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But that is where Brad Lowe has chosen to settle down with his Russian wife Olga whom he met on the web. What might seem like a stereotypical example of an American 'buying' a Russian bride could not be further from the truth.
The 'mail order bride' is a famous Russian ‘export’ item - alongside vodka and matryoshka dolls. Beautiful women are listing themselves on the Internet in search of a western man.
But it is not always the way it sounds.
Take the story of a husband and wife in the village of Toplukhovo, 150 kilometres east of Moscow.
On the surface all ingredients seem to be in place. He’s American, with a professional career, and a love of sports. She is a woman of considerable beauty and poise.
But Brad and Olga Lowe say theirs isn’t a marriage of convenience – although Brad admits the beauty and mindset of Russian women is what got him searching the web:
"The one thing that seemed to jump out at me about Russian women in general was that – yes, they work, have education, they are intelligent – but home is important, family is very important, more important than the outside world".
 Olga's daughter needs constant care |
While in principal, Brad bagged himself the typical Russian bride, nearly every aspect of their life puts stereotypes on their heads. Firstly, she is only five years younger than him, and secondly, rather than getting his wife shipped over, he traded Baltimore for a tiny Russian village in the middle of nowhere.
The main reason is to help his new wife look after her disabled daughter. Svetlana has cerebral palsy, is blind and cannot walk, and so needs constant care.
Olga says Brad’s support makes a huge difference and that is why she chose to look for a man on the Internet in the first place.
"I decided what if I try to be very honest and just find a man who can help me – maybe an American man, or somebody from England, just a foreign man, so that he helped me with my daughter – and I would be a good wife, a good friend for him, his real best friend,” Olga said.
And that is what she found in Brad, whom she describes as her ‘knight’.
 The village of Toplukhovo |
A retired police officer in the SWAT division, Brad worked two jobs for a year-and-a-half to give his new family the best start. He now spends his time growing fruit and vegetables, walking his dog and trying to do his bit for the local community.
Since moving here in April last year, he has invested in a playground for children in the village and tries to set an example by keeping the area clean.
"He’s really put us on the right track - like fresh air in our village. It is such a pleasure to see things when they are tidy,” the couple’s neighbour, Galina Shumilova says
The whole area used to be knee high in rubbish and weeds, but Brad decided to clean up the area and make it into a place for people to come, sit and relax. He wants to be accepted by the people here, remove any stereotypes they might have of him, and show he is serious about his new life with his new bride.
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