How I was an Angel

Russian woman story about her experience in adjusting to America

How I was an Angel

by Oksana Leslie, author of
How to Survive in International Marriage

russian-american family One day I read a small book entitled Everyday Angels by Karon Goodman. It gives advices on how to be an angel in everyday life to people around you.

I decided to try it. It was a sunny September day. I saw a moving truck not far from my new home in Pensacola. A small boy was wondering around it. I grabbed some cold canned drinks from the fridge, grabbed my 4-year-old Jessef, and walked to meet my new neighbors.

I offered to baby-sit the 4-year-old, Dylan, while his mother was busy unloading. The same day she asked me to be his permanent baby-sitter and watch her son five hours a day, five days a week. She offered to pay me what she could afford, $1.50 an hour. I agreed because I wanted to be an angel to my neighbor, an immigrant, and a single mother of three children. I also wanted to have a friend for my son.

Very soon, I realized the boys were going to have a hard time getting along. Dealing with the constant fighting and arguing was stressful. I felt like I had one child with Attention Deficit Disorder and another with Opposition Defiance Disorder. I asked my neighbor to find someone else. She did, and paid me for several weeks with a check over 100 dollars.

I deposited her check. It bounced, and put my account into minus. One day three transactions took place and my bank charged $31 for each of them! I know. You're supposed to have a cushion in your checking account. However, having gotten carried away ordering Christmas presents online, I was counting on that deposited check!

However, having gotten carried away ordering Christmas presents online, I was counting on that deposited check!
I showed my neighbor the bank fees of $98. She paid me in cash for baby-sitting Dylan. Later when I came to borrow her video camera, I learned she had pawned it in order to pay me back and pay her banking fees. I realized she could not afford to pay my fees. “Make a shopping list,” she said. “I will use my food stamps to pay you back in groceries.” I agreed, because I wanted to “be an angel”.

We remain friends. I keep her 9-year-old daughter after school and do not charge anything. Now Jessef has a friend he does not fight with and I get a little help, too.

In the book Everyday Angels I read the advice of cutting a neighbor’s grass while they are gone. It inspired me. I trimmed the hedges by my house, and went to trim my neighbor’s hedges. She was working. I was home. Why not? While trimming away I felt burning pain on my feet. I looked down. I was standing in a fire anthill! “Welcome to Florida”.

I ran home and jumped in the shower. Ants were crawling inside my pants. Now I know exactly the meaning of “ants in the pants”. A Russian who get ants in the pants will start jumping, running, and screaming, “Ai-ai-ai!!” The American will likely be shouting, “Ouch-ouch-ouch!”

The lesson I have learned: It feels good to be an angel, but you have to watch out and make sure the devil does not distract you. Amen.

e-Books on seek and marry Russian women:

10 things to think when thinking about a Russian wife Real live stories of real people who had real experience in a Russian-Western marriage.

The Shocking Truth About Russian Women All Russian women are different but still they have much in common. What is this? Read this book and you will find out.

12 Simple Rules This simple rules has the power to change your relationship with your foreign bride – forever. And it’s so simple you’ll be astounded.

How To Find And Marry A Girl Like Me This is not just another book about dating Russian women! This is the book that will change the way you look at Internet dating.

Sex And Love With Russian Women Attention men who are in long distance relationships with Russian women! Learn how you can dramatically improve your success with Russian women.

Anti-Scam Guide Complete No-Nonsense guide for men seeking a Russian wife.Knowledge is power. And this Guide will empower you to make an informed decision that you would otherwise struggle to make.