoming vacation to visit. I was very excited about this. But, in the past I have ‘rushed’ into trips without taking the time to prepare for them adequately, and it was a mistake. When we do meet in person, I wish for everything to go smoothly, and to be free of unnecessary stress and problems due to issues with travel and visas, so that we can enjoy our time together. For this reason, I think it is better to plan your visit to the USA for a later time.

However, I have a new idea. Today I researched trips and tours to Russia. I have wanted to visit Russia for many years, and have read many books about your magnificent and fascinating country. I recently finished one called “10 Days That Shook The World” by John Reed about the Russian Revolution of Oct/Nov 1917. I think it would be very interesting to see some of the places mentioned in the book, as well as so many other places I have read about in Russia. In fact, I was planning on taking a trip to Russia, and some Scandinavian and Baltic countries this year. It is a trip I have been wanting to do for several years. Unfortunately, I had to postpone this due to COVID. But, many of the tours I looked at today are accepting bookings for April or May of next year. I think the situation with COVID will be much better by then. In fact, today I have read that great progress has been made on vaccine, and some people are saying that it could be ready by the end of this year, or early next year. I think if this happens, people will be able to resume normal travel once again.

Here is what I propose: I will start planning a trip to Russia for April or May. I know this many months away, and it will be difficult not to see you sooner. But, I think sometimes patience is a good thing. My dear Yulia, there is no need to rush things. If we are excited to see each other, than we will be happy no matter when or where we meet. If I come to Moscow in April or May, it will be much easier for you to meet me there. You mentioned that the train from Izhevsk to Moscow is around $50 each way. This is much more affordable and easier than Las Vegas for you! So, when I visit Moscow, we can meet there if you’d like, and I will happily reimburse you for any expenses you incur traveling to Moscow. I think there are a few other advantages to waiting as well:

1) This gives you a lot of time to start making preparations to visit the USA. For example, you will have plenty of time to apply for your passport. This is a good thing to do anyways, since you will need a passport to visit any country in the future.

2) The situation with COVID is very bad right now, here in the USA and abroad. Every recommendation I have researched advises against major non-essential travel at this time. I think it is best if we wait until next year before flying and going on any major trips. Also, if you were to get stranded or have an issue with your flights or paperwork while traveling here, I would not be able to do very much to help. With COVID, there is large increase in regulations and travel restrictions. I would hate for you to get stuck or stranded at an airport in Europe if something were to go wrong, and I would be able to do very little to help.

3) April or May gives me plenty of time to plan and prepare for a trip to Russia. I am sure that Russia will begin processing tourist visas again early next year once COVID (hopefully) gets better, and I already have a passport, so I can apply for a Russian tourist visa as soon as they begin processing them once more. This gives you more time to prepare as well. You will have plenty of time to prepare to meet me in Moscow, and also to get your passport and prepare papaperwork and visas for a future trip to the USA.

4) If we meet in Moscow in April or May, we can use our time together to plan for a trip to the USA. It will be much easier to discuss and plan in person. Also, it will be easier to help you with anything you might need help with for your visa application. In addition, this will give both of us more time to save money too, so that we can enjoy possibly 2 trips: My trip to Moscow in April/May, and then a future one to the USA.

5) Finally, I think meeting in Moscow first is a good idea, because it will be much, much easier for you, and also it will be a chance to spend some time together before spending even more time together on a longer trip to the USA. I really enjoy writing you, and I am sure that we will enjoy spending time together. But, writing someone can be different than spending time together in person. I think it will be good to spend some time meeting and getting to know each other better in Moscow before deciding to spend even more time together on future trips.

Yulia, I am so sorry that you received disappointing news about how difficult it will be to obtain a visa to travel to the USA, but I also think that perhaps this is for the best. I think it is a sign that we shouldn’t rush preparations for such a big (and exciting) trip. I also think it might be a good idea to reconsider such a long trip during COVID. I know it is not ideal, but sometimes life throws things at us that we can’t really do much about, like COVID for example. I know it is very disappointing, but I gave it much thought today, and I think it is best if we wait until next year to meet. Meeting you in Moscow in April or May will be so much fun! I wish it was sooner, but sometimes waiting to see each other isn’t a bad thing. There is a saying: “Absence Makes the heart grow fonder”. The longer we wait, the more exciting it will be to finally meet!. I think if we wait and plan more, we can have 2 amazing trips next year, to Moscow and USA!

My gorgeous, I do not want you to be upset, or in hysterics. I am sorry you had such a stressful time trying to prepare documents and paperwork on such short notice. But now, I think there is no need to rush. You can spend your upcoming vacation time with friends and family in Russia. I will eagerly look forward to visiting you in Russia in the Spring.

I hope you have a pleasant day. There is no need to stress or be upset my Yulia. I will go to Moscow in 5 or 6 months, and you can meet me there! I will eagerly await you at the train station :)

Ryli