Dear Elena: From Simon: After the collapse of my first marriage, I joined Elena's Models in 2006. My intense search resulted in correspondence with a few ladies. I visited Moscow in January 2007 to meet a couple of ladies, but the meetings didn't work out. For a while I abandoned the idea of finding a mate online but I kept checking the weekly E-mail messages from Elena's Models. In March 2011, I spotted another prospect, so I re-joined. Instead of sending an Expression of Interest (EOI), I sent Olesya a message instead. Through correspondence and Skype chat we discovered that our personalities perfectly matched and our core values were also compatible. We also had many common interests. I was especially attracted by Olesya's intelligence, open-mindedness and commitment to gender equality so that we could be equal partners for life. After checking out her blog website, I sensed that she was definitely the one for me, so I proposed and we got engaged. She wanted the marriage to be in Russia and I agreed. In late August 2011, I travelled to Irkutsk, Russia, to meet Olesya face-to-face for the first time, and we got married 4 days later on 31 August at the central ZAGS palace. It was the most exciting experience of my life. Since Oleysa and her lovely baby are taking up my surname, a bureaucratic struggle continues to have her internal and external passports updated, and to obtain a permanent visa to Canada. However, we are confident that we can overcome this last hurdle to get together as a happy family. From Olesya: First time I joined EM in 2007 and it didn't work out... In 2010 I became a single mom of a beautiful girl and started to search for a father for her, so I signed up to Elena's Models again. I decided to reply only to those men who were really interested in a marriage and family. One day I got a mail from Simon, and another mail from him came the next day, in which he said he'd keep writing till I reply. I had no choice but to reply! We started chatting in Skype and I was amazed how we well we could understand each other! He accepted me as I was, with all my bad and good sides. He showed real interest in helping me to raise my daughter. For the first time in my life I didn't feel like I was all alone, even though he was so far away from me. We got engaged and married in my native city, Irkutsk, Russia, on 31 August. A photographer at our wedding commented that he had never seen such a harmonious family. It took a lot of time and energy to get ready for the wedding and now it will take even more to get our immigration visas but I think family happiness is worth it. My advice to all the girls who truly look for a happy family: be careful, attentive and patient. Thank you, Elena, and good luck to everyone! Simon (Canada) and Olesya (Russia)