hyper-inflation, but one more displeasing part of life in Russia -- according to a former resident -- is the men.

"They drink too much, they are not polite and they are lazy,'' said 29-year-old Russian economist Mrs. Irina (nee Yurova) Nielson, in broken English.

But fortunately the Russian beauty managed to snare a Bermudian husband, executive accountant Mr. Robert Nielsen, whom she says is none of those things.

It was love at first sight when the two met in a New York City deli on June 7.

They were married just two weeks later.

Although Irina is settling into the Bermudian way of life very well, she would like to meet and befriend other Russians living here.

However, despite placing an announcement in Saturday's The Royal Gazette saying she had "just arrived'' and "would like to hear from any person from Russia or other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) country or who speaks Russian fluently'', only one person has responded -- a Bermudian teenager who studied in the country last year.

The lack of response has led Mr. Nielsen to believe his wife may be the first Russian resident of Bermuda.

Irina said she dreamed about going to America since the age of 15. Her dream finally came true with the collapse of the Soviet Union and Communism nearly a year ago to this day.

She managed to learn some English through a tutor in Moscow and was soon transferred by request to her company's offices in New York City.

In April, she arrived in the Big Apple which she described as "so exciting'' and remarkably, "much safer than Moscow''.

In her Manhattan apartment, Irina said she no longer felt the need to sleep with a bottle of mace under her pillow as she did every night in her family's Moscow flat.

"You couldn't wear jewellery or fur coats in Moscow without someone coming up with a knife or gun and stealing it all,'' she said. "And you could not walk around at night, you had to have your taxi driver walk you upstairs.'' But Irina noted someone did attempt to snatch her handbag while in New York City. And she was appalled at how many people she saw sleeping in the city's streets.

"We have people (in Moscow) who ask for money, but not sleeping like that in the streets,'' she said.

Irina met her Bermudian husband while eating at a city deli with a friend.

"I had been passing through New York City on the way home from a trip to Paris,'' Mr. Nielsen said, adding his parents were "shocked'' when he returned to Bermuda with a Russian wife.

Although he does not know a word of Russian he manages to communicate with Irina, although he admits conversation is a "bit slow''.

Irina said she always wanted to meet "an American man'' because they are "more polite and educated than Russian men''. Alcoholism is a "big problem'' among the vodka-loving Russian men, she added.

She said she never expected to meet a Bermudian man -- although she knew where the Island was and had heard "lots'' about the infamous Bermuda triangle through television shows and newspaper articles in Moscow.

Irina "never'' wants to return to Moscow and thinks she will enjoy living in Bermuda and especially its beautiful beaches.

They are far better than the ones on the Black Sea -- a popular Russian vacation spot, she said.

However, she said she is having a hard time adjusting to Bermuda's sub-tropical climate and will miss the snowy Russian winters.

The couple are eager to start a family soon, and Irina may try modelling locally.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE! -- Sunny Bermuda is now home to Russian-born economist Mrs. Irina (nee Yurova) Nielsen who married Bermudian Mr. Robert Nielsen in June. The two fell in love after meeting in New York City where she had lived since April.